Overview
#LikeAGirl is a video advertisement for the Always brand of feminine hygiene products which compares the way adults and children mime various behaviors when asked to perform them “like a girl.”
Background
On June 26th, 2014, the Always YouTube channel uploaded a video titled “Always #LikeAGirl,” featuring adults and children standing in front of a blue screen who are asked to run, fight and throw “like a girl” (shown below). In the first three weeks, the video gained over 40.4 million views and 31,000 comments.
Notable Developments
On Reddit
The same day the video was released, Redditor fletchleanne submitted it to the /r/TwoXChromosomes[6] subreddit. On June 27th, 2014, Redditor SpintheCork submitted the video to the /r/videos[1] subreddit, where it garnered more than 3,400 votes (66% upvoted) in the next three weeks. In the comments section, the highest-voted comment[4] pointed out that the video was an advertisement and that the actors in the video were likely coached to mimic various stereotypes.
On Twitter
Following its release on YouTube, the video began circulating on Twitter with the hashtag #LikeAGirl,[3] with over 120,000 mentions in the next month according to the Twitter analytics site Topsy[2] (shown below).
On YouTube
On July 12th, YouTuber UhOhBro uploaded a video titled “Like A Girl? #LikeAGirl”, in which he provides commentary over various cermonial first pitch and FAIL videos.
On July 15th, the WonderFools YouTube channel uploaded a French language parody of the commercials in which people are asked to perform behaviors “like a geek” (shown below, left). On July 19th, YouTuber Thunderf00t uploaded a video criticizing the viral marketing campaign for exploiting women’s insecurities to sell products (shown below).
News Media Coverage
In the coming days, several news sites published articles about the viral advertisement, including Time,[7] The Telegraph,[8] BuzzFeed,[9] Mashable,[10] The Huffington Post,[11] Washington Post[12] and The Federalist.[13]
Search Interest
External References
[1]Reddit – As a male this is the first tampon commercial that actually moved me
[2]Topsy – #LikeAGirl
[3]Twitter – #likeagirl
[7]Time – This Ad Completely Redefines the Phrase Like a Girl
[8]The Telegraph – At last theres no shame in acting like a girl
[9]BuzzFeed – Always New #LikeAGirl Campaign
[10]Mashable – The Always
[11]The Huffington Post – #LikeAGirl Campaign
[12]Washington Post – How #likeagirl is important for boys