What is "How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It"?

It's a TikTok sound trend where women use a motivational mantra ("How hard could it be? Boys do it") over videos of themselves in male-dominated fields or humorous scenarios.

Where did "How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It" come from?

TikTok user @mad_mitch posted the original video on October 14, 2023, sharing the phrase as her new personal mantra for facing challenges.

What does "How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It" mean?

The phrase is a tongue-in-cheek way of saying that if men can do something, women can too. It's used both sincerely and as comedic setup.

How do you use "How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It"?

Use @mad_mitch's original TikTok sound over a video of yourself doing something typically associated with men, whether that's a skilled trade, a sport, or a joke scenario.

Is "How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It" still popular?

The trend peaked in January 2024 with multiple viral videos crossing hundreds of thousands of likes. As a TikTok sound trend, its heaviest usage was concentrated in that period.

Who started the "How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It" trend?

TikToker @mad_mitch created the original video and audio on October 14, 2023.

Which "How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It" video went most viral?

@reinaeads' video showing her work as a female electrician earned over 1.1 million likes in one week, making it the trend's biggest single hit.

Did any celebrities use the "How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It" sound?

Yes. Author Jodi Picoult posted a version on January 19, 2024, which earned over 327,000 likes in four days.

Is the trend only used seriously?

No. Many of the most popular videos are comedic, including @estrosin's joke about wearing a strap-on (222,000 likes) and @slowandsimple's joke about repeating outfits (42,000 likes).

How Hard Can It Be Boys Do It

2023TikTok sound / catchphrase / lip dub trenddeclining

Published March 24, 2026

Also known as: How Hard Could It Be? Boys Do It

"How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It" is a TikTok sound and motivational mantra that took off in late 2023 and early 2024, primarily used by women showing themselves tackling tasks or working in fields traditionally dominated by men. Created by TikToker @mad_mitch in October 2023, the phrase became a rallying cry across the platform, inspiring both earnest lip dubs from tradeswomen and humorous skits that played on the phrase's double meaning.

tiktok sound trends feminism memes participatory video memes catchphrase memes lip sync memes

Overview

The meme centers on a TikTok audio clip where creator @mad_mitch declares her new personal mantra for approaching difficult tasks: "How hard could it be? Boys do it." The sound became a template for women to share videos of themselves in male-dominated professions, overcoming challenges, or just doing things associated with men. The format splits into two lanes: sincere videos of women breaking barriers and comedic skits that twist the phrase for laughs2.

TikTok

Users typically lip sync or play the original audio over footage of themselves at work, in the gym, or in absurd scenarios. The meme's appeal sits at the intersection of female empowerment and internet humor, letting creators toggle between genuine motivation and deadpan comedy depending on the context.

Origin & Background

Platform

TikTok

Creator

@mad_mitch

Date

2023

On October 14, 2023, TikTok user @mad_mitch posted a video explaining that she had adopted a new mantra for whenever she faced something difficult: "How hard could it be? Boys do it"2. The video struck a chord quickly, pulling in over 160,000 likes within its first three months on the platform. The audio from @mad_mitch's original post became the sound that other creators would build on, using TikTok's native duet and sound-reuse features to create their own versions.

How It Spread

The trend stayed relatively quiet through late 2023 before exploding in January 2024. On January 17, 2024, TikToker @reinaeads posted a video using @mad_mitch's sound while showing her work as a female electrician1. That video alone racked up over 1.1 million likes in just one week, turning the trend into one of TikTok's most visible formats of the month.

Two days later, on January 19, author Jodi Picoult joined in with her own version, earning over 327,000 likes in four days. Picoult's participation brought the trend beyond TikTok's typical demographic, pulling in book lovers and older audiences who might not normally engage with sound trends.

The comedic side of the trend blew up around the same time. On January 20, TikToker @estrosin used the sound to joke about wearing a strap-on, picking up over 222,000 likes in three days. That same day, @slowandsimple posted a version joking about repeating outfits, which gained over 42,000 likes in three days. These humorous entries showed the format's flexibility. Creators could use the same audio for anything from genuine workplace pride to absurdist punchlines.

How to Use This Meme

The format typically follows a simple structure:

Pick a scenario — either a male-dominated activity you actually do (welding, coding, construction) or a humorous twist on what "boys do" (leaving dishes in the sink, wearing the same jeans all week)

Use @mad_mitch's original sound — the audio clip is the connective tissue of the trend

Film yourself in the scenario — lip sync the mantra or let the audio play over footage of you in action

Post with relevant hashtags — common tags include #HowHardCanItBe and #BoysDoIt

Cultural Impact

The trend tapped into ongoing conversations about women in trades and STEM fields. By January 2024, the sound had become a platform for female electricians, mechanics, welders, and other tradeswomen to showcase their work in a format that felt fun rather than preachy1. The participation of public figures like bestselling novelist Jodi Picoult pushed the meme beyond TikTok's core audience and into broader cultural awareness.

The comedic variations kept the trend from becoming too earnest, giving it the kind of tonal range that sustains a TikTok sound trend beyond a single news cycle. The dual nature of the format, sincere and ironic at once, let it appeal to a wide range of creators without losing its identity.

Fun Facts

@mad_mitch's original video hit 160,000 likes before the trend even went viral in January 2024.

@reinaeads' electrician video became one of the trend's biggest hits, crossing 1.1 million likes in a single week.

Author Jodi Picoult is one of the most high-profile non-influencer participants, bringing mainstream literary credibility to a TikTok sound trend.

The comedic versions often got more engagement than the serious ones, with @estrosin's strap-on joke pulling 222,000 likes in three days.

Frequently Asked Questions

References (2)

1
The IT Crowdencyclopedia
2
How Hard Can It Be? Boys Do It - Know Your Memeencyclopedia