Unlearning Self-Sacrifice To Find Self Worth

Hoods of Motherhood: A Collection of Poems

I’ve heard it all, from those who undermine family values and hail child-free living, to others who shove family values so far down other peoples’ throats that it leads to abortion bans.

These days everyone is a self-proclaimed expert. I don’t claim to be an expert but I do claim to be real and these days young women are experiencing record levels of depression and mental health issues.

According to the CDC, teen girls are caught in an extreme wave of sadness and violence; a new report finds an “overwhelming wave of violence and trauma” and never-before-seen levels of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts among high school students in the U.S.

While the pandemic exasperated mental health issues and Gen Z is having a tough go at finding meaning in life, there's also a whole generation of experienced women who are redefining what it means to be a woman.

From growing old gracefully to finding your inner Martha Stewart, women are pushing the envelope to make strides in body positivity, self-care, and self-worth. But this lesson does not come lightly. There are women unlearning the notions of self-sacrifice to learn how to put themselves first in order to give back to others.