How To Run Like A Girl Rhetorical Analysis

Margaret Garvey

TA Jessica Rick- Lab E

9/22/15

Often times people conform to stereotypes society emplaces. In particular, stereotypes of young girls and women. If someone asked you to run like a girl, what would be your next move? The company ‘Always’, one of the largest makers of feminine products, did just that to a variety of men, women, and young girls.

The director of the video #LikeAGirl asked a group of women, men, and young girls to “run like a girl”. Every young girl ran strong, tough, and determined. However, the men and women ran differently. They performed a very weak uncoordinated run, while waving their arms, and touching their hair… ultimately portraying girls in a negative light. The director then asks, “when does doing

something ‘like a girl’ become an insult?” Primarily, this advertisement plays a big role in pathos when asking this question. This question acted on their emotions and made them realize the damaging impacts when making a comparison to being a girl and being weak. Poking fun at girls being powerless or clumsy may seem comical to some, however, analyzing the situation may make you wonder how and why this stereotype came about.
For the reason that the company ‘Always’ is one of the largest makers of feminine products, they provide ethos by establishing their expertise on issues pertaining to young girls and women.

‘Always’ also increases their credibility by not only advertising their product, but also simultaneously trying to fix an issue that pertains to their market audience.

In addition, this advertisement illustrates logos to finalize their stance. Toward the end of the video, the individuals begin to realize the hurtful message they were sending when thinking the way that they did. The director then asked a boy why being a girl is a bad thing. When he could not think of an answer it became apparent that the stereotype displayed is nothing but a system of meaning as a result of our culture.

The advertisement states that a young girls self-esteem dramatically drops at the end pre-adolescence and beginning of puberty. Marsh (2002) found that there is often a decline in global self-concept at the time young girls reach puberty. Later on, this plummet most likely stabilizes and becomes more multifaceted. ‘Always’ teaches us how we can change the way society thinks and avoid this drop in self-esteem by their empowering use of pathos, ethos, and logos. Sexism is at an end, it is time we think

#LikeAGirl.