I recently heard someone say the word “should” is a “could” laced with “shame”. Which got me thinking… Then “shouldn’t” is a “couldn’t” laced with “shame”. As a woman I can’t tell you how many times someone told me I can’t or I couldn’t do something because that’s not what women do. Deconstructing gender roles in relation to internalized patriarchy has taken so much work. Traditional gender roles often emphasize physical attractiveness as a key attribute for women, while men are valued for other qualities like strength, fun or success. This can lead to internalized beliefs that a woman’s worth is primarily based on her appearance, caretaking, expectations around her body, contributing to body dysmorphia. This dichotomy can create a societal imbalance where men’s worth is seen as multifaceted and based on various achievements, while women’s worth is predominantly linked to their physical appearance and what they provide for others. Implications look like: Narrow Definition of...