‘There’s a claustrophobia within a love sustained by friendship and respect’
‘There’s a claustrophobia within a love sustained by friendship and respect’

Sarah Gill

My Life in Culture: Media and Communication Studies lecturer Dr. Susan Liddy
My Life in Culture: Media and Communication Studies lecturer Dr. Susan Liddy

Sarah Finnan

10 unique Irish stays for something a little different this summer
10 unique Irish stays for something a little different this summer

Sarah Gill

A Derry home, full of personality and touches of fun, proves the power of embracing colour
A Derry home, full of personality and touches of fun, proves the power of embracing...

Megan Burns

The rise of the tennis aesthetic (thank you Zendaya)
The rise of the tennis aesthetic (thank you Zendaya)

Sarah Finnan

Rodial founder Maria Hatzistefanis: 15 lessons in business
Rodial founder Maria Hatzistefanis: 15 lessons in business

Holly O'Neill

PODCAST: Season 3, Episode 4: Trinny Woodall of Trinny London
PODCAST: Season 3, Episode 4: Trinny Woodall of Trinny London

IMAGE

Ask the Doctor: ‘Is a Keto diet safe, or could it raise my cholesterol?’
Ask the Doctor: ‘Is a Keto diet safe, or could it raise my cholesterol?’

Sarah Gill

Sarah Jessica Parker loves Ireland and we love her
Sarah Jessica Parker loves Ireland and we love her

Sarah Finnan

Chocolatey browns are our new favourite interiors fix
Chocolatey browns are our new favourite interiors fix

Megan Burns

Image / Editorial

WATCH: this must-see video shows just how much pressure women are under every day


By Grace McGettigan
24th Feb 2020

Cynthia Nixon for Girls. Girls. Girls. Magazine

WATCH: this must-see video shows just how much pressure women are under every day

Cynthia Nixon for Girls. Girls. Girls. Magazine

A new video created by ‘Girls. Girls. Girls.’ magazine highlights just how much pressure women are placed under every single day (and how conflicting these messages can be)


“Don’t be too fat. Don’t be too thin. Eat up. Slim down. Stop eating so much. Don’t eat too fast. Order a salad. Don’t eat carbs. You need to lose weight. Go on a diet. God, you look like a skeleton. Why don’t you just eat? You look sick. Eat a burger. Men like women with some meat on their bones. Be light. Be little. Be petite. Be feminine.”

Speaking the words of Camille Rainville, this new video by Girls. Girls. Girls. magazine shows Cynthia Nixon narrating all the ways society puts pressure on women. From how we look, to how we interact with others, the video covers the many conflicting ways in which we are expected to present ourselves to the world.

“Be a lady they said. Don’t talk too loud. Don’t talk too much. Don’t be intimidating. Why are you so miserable? Don’t be a bitch. Don’t be so bossy. Don’t be so emotional. Don’t cry. Don’t yell. Don’t swear.

“You’ll make a good wife someday. Take his last name. You hyphenated your name? Crazy feminist. Give him children. You don’t want children? You will someday. You’ll change your mind.”

The video, directed by Paul McLean, is a disturbingly powerful watch. See it in full below:

Be a Lady They Said from Paul McLean on Vimeo.

Feature photo: Girls. Girls. Girls

Want more videos like this straight to your inbox? Sign up to the IMAGE newsletter here. (It takes less than a minute!)


Read more: Internalised sexism: how to spot it and how to undo it

Read more: We live in a world designed for men – from smartwatches to spacesuits

Read more: Marian Finucane: 5 of her most maverick moments