Self-esteem - xoJane

This Summer, I Will Wear A Bikini For The First Time Since I Got Back Surgery Ten Years Ago

Brittny Pierre — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:00:00 -0400

From 2002 and on, I basically never stepped foot on a beach and, if I did, I was always fully clothed.

"BECAUSE I'M A TERRIBLE PERSON" And Other Things I Need To Stop Saying ALL THE TIME

Louise Hung — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:00:00 -0400

Am I giving myself permission to be terrible, just by virtue of the fact that I'm admitting it?

The Case For "Meh:" On Being OK With Non-Hotness

Kate Conway — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0400

I offer the following proposal: maybe we should just stop trying to be hot.

How I Stopped Sitting Around Seething With Jealousy Of My More Successful Peers And Decided To Become A Player

Mandy — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:00:00 -0500

Know what I used to do for a lot of the day? Google people I was jealous of and hate myself. And then: repeat.

I Just Realized I Spend Over $4,000 Every Year To Look Pretty

Alison Freer — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:00:00 -0500

I spend a TON of time (and a healthy chunk of cash, I've realized) maintaining the face I’ve chosen to present to the world.

My Lady-Date Is Hotter Than Me And I'm Trying To Be An Adult About It

Kate Conway — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:00:00 -0500

I know, I know, I shouldn't depend on the validation of others to determine my self-worth. But sometimes I want to be the prettiest, damn it!

How Jane Pratt Forced Me To Post Pictures of Myself on the Internet and What I Learned

s.e. smith — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:00:00 -0500

Being forced to take pictures of myself constantly started to breed more self-confidence, and looking at those pictures, I stopped seeing the things I used to see that I hated.

MAC's Female Bodybuilder Ad Is Inspiring Me To Buff Up My Arms

Kate Conway — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:00:00 -0500

I've always felt a little self-conscious about my naturally muscular arms and shoulders. Instead of waiting for them to atrophy, I've decided to make 'em look awesome.

My First Resolution: Be More VAIN

Marianne — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:00:00 -0500

There's nothing wrong with a bit of vanity, y'all.

ALL HAIL THE LADYSTACHE: The Case for Female Facial Hair

s.e. smith — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:00:00 -0500

Unlike men, women aren’t socially allowed to choose facial hair as an aesthetic choice and as part of their personal expression.

Shopping Makes Me Want to Die Inside

Kate Conway — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:00:00 -0400

Something about dragging my feet around malls for hours while other people look at clothes makes me want to try to swallow a metal hanger. I can't be the only one who feels like this!

THE COMPETITION IS KILLING US: When Social Media Makes You Feel Like Crap

Lesley — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:00:27 -0400

PLAN B: I'm going to invent a cocktail and call it "ASPIRATIONAL DESPAIR" and get reeeeaaallly drunk on it.

Today I've Decided To Say Something Nice About … Myself

Hannah — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:18 -0500

On this inaugural "Say Something Nice On The Internet Day," I feel like it's most important to treat myself right.

How Not to Hate Being Photographed

Lesley — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:09 -0500

Sometimes, seeing an unflattering photograph of yourself can hit you like a punch. We’ve all had this experience, when our comfortable self-image is shattered by a photograph that looks nothing like what we expect. You can get over it.

Compelling Reader Comment Of The Week: Too Many Good Ideas

Madeline — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:00:12 -0500

Never stop commenting.

ASK LESLEY: How Do I Stop Hating My Body? (Part Two)

Lesley — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:00:09 -0500

Some further steps on the self-acceptance path. Bonus: Nutella!

Your Own Worst Enemy: Getting Over Impostor Syndrome

Lesley — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:00:13 -0400

You ever feel like nothing you do is good enough and someday someone will expose you for the giant fraud you secretly are? No? Oh. Never mind, then.

ASK LESLEY: How Do I Stop Hating My Body? (Part One)

Lesley — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:00:09 -0400

The first step is the one you take in getting off the scale.

How I Learned to Love My Freckles

Jenny — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:00:11 -0400

Even Dorothy Parker hated on freckles, saying "Four be the things I'd have been better without: love, curiosity, freckles and doubt." Dorothy Parker was wrong.

Fat People Have Sex! Here's a Whole Book About It!

Lesley — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:00:08 -0400

An interview with author Hanne Blank, and a totally biased review of Big Big Love.