I feel a pretty strong sense of freedom for my personal lifestyle. I think it’s evolved as societal norms have changed. Both for the good and bad. With extremism in political climates, it can allow for radical change but as said before both for the good and for the bad. 

My view has been a rollercoaster with beauty and body image. Before I had a relationship with Jesus, my body image was really important to me because that's how I viewed my self worth. This was based on certain  circumstances within society that made me value that above most things. I felt that there was always something wrong with the way I looked which was really sad since I was just a girl. I have witnessed society put pressures on me personally on the way I looked and on partly things I could not control. So my initial view about my body was always negatively masked in a facade of “pride” about it. Vanity for me was a wavering thing balancing between hatred and love for my body. I think the pressures of social media and these expectations are unrealistic and frankly idiotic. Our bodies were made for living life, not letting our bodies become our lives. Now after I've become more grown, seen changes in my body, and have a relationship with Jesus who reminds me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of the universe, I feel a sense of gratitude for my body. Some days are still hard to not fall into the trap of “this is what a beautiful woman looks like” especially with the rise in plastic surgery. But I can say with confidence that my looks on beauty has changed drastically. I see people including myself with a different set of eyes now. Looking at people who the world wouldn't deem conventionally attractive, I see beauty in their uniqueness. I see them as someone who was intentionally created with all of their freckles, curls, teeth, skin color, height, nose shape, eyes. Regardless of what they look like I think it's beautiful to just look like you. 

I think it differs from other generations in many ways because sadly i dont think a lot of people have the same view on beauty as me across all generations. I have seen the typical beauty standards just within my short life of 21 years change drastically. We've seen it go from super skinny to very curvy. Who knows how else it can change.

One piece of advice I would give younger women would be to know how truly valuable they are. I didn't know my value for many years and my life reflected that. However, I realized that our value was never affected by anything external (what I accomplished, my looks, friends, etc.) but was already established because we exist as humans. God created me, loved me, and chose me to be in this world. He gave me all the unique gifts and traits specific to me. He has given everyone their own beautiful quirks and gifts. You don't have to do anything to earn your value, you are already valued beyond measure. The deeper you understand that, the more at peace you will be with the person that you were made to be. - 21, Florida

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I feel like I have the freedom to make my own choices about my life and I think that feeling used to not be seen in women as they were undermined by men and society. Women, for years, were really only able to care for their household and couldn’t speak up or work.

I think views of body image and beauty have differed between generations in the way that now it is being pressed on younger kids that you should look a certain way but in past generations it wasn’t as pressed because of no social media and not really seen until teenage/adult years.

My advice for younger girls would be to not feel like you have to act a certain way or look a certain way for people or men and to do and be whatever you want. - 17, Maryland

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I am pretty much free to pursue whatever life I want. I think that also comes from the opportunity I have and the support of my family. I think it has definitely changed over the years because now there are a lot more opportunities for women to pursue a lifestyle of their choosing. Even though there are still restrictions and hardships especially depending on where you're from, culture, etc. but I think it has gotten a lot easier. 

I think body image is very prevalent, especially to most women going into teenage years and beyond. I think this is an issue that has always been present but definitely more prevalent due to social media. 

I think if I could give any advice it would be to take all the opportunities that are given and follow and continue to do things that bring you joy even if they might be difficult. - 19, Virginia

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I feel extremely free to make my own life choices. I believe my career has helped me to feel very independent in many ways. It has given me confidence in decision making and taught me a lot  about dealing with difficult situations. I also enjoy my financial independence from my job. I believe the older I get the more free I feel to do what I feel is right and not be swayed by others. 

When I was younger I worried a lot about what others thought about my appearance. I think more now about being healthy rather than having to look a certain way. I also appreciate different styles, and even though something may not be for me I enjoy seeing how others express their individuality. I believe that this generation is way more accepting of differences than those of the past.

I would tell them to not sweat the small stuff and enjoy and celebrate who they are. I think the lucky ones are those who figure that out early! - 64, Maryland

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I feel very free to make my own choices about my career, family, and lifestyle. I think it has changed quite a bit from past years. There was a time when women were expected to get married, have children and not work. I think women today can make any choices they would like and follow any path in life they would like. They no longer need to conform to societal norms that they did in the past.

My view of body and beauty image has definitely changed over the years as I am older. Now I embrace the natural changes of wrinkles, gray hair, etc. I view them more as badges of experience rather than flaws. When I was younger, I equated beauty with being thin and dressing fashionably, etc. Now I feel like beauty is something that comes from within and it’s more important to focus on your inner beauty and mental wellness.

I would tell them to embrace their true self. It is always easy to feel the need to conform to social pressures and other people’s expectations. I would want them to build self-confidence, surround themselves with positivity, embrace their uniqueness, and celebrate who they truly are! - 60, Pennsylvania

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I feel free to choose from a few options, I think that opportunity is distributed differently based on background. That freedom has definitely expanded for women over the years, especially with women joining the work force and attending the same colleges as men.

I think as a child I had a more pigeonholed idea of what beauty was based on the media I saw, such as in movies, tv shows, and magazines. I think the world has expanded the idea of beauty over the past decade to be more inclusive and diverse.

Beauty is so much more than looking like the cover of a magazine. Beauty can be found in kindness, intellect, and laughter. Beauty is everywhere and is so much more than the number on a scale or the color of your hair. - 21, Wisconsin

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I feel extremely free to make my own life choices. I believe my career has helped me to feel very independent in many ways. It has given me confidence in decision making and taught me a lot  about dealing with difficult situations. I also enjoy my financial independence from my job. I believe the older I get the more free I feel to do what I feel is right and not be swayed by others. 

When I was younger I worried a lot about what others thought about my appearance. I think more now about being healthy rather than having to look a certain way. I also appreciate different styles, and even though something may not be for me I enjoy seeing how others express their individuality. I believe that this generation is way more accepting of differences than those of the past.

I would tell them to not sweat the small stuff and enjoy and celebrate who they are. I think the lucky ones are those who figure that out early! - 64, Maryland

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I feel like I have complete freedom to do whatever I put my mind to and that has only grown over the years. I grew up being told I have endless opportunities and potential to choose any career and have never been discouraged in any aspect of what I choose to do with my life. 

Over the years I have definitely grown noticeably more self conscious about my body and how I look compared to other women, impacting my confidence. 

One piece of advice I’d give to younger girls is to try to not get sucked into social media especially at a young impressionable age, I believe that is what played a huge role in my view of beauty and standards about my life. - 18, Virginia

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As for me, at the age of 69 I have achieved my goals of freedom in every aspect of my life. As a child, you have your parents to guide you. As a teenager, they truly try to hold on to you as long as they can. Then there’s your husband, or husbands (...lol) No explanation needed there, and as you mature, work hard, raise your kids, and love your grandchildren, it’s your turn and you’ve earned it baby (freedom). It’s a wonderful thing.

When you’re young you just try and fit in, and hopefully you have the confidence to stand up straight and like yourself. As the years go by, oh yes, the body does change, but you do your best to look your best. Exercise and diet are important for the mind and body. No matter where you live or how you were brought up, it’s up to you to know right from wrong, and just try to do your best. Be strong, kind, and grateful.

I would tell the girls today… Don’t rush. How you feel at 19 , you won’t feel that way at 28. You look at life so differently as you age. Do not depend on any man. Make sure you can make it on your own, and then fall in love. Hopefully, live happily ever after. - 69, Maryland

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I have always felt free to make my own choices.  I chose to quit work and raise my family but it was a choice not because I had to. I have never felt that my choices were limited based on my gender. I do think that the generations before me did not have that choice. Those generations (1960’s and prior) women were expected to stay home and not work. 

I think as you age you just learn to adjust what the image is. And learn to be comfortable in your skin.  

I feel like with social media our younger generations of girls/women have too much pressure to be perfect in looks. It’s just not attainable.  

Learn to be happy and celebrate who you are and do not let anyone sway you otherwise. - 63, Florida

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I feel free to make choices in the sense that legally, I am able to. However, financially, I am not “free” as I have to work for a living. Because of this obligation, if I chose to have children, I would have to make sacrifices in my career to fit my family. I feel free to make decisions and I have a strong voice within my marriage. I am privileged to make my own decisions daily. Freedoms for women have definitely changed over the years. Today I enjoy the freedom of voting, working practically any career, raising my opinion, and I do not have to be subservient. I have my own bank account, car, and can travel wherever I please without a chaperone. I can also own land and my future daughter can inherit it.

My view has changed drastically over the years about my views on appearance. As a teenager I used to stress over my appearance and the thought of being ugly was a great fear of mine. I was definitely insecure and struggled with image issues. As I’m maturing I realize that my body and appearance isn’t what makes me, me. My body is a vessel in which to experience life and the human experience. I still put effort into my appearance, want to look good, and want to be attractive, but I really don’t stress about if I am ugly to other people. I enjoy looking good for me and not necessarily for the world. I’m much more confident in my style and who I am as a person as a result of caring less about expectations. I’m unsure if this is due to growing up and maturing or if this is from working during the pandemic where I no longer needed to wear makeup daily since I was wearing a mask and full PPE. It’s possible this is also the result of me quitting instagram and no longer being addicted to getting “likes” on social media. I’m sure this is still a massive pressure for teenagers today.

Learn healthy emotional regulation. You can’t control other people’s actions but you can learn to process through your own reactions. - 28, Maryland

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I have always felt free to make all of my life choices. Granted when my children were younger, their wellbeing was always in the mix of deciding factors. Today I choose to remain in my home to accommodate my elderly Mom and to also still have the home as a base for all four of our kids as they settle into life. This freedom was much different for older women as it was expected to not work and raise a family. I recall that my mother in law just mentioned that if you worked for the State of Maryland that you were required to stop working at 7 months pregnant! I worked until my due dates! 

I’m not sure my view of beauty or body image has changed. I do know that I have a greater awareness that each body is their own form of beauty. Older generations always seem to have not had a lot of issues with weight, my generation does. Today’s generation I believe is accepting but with social media there may be some unnatural ideas of how people should look. 

Be kind. Protect your peace. And take the chance-you are young enough that if it doesn’t work out try again or try something different. Also, don’t marry the guy you meet at a young age instead date until your later 20s and if they are still around then maybe consider it. You are not the same person at 20 vs. 28! - 49, Maryland

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I feel women are very free to do whatever they want to do in their lives. They can be doctors and welders, executives, you name it. Back in the day, if women worked, they would hold jobs like receptionists, a dental assistant , and a school lunch helper. 

I do not like being older. You see many changes in your body that you do not like. You just have to embrace the changes. The body images u see in the media do not represent what the average woman looks like. So young girls think they have to look like that. The older generation looked older than we do. They didn't worry about their looks that much. 

Do not pay attention to what other people say about you. Do what is best for you and what you feel comfortable with. You can never please everyone, and some people may be jealous of you. - 77, Maryland

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I feel free to make choices of my family and friends as through working on who I want in my life and do not, who serves me and who does not. As a woman, I don't feel as free as I should for my body based on politics in the U.S. Lifestyle, I feel free about the choices I make because I know that it is my life and my choices and that's all that matters at the end of the day and I will overcome any barriers I come across in life despite my gender. Career, I am very invested in women's rights and politics, and I want to make a change in my career with the freedom I have from having a college education and to make a change. Before these recent years, with Roe vs. Wade being overturned and Trump becoming president, women and had more freedom and now those freedoms are extremely limited.

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My view of beauty has evolved over the years, from external to internal. I think beauty is based on who you are from the inside. For body image, it is something I have struggled with for years and I still do. There are highs and lows everyday of what I think a beautiful body is for me. In recent generations, I think it has become more open and normalizing of fluctuating weight on social media, but internally I don't believe our generation has accepted that.

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Live your life for you. Do not suppress yourself for anyone or any man. Be the loudest, strongest, truest version of yourself. - 21, New Jersey

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I feel I am completely free to make any and all choices in regards to my life. I don’t feel like I have lost any freedoms. Things have changed from the federal level to the state but I don’t believe those changes have affected me.

As I get older I am more concerned about being healthy.  I work out now for that reason.  I think more and more women are doing it to be healthy and less about how they look.

Do what makes you happy.  Do not sacrifice yourself for anyone. - 56, Ohio

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I feel there is a big difference between someone who is single and one who is married. Being single for a number of years, I answer to myself for the choices I make. I have been on my own for so long, it does have its pros and cons. I enjoy the fact that I can choose to do whatever I feel like when I feel like doing it. The flip side is not having a partner to share those special times together. Being married, the person always takes into consideration the partner and their feelings. They share their lives with each other and have the comfort of knowing there is someone who has their back. I feel the woman’s role has changed over the years. They are not considered just the homemaker where the husband is the provider and the woman stayed at home and raised the children. They wanted more. Today, women are CEOs, lawyers, doctors, etc. They do not want to have children, they want their careers.

Decades ago, it was more important to be like the models that appeared in the magazines. Today, women feel so different. They are not so worried about their weight or how they appear to other people. They accept their body and are proud of it. They do not feel they have to be skinny to be accepted anymore.

Always be yourself. Don’t listen to the bullies out there. Just make yourself happy and strive to do good for others. You will make a lasting impression and brighten somebody’s day for it. - 78, New York

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I feel very free to be able to make choices as a woman in regards to career, family, and lifestyle. I think our freedom has increased throughout time. However, there is some concern about our freedom being taken away in regards to reproductive health which worries me for the younger generation. I can apply for any job I am qualified for regardless of being female. I do feel there is still some disparity in equal pay for women vs. men in some careers.

I’ve embraced aging and feel more confident in my 50s than I did when I was younger. You stop caring so much about what others think as you get older. I hope to portray a positive image for confidence for my daughters, nieces, etc.

Embrace who you are. Focus on being healthy, eating right, exercising, getting rest. Don’t take social media so seriously and focus on your mental health as much as you do your physical health. Find what makes you happy, love and nurture your relationships and know how to be independent. Be true to yourself and don’t follow others just because. - 54, Maryland

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I think I have the freedom to make my own decisions in my life and I feel that as time has passed, women have more freedom than before when most choices were controlled by society.

Views and body image have changed because of new expectations and social media. Girls who are younger think they are expected to look and act a certain way to fit in but when I was younger I didn’t feel like I had to look a certain way as a kid. 

My advice to younger girls would be don’t spend too much time listening to what other people think of you because you really only have yourself. - 17, Maryland

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I feel incredibly grateful for the freedom to make my own choices about my career, family, and lifestyle—a freedom that many women before me didn’t have. Owning a business and building a life on my terms would’ve been much harder for women in previous generations. Today, opportunities like financial independence, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles are more accessible than ever. However, I also believe we still have a long way to go. Women are still fighting for equal pay, representation in leadership, and support in balancing career and family. The pressure to 'have it all' can feel like a double-edged sword—freedom is there, but so are the expectations. True progress will come when every woman feels fully supported in pursuing her dreams without barriers or judgment. I’m inspired by how far we’ve come, but I’m also deeply aware of the work we still need to do.

Social media made it incredibly hard for me to love myself for many years. I was in a constant state of comparison, feeling like I wasn’t enough because I didn’t look like the images I saw online. It took a lot of reflection to realize that social media often creates a false sense of reality. To prioritize my mental health, I decided to step away from it entirely, which allowed me to focus on what truly matters. Over time, I’ve redefined what beauty means to me. Listening to other women’s testimonies about self-love has been inspiring and has taught me that true beauty is rooted in kindness, confidence, and authenticity. Everything else fades, but a beautiful soul lasts forever. It took a lot of work to train my brain to stop comparing myself to others and instead celebrate the good in myself and others. Now, I focus on seeing beauty in everyone, and that has been life-changing.

My biggest advice to young women is to use your hardships as fuel. Life isn’t easy, and nothing will be handed to you, but you can use challenges to grow stronger and prove to yourself what you’re capable of. Do it for yourself—it’s you versus you. When people underestimate you, let that push you to rise above. Never give up—do it for yourself, for other women, and for the rights we’re still fighting for. Learn to love yourself so that you can love others fully and live a life rooted in kindness and unity. Don’t let negativity hold you back. Be humble, slow to speak, quick to listen, and intentional in your actions. Less talk, more doing. Never burn bridges or make enemies if you can avoid it. Life is too short for division—focus on building connections and lifting others up as you grow. Above all, remember: every setback is an opportunity to come back stronger. Spread love!!!!!! - 22, Delaware

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I feel as if I do not have enough autonomy of my own body when it comes to making my own decisions about my life. I feel as if women’s bodies are constantly subjected to government interventions, which makes me uneasy. I feel as if through my childhood, my reproductive health rights have always been a gamble, some years I have more rights, and other years I have less.

My view of beauty and body image has definitely changed over the years. When I was younger, I didn’t care, I saw a person as a person; however, as I have gotten older, I have seen and been subjected to the influence of social media. I think social media has set unrealistic standards of what individuals “should” or “should not” look like. I do think it is more severe for women, and it breaks my heart.

One piece of advice I would give to younger women today is that it is not easy being a woman; however, do not ever change yourself to fit society, rather let society adapt to who you are as a person. Authenticity is so much more grand to the world than trying to fit in. Don’t be a sheep, be memorable, and be undeniably you. - 20, Virginia