The Super Bowl commercial that got me, of course, was the Audi commercial. It shows a line of kids soapbox car racing and one of them is a girl. A man’s voice comes on: “What do I tell my daughter? Do I tell her that her grandpa is worth more than her grandma? That her dad is worth more than her mom? Do I tell her that despite her education, her drive, her skills, her intelligence, she will be valued as less than any man she ever meets? Or maybe I will be able to tell her something different.”
Audi America’s 2017 Super Bowl commercial.
And then the screen goes black with just these words in white: Audi of America is committed to equal pay for equal work. Progress for everyone.”
Yes, progress for everyone. I’m sure my parents never dreamed that their daughter and her peers in 2017 would only be making 80 cents for every dollar a man makes.
When I think of my daughter and what it will be like for her peers, I have to hope that it will be $1 for every $1 a man makes. Because if it isn’t, if I’ve taught her that she can be anything, then have I failed her?
By the way, Audi America has some work to do. It’s leadership team listed on its website: 12 men, 2 women.
