Nokia Lolita

There are no words.

But you know I'mma talk anyway.

Dude...
So, vanity. Vanity's an accessory these days. Vanity is the new eyeliner. Gone are the days when people would at least Photoshop out their MySpace Arm, for dignity's sake.
But now, there is no dignity. There is only... kissyface+peacesign L0Lz. You know what I'm talking about.

Slowly, my little cousins started growing... Started getting MySpaces... Started teaching themselves glitter-text html tricks... Started looking at their faces in the mirror a little longer...
And then
BAM
BAM
BAM,
Self-inflicted child pornography is like saggin' pants - inexplicably TRENDY.

----------------------- Allow me to digress for a second. ------------------------

As the Auntie Det-Det of three curious, absorbs-everything-like-sponges nieces, I'd love to introduce Miley Cyrus to my backhand.

Yeah, I said it.

I'm pissed that they idolize someone who preaches tween self-respect and innocently See(ing) You Again (crackin' song, I'll admit), but whores her skin out like she doesn't have 7-year-olds copying her every move. Every time my niece raises the camera to her own face and does her sassy eyes, I hope one of Hannah Banana Fontana's weave tracks fall out.
Girl, WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS.

---------------------------------Thank you. ------------------------------------

But I digress.
I'm much more perplexed with, and would rather explore, Why does this dumb shit occur?

• Is it the conditions of our media hungry world that demand self-love, however stilted and slut-like?
• Is it the body-of-a-goddess images we're force fed that gives girls the need to prove themselves? (Example: How "Suck it iiiin." is the new "Cheese!")
• Or is it just the uber-exploited dumb shit like this that just plain ol' makes it okay?

Hmm.

I see it like this:

Girls ain't gettin' no love.

You've got media stereotypes insulting your intelligence;
You've got every advertisement subtly hating on your body;
You've got The Man telling you girls can't do this-this-that;
You've got your dysfunctional family, your parents split, your daddy was never there, your boyfriend cheats on you, you weren't hugged enough as a child,

AIN'T NO LOVE.

Shit's harder out there for girls these days.
And so we seek out other ways of self-assurance, easier ways to find people to tell us we're pretty, we're hawt, we'z fine, we're worth it.
We use our body, our skin, our boobs, our legs, sure-fire ways that we know get people's attention. Sleazy boys' and pedophiles' attention, sure, but essentially, we need attention. If not growing up, if not from ourselves, then isn't the internet where you get everything else?

Because sex sells. Sex sells confidence like a drug.

& Because it's easier than fighting those inner demons, y'know?
It's easier to ride on that 5-second confidence high when some hormonal male comments that your photo is "HaWt, dEeYum GrUh" than it is to look at themselves and go,

Why the hell do I need that to feel good?

I'm sure there are a jillion campaigns out there trying to teach girls to love themselves for who they are, and respect themselves at the same time. But honestly, we're fighting against a lot - a daily downpour of discouragement, idealism, hardened childhoods full of mental and physical abuse.


What I'm trying to say is:

Kids these days are f*$%ed up, beyond their control.

And the ways in which we deal can become just as f*$#ed up.

Its a slllooooow, uphill battle.
But it's a battle worth fighting, I think.


And GAH. I honestly just want to SHAKE girls. Guys, too.
I just want to grab them by the shoulders and say, THIS IS YOUR LIFE - tall, short, chunky, skinny, single dad, hooker mom, trust issues, big feet, THIS IS YOU.
If you don't take what you've got, accept the good that you already have, and start respecting yourself the way you really want others to treat you, that emptiness will ALWAYS be there. Who are you waiting to save you? It's a selfish world out there - if all you do is shit on yourself, who do you expect to give you a hand?

I might sound like a goddamn hippie, but LOVE YOURSELF.
FIGHT TO LIKE WHO YOU ARE.
BE SOMEONE YOU'D WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH.
LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SAY, SHIT, SHE'S FLY AS F*$%. AND MEAN IT.
You're with yourself all the time. Wouldn't you at least like your stay in this body and this mind to be pleasant?


... So I'm going to go over here and breathe.
Meanwhile, what do you think the answer is?
Better role models? Safer families? Or just some ice cream & a hug?

You know where I be: bernalittlebit@gmail.com :]
- Berna