Every now and then, I come across something so backwards, I feel like I’m living in an upside-down world. Lately, it’s the rise of young women broadcasting their bodies online — calling it empowerment — while the rest of us watch, confused, heartbroken, and wondering: How did we get here?
I’m not writing this from a place of superiority. I’m writing as someone who remembers what it was like to be young and searching. I’m writing as someone who believes women deserve far more than clicks, compliments, or casual validation. And I’m writing because we’re living in a time where “respecting yourself” has been redefined into something that’s… anything but.
They Call It Power, But It’s Not
For a growing number of girls, attention equals value. Platforms like TikTok promise instant gratification, fast money, and admiration — as long as you’re willing to trade modesty for marketability.
But here’s the truth: What feels like empowerment is often emptiness in disguise.
They’re not flaunting confidence. They’re performing worth. They’re not celebrating their freedom. They’re outsourcing their identity, and often, beneath the glossy filters and playful captions, there’s a silent ache: Am I enough yet?
Why Does This Hit So Hard?
Because as a woman — and especially as a believer — I know what true self-respect looks like. It’s quiet. It’s grounded. It’s not about being seen. It’s about knowing who you are, when no one’s watching.
When I look at these young women, I don’t see “stupid” people. I see vulnerable souls being misled by a culture that preys on their insecurity and sells it back to them as power. And that breaks my heart.
We Don’t Have a Self-Respect Crisis — We Have an Identity Crisis
Most of these girls don’t truly disrespect themselves. They just don’t know who they are.
They’ve been taught their value in appearance.
That their body is their best asset. That independence means “I don’t need guidance.” That God, if He exists at all, has nothing to do with their worth. So instead of building lives rooted in truth, they chase illusions — curated for likes, but hollow inside.
So What Can We Do?
We don’t fix this with finger-pointing. We fix it by being the steady voice in the storm. The voice that says:
- “You were made for more.”
- “You are not a product.”
- “Your body is not a billboard.”
- “Your soul is precious — and so are your boundaries.”
- “You don’t need the world’s approval when you already have God’s love.”
This is where older women matter. This is where moms, spiritual mothers, mentors, and truth-tellers make a difference. We don’t shame. We show a better way.
If You’re Tired of the Noise, You’re Not Alone
If all this chaos makes you weary — if you find yourself grieving the loss of wisdom, modesty, or depth — I want you to know that your perspective is needed. The world may call it outdated. I call it Truth, because real self-respect begins with knowing the One who made you, and the culture may not value that right now, but heaven still does. Let’s keep planting seeds — in love, in clarity, in courage, and let’s not stop speaking the truth, even when the world calls it crazy.
We were made for more. So were they.
