Secret Deodorant has announced a partnership with Serena Williams to further progress gender equality and pledged an additional $1 million in support of equality programs.
As the archetype of strength, determination and perseverance to achieve her goals and break records, Williams offers her unique experience and perspective as a female athlete and change agent.
To begin, she and Secret are conducting a study on “Gender Inequality in Sports” to explore gender bias and the ways it surfaces at different levels of play, from high school athletics to professional sports.
The partnership includes several campaigns featuring Williams and builds upon the brand’s long-standing efforts and commitment to combating gender inequality. In 2019, Secret contributed more than $1 million to support gender equality, including:
- A $529,000 donation to the United States Women’s National Team Players’ Association to close the gender pay gap in soccer
- The purchase and donation of 9,000 tickets to the National Women’s Soccer League games to equalize game attendance and boost teams’ revenues
- A commitment to the next generation of female athletes via support of the Girls Leading Girls organization
- Public backing of soccer star Carli Lloyd’s NFL ambitions
“It’s very important to me that I use my platform to bring attention to the many issues faced by women in sports and to call for meaningful change,” Williams said. “The Secret brand has been answering that very call for years by taking real action to support female athletes. Sports changed my life and I feel compelled to continue giving back to ensure a brighter future for women in sports. I am incredibly honored to join forces with Secret and look forward to partnering closely to further the fight for gender equality for all athletes.”
“There are so many issues women have to sweat––from fewer opportunities, balancing a burgeoning career with family plans, to earning wages that are fair and sustainable,” Sara Saunders, associate brand director at Secret, said. “In partnership with [Williams]––one of the world’s foremost athletes and an icon of strength––we are eager to further explore into how these inequalities play out in sports and work together to effect tangible progress.”
“At [Procter & Gamble], we believe an equal world is a better world for all of us,” Carolyn Tastad, group president, North America and executive sponsor, gender equality at P&G, said. “We are committed to using our brand voices to help spark conversations, change mindsets and drive real societal change. Secret has been a strong supporter of women for decades––igniting important conversations around equality––and I am incredibly proud of the work they are doing to advance gender equality in sports and beyond.”
