From Ukraine to Gaza
If we didn't hold on to such archaic ideas about shame and decency, and over-sexualize women's bodies, there would be no problem with breastfeeding in public. Sadly, this is something women all over the world still struggle with.
Why are we so afraid of boobs? It seems like a global pandemic was the only thing that could allow women everywhere to go braless!
How many among us feel nervous to nip out to the mall with no makeup on for fear we'll run into someone we know? The answer is too many!
Most romantic relationships end with breakups, but what about friendships? Sometimes the issues are the same. They don't listen to you, they don't respect your time, they make you feel bad about yourself. It's perfectly okay to separate yourself from people like that.
Sometimes we just aren't feeling it. It can be so hard to say no if you don't have an amazing excuse, but how much of our lives are we going to spend at dinner parties we didn't want to go to? We need to normalize saying no!
We're getting a lot better about this, but there's still a long way to go. Many people, particularly men, find it difficult to bring up mental health problems with their friends and family. Many communities still misunderstand and stigmatize therapy, which can make it difficult for people to get the help they need.
On that note, we should definitely try to normalize taking yourself on a date. We don't need someone else to justify treating ourselves–we deserve it! Take yourself to a nice restaurant or plan a romantic evening for one.
What's more, we shouldn't have to explain our decisions. If we say no to an invitation, we often try to come up with a million excuses so as not to seem rude.
Every parent has had that experience where their toddler throws a full-blown tantrum in the middle of the supermarket. Sometimes the only thing you can do in that situation is let them tire themselves out! But that doesn't stop passersby throwing judgmental looks your way. As if they didn't do the same thing when they were three years old...
Crying is not a sign of weakness–it's a natural expression of emotion than can provide some much needed relief. Everyone deserves to let it out sometimes without being judged. This is one of many unfair expectations that causes men to struggle with their emotions.
There's a serious lack of open, candid conversations in our society. It's been proven that refusing to talk about this subject in schools leads to more STDs and teen pregnancies, but on a wider level we could all benefit from becoming more comfortable and knowledgeable about this natural part of life.
More and more people are finding the freedom to choose a life that truly suits them. A lot of women are finding that they are not defined by their biological functions and would have a much more fulfilling life without children. Unfortunately, this still generates a lot of assumptions and unwanted questions.
We've been putting children in boxes for too long. Oftentimes, if kids are left to run free and do what they want, they'll choose to engage in activities that don't suit traditional ideas about gender. What's the harm in a little boy having dolls or playing dress-up with his mom's clothes? It doesn't say anything about how that child will grow up, perhaps only that they'll be more balanced and open-minded.
Tattoos, piercings, and other alternative styles are becoming more common, but people still feel the need to cover them up for job interviews or at the office. It's unfortunate that assumptions are made about a person based on their appearance that may make them less likely to get a job.
Most of us, particularly women, feel a lot of pressure not to repeat outfits too often. For some reason it feels embarrassing to wear the same dress to two different weddings, or you worry that people will notice if you wear the same outfit to work too often. This is a totally useless social rule and encourages frequent shopping, which is a financial drain and bad for the environment.
It's strange that community college is still looked down upon by some people, particularly in a country like the US where university tuition leaves the majority of students with a lifetime of debt. A community college degree is just as valid, and it's a more accessible and realistic option for many people.
Another topic we tend to shy away from is periods. It's not a dirty secret–it's a natural part of life that affects people in different ways. Even if you're not someone who has periods, you should still understand that someone who does may not be well enough to go to work or accept your invitation.
This might be controversial, but it should be more accepted that some people don't like to drink! Not everyone enjoys the taste of alcohol, or likes to get a buzz on. This shouldn't lead to assumptions that someone has a problematic history with alcohol. Even if they do, leave them to it.
The traditional approach to dealing with difficult subjects around kids was to hide it from them until they were "old enough." These days there are a lot of big things going on that we can't really protect them from, like pandemics and worldwide protests. Even with the best of intentions, hiding something from kids can lead to greater stigmatization and fear.
Sources: (BuzzFeed)
See also: The "No Contact" rule and why it works
Certain expressions of affection are usually limited to family and romantic partners, but we shouldn't feel like we need to hide our feelings for our friends. For a lot of people, friends are even closer than family. It would be wonderful to normalize expressions of love with our friends.
There's an idea that if you live with your parents past a certain age you're a failure, but some people just have a great supportive relationship with their family and it's the place they want to be! Others do it as a financial decision to save money so they can buy their own place. Whatever the reason, we shouldn't be so quick to judge.
There are certain things that are acceptable to do alone, and certain things that aren't, but there's no real logic to it. Why can't a person go to a movie by themselves, or eat dinner alone at a restaurant? Sometimes it's nice to do things on your own terms.
At the surface level, we live in a modern, progressive age, ungoverned by the pointless rules and traditions of the past. Women can drink pints, men can wear eyeliner, and living in a van that has a bed and a hotplate is a coveted lifestyle. In reality, the ideals of our ancestors are so deeply engrained that they affect our behavior in ways we don't even understand.
If you notice someone eating dinner alone at a restaurant, do you feel a little bit sorry for them and assume they're lonely? If you see a beautiful woman on the street who clearly isn't wearing a bra, do you secretly judge her and assume she's trying to look sexy? These are things we need to free ourselves from.
Click through this gallery to find out which 30 things we need to normalize ASAP.
These 30 things should be more socially acceptable
The stigma surrounding these issues is totally unnecessary
LIFESTYLE Stigma
At the surface level, we live in a modern, progressive age, ungoverned by the pointless rules and traditions of the past. Women can drink pints, men can wear eyeliner, and living in a van that has a bed and a hotplate is a coveted lifestyle. In reality, the ideals of our ancestors are so deeply engrained that they affect our behavior in ways we don't even understand.
If you notice someone eating dinner alone at a restaurant, do you feel a little bit sorry for them and assume they're lonely? If you see a beautiful woman on the street who clearly isn't wearing a bra, do you secretly judge her and assume she's trying to look sexy? These are things we need to free ourselves from.
Click through this gallery to find out which 30 things we need to normalize ASAP.