What does it mean to do something “like a girl”?

“That’s a girl thing”, “Don’t do that, it looks like a girl”… You’ve probably heard some of these expressions. But what, after all, is a girl thing or a boy thing? Last year, a sanitary pad brand launched an advertising campaign: “Like a Girl” (“Like a girl”, in Portuguese), which puts an end to some stereotypes.

In a three-minute film, created by the Leo Burnett agency, boys and girls of different ages act out situations described as: running, fighting and playing ball like a girl. The results of the recordings are exaggerated scenes, which when interpreted by teenagers, especially boys, become even more stereotyped. On the other hand, when younger girls act out the same situation, they show a completely confident behavior and also reveal feminine strength and determination in their actions.

The video proves that, for most young people, doing something “like a girl” is considered an insult, as the expression is used as a way to humiliate or put someone down. According to a study by Research Now, also commissioned by Always, this misconception emerges in early adolescence, between the ages of 10 and 12, after girls have had enough of being told that activities done poorly are done “like a girl” would.

In the last minutes of the video, the brand encourages the adults who participated in the audition to reflect on the acting they did, and asks that, this time, they show what it would be like to ‘act like a girl’ without thinking about stereotypes. It’s worth watching!

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