Dream Big: Why Women Give Up on Their Dreams

Recently in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city, children partnered with local personalities including home-grown international singer & songwriter Yuna, actors Awal Ashaari and Aaron Aziz, YouTuber Jinnyboy, beauty queen Soo Wincci and even national SEA Games gold medallist gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, to inspire Malaysians to “Dream Big” on social media. These conversations transpired from startling insights from the First ever Global Dreams Index Survey. 

SK-II Dream Big: Why Women Give Up on Their Dreams?

The first Global Dreams Index Survey conducted by SK-II uncovered alarming results; half the world’s female population have given up on dreams and are not satisfied with their current lives. These results has also inspired SK-II to create the heartwarming “Dream Again | SK-II #changedestiny” film.

Kids made surprise visit to Hitz.fm to have “Dream Conversations” with radio deejay Sher National SEA Games gold medallist gymnast Farah Ann came alongside SK-II in this campaign to inspire fans and fellow teammates to continue to dream big.

The sentiment in Asia was even more alarming with women becoming less satisfied with their lives as they grow older. The survey of 5,400 women in 14 countries across six continents found similar results in Malaysia, with six out of 10 women neither pursuing their dreams nor satisfied with their lives.

Key barriers to pursuing childhood dreams in Malaysia included limited financial support fear of going out of one’s comfort zone and not fitting traditional definitions of success. In contrast, the results highlighted 82% of women around the world who pursue their dreams were satisfied with life and strongly identified personal definition of success with “doing what you love.”

Dream Again | SK-II #changedestiny

The knowledge that dreams fade with age and adults who still dream are happier than those don’t inspired SK-II to create the “Dream Again | SK-II #changedestiny” film – a social experiment featuring children – who are still full of dreams as surprise counselors for dreamless adults.

Throughout the film it becomes clear how societal limitations and  feelings of low self-esteem are preventing many women from pursuing their dreams; interviews voice how they drifted away from childhood dreams as they grew up and life responsibilities became more demanding. At the end of the film’s experiment, the ‘adult expert’ revealed as a cover for little girls hidden behind cameras and earpieces. The dramatic unveil puts the women face-to-face with smiling children who remind them, in simple yet powerful words of encouragement, to never give up on the dreams.

“The #changedestiny campaign challenges the belief that destiny is set at birth and celebrates women who have gone beyond limitations to achieve success,” said Markus Strobel, President Global SK-II. “By encouraging women to pursue to their dreams and empowering them to overcome personal and societal limitations, we hope to inspire more to change their destiny.”

At the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, Farah Ann made Malaysia proud by winning six medals despite undesirable comments thrown her way – a feat that not many athletes have achieved. Farah Ann, said, “To my fans and fellow teammates, continue to dream big, always believe in yourself and never give up in pursuing your dreams. It is very important to have a goal and to accomplish that goal. Always remember, it is never too late for you to achieve your dreams.”

Winner of multiple music accolades including Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 2014’s Best Music Vedio Yuna echoed this sentiment, encouraging her fans. “Remember, never give up on your dreams. We have no idea what the future holds but the only thing that really stops us from achieving our dreams is ourselves. Continue to dream big and work hard, you never know what life has in store for you.”