We filmed a social experiment asking adults and young girls to do things ‘Like A Girl’ to expose how the phrase is a pervasive, commonly used insult that affects a girl’s confidence; especially during puberty, when they experience a dramatic confidence drop.

We hypothesized that when we asked adults to do things “’Like A Girl’, they would prance around comically, and that even women would mock themselves without thinking twice about it, because the idea was so commonly accepted. In contrast, we believed that young pre-pubescent girls, who are less socially aware than adults of the negative meaning, would respond uninhibited, confident and give it their all. The film proves the hypothesis and spotlights the cultural issue through provocative discussion, self-realization and an ultimate reclaiming of the phrase. To spark social change, the film then asks girls to share the amazing things they do #LikeAGirl on Twitter and other social media to combat this age-old gender prejudice.

Girl walks onto casting call set

ON SCREEN TEXT: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DO SOMETHING “LIKE A GIRL”?

DIRECTOR: Hi, Erin.

GIRL 1: Hi.

DIRECTOR: Ok, so I am going to give you some actions to do and just do the first thing that comes to mind. Show me what it looks like to run like a girl.

Series of girls and men running in mocking way

GIRL 2: Oh my hair, oh god, ha ha.

DIRECTOR: Show me what it looks like to fight like a girl.

DIRECTOR: Now throw like a girl.

Another series of girls and men fighting and throwing in a mocking way

ON SCREEN TEXT: WE ASKED YOUNG GIRLS THE SAME QUESTION.

GIRL 3: My name is Dakota and I am 10 years old.

DIRECTOR: Show me what it looks like to run like a girl.

Girl 3 runs fiercely

DIRECTOR: Throw like a girl.

DIRECTOR: Fight like a girl.

Series of young girls powerfully throwing and fighting

Girl 4 stands center of casting call stage

DIRECTOR: What does it mean to you when I say run like a girl?

GIRL 4: It means run as fast as you can.

ON SCREEN TEXT: WHEN DID DOING SOMETHNIG “LIKE A GIRL” BECOME AN INSULT?

Boy 1 stands center of casting call stage

DIRECTOR: So do you think you just insulted your sister?

BOY 1: No. I mean, yeah, insulted girls but not my sister.

Girl 5 stands center of casting call stage

DIRECTOR: Is “like a girl” a good thing?

GIRL 5: Actually, I don’t know what it really, if it’s a bad thing or a good thing. It sounds like a bad thing. It sounds like you are trying to humiliate someone.

ON SCREEN TEXT: A GIRL’S CONFIDENCE PLUMMETS DURING PUBERTY. ALWAYS WANTS TO CHANGE THAT.

Girl 1 comes to center of stage

DIRECTOR: So when they are in that vulnerable time, between 10 and 12, how do you think it affects them when someone uses like a girl as an insult?

GIRL 1: I think it definitely drops their self-confidence. And um, really puts them down because during that time they are already trying to figure themselves out, and when somebody says, "You hit like a girl," it’s like, well, what does that mean? Because they think they are a strong person and it is kind of like telling them that they are weak and not as good as them.

Girl 6 comes to center of stage

DIRECTOR: And what advice do you have for young girls when they are told they run like a girl, kick like a girl, hit like a girl, swim like a girl?

GIRL 6: Keep doing it because it is working. If somebody else says that running like a girl or kicking like a girl or shooting like a girl is something that you shouldn't be doing, that’s their problem. Because if you are still scoring and still getting to the ball on time and you are still being first, you are doing it right. It doesn't matter what they say. I mean, yes, I run like a girl, I kick like a girl and I walk like a girl and I wake up in the morning like a girl because I am a girl and that is not something I should be ashamed of, so I’m going to do it anyway. That is what they should do.

Series of girls shown doing powerful actions - swinging, throwing, running, etc.

Girl 7 stands center of stage

DIRECTOR: If I asked you to run like a girl now would you do it differently?

GIRL 7: I would run like myself.

DIRECTOR: Would you like a chance to redo it?

GIRL 7: Yeah.

ON SCREEN TEXT: LETS MAKE #LIKEAGIRL MEAN AMAZING THINGS.

ON SCREEN TEXT: JOIN US TO CHAMPION GIRLS’ CONFIDENCE AT ALWAYS.COM

GIRL 8: Why can’t “run like a girl” also mean “win the race”?

Girl 7 runs toward camera

VISUAL: Always BOP and Rewrite the Rules Logo