What was this unique commercial you might ask? It was a commercial for an auto parts store. That in itself isn't unique. What made it catch my attention was the fact that it was an auto parts commercial from a female perspective. Still not unique? Ok, well here's the part I liked best. The female in this character wasn't a helpless woman who needed the men at the auto parts store to tell her what parts she needed. This female KNEW what auto parts she needed, intended to fix her car herself, and didn't need a man to fix it for her.
GIRL POWER!
This commercial struck a nerve with me because all too often, I myself have been in that situation. Girl walks in to auto parts store. Tells clerk what part she needs, only to be questioned whether or not that's the right part or if she has anyone help her fix her vehicle. Because a woman couldn't possibly be capable of fixing her own car. Especially a woman who looks like me, right?
But I grew up with a father who believed that being a girl was no reason to not learn how to do anything. He taught me to shoot a gun, hunt, fish, change my oil, a tire, fix my truck, throw a ball, and use tools.
I totally understand why people would take a look at me and think "Oh, such a sweet girl. She must need help lifting heavy objects." Really, I understand WHY people do it.
Does it make me like it? No. It still frustrates me to no end. When people pass me over for work they think is too hard or that I won't be able to do because I'm a girl.
This happens everywhere. At work. At the store. At the gym. (ESPECIALLY AT THE GYM!)
What frustrates me even more is when I tell them that I'm capable of doing it myself that they question me or second guess me. But instead of letting it get to me, I take it and use it as motivation to prove them wrong. When I take on a challenge, I don't want people to say "Oh, she did that really well... for a girl." Why does that stipulation have to be there?
I'm not saying men and women are created equal. But even amongst the same gender, no two people are ever created equal. So why do we need to limit what other people are capable of by judging them based on their gender?
Anyways, that's my little mini-rant. And my salute to auto parts stores for finally recognizing that women are just as capable of purchasing parts and working on their cars as men.
Sorry for this particular rant. It just "grinds my gears." (Anyone get that reference?!?)
I'm gonna go lift heavy things at the gym now and have men tell me how I'm doing it wrong and ask whether or not I would like to have them show me to how to it correctly.
Because I'm a helpless little, girl ya know! ;)
#runlove, y'all!