When you hear the phrase “like a girl” — what do you hear?

Strength, talent, confidence, power?

According to the new Always Confidence and Puberty Study, only 19% of girls have a positive association with the phrase “like a girl.”

“Like a girl” in the past has carried a negative connotation. What do you mean I run “like a girl”? Or when you hear boys say you “cry like a girl”.

I’ve heard adults say, you throw “like a girl.” I even heard once a grown woman say, “don’t whine and complain like a girl.”

What exactly does that mean? Are girls weak? Can’t throw a ball or run as fast as boys? What does this phrase show our girls? That they can’t be as strong physically and emotionally? Is having feminine qualities something to be joked about, even ashamed of?

Doing anything “like a girl” is an amazing thing – so let’s help our girls first by removing the negative association with the phrase.

Always is inviting girls and women everywhere to join the movement and share what they proudly do #LikeAGirl. Let’s help change the phrase “like a girl” – watch this inspiring video, which made me cry when I saw it for the very first time.

What can you do? Tweet, take a picture, shoot a video or send a message using the hashtag #LikeAGirl to take a stand and show young girls everywhere that doing things “like a girl” should never be used as an insult – that it means being strong, talented and downright amazing.

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Disclosure: I’m thrilled to be working with Always, Tampax and BeingGirl to share important information about kids and puberty!

Author

Maria Lianos-Carbone is the author of “Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year”, and publisher of amotherworld.com, a leading lifestyle blog for women.

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