I’m not sure if this is helpful but please let me tell you something… I’m 28 and since I was an early teen I was mocked and degraded for features of my body that aren’t typically attractive. It took me until I’m 28 years old to realise this happened because some people cannot stop themselves from commenting on features they can’t stop focusing on - and some men just don’t know how to do anything but be critical, degrade or speak down to women, especially with the examples they received from men in their lives. Yes, even if they’re extremely loveable otherwise (why else would we believe that nonsense?). Im pretty sure that’s what was intended by the dumb ‘if he teases you he likes you’ crap in school (though that’s a whole other issue). Another possibility is that they still (I say still because we hopefully all grow out of this..) think societal standards define their own internal standards so they don’t even KNOW why they do it (see; guys who only hook up with larger women but exclusively date skinny women). Seriously, people can be that dumb, especially men, because society still isn’t teaching them enough about their feelings comparatively. As you get older you do realise all this stuff.. but the most important thing is you foster a relationship with /you/ and you never lose sight of it. It’s so important that you genuinely learn to love yourself whatever way you need it, not just some cliche of scented candles and yoga. It’s doing & being whatever makes you happiest and centred within yourself. Find your feminine strength and do not give in to anything outside of you that questions it’s value - because some people let go & never find the way back. Find a way to genuinely LOVE yourself with the compassionate eyes you would use to love your sibling, your dog, your best friend. So many people lose that love of life and self and they will flock to you like a flame because it’s rarer to see, the older you get. And you’ll remind them. That is when you really become magnetic. I’m not sure if this is helpful but please let me tell you something… I’m 28 and since I was an early teen I was mocked and degraded for features of my body that aren’t typically attractive. It took me until I’m 28 years old to realise this happened because some people cannot stop themselves from commenting on features they can’t stop focusing on - and some men just don’t know how to do anything but be critical, degrade or speak down to women, especially with the examples they received from men in their lives. Yes, even if they’re extremely loveable otherwise (why else would we believe that nonsense?). Im pretty sure that’s what was intended by the dumb ‘if he teases you he likes you’ crap in school (though that’s a whole other issue). Another possibility is that they still (I say still because we hopefully all grow out of this..) think societal standards define their own internal standards so they don’t even KNOW why they do it (see; guys who only hook up with larger women but exclusively date skinny women). Seriously, people can be that dumb, especially men, because society still isn’t teaching them enough about their feelings comparatively. As you get older you do realise all this stuff.. but the most important thing is you foster a relationship with /you/ and you never lose sight of it. It’s so important that you genuinely learn to love yourself whatever way you need it, not just some cliche of scented candles and yoga. It’s doing & being whatever makes you happiest and centred within yourself. Find your feminine strength and do not give in to anything outside of you that questions it’s value - because some people let go & never find the way back. Find a way to genuinely LOVE yourself with the compassionate eyes you would use to love your sibling, your dog, your best friend. So many people lose that love of life and self and they will flock to you like a flame because it’s rarer to see, the older you get. And you’ll remind them. That is when you really become magnetic.