Always have just released this new and moving advert about what it means to act “Like a girl”
The ad starts off interviewing teenagers, asking them what it means to run, throw and fight “like a girl”. A group of young girls are then asked the same questions, and the results were quite different…
In skateboarding, we often hear that we “Skate like a girl” (funnily enough) and to “Man up”. In an article with Huff post, Laura Maw expands on the impact of these phrases on young minds.
“Both phrases impose strict gender boundaries without concern for individual identity – and they frankly don’t do anyone any favours: girls learn that acting ‘like a girl’ is ridiculed, resulting in deep internalised misogyny, a lack of self-worth and confidence; boys learn that displaying any traits commonly associated with girls or femininity is ridiculed and so restrict their emotional expression.”
Boys and girls are told different things growing up, but the overriding message is clear: ideological masculinity is to be aimed for, and ideological femininity (AKA acting ‘like a girl’) is to be avoided at all costs.
The comedian Robin Ince recently reminded us in a Tweet that manliness is just as ludicrous a concept as girliness:
“The other day, someone told me to ‘man up’, so I painted a flag on my face and started crying when someone kicked a thing wrongly.”
It seems that it works both ways, and that we are all a little bit sexist!
Tell us what YOU think in the comments.
#likeagirl
girlskateuk.com 