"Like A Girl"

It seems as if every hour of every day since Sunday we've been bombarded with "best-of" and "worst of" Superbowl commercials on the news and the radio, there's no escaping it. Except here. Well, sort of - this is a reading escape, but I'm going to call this week more of a reading segue.

For those of you who may have missed the Super Bowl, there was a commercial by Always talking about the phrase "like a girl". We've all heard it; likely we've used it at least once in our life. The typical meaning is that you throw or run or do something in a way that is flimsy for ditsy. But why is that phrase still acceptable in that context? Well, that's what Always is seeking to fix. That it is not okay to use it and that girls who are exposed to this phrase take enormous hits to their self conscious, even if the phrase (especially if) it is addressed to a boy. In my humble opinion, I think it is equally damaging to the young boys who hear/use the phrase. It tells them that girls are lesser to boys, weak, delicate, and people to talk down to. As I'm sure you all know, that is not the case.

The Superbowl commercial aired one version of this inspiring video, but another one was aired seven months ago and frankly, it's a bit better. Here it is:

How's that for inspiring??

Now, this video inspired another project that is quite close to home. My parents are a part of a Vintage Motocross club where a few months ago a special Women's Day event was held. My mom put together a great, amazing, incredible video about the pioneer FEMALE motocross racers. The club is called CALVMX and my mom is a part of the CALVMX ladies division. My mom's video shows how we girls can do it all! Not only does she show photos of the women motocross pioneers racing in the dirt, she interviewed a highly successful member of CALVMX's lady's club to show how women can dress up AND get dirty with pride! You will not believe how intense Ms. Kathy Wood's role in racing is, compared to those of the men. And yes, they race against men. You can bet, she rides like a girl!

Here's the amazing video my mom produced:

Oh yeah, and that's not Katy Perry live singing in that video - it's one of the ladies from the CALVMX club and also a racer, Sandi Weidler. Sayaka Kaneshiro, one of the women featured, just picked up a major big sponsor and she's in her early twenties. I've seen this gal race - HOLY COW. She is faster than you can begin to imagine.

So let the girls in your life know, to RIDE like a girl, to RUN like a girl, to THROW like a girl, or like me, to SAIL like a girl.

(Photo Courtesy of Devin Kain)

Yep, that's me. (By the way, the people on either side of me in this photo who I cropped out for their peace of mind, are women.) I spend my Sundays smelling like diesel fuel with the sun and the wind in my face. I get the fantastic and rare opportunity to be out on the water three days a week in sunny, beautiful Southern California and I just love it.

One time at the ships I was cleaning out the bilge of an older boat with another female mariner - we were wearing top to bottom plastic suits to keep ourselves safe while scrubbing out every nook and corner of the engine and oh yes, it was raining on us. But the job had to be done and we were the ones to do it. At one point my friend shouted out, I jumped up (as best as I could in the cramped engine) to make sure she was okay. With a pouty face, she said, "I broke a nail," and with a shrug, she moved on as if nothing happened. The whole time I was down there, happily scrubbing away, I was not concerned that my make up was going to run from the rain, and it didn't bother me at all that I was in a tight, cramped, uncomfortable, wet, smelly place that was my job to clean. Crazy as it may sound, I loved it.

That's right. We get dirty, we rough it up, but at the end of the day, we're still ladies and proud. So go on gals, ladies, and girls, go do what you love and don't give a second thought about what other people will think. The women I work with on the ships are some of the most incredible, intelligent, witty and strong (emotionally and physically) ladies I know. And if you hear some astray person telling someone else in an insult that they do something "like a girl," let them know that it's something to be proud of and NOTHING for which to feel ashamed.

Your humble author,
S. Faxon

PS - Here's a look at one of the BEST, most AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL AND ELEGANT female role models around - Betty White. Did you see the flash mob party in her honor???? She just turned 93. Wow. Watch this video at the best quality you can - her facial expressions are so heartwarming! And don't feel ashamed if this moves you to tears, you are not alone!:

If you haven't yet, share that video with everyone you know. I can almost guarantee their day will get better!