This Goes Out to the Ladies

Let me just start out with this:

You are not defined by the number on the scale.
You are not defined by your past.
You are not defined by others' lack of respect for you.
You are not defined by your grades in school.
You are not defined by how much or how little money you have.
You are not defined by the way men have abused you.

You are a stunning, intelligent, lovely, and valued masterpiece.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWi5iXnguTU)

My darlings, you are more precious than diamonds. And hear me when I say this:

 

You are NOT an object to be used.

 

I absolutely hate Victoria's Secret, because the company & their models portray the idea that women are objects for sex; that we are to be lusted after for our bodies rather than treasured for our hearts. Young girls watch these commercials and are under the impression that if they don't look like that, or wear articles of clothing with "sex appeal," then they aren't attractive. And I say that from experience; I used to think I needed to look like a Victoria's Secret model in order to meet society's standard of beauty.

 

Have you ever been used? Disrespected? Treated like your body is the only thing that's of worth? I've been there, and I am not at all surprised at this kind of behavior.

 

I have seen men watch commercials advertising lingerie and sex on nearly naked women, and have witnessed the way their eyes are glued to the screen. We live in a society that tells men that it is normal to lust after ladies, and treat them as the objects they are portrayed as. I have sat by peers in the past that were openly looking at pornography and discussing why or why not a certain woman was "hot or not." I have been in relationships where sex was a constant topic of interest to the male, and, when denied, he tried a more forceful approach. After being treated like nothing more than someone who was "supposed" to pleasure a man, I lost sight of my real worth.

 

Here's an important truth that I cannot stress enough:

 

You are not defined by how poorly you've been treated.

 

For too long, I believed I was nothing more than a girl that would only ever be wanted for her body, because that is how I was treated by guys. Each lustful glance or comment from a sex-driven male further reinforced to me that I was simply an object to be used. But, that's not who I am. I am so much more than that.

 

I am a person. I am worth more than diamonds. I am so treasured, an innocent man's life was sacrificed to give me freedom. I am a masterpiece, designed by the greatest of artists. My body is the temple of God, and my heart is His dwelling place. I am worthy of affection, the kind that innocently sweeps me off my feet. I am capable of doing something great in this life. I deserve to be loved and sought after by a man who is attracted to my heart. I am not an object for sex, but the bride of a Groom who pursues me in the most passionate of ways.

 

Now, go to the above paragraph and read it again, but this time, out loud.

 

There will always be people that do not treat us the way that we deserve to be treated. Don't you dare ever let their inability to understand your true worth define who you are. Raise the standards. Know your worth.

-Madison