In light of the Super Bowl last Sunday, we all watched the infamous commercials. There were some adorable ones, like the puppy and the Clydesdale horses. There were sad ones like, “I died because of a car crash.” What the heck was that by the way?
One that really stuck out to me was the “like a girl” campaign. This commercial showed society that girls are simplified. Girls hear from a very young age that boys are better than us. People say, “like a girl” as an insult, but “like a girl” should be anything but an insult.
One thing many people don’t know about me is I drag race in the summer. Drag racing is a sport where two vehicles compete side by side in order to see who crosses the set finish line first.
I started drag racing when I was 12 years old in the Jr. Dragster division. Being a 12 -year-old girl is a hard task in general. Being a 12 -year- old girl who has an interest in cars, now that is almost unheard of. Everywhere I turned I felt like someone was telling me that my hobby wasn’t for girls.
Kids that I went to school with made fun of me. My great grandma would tell me that racing was for boys. Even at the race track dads told their sons, “You better beat that girl.” Their words motivated me.
When did sports become boy or girl? This is ridiculous people. Wake up and smell the race fuel. If a girl wants to hop in a dragster and race down the track, then she can do it! This is the 21 st century.
When I turned 17 my dad allowed me to jump into his 67 Mustang. This was a privilege, I had earned this by showing I was a responsible racer in my Jr. Dragster. When I got into that car I felt like the world was mine. But again I felt a bit of gender discrimination when I was in the car.
During big races, like the fourth of July, spectators would see a female in the driver’s seat and they would be in absolute awe. This is simply crazy to me!
I came to college, it seems like every single icebreaker makes you state your name, and an interesting fact about you. When I state, “My name is Saleen Chioda and I drag race.” One would not believe how many guys pick their heads up from their desks and look at me.
Yes boys I can talk your ear off about burn outs, breakouts, red lights and green lights. I could probably fix the motor on your car better and faster than you can. I can also probably beat every single one of you out on the drag strip.
Guys, keep in mind that girls can do anything you can do. Maybe even a little better. Don’t discriminate just because a girl or someone unfitting is doing something a guy normally does.
Girls, if anyone tells you you can’t do something because you are a girl, you show them what ‘Like a girl’ looks like! And don’t ever hold back.
Now, who is my first contender?
