How 5 Arab Women Are Fighting Back Against the 1 Phrase They Feared Growing Up
We've seen many of their campaigns encourage people to push the boundaries they're forced into growing up, especially with this summer's Olympics-related commercials. But Nike's latest adverts bring the idea a little closer to home. The sports brand's Middle Eastern branch gather five inspirational females from the region, each with an inspirational story to tell that many Arab women can relate to.
Watch the clip below to see how the phrase "what will they say about you?" starts out doubtful, with responses such as "it's unladylike" or "you shouldn't be out here" turn into more positive outlooks like "you make it look easy" and "you'll be the next big thing."
"This phrase, it's every little girl's nightmare growing up! We hear this every time we do something that might be met with criticism," explains Amal Murad, a parkour athlete from the UAE. She stars alongside a figure skater, pop singer, boxer and fencer in the video. "There's a fear to stand out and do something that's not part of the norm. But I've learned that, if you genuinely want to do something amazing, you can't be afraid of hearing this phrase. Don't be afraid of your own greatness."
Click through the gallery to see what the other ladies had to say about being empowered by sport.