I know it’s been nearly a month since International Women’s Day. But it would be a shame not to cover the best ads from this year; I mean some of those campaigns are the best ones from recent years. Also, the best thing about a well-crafted IWD campaign is that it can spark conversations and make people discuss issues related to women’s empowerment and self-reliance. Consequently, it can usher in the change that we all wish to see in our society. That’s reason enough to cover as many good IWD ads as we can.
So, here we are with 5 wonderful IWD 2024 ad campaigns that broke the mold and celebrated everyday ‘sheroes’!
1. AIA Malaysia: Squash The Stereotypes
Is she good enough? Is she strong enough? Is she capable enough to carve out a name for herself in a man’s world? These are just some of the questions that the world poses to women every time one of them decides to do something out of the ordinary.
Women around the world are still living with many stereotypes. Even someone as accomplished as the Malaysian squash player Datuk Nicol David couldn’t escape those stereotypes. What she managed to do though was to squash these stereotypes and cement her place in the history of the game by becoming the world number one for a record-breaking 108 consecutive months.
Watch this powerful 90-second spot where the retired squash player is seen sharing the challenges and stereotypes she has faced all her life and how she smashed the hell out of them!
2. McLaren: What International Women’s Day Is About
Speaking of stereotypes, women in the automobile industry have seen a fair share of it. And if one were to speak of gender-based generalizations in the motorsport world, there’d be no end to it. But British automotive manufacturer McLaren felt that we needed to hear it from the women themselves, especially when they have a vital role to play in motorsport.
McLaren’s 2024 IWD advert features various women from its top leadership telling the world what it was like to carve a niche for themselves in a predominantly male industry. Mind you, they aren’t just carving out their rightful place, they’re also claiming their role in the success of the F1 team. Now that’s how you take what’s rightfully yours!
3. EBM: Words of Change
The power of words can’t be overstated. Yet when we use words for women, we often don’t understand the long-term impact it might have on how the world perceives women. This brilliant 70-second advert by the Pakistani biscuit manufacturer EBM proves how words can be used to usher in the changes that we’d like to see in the world.
The ad revolves around a female teacher and her students, who don’t conform to the teacher’s usage of the term “small” to define women. Instead, educated, brave, caring, kind, intelligent, and progressive are the words they’d like people to associate women with. Well, I don’t see why that should be any problem, women tick all of these boxes after all!
4. Stanmore College: Inspiring Inclusion
Women bring incredible strength, grace, and resilience to our world every single day. This International Women’s Day, UK-based Stanmore College decided to release an advert that celebrated the extraordinary women in our lives.
The 70-second advert serves as a tribute to the remarkable journey of women, showcasing their triumphs, their challenges, and their unwavering spirit. The ad not only celebrates women’s achievements but also acknowledges the countless moments of courage, kindness, compassion, and inclusivity that shape their journey.
5. Kotak General Insurance: Drive Like Surekha
And here’s the last one that serves as the final blow to stereotypes that shroud women’s achievements. Kotak released a heartfelt 2-minute IWD spot this year that underscores the point that women are just as capable as men and can do pretty much everything that their male counterparts can.
The ad showcases a young girl going to the railway station with her grandfather who tells her how difficult a loco pilot’s job is. Expecting the loco pilot to be a man, the grandfather is pleasantly surprised when he sees Surekha Yadav, India’s first female loco pilot, in the loco pilot cabin.
Now that’s how you inspire generations, great job, Kotak!
Wrapping Up
And that was a wrap of the best International Women’s Day 2024 ads. Women are truly the heartbeat of humanity, the embodiment of love, and the architects of change. And the ads covered in this blog have captured that sentiment incredibly well.
We’ll be back with more amazing videos for you. Till then, stay tuned!