If you haven’t watched Nike’s newest, “Dream Crazier” commercial, I suggest doing so immediately. As in, drop everything you are doing and pull it up now. Once you are done, take a second to assess how you feel – for me, it was validated, respected and completely understood. As cheesy as it sounds, I had tears in my eyes by the end of it. As a female athlete, especially one in a male-dominated sport, this commercial could not have been more spot on.
Nike has been involved in controversies in the past, but in my opinion, the stances they take are brave and important. They believe in equality in every way, and while that may stir up negative opinions from some, I wholeheartedly respect everything they stand for. In the most recent commercial, they chose to focus on equality for women.
The voice of Serena Williams, one of the greatest athletes of all time, narrates the entire thing. She talks about the double standards women face, such as being deemed overly aggressive for yelling, when a man might be considered merely passionate for the game. She discusses how some of the decisions we make, like wanting to play in a boys league, are called crazy. She then goes on to remind us that once, a women participating in a marathon, or any sport at all was once called crazy as well.
To me, this commercial was a message to all women to believe in their own power, and refuse to accept any limitations placed on us. It reminded us of our strength, and how amazing we can be. I respect everything Nike did with this commercial. It validated everything we work for, especially for the women in sports. Nike killed it here, and I hope they continue to do so. You’ll definitely see me repping the brand!