The definition of perfection is different for men and women. Women are wary of making mistakes – why?
Picture this: you’re rolling a boulder up a hill, sweating, straining, pouring every ounce of effort into getting it to the top. But just as you’re about to breathe a sigh of relief, the boulder slips, rolls back down, and you’re left starting over again. That’s perfectionism for you. And for women, that boulder comes with spikes—societal expectations, judgment, and constant scrutiny. If you’re not careful, one day that boulder might take you down with it.
We don’t need to be perfect. Haven’t we all grown up hearing, “You learn from your mistakes”? Why, then, are women so harshly punished for making them? Here’s the kicker: perfection isn’t even real. It’s like chasing a mirage—just when you think you’re close, the goalpost shifts. What’s “perfect” to one person might not be so to another. So, what are we really striving for? Whose version of perfection is it, anyway? It’s society’s, and it’s designed to trap women in an endless loop of self-doubt and effort that’s never “enough.”
The Must-Have-It-All Trap
Society loves to cheer women on for “having it all”—juggling careers, families, caregiving, and their own dreams. But the second she stumbles—misses a deadline, says “no” to a favor, or dares to need a breather—people start whispering: “Maybe she’s not cut out for this.” One small misstep can overshadow everything she’s done and achieved, and suddenly, she’s written off.
But women aren’t machines built to be perfect 24/7. They’re human beings who deserve kindness, support, and the freedom to make mistakes without their entire worth being questioned. It’s okay to stumble; it’s part of being human.
Cancel Perfection
It’s not about being flawless; it’s about showing up, trying, and learning. Mistakes aren’t failures—they’re stepping stones. They teach us resilience, adaptability, and strength. Effort matters more than the outcome, and the real win is in embracing our humanity, flaws and all.
Imagine a world where women don’t have to feel like they’re being constantly judged, where they’re allowed to be brilliant and bold without fear of slipping up. That world starts with canceling the myth of perfection. Let’s focus on striving for excellence, not perfection. Let’s set a new standard: one where women’s worth isn’t tied to their ability to juggle it all, but to the value they bring, the work they do, and the lives they touch.
Perfection is overrated. We should be instead aiming for progress, humanity, and a bit of grace—for ourselves and for others. Because, at the end of the day, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being real. It’s about being us. And most importantly, it’s about knowing that whoever we are, whatever we are doing, we are enough.
