Girls

Being a girl in society nowadays is as they say, “a piece of cake.” I mean who doesn’t like being looked down upon by the elders as they walk down the cramped aisles of the local grocery store? Which girl doesn’t like the constant pressures that media puts on them about their bodies?

What I just said, I hope no-one takes as true, as it’s completely false. What normal girl would say that? The pressure, the scrutiny; to be a girl nowadays is not easy at all. A girl can’t express her own, personal style without it being critiqued by panel of snooty “professionals” assessing the cut and fabric. Does this really matter? At least this happens in the world of celebrity, but how does this type of judgmental attitude toward others’ choices translate to the everyday girl walking along any street? Who died and made Joan Rivers the authority over whom and what should be worn?

Style is supposed to be about expressing yourself to the outside world. Some prefer smart attire, whereas others prefer to be casual. It’s your CHOICE. No-one should dictate your style. No-one should have to conform to the masses just because of what someone says in a magazine or a TV show. People find it funny that some don’t wear labels, well this is where I say that it doesn’t matter what you wear, or who you wear. It’s about how you wear it. If you feel uncomfortable in a certain style, then change it until you do. No one person can force you to wear something you don’t feel comfortable or confident in… and it shows. Someone who spends the days in jeans and an oversized sweat shirt might be confident in that, may not feel perfectly comfortable in a mini dress and 9 inch stilettos.

But why do we listen to these so-called “fashion experts”? Do they know what your personal style is? NO!! They don’t even know you. But we all fall in the trap they set for us in the glossy pages of the fashion rags that line the shelves in the supermarkets. Why do we buy into the hype of looking “hot”? Is Paris really that much of a trend-setter? I really hope not considering the track record she’s laid out for herself lately. Are the Kardiashians really keeping it real? Why do we follow after these wealthy people and try so hard to emulate what they do?.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, if you believe that you are beautiful then you will glow. There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who is confident with whom she is, confident in her own skin and is projecting her true self into the world. There is nothing uglier than a fake, a carbon copy of something else. Fakeness is unattractive, and oozes selfishness – the type of selfishness that goes hand-in-hand with serious confidence issues. If you can’t be yourself, how do you expect to pull off another person? Sooner or later that “other” person will become you, and where will that leave the real person?

Experience vs Opportunity

Are you currently doing what you dreamed of doing your whole life? Are you the princess you pretended to be all those years ago? Are you the fireman- saving the damsels in high, burning towers- that you would dream of as a youngster? No? Well, don't feel so disappointed, as many of us haven't become what our childhood dreams made us believe we would be one day. Let's face it, things were a whole lot easier back then. Back then, you could walk around with a paper cone on your head, and get away with calling it a "crown". Back then you could pretend to be anything from a mother or a teacher to being a fairy or a robot.

Nowadays, pretending is not viable as a career. When you "grow up" and have to face the "big, bad world" pretending to be something won't cut it. Finding the prince nowadays is not as easy as it might be in childhood stories. And even though Kate Middleton managed to charm her Prince William, she's quite a rare exception.

The rate of unemployment in South Africa has been on a steady incline for the past two years. According to the IndexMundi since 2008 the unemployment rate has risen over 13%. Its scary to see such stats, especially since our government is calling for international tradesmen to find jobs in our country. (apparently we don't have qualified people in our own country.)

The reason why most of us are sitting, tied to uncomfortable office jobs, is because we lack the experience to fill the positions we so wish to fill. And how are we meant to get this desired experience? well we're meant to find a company that will give us an opportunity to work for free.

I don't know about you, but doesn't spending thousands of hard earned South African rands on tertiary education count as some sort of sign. A sigh that should shout out loud and clear, "I am qualified" or "GIVE ME A CHANCE"; no, instead we get BEE shoved in our faces and the position will be given to someone less qualified purely because the colour of his/her skin gives her the experience needed. I don't understand how the colour of my skin can be the deciding factor on whether or not i'm good enough for a job. I thought this country was over the discrimination factor.

Many companies have small print at the bottom of vacancy ads which read " gives every candidate and equal and fair opportunity" How much truth is really in that statement? Are they really fair in their decisions?

I don't know how many interviews I've been to, but the feeling of rejection always leaves that bitter taste in my mouth. It never changes, its always the same awful taste of disappointment and giving up.

Should I give up on my dream to be a writer? Should I continue on this road of disappointment?

I don't think so.