***SPECIAL GUEST BLOG***

RUN LIKE A GIRL

By Marlie Cohen

In the year 2015, in near summer, I saw a commercial. A commercial that went viral. With many thumbs up, but just as many thumbs down.

They called in teenage boys, and interviewed them, asking questions about what they thought… about girls.

They asked them to “run like a girl”. To “hit like a girl”. To “kick like a girl”. To “describe a girl”.
The results were horrific. They ran like they didn’t know what they were doing. They waved their arms to signify throwing. Some of them didn’t even kick, thinking their “heels” would fly off. They described a girl as being “pretty,” “perfect,” “girly,” “weak”.

Then they called in teenage girls.

I thought they would be different, but no. They did the EXACT SAME THING. It was almost like they were making fun of themselves.
Then, they called in younger girls. Girls my age, girls younger than me, girls that are younger than 14.

The questions were asked…

And I saw the most amazing thing. To “run like a girl” was to run fast and powerfully. To “throw like a girl” was like seeing a baseball player chucking a ball so hard it could knock teeth out. To “kick like a girl” was to keep balance, and destroy a target.

Then it came to the last question. “What is a girl.”
“Powerful.” “Strong.” “Kind.” “Imperfect” “Unique”

After the commercial ended, all I could think about was those teenage boys and girls, thinking that women aren’t good enough. That they’re weak and useless.

What about Serena and Venus Williams? They are famous because they defied the unwritten rules! Beyonce is one of the most famous singers ever, and she’s a girl. Normal girls like me, or my friends all have big dreams of becoming actresses, interior designers (that’s me), or to be a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

So why are girls looked down upon? Because they think we’re not strong. Too feminine and scared to get our hands dirty.

I do karate. My teachers say I’m one of the best in class, better than some of the boys. My friend is an actress and works on her dream so hard, she is even working on getting an agent! Another friend of mine has the most amazing voice ever, and she is encouraged to be a singer.

Girls in this generation may be looked down upon, like back then. But we can change that.
We can get sweaty. We can carry heavy objects men can’t even lift! And it all starts with…
Getting rid of “run like a girl.”

​All you do is remove the “like a girl.”