Source: Marla Aufmuth / Getty
As women, we’re always being called crazy, and the new “Dream Crazier” ad for Nike is showing us just how much that sentiment might be true. And of course, Serena Williams had to get a piece of the action. The tennis star narrates the commercial while focusing on the issues female athletes face. The mother of one points out problems she’s had in her career, while the visual features gymnast Simone Biles, snowboarder Chloe Kim, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, and others.
“If we show emotion, we’re called dramatic. If we want to play against men, we’re nuts,” you can hear Williams saying in the 90-second clip. “And if we dream of equal opportunity, delusional. When we stand for something, we’re unhinged. When we’re too good, there’s something wrong with us. And if we get angry, we’re hysterical, irrational or just being crazy.”
The video shows the strength of women physically, mentally and emotionally, especially to break stereotypes and limitations placed on them, not just in sports but in various areas of life. Nike is looking to change the way it perceives females in athletics, reports CNBC, and it all starts with this advertisement.
“Today, we are at a turning point for women in sport. The definition of sport has broadened overall; we recognize that the same lessons in self-esteem and confidence that come from participation in traditional sports also come from yoga, boutique fitness, functional fitness and so much more,” said Rosemary St. Clairshe, general manager of Nike Women via the company’s website.
And it’s about time that they’re taking a stand because how can we progress in anything if no one steps up to make an impact? The 37-year-old is encouraging women to “show them what crazy can do. Crazy can coach an NBA team, dunk a basketball, and even, win 23 grand slams, have a baby, and then come back for more. She knows because she did it!
This isn’t the first time Serena has stood up for the betterment of her peers. After her controversial Grand Slam loss to Naomi Osaka, she called out the gender discrimination that lies in her industry: “I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things. I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff. For me to say ‘thief,’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He’s never taken a game from a man because they said thief.”
https://twitter.com/CamCox12/status/1038558762376679425
Just last year, Nike released their “Dream Crazy,” ad (which is where the idea for this campaign came from) that featured activist and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The video centers around seeing what others might call “crazy,” the dreamer should consider a compliment. Watch below:
TELL US: How do you think Nike will continue to push women athletes to the forefront?
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