"Don't let labels hold you back."
That's the takeaway message from a new Pantene Philippines commercial, which first aired in November 2013. The short video explores the double standards that many women face at work. Where a man would be called persuasive, women are called pushy. A man is the boss, a woman is bossy. A dad working late is dedicated, a mom doing the same is selfish.
Of course, Pantene's aim is to sell shampoo, and not necessarily to end workplace discrimination or change the way people view professional women. But we have to applaud a piece of advertising that calls attention to the gender double standard, and hopefully inspires some important conversations.