The Art Of Being A Woman

I feel a lot of passion about all things feminine and beautiful, unique and creative. For a woman to be modest she doesn't have to wear drab clothing or a bag over her head; in fact, we can embrace our modesty and femininity by being creative in how we dress. I recently found out about a magazine called Darling: The Art Of Being A Woman, whose message I find very inspiring.

Our culture is anti-feminine in so many ways that I was very surprised to find out about Darling magazine. It makes me happy to read things in Darling's message such as "beauty apart from vanity," "women without degradation," and practicing the "arts of virtue, wit, modesty and wisdom," and saying that we are "here for a purpose" and not just per-chance; even hearing the word "femininity" alone is all so surprising! For about the past 50 years it has seemed like certain important attributes of our sex have been greatly diminishing. The basics of our feminine qualities have been lost in so many ways. Judging by things I've been coming across lately, though, it seems to me that femininity just might be coming back in style, slowly, but surely. I've seen this in websites, magazines, and even in clothing - isn't it interesting how vintage clothes are "in" right now? Go into many stores now and you'll find 50's dresses, maxi skirts, rompers, and cute swimwear that remind me of the adorable swimsuits that Allie wears in "The Notebook."

Our culture tells us that in order to be real women we must wear whatever we want, do whatever we want. Now, I think that some of the feminist ideals are good, such as the stance that we should always have equality with men. However, our society has taken this too far. In different ways, many women have degraded themselves to be below men. More than ever, women are being treated like objects, and the saddest part about this is that the majority don't even realize it. I am ashamed that our culture has actually come to the place where it's telling girls that you can use your body to get what you want. It seems that women are viewed as objects, to be used for men's own pleasure, and our society tells us that if you don't act like an object, you will not be appreciated; it is the only thing you are good for. I recently read a post online in which the writer said she saw another article stating that "women should bare 40% of skin to attract men." Girls, do you really want to attract the kind of man who want to use and look at your body as an object? Do you want the kind of man who will be attracted not to your wit, intelligence and inner beauty, but rather to your skin and outer appearance? It is not the outside of you which defines you as a person. It's the inside. What lies in the heart and personality is what truly makes you, YOU. I also believe beauty on the inside will show itself in how you present yourself on the outside. Remember that what you wear and how you act hint at what lies inside you.

"No matter how plain a woman may be, if truth and honesty are written across her face, she will be beautiful." 

-Eleanor Roosevelt