“A girl’s confidence plummets during puberty. ” In the “Like a Girl” campaign commercial, Always sends a message on vulnerability that during puberty words and stereotypes can have lasting effects on girls and their confidence. It is obvious throughout the commercial that a point is being made about women and their common stereotype. Even the women being interviewed know how and what the common response would be when asked to “do something like a girl. ” This commercial brings to the audience’s attention the negative connotation to the phrasing of performing in such a manner that would be similar to a girl.
The Always “Like a Girl” commercial uses a play on emotions and stereotypes to appeal to a crowd that would find the depictions offensive or those who offend women with this phrase in hopes to educate people on the pathos of “Like A Girl. ” The commercial aims at a more general audience because everyone can read on stereotypes and participate in stereotyping- even women whom the commercial is trying to defend. To narrow down an audience who would be mostly affected would be to look at those who use the term “Like a Girl” to humiliate or embarrass girls of all ages.
Everybody who believes that there is an inequality between the way men and women do things should read into the message that a girl’s confidence can “plummet” during puberty. Doing something like a girl should not be an insult. Teenage and elementary aged girls are also a main target towards the end of the commercial when being encouraged to continue to do things “like a girl because you are a girl”. In the beginning of the commercial the use of different actors throwing, running, and fighting like they think a girl would plays on the emotions.
These examples can make women furious at the fact that the different people running were doing so casually and like their hair was more important than the run. Throwing softly with little distance or muscle can also entice emotions such as anger and inferior to people who believe women can not throw with strength and distance like a man would be able to. When the young boy was asked if he had offended his sister he had a reaction that showed him being taken back by the question and thought of his example hurting someone.
He goes on to say, “I offended girls. ” A statement such as this can play on the emotions of a man or boy. The boy knowing he was hurting someone else’s feelings can bring to mind the question of if saying this phrase is helping or damaging self esteem of girls. From a different emotional standpoint, this commercial could make men and women feel that they are being targeted and generalized into the thought that performing like a girl offends everyone and changes all young girls confidence negatively.
People who do not stereotype or feel superiority over a girl’s performance could be drawn against this campaign because it generalizes so many people into the same category. The use of many characters of all ages shows that everyone can be placed into an arrogant mindset that men are much more coordinated and athletic than women. Thus, surfacing anger from those who do not participate in confidence-knocking or the belief that “like a girl” is an insult. A major standout in this commercial is the use of a younger generation to leave deeper meaning in the allegory.
Throughout we see that there are no participants over the age of 30. This can reveal that the sponsor, Always, is trying to target a generation that is more vulnerable to changing their mind than that of an elderly generation who have established stone hard beliefs throughout their decades. The message obviously targets these young people so that they may become more actively aware of the terms they use. We can also conclude that by targeting a younger generation, Always can expect the realizations these people have to influence others.
While these kids and young adults may not fully agree with the message, when they talk, tweet, text, or use any exploitation about this topic it resurfaces every time and is fresh in people’s minds Always can use this generation to spread their message like wildfire through social media and word of mouth. Change comes from a generation that can set the tone for those to come. Erin, the first girl shown in the commercial, has an extended period of time where she speaks from personal experience. The use of a real life example from a teenage girl makes a very strong point.
She tells of the feelings and thoughts that “like a girl” can invoke. From a viewer’s standpoint, it is much easier to relate with someone who has felt and experienced the same emotions due to a common stereotypical phrase. When Erin is speaking of her experience, she says that during a time of vulnerability, a girl is trying to figure out who she is. When someone says they are performing “like a girl” it creates questions as to why that isn’t good enough and puts more pressure on figuring out who one is. Once again, we see a real life connection with the audience.
Everyone has to figure out who they are, therefore connecting the feelings. While Erin connects with the audience, the younger elementary aged girls are shown as oblivious to the stereotype they are subjected to be connected to. Each of them, when asked to do something “like a girl”, do not fall victim to the weak depictions that all of the older girls did. The young girls show had not been exposed to the stereotype that degrades the speed or strength of their abilities. Innocence is evident here. Typically, innocence is a virtue that makes people feel young.
Merriam Webster’s dictionary definition says that innocence is the lack of experience with the world and the bad things that happen in life. This worldly ignorance invokes people to want to keep the young people hidden from harm. Towards the end of this commercial the participants are told statistics that make them rethink their “like a girl” performance. Emotionally, these statistics can be shown to bring moral values to the surface. When the women were asked again to repeat the “like a girl” process, many changed their mind.
They ran like there was a trophy at the finish line, threw like there was a runner stealing home, and fought like it was the UFC championship. The change in heart can make the audience feel as if the message can change people. It brings happiness and support to the movement. Statistics showing that negativity can hurt the selfesteem of a girl can appeal to men with daughters and wives. Knowing that a simple phrase can change the way a girl thinks or acts can bring out a protective side in people of a