Olay Has a Super Bowl Ad This Year, and It Has a Deeper Purpose

Emily Reily

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Olay's Women In Space Super Bowl Ad Will Raise Money for Girls Who Code

Olay Wants Girls To Keep Looking Up

Olay has a special "Women In Space" Super Bowl ad for the big game, and its inspiration was the first all-female space walk.

Three women, including Busy Phillips, are seen walking in slow motion toward the camera. They're dressed in full space gear and holding their space helmets as they walk. Then it looks like the "Olay" rocket takes off, supposedly with the women inside.

Besides Phillips, Taraji P. Henson, comedian Lilly Singh, astronaut Nicole Stott, and journalist Katie Couric are also seen in the commercial.

Couric is there to announce that Olay is taking its first mission in space. That might sound corny, but the ad is meant to acknowledge women working in STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics; as well as bring awareness to gender inequality and inclusivity.

Women Clearly Not Equal, Including In Space

The ad urges people to tweet the hash tag "MakeSpaceForWomen." Every time someone tweets the hash tag, Olay says it will donate a dollar to Girls Who Code, capping out at $500,000.

According to Bustle, Girls Who Code aims to narrow the gender gap and reinvent the idea of who a programmer should be.

Women Are Tired Of This Drivel

Some see this as a positive message, and it is, but a few people on social media saw the ad as just ... an ad, wrapped in a public service announcement.

"You've already allocated the money - why make people jump through these hoops to give you free visibility? Just donate it all to@GirlsWhoCode up front," @petitegourmande wrote.

Another person made clear that yes, there will be more women making their way in space, but they still seek equal treatment overall.

"My daughter doesn't need #MakeSpaceForWomenI've taught her she can make her own space. Since 12yo she's been working towards being an aerospace engineer. She doesn't need special treatment, just equitable treatment," wrote @Brichtrede.

Others pointed out that Olay's wages aren't so great.@go_barret_go said:

"The CEO of Procter and Gamble (who owns Olay,) makes over 1125x the salary of the warehouse workers he employs... maybe instead of #MakeSpaceForWomen P&G COULD PAY THEIR WORKERS A LIVING WAGE!"

'Make Space For Everyone'

It's still a good cause. Here's Olay's message on its website:

"When we #MakeSpaceForWomen we make space for everyone.

At this year’s big game, OLAY is partnering with Girls Who Code and five fearless women: Busy Philipps, Lilly Singh, Nicole Stott, Taraji P. Henson and Katie Couric to prove there’s enough space… in space… for women.

With every mention of #MakeSpaceForWomen on twitter, OLAY will donate $1 (up to $500,000) to Girls Who Code, an organization that teaches girls how to solve problems, build community and even make robots dance."