#likeagirl: Influencing Children's Positive Self-Image

You are all probably well aware that the Super Bowl was last night. While I know that many die-hard football fans annually obsess over the particulars of the game, the typical highlights of this yearly “celebration” for me are the food, the half-time show, and, of course, the commercials. This year brought many serious, family-centric commercials. Lots of puppies. Lots of dads. Lots of tears. But perhaps the one that struck me the most was this #likeagirl commercial from Procter & Gamble's Always. Grab a couple tissues and go ahead and take a minute to watch it again. 

As I was contemplating the (somehow now controversial) message behind the commercial, I reflected on the written statement about girls’ confidence plummeting during puberty. While I think this is absolutely true and a very saddening part of our culture, it is not only confidence that shapes the “like a girl” perceptions seen in the first half of the commercial. And, unfortunately, it seems that this "plummet" often happens well before puberty. Gender stereotypes and norms affect girls’ (and boys’) perceptions of themselves starting even in early childhood. Think about your favorite colors and toys when you were younger. I loved dolls and dress-up clothes and could never decide between the two “girls’ color choices”, pink or purple, to name one as my favorite. Research shows that as young children (as young as 3) are growing and trying to make sense of the world around them, they often begin to exhibit and express gender stereotypes as they form their own identities. These identities and stereotypes (applied to themselves and others) are usually rigidly defined by the time children are 7 years old. Seven. Years. Old. That means that our earliest elementary children have already defined their gender stereotypes and are using them to understand and shape their environment on a daily basis. [Read more about counteracting gender stereotypes here.]

This sounds like an incredibly daunting task, but as young children's advocates...we have to do something about it! It is truly up to us to help children change the way in which they form these stereotyped gender biases. By modeling appropriate language around gender differences, sharing stories of girls and women who have triumphed against gender stereotypes, and allowing children to openly explore different gender norms, we can empower both girls and boys to break through these traditional barriers. Let’s help children refrain from using “like a girl” or “like a boy” to define how something can be done. It is up to us to show all children that girls and boys can do anything they want if they work hard enough for it. It is up to us to empower our children with both a positive self-image and image of others.