Today I'm posting an ad for Always (yes, the Maxi pads), because it made me cry. It's about how the phrase "like a girl", as in "you run like a girl" and "you throw like a girl" means that you do those things badly.
It also makes the point that older kids are the ones who understand this "insult", while younger girls aren't in on the joke. They take "like a girl" to mean "like themselves", as they should.
FYI- I showed it to a friend of mine and she was unmoved. I said, "Maybe you need daughters to truly appreciate it." She suggested I was getting my period. I said, "Oh wait. I think you are right." And then I was like, "OH MY GOD! IT'S AN AD FOR MAXI PADS! SUCH SYNERGY!"
Anyway, I think this ad has a pretty amazing message because at this point in time, Mazzy has confidence coming out of her ears. She always takes the opportunity to show off her athletic skills by scoring a goal in Super Soccer Stars, doing tricks on her scooter (the low down squat is particularly impressive), and beating her own sprint times (timing her running back and forth is one of my favorite things to do to tire her out).
As Mazzy gets older, she makes more and more assumptions about gender. She thinks boys are cool and girls are pretty, even though she believes she is both. She thinks only boys play sports even though I always point out that she plays sports. She thinks pink is for girls and blue is for boys even though one of her best friends is a boy who's favorite color is pink. It's crazy to me that she repeats these gender stereotypes even though they don't apply to her own experiences.
But nothing she says equates being a girl with anything bad. Yet.
Let's make "like a girl" synonymous with only good things from here on out, 'mmmkay?
(I'm serious when I say I cried. Grab a tissue.)
I'm starting a thread on facebook where everyone can post #likeagirl photos of their girls doing badass things. I started with this photo of Mazzy riding her scooter down a ramp in our neighborhood. She always makes me detour so we can pass it.
You know, just #likeagirl.
Add your photo on the Mommy Shorts facebook page.
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This isn't sponsored. I just really like it. And I might be getting my period. You win, Always!
Right on Always! Loved that!!!
Considering one memory that sticks about my dad is him telling me, about age 6, that I run like a girl (as a bad thing) this made me cry too. Also, it’s possibly TTOTM for me as well.
We are trying in our little corner of the world to make “play/run like a girl” a good thing. My daughter plays tackle football and is the best blocker on the team. The term “block like a girl” on our team is a compliment. She is also the only player who has not cried on the practice or game field in the 4 years she has played (that includes her brother, who is pretty tough).
we stress that “like a girl” is not something that should be negative to my SON. I don’t know where these kids pick up these things. but as a feminist, when he is saying things that are implying being a girl, or doing things like a girl, or looking like a girl, in a negative way, i always ask, “why is that bad? mommy’s a girl and i’m pretty awesome” also asking him why he thinks that way. i think we need to teach boys just as much as girls that being a girl or a boy or whoever you want whatever you want to do, you can do. boys can wear skirts and have long hair and that’s okay. girls can have short hair and wear pants and blue and be rough and play sports and that’s okay.
I have 2 boys but they see me, their mom, fixing the dryer, the dishwasher (which does include taking said appliances apart), & a lot of other things that are stereotypically male household taks. What about including your invitation to post to include pictures of women doing things “like a girl”? I don’t know if you feel your girls are too young for you share any of what you post with them (I’m guessing only Mazzy would get some of it) but I know other parents who occasionally do. It seems to me a good place to show all that “like a girl” is really a compliment for all ages.
I love it. I just love it. I have two daughters, one is 5 and one is 12. I hope they do it all just like the fantastic girls they are.
I just cried through most of this. I’m not getting my period. I guess I just cry…like a girl. 😉
Yup. Cried too. I love this idea.
Such an amazing message!!! I teared up too!
Tears running down my face. I think of my 2 yr old girl and how I can help her to grow up to be strong and confident. Being a girl is hard. Breaking down all these stereotypes is hard. believing in yourself with all these messages that surround us is hard. I really want it to be easier for my girl to be whoever she turns out to be. I wish that for all our girls.
Yep, I cried. This is a great message, one I really hope I can get across to my daughter as she grows up.
Contrary to the “ban bossy” campaign, this makes sense. I’m in. We have to be examples of “strong women” to our daughters and sons, to alter the meaning of this phrase. I believe in NLP and power of words. Banning is not the solution. Instead, we should change the negative meaning linked to a gender related phrase. My daughter is as strong and determined as my son and I’ll do everything to keep the momentum going.
I cried. But it’s beautiful.
I have no worries about this for my daughter but I am going to make an effort to not teach my son any ‘like a girl’ stuff!!
I’ve already seen the commercial and got choked up at the time. Now reading your post is making me choke up again. Beautiful words.
This is soooooo awesome!!!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!!!!!
Me too. Still blowing my nose. Also not TTOTM. Snif
The one boy who said “like a girl” was insulting girls, but not his sister (who is a girl) was the part that stuck-out to me most. Not sure why…guess it was the disconnect that kids have been doing/saying things b/c others are (like insulting the girl in the class) and what they truly believe (that people have feelings but the only people that matter are their friends and family).
Love this. A lot. It’s an important message that needs to get out there. I catch my husband saying stuff like that ALL the time. He doesn’t even realize he’s being insulting half the time.
LOVED that. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Just watched this and have to say, wow… makes me, as a 42 year old woman, and mother of a 15 year old dauther, even think about it differently. I have always been a strong woman, and am trying to raise a strong daughter, but I have seen a change in her, lack of self-confidence, beginning around 14. Girls are so critical of themselves and think everyone is judging them. I try to get her to see that no one is truly judging her – they are all judging themselves as she is, so stop, be proud of your bug blue eyes, summer freckles and dimples; long dance legs and powerful singing voice – those are gifts that God gave you, and you alone.
I have a 12 year old son who likes purple! His favorite is green but anything with green and purple together, he is a happy boy!!
I worked in a male dominated job (automotive) for 20+ years. I grew up a tom-boy and I work I was always just on of the guys. One of the younger techs asked me for an oil filter, so I tossed it to him. He told me I throw like a girl and I just replied “Well, duh! Look again, I am” I’m short too witch is a whole other set of funnies!!
Tell her to keep her confidence and people will think she is even more beautiful because of it!!
I grew up a “tomboy”. I was never picked last for any neighborhood games. No one ever said I did anything “like a girl”. But I worked my butt off so that wouldn’t happen. Why do we have to better than the boys to not get labeled “like a girl”?
Who threw bouncey balls to my son when he was a baby and made him laugh and laugh? Me. Who taught my son to play basketball? Me. Who taught him to throw a perfect spiral? Me. He’s the athlete he is because his Mom loved sports – like a girl?!
omigah. just cried #likeagirl (and proud of it).
such a great post and such a great commercial! thank you for sharing! i’ve been highlighting pantene’s pro-women commercials on my blog, and now I want to put this one up too! i’ll credit you as my source tho, i promise. :o)
thanks!
Still wouldn’t want my son to play sports like a girl. Yeah there are exceptions but the phrase is based on girls not being as good/strong/fast as boys..and it’s true, this is why we separate sports by gender most of the time.