By Shruti Goenka Last Updated:
Did you know the pain that the female body endures in labor can be equated to having twenty bones being fractured at the same time? However, when we talk about being ‘like a girl’ or doing something “like a girl”, it has nothing to do with a woman’s courage, determination or patience. It is as if you are trying to demean or embarrass someone by saying that they are not strong enough, capable enough, or good enough to do certain things.
So, obviously throwing a ball “like a girl”, means that you would end up throwing it not far away from your own feet! Or, fighting “like a girl”, means that all you can do is use your fingernails, and worry about your hair. So, how did this “like a girl” phrase went on to be such a bad thing? If you want to know the truth behind "like a girl", then just watch this video.
advertisement
Recommended Read: What this Woman Did to Her Daughter will Leave You Speechless
Yes, being ‘like a girl’, has somehow ended up becoming a thing of humiliation. But, we wonder how, when and why!
Recommended Read: 5 Secrets of Marriages that Last a Lifetime
Before puberty, young girls who are not limited by this concept of “being like a girl” feel that they can achieve anything in the world. They know that they have to give their best shot to whatever they do. For them, being like a girl is just being true to who they are. But as they become women, they are introduced to the limiting thoughts of the society, by the society. And, they try to (or, are rather made to!) fit themselves in to the stereotype created for them.
Recommended Read: 10 Annoying Habits for Which Men Resent their Wives
Continue reading below
As Lauren Greenfield, filmmaker and director of the #LikeAGirl video, says, "In my work as a documentarian, I have witnessed the confidence crisis among girls and the negative impact of stereotypes first-hand.” She adds, "When the words 'like a girl' are used to mean something bad, it is profoundly disempowering. I am trying to shed light on how this simple phrase can have a significant and long-lasting impact on girls and women. I am excited to be a part of the movement to redefine 'like a girl' into a positive affirmation."
So, in the end, it should be about being who you are, rather than being a reflection of how you should be or how others want to see you. Wouldn’t it be so simple if girls could throw a ball, run, and fight just like they want to or just like anyone else, without being judged?
Recommended Read: Watch a Beautiful Indian Gay Marriage Proposal that will Melt Your Heart
Being a girl is a beautiful thing, and should stop being used as an insult, because some of the most successful names in the fields like business, sports and even politicians are women and they are doing a helluva good job being “like a girl”! So, let us know, "what do you do like a girl?" by leaving your comments below.