1950's Today
Women often ask, “Why do I have low self esteem? Where did it come from? How can I get rid of it? How can I become confident and assertive? How can I learn to stand on my own two feet and stop being a doormat for everyone? How can I learn how to feel good about myself?”
These are all good questions and questions millions of women have asked themselves over the years and throughout the generations. In generations past, however, women didn’t ask these questions aloud like they do today.
In the past, women were supposed to accept what was given to them. For most women their fate was a husband, a home to care for, and as many children as their bodies produced, since birth control was not readily practiced until the 1960’s.
Women were primarily responsible for the emotional stability of the family and keeping the relationships within the family manageable. To question their happiness or their unhappiness was a sign of selfishness and disregard for their hardworking husband.
Today, however, women do talk about what is going on in their lives. They share their experiences with each other and look to one another for answers. They want to feel good about themselves, they want to feel good about their lives, and they want to be happy.
But there are many questions as to why they have low self-esteem. How did this happen? How could this be?
It’s understandable why an individual who came out of a very dysfunctional or abusive home would have low self-esteem. Being called names, told you’re worthless, tormented, being controlled or physically abused causes doubt and contributes to your own self-worth. Emotional and mental abuse often causes hatred, which is turned inward and becomes self-destructive. Being treated as though you’re helpless causes helplessness. Sexual abuse, incest, and rape far too often leaves victims with a lifetime of issues.
Then there are families who were considered normal when they were growing up. They lived in a decent house in a decent neighborhood, they had nice girlfriends, went to church, participated in school activities, and did all the “right” things. Yet today they are plagued with low self-esteem.
A lack of self worth, low self-esteem and a poor self-image are directly tied into your belief system, which began to form the day you were born. By the time you were seven years old your self-image was already beginning to take shape. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for you to discover where you are in the process, what keeps you from having high self esteem, and what steps you need to take to create that in your life.
These are all good questions and questions millions of women have asked themselves over the years and throughout the generations. In generations past, however, women didn’t ask these questions aloud like they do today.
In the past, women were supposed to accept what was given to them. For most women their fate was a husband, a home to care for, and as many children as their bodies produced, since birth control was not readily practiced until the 1960’s.
Women were primarily responsible for the emotional stability of the family and keeping the relationships within the family manageable. To question their happiness or their unhappiness was a sign of selfishness and disregard for their hardworking husband.
Today, however, women do talk about what is going on in their lives. They share their experiences with each other and look to one another for answers. They want to feel good about themselves, they want to feel good about their lives, and they want to be happy.
But there are many questions as to why they have low self-esteem. How did this happen? How could this be?
It’s understandable why an individual who came out of a very dysfunctional or abusive home would have low self-esteem. Being called names, told you’re worthless, tormented, being controlled or physically abused causes doubt and contributes to your own self-worth. Emotional and mental abuse often causes hatred, which is turned inward and becomes self-destructive. Being treated as though you’re helpless causes helplessness. Sexual abuse, incest, and rape far too often leaves victims with a lifetime of issues.
Then there are families who were considered normal when they were growing up. They lived in a decent house in a decent neighborhood, they had nice girlfriends, went to church, participated in school activities, and did all the “right” things. Yet today they are plagued with low self-esteem.
A lack of self worth, low self-esteem and a poor self-image are directly tied into your belief system, which began to form the day you were born. By the time you were seven years old your self-image was already beginning to take shape. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for you to discover where you are in the process, what keeps you from having high self esteem, and what steps you need to take to create that in your life.