The video is narrated by MAKER Reshma Saujani,
founder of Girls Who Code, and tells the story of a young girl as she
grows up and learns from the interactions with her family. From words
like "pretty" and "princess" to labeling her experiments as "messes,"
the language used discourages her from exploring her curiosity in math
and science. Ultimately the spot asks the viewer to change the
conversation from being solely about being ‘pretty’ to being ‘pretty
brilliant’.
Outlets like Slate, Huffington Post, AdWeek and
more have commended the ad for highlighting how the small words and
everyday tendencies of parents can have a lasting effect on young girls.
They call the campaign "thought-provoking," "important" and "a blast of refreshing cool air."
Verizon launched the provocative
multi-platform campaign to change the conversation around girls and STEM
and focus on ways to involve more young women in the STEM fields. The
campaign's messaging is built on the insight that the number of women
interested in STEM drops significantly between childhood and adulthood
and that a majority of the future's jobs will require STEM experience.
By reaching audiences via television, digital, and social media, the
initiative aims to encourage young girls to break those gender barriers
and pursue a path towards a career in STEM.
Beyond the narrator, other MAKERS in STEM are also getting involved with the #InspireHerMind movement. Astronaut Mae Jamison, CEO Linda Alvarado, Google exec Susan Wojcicki and social entrepreneur Marika Shioiri-Clark are all featured on the campaign homepage. http://www.verizon.com/powerfulanswers/inspirehermind/
Check out the spot here and join the conversation on social media with #InspireHerMind and #STEM. Help MAKERS and Verizon encourage girls to believe in their own brilliance and build a brighter future - because what we say to young girls can make a difference.
