8 Things A Woman Should Never Apologize For

Growing up as a girl, you’re often told there are certain things that shouldn’t be talked about. Instead we are told to keep a good face and be a well-mannered young lady. While this isn’t any one person’s fault, many of us keep these ideas in our head as we become adults.

Because of this, a lot of girls have become ashamed about embracing their true selves. It’s the 21st century, for crying out loud, and it’s time to stop worrying, stop apologizing, and stop caring about what people think.

So ladies, here are 8 things we all need to stop being ashamed about:

1. Taking a compliment

What’s your usual answer when somebody tells you ‘You look amazing today!’? I’m guessing it’d be something like ‘Oh no, maybe it’s just this foundation’ and an awkward laugh. Why are we so embarrassed to have somebody compliment us? It doesn’t make you stuck up to acknowledge one, so just say ‘Thank you’.

2. Having a period

We have to suffer a quarter of our adult life with blood pouring out of our body, terrible cramps, and our body just not listening to us. Yet somehow, we’re too embarrassed about it and feel the need to apologize to everybody else for having to go through it! Stop feeling bad about having your period, it’s just a part of your life and you never, ever need to feel ashamed about having one.

3. Having sex

According to the old cliché, men who have a lot of sex are heroes, and women who have lots of sex are sluts. I can assure you, you’re not a slut if you love having sex. It’s your body and your sex life! You should be able to enjoy sex without being ashamed about what people may think about you. On the other hand, if you don’t like sex, that’s fine too. Some people just aren’t into it, and that’s okay. Don’t ever let anybody make you feel weird because you don’t want to sleep with them.

4. Masturbating

It’s universally recognized that all men masturbate, and that’s normal. So, can you explain why women will always furiously deny they’ve ever done it? Be honest, we’ve all done it at least once, just to try it out. What is so shameful about enjoying your own body? I’m not saying we have to tell everyone we had a pleasant masturbation session after work, just that there’s no need to feel bad if you do it.

5. Normal bodily functions

I have a secret to tell you: Women fart too.

It’s a cringey subject to the best of us, but it doesn’t mean you have to pretend you don’t have the same bodily functions as everybody else. If you happen to let one rip, just say “Pardon me” and be done with it. You don’t need to start gushing apologies and trying to blame it on a soda you had.

6. Liking ‘guy’ things

I’m a woman, and I like beer, rugby, and video games. I’ve been told on many occasions I’m such a guy, but why? They may be things that are popular amongst men, but it doesn’t mean only men can enjoy them. I’m not ashamed of being ‘one of the guys’, but it doesn’t make me any less of a woman.

7. Makeup

As a bit of an addict, I love wearing makeup. I wear it anywhere, just because I can. But I’m told on a daily basis that I’m ‘fake’ or a ‘tart’. Why should I ever apologize for looking the way I want to? On the other hand, women who don’t want to take an hour out of their day to paint their faces shouldn’t feel like they need to make themselves up if they don’t want to. Whether you like makeup or not, you can show your face however you want to. As long as you’re happy with it, that’s all that matters.

8. Being a mother

I’ve had a lot of friends that have become young mothers, and they’ve done amazing jobs raising their beautiful children. But, so many of them feel the need to explain themselves rather than just saying ‘Yes, I’m a young mother’. Don’t apologize for breastfeeding, you’re just giving a baby it’s breakfast. Don’t apologize for those tears and tantrums, that’s what babies do. Don’t apologize for becoming a mother, because it really is one of the most wonderful things I think a woman could do.

I’m not saying we should never say sorry, because it’s a magic word. But, if we say it every five minutes it loses its meaning. Would you expect a man to apologize for not doing his hair? For watching porn? Of course you wouldn’t, so why should you?

Take a bit of inspiration from Queen Bey:

‘I don’t feel like I have to please anyone. I feel free. I feel like I’m an adult. I can do what I want. I can say what I want.’

So say what you want, look the way you want, live your life the way you want to live it, and don’t ever apologize for just being your fabulous self!

Featured image via Beyoncé Formation Video.