There was an advertisement that came out about two years ago by the feminine product company Always. The advertisement was called "Like A Girl" and it was played during the Superbowl and from there it became very popular. The video shows adult males and females asked to run, throw, and fight like a girl. These adults acted out the stereotypical actions that our culture has made for the phrase "Like A Girl." Then they brought in young girls and asked them to act out the same actions that they asked the adults. The little girls performed these actions true to themselves and not the stereotypes. In the end of the video the producer asks the adults why they did what they did and they all said something along the lines of our culture writing guidelines for how girls act. This advertisement really makes you feel empowered by the end and at the same time embarrassed by our culture for allowing these "guidelines" for girls to exist. The text explicitly says "make #likeagirl mean amazing things" and implicitly says that we shouldn't have these stereotypes for how girls act, but instead we should be cheering on those girls who are running, throwing, and fighting like a girl because they are girls. I love this advertisement and I think it's really cool that a feminine product company put it out to the world because as women myself it makes me feel proud of the fact that I am a girl and I can do everything that man can.
Helen, Great post and good choice. I tend to love this advertisement too especially now that I am a mom. Your use of implicit and explicit messaging is good and a strong tie to our readings/class discussion. Seeing the two distinct ways that these groups are interpreting the phrase "like a girl," is a stark example of the rhetorical power of language to shame girls into feeling that they are somehow less able.
Helen,
ReplyDeleteGreat post and good choice. I tend to love this advertisement too especially now that I am a mom. Your use of implicit and explicit messaging is good and a strong tie to our readings/class discussion. Seeing the two distinct ways that these groups are interpreting the phrase "like a girl," is a stark example of the rhetorical power of language to shame girls into feeling that they are somehow less able.