Last Sunday, I was sitting out by the shared pool at our gated community reading a book. A man was playing catch with a football with his grandson in the pool.

Engrossed in my book as I enjoyed the heat of the sun, the group chatter and splashing were merely background noise. Then all of a sudden I heard the man say to his grandson, loud and clear, “You throw like a girl!”

These words hit me hard and struck a cord. My heart started to beat faster and I could feel my blood start to boil. Completely distracted by what was supposed to be some sort of an insult, I stopped reading and looked up from my book.

The man was laughing and taunting his grandson with these words.

I couldn’t help but stare at him and think, “Did he really just say that?? Are people REALLY still saying this as an insult??”

I looked around and there were other women at the pool, his wife included, and three young girls in the pool.

I wondered, “Am I the only female here who is bothered by his words?”

I was so distracted that it was hard for me to go back to reading. I really wanted to get up from my chair and walk over to him and ask, “What is wrong with throwing like a girl?”

I held back and tried to go back to reading my book as I forced myself to control the thoughts running through my head of the script of what I really wanted to say to this man.

During the time that I was at the pool he repeated this insult to his grandson a number of times. Each time I heard it, the words, or rather the man’s intent to insult his grandson with these words, stung and stopped me in my tracks from reading my book. Each time I heard the man use these words in a taunting insult towards his grandson I had to exercise every bit of restraint not to get up from my chair and walk over to him and say,

“What is wrong with throwing like a girl? Do you realize that by using that sentence as an insult that you are saying that there is something wrong with throwing like a girl? That girls do not throw the ball as well as, as fast as, as strong as, and as forceful as boys or do things as well as boys? Do you realize that not only are you insulting every woman and young girl present here at the pool but that you are also subliminally telling these young girls that they are not as good as boys? That throwing like a girl, or doing something like a girl is a bad thing? Do you realize the impact you are having on these young girls confidence and that you are teaching your grandson that girls are inferior to boys? If you handed the ball over to one of these girls I guarantee that they could throw it just as well, if not better than you and your grandson.”

In his defense he probably did not realize the impact of using those words as an insult. He was in a carefree mode at the pool, having fun with his grandson. However, I did learn from conversation that I overheard that he was 56 years old and from New York. Thus old enough to know better and young enough to have social awareness about how such words could sting and impact girls, young ladies, and older women alike.

I don’t know who coined this phrase “Like A Girl” as an insult, but someone had to say it first and for some reason it took. With that, some of us have been conditioned to use it freely without thinking about the detrimental impact it has on girl’s confidence and how it leads girls to think that they are inferior to boys.

“Adolescence is when girls experience social pressure to put aside their authentic selves and to display only a small portion of their gifts… Without some help the loss of wholeness, self-confidence and self-direction can last well into adulthood.”

~Mary Pipher, Ph.D., Reviving Ophelia

Three years ago Always launched their #LikeAGirl campaign to educate people about how the insult “Like A Girl” can be detrimental to a young girl’s confidence. Through this campaign, Always wanted to show, instead, that doing things “Like A Girl” is actually an awesome thing, and that there is nothing less than or inferior about doing something “Like A Girl”.

This campaign has definitely had an impact, but unfortunately some people missed the boat on its message and the insult “Like A Girl” is still tossed around by some people, like this 56 year old man from New York playing catch at the pool with his grandson, without a second thought.

Maybe I should have helped to educate this man about the impact of his ignorant actions as he paired an insulting intent while using those words, and maybe next time I see him at the pool I will have a conversation with him about it. But for now, instead, I will write this post and spread my message farther than a conversation between two people at a community pool, and make it permanent by posting it on the internet.

LADIES (and gentleman), let’s continue Always’ mission to change the meaning of what it is to do something “Like A Girl” to something awesome, incredible, amazing, and STRONG.

When someone tells us that we do something “Like A Girl”, let’s say, “THANK YOU”. Even if the person means it as an insult let’s change its energy to EMPOWERMENT.

After all, I know many girls and women who can throw, hit, punch, kick, run, lift, and do many other things, just as well, if not better than many boys and men.

I am proud to say that I crushed my kung fu black belt test “Like A Girl”

Conquered the Iron Maiden Challenge “Like A Girl”

Blew through 18 consecutive strict pull-ups “Like A Girl”

Deadlifted 315lbs “Like A Girl”

If someone tells me that I do something “Like A Girl”, then I will accept it as a compliment and say thank you, because I think doing something “Like A Girl” is BADASS no matter what the person saying the words intends “Like A Girl” to mean.

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If you want to learn how to train with kettlebells “Like A Girl”, I will be teaching my first Las Vegas workshop at Inferno Hot Pilates from 2 – 6 p.m. on June 11, 2017. Early bird ends on June 4, 2017. Details and registration link below… and don’t forget, Iron Body Training Systems Memorial Day Holiday sale of 20% off ALL single sale online training programs ends May 30, 2017 at 11:59 PDT. Use the code ‘MEMDAY20’ and purchase your single sale online training program HERE.

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Hardstyle Kettlebell Fundamentals & Programming Workshop

When

Sunday, June 11, 2017

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Where

Inferno Hot Pilates

9130 W Rus­sell Rd. Suite 110
Las Vegas NV 89148

702.262.5557 (phone)

Details: 

The Hardstyle Kettlebell Fundamentals & Programming Workshop is appropriate for both Hardstyle Kettlebell Instructors and Non-Instructors and most specifically for the boutique studio kettlebell and bootcamp instructor and enthusiast.

The workshop will cover Hardstyle kettlebell technique of the fundamental movements listed below, in addition to exercise variations and programming considerations that are specific to boutique studio kettlebell and bootcamp classes.

Pre-Requisites

Some kettlebell experience is helpful but not necessary. This workshop is appropriate for all levels.

This workshop will teach the following kettlebell fundamentals:

• Kettlebell Deadlift
• Kettlebell Swing – Two Hand and One Hand
• Single Kettlebell Clean – Two Hand and One Hand
• Goblet Squat
• Front Squat
• Military Press
• Push Press
• Turkish get-up floor press and lunge variations for boutique studio kettlebell and bootcamp classes.
• Kettlebell Core
• Bootcamp/Kettlebell Class drills and programming – Includes kettlebell complexes and chains.

This workshop is structured as a learn and lift type workshop in that there will be a brief lecture on the movement, followed by a practice application (“workout”).

The workshop is from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Check in is at 1:45 PM. The workshop will begin promptly at 2:00 PM.

Pricing

• Early Bird through 11:59 PM PDT June 4, 2017: $99.00
• Regular Price after June 4, 2017: $149.00

Cancellation Policy

NO REFUNDS, NO EXCEPTIONS. However, registrations may be transferrable to another workshop of equal value or registrant may pay the difference if registrant transfers to a workshop of a greater value.

Register

Register via Iron Body Training Systems MindBodyOnline site by following these step by step instructions:

1. Go to Iron Body Training Systems MindBodyOnline site HERE.
2. Click on the “SERVICES” tab.
3. Select “Workshops & Retreats” from the drop down menu.
4. Select “Hardstyle Kettlebell Fundamentals Workshop”.
5. Follow the prompts to purchase.
6. If you have never created an Iron Body Training Systems MindBodyOnline account, then you will need to create a new account specific to the Iron Body Training Systems MindBodyOnline business site.
7. If purchasing before the early bird expiration on June 4, 2017, $50 will be deducted at check-out.

Summary Workshop Schedule* (*subject to change)

1:45 PM Check-in

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM

• Introductions
• Warm-up
• Hardstyle Breathing

2:30 PM – 3:45 PM

• Kettlebell Deadlift
  • Hip Hinge
  • Kettlebell Deadlift
• Kettlebell Swing
  • Two Hand
  • One Hand
  • Hand-to-Hand
• Bootcamp/Kettlebell Class Drills and Programming

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM

• Kettlebell Clean
  • One Hand
  • Two Hand
• Goblet Squat
• Front Squat
• Kettlebell Military Press
  • One Hand
  • Two Hand
• Hardstyle Push Press
• Bootcamp/Kettlebell Class Drills and Programming

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM

• Turkish get-up
  • Focus on specific floor press and lunge variations for boutique studio kettlebell and bootcamp members.
• Bootcamp/Kettlebell Class Drills and Programming

5:30 PM – 5:45 PM

• Kettlebell Core
• Bootcamp/Kettlebell Class Drills and Programming

5:45 PM – 6:00 PM

• Additional Program Discussion, Questions, & Wrap-up