I was scrolling through my Facebook news feed the other day, hot spark in hand, when I came across this little jewel. It’s an Always commercial asking girls and boys what it means to do something “like a girl”. The differences in their responses blew me away! If you missed it then you must go watch it.
Something dramatically different happens during puberty where the view of what it means to do something “like a girl” goes from capable, strong and passionate to weak, awkward, emotional, whining, and self-deprecating. Apparently, a massive shift happens at puberty that assaults how girls view themselves and how boys view girls as well. Where does this start and why? Why do women immediately count themselves out of certain activities because of their gender? Is society really still perpetuating this? These are all the questions I ask on a regular basis. Or maybe the answer is women just start to believe it and use it to their advantage when it’s convenient. For example, I always ask my husband to do yard work with the notion that I’m a girl and girls do inside work. If I stop for a minute and think about the ridiculousness of that statement it’s profound. I’m just as capable of doing yard work as he is and I’m using my gender as an excuse.
Now, I’m not a man hater. Let me repeat, I am not a man hater I love men and I don’t believe that females are superior to men. It’s my belief that both men and women are equal in the sight of God but different in our make up and strengths. It’s so funny to me that any time you seek to empower women you start a war over gender roles, ESPECIALLY in the church. Since when does empowering one sex mean devaluing another? Empowerment doesn’t mean dominance or lack of respect. Men and women should compliment and bring out the best in each other instead of competing and devaluing in the name of submission and religion. And let me let you in on a little secret….when you empower a woman you empower her man. It’s a beautiful thing! So why, yet again, do we try to put ourselves in boxes and live out labels? God didn’t intend for you to live with any label over you except CHILD OF GOD.
It seems to me that we get so extreme in our society and believe this lie that women have to choose either/or over everything. For example, either children or career, either husband or career, either his dreams or your dreams and on and on it goes. Why do we always try to shrink God down to either/or decisions? He’s bigger than that and he can give you both. Don’t let a spirit of fear come in and try to convince you that if you have one you’ll lose the other. That’s a bunch of horse crap the enemy is trying to use against you to keep you tamed. God can bless you exceedingly above all you could ever ask or imagine.
A woman who is liberated in Jesus Christ understands authority, submission, encouragement and servant hood. She moves from a heart of love and power because she knows who and whose she is. She knows it’s o.k. to chase her God given dreams. She is secure and does things because she wants to not because she has to. On the other hand, a woman who is bound by legalism, religion, performance, and the pressure to be a “nice” Christian is a set up for rebellion and an eventual breakdown. She moves from a place of fear instead of love and you won’t be seeing much joy from this momma.
So, which woman would you prefer to see in your home? It’s a no brainer. You want the empowered one who brings a new meaning to the “like a girl” terminology.
Like a girl means strong, capable, fruitful and full of love. She is by no means weak although she may sometimes be physically weaker than men.
She’s the proverbs 31 woman. She’s a strong pillar. A daughter of the day. A warrior princess.
My challenge to you today, is to get outside of whatever box you may be in and bring new meaning to the term “like a girl”. Teach the next generation what that really means by reflecting it in your life.
Oh…and lift something heavy while your at it 😉
#LikeAGirl
Lindsey Nadler
Get real talk, no B.S. business advice on creating a business doing what you love.