Throughout history, women fought hard to open doors and opportunities that now allow many of them to be whoever they want to be, whether that’s a scientist, a business owner, a mom, a wife, or all of the above. However, numerous misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding womanhood still exist to this day, interfering with the growth and empowerment of half of the world's population.
To squash the lingering clichés about women, we’re looking at unfiltered photos and stories depicting what it really means to be a female, courtesy of the Women In Real Life Instagram account. Scroll down to find them, and be sure to upvote the ones that made you realize how amazing women actually are.
While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with women's wellness advocate, educator, and founder of Mom Wife Worship Life, Alexandria Smith, who kindly agreed to share with us ways we can further support women’s progress and equality.
#21
Dear Postpartum Body,
First of all I don’t hate you. On the contrary I’m so so proud of you. You have been through a lot. You grew a whole human. You kept her warm and safe and let her grow until she was ready to go it on her own. You made room for her, then let her go, with selfless bravery. You nourished her as long as you could and I’m proud of that too. You didn’t fail. You did amazing things. You might be different than you used to be, but you aren’t ugly, damaged, or scarred. You are marked with a roadmap of the life you created. Postpartum body, you are beautiful, and I am proud of you.
First of all I don’t hate you. On the contrary I’m so so proud of you. You have been through a lot. You grew a whole human. You kept her warm and safe and let her grow until she was ready to go it on her own. You made room for her, then let her go, with selfless bravery. You nourished her as long as you could and I’m proud of that too. You didn’t fail. You did amazing things. You might be different than you used to be, but you aren’t ugly, damaged, or scarred. You are marked with a roadmap of the life you created. Postpartum body, you are beautiful, and I am proud of you.
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68points
This is exactly what she does over on Mom Wife Worship Life. She uses her blog to support women by sharing her own experience of doing it all—being a mom, wife, and educator while also coping with a chronic mental illness.
Mom Wife Worship Life is a safe space for anyone looking for help to achieve harmony, enhance mental well-being, and practice intentional self-care.
#22
Stop trying to make everyone happy - you’re not guacamole. A popular body positive influencer was shamed recently for wanting to lose weight. Another has been shamed for gaining it. And both openly, authentically stood by their decisions.
It got me thinking: what would WE DO different if we were less afraid of BEING different.
Not just with our health, our wellness goals, but with our hopes, our dreams, our LIVES?
It’s easy to want to MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY. To fit in. To softly and gently bend and fold with whatever voices shout the loudest or sting the sharpest. Whether that’s a parent or a loved one or a stranger on a screen.
Only in trying to PLEASE EVERYONE, we become no one.
We fade.
We lose ourselves.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
So here’s the lesson I’ve learned the hard way, and am still constantly, endlessly relearning:
It got me thinking: what would WE DO different if we were less afraid of BEING different.
Not just with our health, our wellness goals, but with our hopes, our dreams, our LIVES?
It’s easy to want to MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY. To fit in. To softly and gently bend and fold with whatever voices shout the loudest or sting the sharpest. Whether that’s a parent or a loved one or a stranger on a screen.
Only in trying to PLEASE EVERYONE, we become no one.
We fade.
We lose ourselves.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
So here’s the lesson I’ve learned the hard way, and am still constantly, endlessly relearning:
We will NEVER make everyone happy.
We won’t. It’s impossible.
Humans are complex. Our opinions are vast and varied and strong.
And that’s ok.
That’s WONDERFUL.
What matters is that we each EXPLORE what sits INSIDE US. That we remain open to growth. To development. To being called in and learning.
And that we honour, we ALWAYS honour, the truth which curls quietly inside of us.
Whether it’s about how the goals we set FOR OUR BODIES or the plans we have FOR OUR LIVES.
Even if it makes us different.
Even when it shows how we all truly ARE different.
I know it’s scary, but we can do this.
You can do this.
Be yourself, babygirl.
No guacamole required.
We won’t. It’s impossible.
Humans are complex. Our opinions are vast and varied and strong.
And that’s ok.
That’s WONDERFUL.
What matters is that we each EXPLORE what sits INSIDE US. That we remain open to growth. To development. To being called in and learning.
And that we honour, we ALWAYS honour, the truth which curls quietly inside of us.
Whether it’s about how the goals we set FOR OUR BODIES or the plans we have FOR OUR LIVES.
Even if it makes us different.
Even when it shows how we all truly ARE different.
I know it’s scary, but we can do this.
You can do this.
Be yourself, babygirl.
No guacamole required.
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65points
#23
To the mom who hides in the bathroom in an attempt to get a second alone, with tears running down your face - because you’re all out of energy, I was her today, I’ve been her in the past and I will be her in the future. .
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To the mom who’s feeling insecure about what shes doing, wondering when this “phase” will end, wondering why her baby is screaming unstoppable when everyone else’s baby seems like an angel, I’ve been her, and I’ll be her again. .
.
To the mom who would do anything to get a full nights sleep, but don’t get any help, to the mom who’s slowly falling apart because she’s drained. .
.
To the mom who’s feeling stressed about not getting enough done during the day and then spends the nights stressed about not spending enough time with her kids, I’m right there with you. .
.
To the mom who feels alone in all this even when she’s surrounded with people - remember, you’re not alone in this, you’re amazing and you’re rocking motherhood. .
.
Motherhood will change your life, it’s scary, energy draining and lonely at times, but it will pass - this, will pass, because it’s a phase in our lives and when we look back at it, it will probably be a way to short phase. .
.
But while we’re in it - remember to remind yourself that you’re doing a great job, even on your worst day, that you’re greatly loved and that no one would do this better than YOU. .
.
- like in this photo, I was crying in the bathroom for all the things above, trying to go to the toilet alone, but they couldn’t stay way for even a minute, even though I (in my head) was failing, they love me so much that they couldn’t bare to not be with me for 1 minute, that’s how amazing I am to them (and apparently Ludwig who took this photo to remind me of it). .
.
We all have bad days - we all breakdown, we’re not alone in this - we are mothers, amazing mothers.
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To the mom who’s feeling insecure about what shes doing, wondering when this “phase” will end, wondering why her baby is screaming unstoppable when everyone else’s baby seems like an angel, I’ve been her, and I’ll be her again. .
.
To the mom who would do anything to get a full nights sleep, but don’t get any help, to the mom who’s slowly falling apart because she’s drained. .
.
To the mom who’s feeling stressed about not getting enough done during the day and then spends the nights stressed about not spending enough time with her kids, I’m right there with you. .
.
To the mom who feels alone in all this even when she’s surrounded with people - remember, you’re not alone in this, you’re amazing and you’re rocking motherhood. .
.
Motherhood will change your life, it’s scary, energy draining and lonely at times, but it will pass - this, will pass, because it’s a phase in our lives and when we look back at it, it will probably be a way to short phase. .
.
But while we’re in it - remember to remind yourself that you’re doing a great job, even on your worst day, that you’re greatly loved and that no one would do this better than YOU. .
.
- like in this photo, I was crying in the bathroom for all the things above, trying to go to the toilet alone, but they couldn’t stay way for even a minute, even though I (in my head) was failing, they love me so much that they couldn’t bare to not be with me for 1 minute, that’s how amazing I am to them (and apparently Ludwig who took this photo to remind me of it). .
.
We all have bad days - we all breakdown, we’re not alone in this - we are mothers, amazing mothers.
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64points
#24
ARMPIT BULGE / ARM BO0B. Whatever you want to call it, a lot of us have it. Because, hey, we have lady tatas and while side boobs are considered sexy, apparently this bit of skin, for whatever random reason, is not. 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ It doesn’t even make senses. 😂 Anyways, today, tomorrow, let’s rock our bit of folded skin. It’s human and normal and absolutely NOT something we should be ashamed of. Enough is enough.
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61points
#26
If you have been asked either of these on a day you went bare faced (or even just forgot a part of your usual getup!)🤦🏻♀️ . I can remember in high school being asked this question on a day I ran late and didn't do my makeup.. my answer 'this is just my face.' It was my answer again after I joined the working world and forgot to put on my eye make up one day. Of course at that time I said it to be snarky and hide my embarrassment for either making a seemingly poor choice or being in too much of a rush to fix my face up. But today, after a lot of work in the self confidence department, I say it with certainty: This is just my face. And I can choose to wear makeup I like, a little or a lot, or choose to leave it bare . . Part of learning how to live a nourished life ( and I'm still learning.. trust me!) is building up the confidence and acceptance you have in yourself, your body, your appearance, and your choices. . It's not easy. And if one day is easy you can bet the next day will be hard. But it's so worth it to trend in a way that feels more comfortable more confident and less insecure.
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50points
#27
My sister took this photo of us yesterday without me realising. She said ‘it’s lovely, you should post it’. My first thought was ‘absolutely not’ - but why? This is what I spend a good amount of my day (and most of my night) doing. This is completely normal to me and its something I do anywhere and everywhere with zero shame (clearly 😂). So why does sharing a photo still feel so weird? I think it’s not something you see much of. The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. I don’t think mums are given any real information or advice about how difficult it can be (I know I never was - to be fair nothing could prepare you!). It’s really hard, painful, relentless and exhausting at first. I am also aware that I’m one of the lucky ones. I was determined to breastfeed and both my babies have taken to it well and thrived. I know not everyone has this experience and although we have had our issues we have overcome them. I’m mainly sharing this because think it’s so important to normalise this. I saw a baby feeding under a blanket in nearly 30 degrees today. We shouldn’t have to hide away - this is a baby eating! For those who can it’s the most rewarding journey.
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46points
#28
Well, if this isn’t postpartum in a nutshell... Actually, this is just motherhood. Welcome to eating your meals wherever you can get them. Just wanna give a shout out to the moms eating their meals on the go while driving kids to and from ALL the activities the moms like me hovered over the kitchen counter eating cold leftovers while nursing a hungry, fussy baby. The teacher moms eating in a classroom while simultaneously helping a student. The health care worker moms eating hospital peanut butter and graham crackers for yet another meal. The moms too busy to find time to eat at all. And all the other moms in between. Wherever you’re eating or not eating today, I see you and you’re doing a good job. As I was shoveling cold pasta down my gullet, I was reminded that everyday we prioritize the needs of others over our own. That’s wonderful and just what we do as moms often without any thought. The least we can do for ourselves at the end of the day is to take a minute, look in the mirror and say 'I’m a good mom.' No ifs, ands or buts, just 'I’m a good mom, period.
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45points
#29
My hubby snapped this picture because he said as I watched my movie I was so unbothered by Nixon’s nursing shenanigans. We went 3.5yrs strong!!!! Some days I miss it. He still asks for milk at least once a week. But this shop is closed
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45points
