A woman’s value was never meant to be measured by how much attention she attracts.
True beauty has always been deeper than appearance.
The question is…
who gets to define a woman’s worth?
I was reading through several advertisements one morning when a familiar pattern caught my attention.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Different products.
Different companies.
Different industries.
But the same message.
A woman being used to attract attention.
Sometimes the woman had very little to do with the actual product being sold.
The mattress was secondary.
The car was secondary.
The service was secondary.
The attention was placed somewhere else.
It made me stop and think.
Why do we accept this so easily?
And why do so many women allow themselves to be reduced to something less than they truly are?
Before we continue, let me make something clear.
There is nothing wrong with beauty.
Nothing wrong with attractiveness.
Nothing wrong with taking pride in your appearance.
Beauty is a gift.
But beauty was never meant to be the whole story.
A woman’s greatest value does not come from being looked at.
It comes from who she is.
Her character.
Her compassion.
Her intelligence.
Her loyalty.
Her courage.
Her wisdom.
Her contribution.
Those things last.
Those things grow.
Those things become more valuable with time.
Real beauty begins on the inside and eventually finds its way outward.
Unfortunately, many advertisements tell a different story.
They often suggest that a woman’s greatest asset is her appearance.
That her value comes from being desired.
Wanted.
Pursued.
Admired.
While there is certainly a place for attraction, reducing a woman to attraction alone is a poor bargain.
It asks her to trade lasting value for temporary attention.
And temporary attention has a very short shelf life.
The world will always celebrate youth.
But wisdom celebrates substance.
One grows older.
The other grows stronger.
As I wrote in Pearls for the Soul:
“What attracts the eye may start the journey. What nourishes the heart determines whether the journey continues.”
— Richie Naggar, Pearls for the Soul
When I think of women, I think of far more than appearance.
I think of mothers.
Teachers.
Partners.
Friends.
Leaders.
Caregivers.
Builders of homes.
Builders of families.
Builders of communities.
Women have influenced every meaningful chapter of my life.
Not because of how they looked.
Because of who they were.
Their kindness.
Their patience.
Their strength.
Their ability to nurture and encourage.
Their willingness to stand beside others during difficult times.
Those qualities deserve attention too.
Perhaps more attention.
I sometimes hear people speak as though attraction is the entire purpose of a relationship.
But what about the rest of the day?
What about friendship?
Conversation?
Trust?
Loyalty?
Shared goals?
Mutual support?
The ability to laugh together?
Grow together?
Face hardship together?
Surely those things matter.
Perhaps they matter most.
A flower is beautiful when it blossoms.
But what makes it valuable is that it continues to grow.
The same is true for people.
Especially women.
Beauty may get attention.
Character earns respect.
And respect is worth far more.
Women deserve to be appreciated for the fullness of who they are.
Not merely for how they appear.
Not merely for what they can provide.
But for their complete humanity.
Their minds.
Their hearts.
Their gifts.
Their contributions.
Their presence.
The next time you see an advertisement, a message, or a situation that reduces a woman to less than she truly is, pause for a moment.
Ask yourself:
Is this honoring her?
Or merely using her?
The answer may tell us a great deal about where we are as a society.
And where we still need to grow.
A woman is not a product.
Not a decoration.
Not an accessory.
She is a person of immense value.
Treat her accordingly.
And the world becomes a better place for everyone.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
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