American Girl

Another message to my daughters and all young girls. There is a notion of an American Girl. She is beautiful, polished and somewhat perfect. On a track through life that will lead to success of all kinds. Starting with ideas of perfect princesses in preschool, good grades and popularity. Later on, successful career while simultaneously perfecting roles of wife and mother. This notion was somewhat derived from positive and revolutionary feminist ideals. Women once fought for other women to have "everything" career and home, children and identity! Concurrently, fashion and beauty industries have projected many ideas of what this new woman would look like. Red lipstick, perfect figure, spotless home. Still today, girls are bombarded with images of clothes, trends and cookie cuttter types from a very young age. 
It can be wonderful and freeing. If the girls and women are taught to take the beauty and essence of this message and embrace it for its best intentions. To be her truest self, whoever that is! To allow her creativity, beauty and intelligence to shine. To nurture as a mother. To nurture her self as a woman as well. There is the danger and reality however, that many young girls and young women get caught up and twisted in the ideas. Sadly, girls try to emulate each image they see and forget who they are. They lose self esteem. The become attached to test scores, magazine covers and peer pressure.Depression and anxiety are higher in adolescent girls than ever before. This a symptom of many imbalances, not solely the one described here. Young women trying to achieve both career and household success burn out. They give their all to everyone around them. They cast their own needs aside and engage in activities that are meant to bring joy to their loved ones. Their daily lives orbit around their children while their jobs, personal accomplishments, partners and household duites are juggled. They are so encapsulated in forging forward to each accomplishment that they forget to practice stopping, breathing, gratitude and self care. Everything they are striving for becomes lost in the muddle. This poem is about enveloping the glory of feminism and being cautious about the shadow side of this very notion. 

She is a train
Strong, shiny and glamorous
She is admired
She is empty
She is fast, dutifully
Swiftly moving forward

She follows tracks, laid out before her, without her
It is not about her
It is about the destination she will reach
She presses on, strong, fast and empty
She carries passengers, along for the ride
It is not about her
Only where she will bring them
Their journey, her map

She is shiny, strong and admired
She is revered, polished and adorned
Simple, ornate
Always moving forward to a new destination
Attempting to fulfill her societies expectations
A feat to be admired yet a slippery slope
Slowly pealing away identity, creativity and hope

Break across the tracks girl
Forge your own destination
Break through the expectations
Make your own Creation
Better than others wishes and visions
You are a vison, yourself, in your own right
This is your personal flight
Surpassing all mirages is the one of your own
The best person you can be is you
Breaking through 
stereotypes and pre fabricated molds
This is not a notion of rebellion
It is a notion of freedom
Your national right
Your birth pledge
What your grandmothers mothers battled for, wished about
You can shout out from the depths of your being
I am me, It is freeing