#likeagirl

I have a few thoughts about a few things.

The recent #likeagirl ad:



I really have to talk about this.

It's great that brands and companies have stepped up to promote gender equality and such things. It's really great. Some people think that the fact that it's done as a promotion for a brand takes something away from it. It really doesn't.

The recent trend of anti-prejudice advertisements indicates that we're becoming better people.

Companies want us to buy things. We're more likely to buy their products if we like the company, for whatever reason (it's been proven that just liking someone or something can make you very biased). The fact that they produce advertisements that promote gender equality means that we like gender equality.

Sure, women have always wanted equality. Men not so much, because they benefit from gender inequality (in most places, anyway). Not too long ago women were seriously expected to just stay at home and be subservient. Now we can see that gender equality sells. Enough people support gender equality that a significant number of companies are making promotional videos based on that idea because they think it stands a real chance of making them money.

We're seeing the importance of gender equality, basically.

Also these ads serve a very important purpose: it gets this positive message to a lot of people.

Ads are always going to reach a lot of people - that's what they're meant to do. The difference this time is that the ads are carrying very empowering messages to a lot of people around the world (or just U.S.A., which tends to consider itself most of the world) and a lot of those people are children. These ads tell children and adults alike that "like a girl" is pretty irrational and it's a societal concept that we learn as we grow older. It tells adults not to perpetuate this myth. It tells children not to buy into this myth.

It's important that people know. Of course some people will instantly dismiss it. Others may think about it for a few days. But there are some people, who've never considered this "like a girl" bullshit before, some people who will check their own behaviour for days and months and years after seeing this ad.

It's a (kind of) free empowerment. Feminist organisations don't even have to shell out any money for this. And it's a pretty good ad that'll reach a lot of people. Ads like this do a lot of good.

(There's also a possibility of a feedback loop - not the kind you're thinking about, probably - where we self-reinforce this message until everyone gets it. This has happened, but mostly for stupid things like anti-vaccination.)

I've always thought that if anyone were to tell me "you hit like a girl!", I'd tell them:

"Of course I hit like a girl. I am a fucking girl. So by definition anything that I do, I do like a girl. Now shut up and let me punch you 'like a girl' again."

A Christian blogger's thoughts about #likeagirl:
*I don't mean to pick on this blogger. I mean to pick on things that many people say that irritate me - he just happens to check the whole list. Sort of a rant.

http://marcellie.com/2014/07/10/likeagirl/

I’ve seen girls done amazing stuff. I’m going to marry one of the most amazing lady. She’s tender, talented, and thoughtful. I’ve also had the honour of coaching a few girls teams and it’s inspiring seeing how some of them play. Furthermore, some of my good friends are girls.

This is a really inane and pointless paragraph. I don't understand why people have to prove incessantly that they're 'not like that'. 'I have many female friends! They're great!' Yes, but it doesn't mean you aren't a fucking douchebag and those girls are very generous in putting up with your bullshit. You get me? It proves nothing. 'I have female friends and I never insult them for their femininity.' Doesn't mean you aren't a douchebag in other areas. You don't need to do this?????? It proves nothing. Move on.

This dude actually digs himself in deeper. "...it's inspiring seeing how some of them play." Really. What are you trying to say? We all know some girls play well and some girls play like shit. Some boys play well and some boys play like shit. I mean, duh. Really just duh. There is no other word. 

It's like suddenly, in a post about female empowerment, you're just really ridiculously eager to become pro-women. Too pro-women. It's ridiculous and sounds incredibly insincere. Would you say 'I've had the honour of coaching a few boys' teams'? Probably not. It's called overcompensation (where you know you're prejudiced and become extra nice to make up for it - it's nice but doesn't work, because you're still a prejudiced shitbag).

Right words
Firstly, I think it’s important for us to be mindful of our words. It is said that the tongue holds the power to life and death. We have all experienced the power of words to build up or tear down. Yet, we often say things at the slip of our tongue which may cause hurt to others. Let’s be careful not to use #likeagirl as a phrase to degrade or insult someone.

I think my version of the 'right words' is: 
Let's be careful not to let this neutral phrase become something negative in society. When someone says you do something like a girl, tell them that you are a girl, and that they are a misogynistic turd for saying that. If you are a boy, inform them that you are a boy, and perhaps they would like to consider getting their eyes checked. Also, that they are a misogynistic turd for saying that. Use this phrase to embarrass and insult the person who said it. They probably deserve that much.

Also, I'm just saying, people tend to suddenly become passive and non-aggressive and trite and useless in the face of controversial topics. As if gender equality should ever be controversial.

#likeagirl should be used to 'celebrate' girls? 'Oooo, I hit #likeagirl! Yay!' How about just no. Just. No. Just because the post is supposed to be about female empowerment doesn't mean you have to go to extremes and come up with saccharine idiocies. It contributes nothing. It is exactly enough to condemn the usage of the phrase as an insult. If you're going to contribute, contribute something concrete and practical. Be realistic.

'You hit like a girl!' is the most stupid insult ever. It shouldn't even be an insult. If someone tries to insult you with this, question their intelligence. Also question the intelligence of society, which perpetuate myths like girls are not athletic. Question the intelligence of yourself, if you've ever used this phrase as an insult.

Think critically. Just don't do stupid things.