Written by Contributor Writer Hollie Dickman
When did doing something “like a girl” mean being weak? When did it become something that even as women, we portray in a negative way?
Always asked people of a variety of ages to do things “like a girl” check out the responses in the video below.
I think it is so powerful that these young girls hear #LikeAGirl and they think strength and power. But the older participants portrayed weakness and negative stereotypes of girls.
“What does it mean to you when I say run like a girl”
“It means run as fast as you can!”
Negative Stereotype
Why is it that at an age when girls are finding out who they are, that being a girl becomes this negative stereotype?
I remember many times when I was younger, in gym or at recess, hearing someone say to me, you throw like a girl, or you run like a girl, or you talk like a girl. At a young age it’s hard to hear because you think well I am girl, what’s wrong with that?
“Yes I kick like a girl, and I swim like a girl, and I walk like a girl, and I wake up in the morning like a girl, because I am girl, and that is not something to be ashamed of. So I’m going to do it anyway. That’s what they should do.”
Doing something like a girl doesn’t have to be an insult.
Change The Message
We need to make #LikeAGirl mean being strong, powerful, and intelligent people that can take anything that is thrown our way, because that is who we are and who we want to be.
Always is doing incredible work making #LikeAGirl mean those things through these powerful videos, making us see the effects of these comments in a way we haven’t before. This video aired about a year ago and their campaign is continuing to grow because the #LikeAGirl movement matters and impacts all women.
At the end of the video the girls that participated in the negative stereotype of doing something #LikeAGirl had a chance to change and do the action as themselves, running faster and hitting harder. That’s what we have to do to change the idea of doing something like a girl.
“Why can’t “run like a girl” also mean win the race?”
I will help make a change by living my life #LikeAGirl because that means I’ll tackle problems head on with all of my intelligence, strength, power, and skill. I will love fully and with my whole heart. I will smile brightly and laugh more than I cry. I am a girl and I couldn’t be more proud of the amazing things that I get to accomplish.
Help change the message; help be the change. Teach everyone that being #LikeAGirl is great.
