Nike’s new ad, "Dream Crazier," exposes the hardships and double standards women face at work—especially in the sports arena. The ad focuses on the insults hurled at women like "hysterical," "dramatic," and "crazy" during intense moments of debate. It also shows clips of badass and emotional female athletes slaying the game.
Serena Williams, a woman who’s no stranger to controversy on the court,is the star voice of the ad. Following her dispute with umpire Carlos Ramos, an international debate was sparked over the double standard affecting women athletes who show their emotions during games, a debate that extended into the workplace, as well.
Women who voice different opinions are typically labeled as emotional or dramatic, while men who do the same are viewed as passionate or bold. Nike’s goal is to bring this conversation further into the light and show how it’s even harder for women of color. Williams said, "For me, I've spent a lot of time over the years thinking about how I can change how I talk. I've been accused of being attacking, intimidating, disrespectful, all these things—and at one point I said, 'I'm not being those things, so I'm not going to change.'"
