let's be real
Anthea Paul is the author of the stunning Girlosophy series of books and has been touring New Zealand talking to young women. As a mentor wannabe for the Future Leader’s Programme I had the opportunity to meet Anthea and hear her inspiring message:
Perfection myth: You are real – the photos of women in the glossy magazines are not. Here’s proof. The whole marketing machine is designed to make us feel inadequate so we go and buy… the magazine, the movie, the hand bag, the face cream. Anthea’s advice? Edit your choices. Instead of browsing the fashion and gossip magazines and websites and feeling bad about yourself, check out the NGO websites – how can you volunteer? Changing what you look at, changes the way you think which changes how you feel about yourself. Take responsibility for your thoughts and actions.
As you climb, lift: Be kind to each other. Don’t make negative comments about another woman (look at her cellulite… she can’t sing…. Who does she think she is….). The meanness in girls has to stop, we have to let each other off the hook; ask others if they’re okay. Be willing to appreciate and learn from everyone instead of being jealous. Instead of a self loathing session grab your friends and go for a power walk.
Make requests: Be upfront and ask for what you need. Directness inspires loyalty while manipulation and withholding info drives people away.
I remembered back to my Her Business days and my steadfast resolutions from Day One – no airbrushing cover shots (or any photos for that matter) and to not accept advertising from cosmetic companies or the fashion industry (much to the consternation of my various advertising managers!). Too many magazines are just vehicles for advertisers. With their huge monetary input advertisers wield power over the content – and I wanted control over the content; otherwise what was the point of the magazine really? When you pick up a magazine you want to read unbiased,
thought provoking articles with no hidden agenda to make you buy…. those shoes, that eyeliner, that boob job…
:::: I agree wholeheartedly with Anthea’s message; let’s get real!
Leave a Reply
I’m passionate about social media – I founded the online community entrepreneurette in 2006 and flokka, the blog network in 2008, after a decade and a half in magazine publishing. A typical ‘maven’ I love to share what I’m learning, researching and implementing - as well as what’s working for my clients, my students and my network members, in the worlds of social media and business in general. I’m Fiona Powell and this is my blog. 
