Hijabs and Sneakers: Nike Ad Honouring Muslim Women Wows Internet
In a world after Trump’s election win, a new Nike ad that celebrates Middle Eastern women in sports has gone viral.
The ad highlights the challenges Middle Eastern women face when they aspire for a life in sports. It shows them boxing, ice skating, running, fencing and spinning.
In just 48 hours, the video was shared 75,000 times on Twitter and viewed almost 400,000 times on YouTube.
The ad's message – on Arab women defying social norms – reflects the hurdles women female face in parts of the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, physical education is forbidden in all-girls public schools. And gyms for women are illegal because female athleticism is considered un-Islamic.
Not surprisingly, the ad has also drawn praise from tweeple.
Amid Trump's anti-Muslim hysteria, stunning new @Nike ad celebrates 5 female athletes from throughout the Arab world https://t.co/swlcUYS1xw pic.twitter.com/I3GOutTUux
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) February 22, 2017
When an ad touches on the insecurities of women in a society, digs deeper & becomes an empowerment tool rather than just a product #JustDoIt https://t.co/3Qh79aPigd
— sara al-zawqari (@Sara_ICRC) February 18, 2017
But there is some criticism pouring in too.
"This is not the true representation of Arab, Muslim women. We do not wear a hijab and go running in the streets, shame on Nike," Nada Sahimi commented on the company's Instagram page.
