“Be a Lady They Said” is a feminist video that has recently gone viral. The video is intense, and it deals with the unnecessary social sexist pressures women face every day. On it, American actress Cynthia Nixon discusses the phrases and comments that women listen to and put up with daily about how they must be and about how they must behave to fit into society.

In this sense, this powerful feminist video intends to highlight and break up stereotypes and sexist comments. This initiative proves how feminist movements around the world continue to gain strength because all the time there are more and more women interested in fighting for equality and for eradicating violence against them. In addition, every day there are more people interested in denouncing the patriarchal system that suppresses the rights of women.

In the video, Nixon explains that the sexist comments against women do not come only from individuals, but also from advertising, television, movies, magazines, the media, among others. It begins by talking the exhausting and never-ending critiques women receive about their clothing: “Be a lady, they said. Your skirt is very short. Your blouse is very small. Don’t show so much skin. Get covered. Leave something to the imagination. Do not tempt them. Men cannot behave. Men have needs,” are just some of the very accurate phrases that Nixon remarks in the Girls Girls Girls magazine video.

The video also addresses some of the body stereotypes that society demands from women like weight and surgeries. It highlights many of the criticisms that women receive about their sexual life: “Be demure. Be pure. Do not be anyone. Do not have casual sex. Men don’t like sluts. Smile more. Pleasure men,” among others.

The words of the American actress have shocked because each of these comments are part of the reality of many women daily. We constantly have criticisms, stereotypes and gender roles imposed on us throughout our lives. In that sense, this video is relevant because it seeks to achieve social awareness, as well as fight against archaic gender stereotypes.

Taking into account that today, on 8 March, we celebrate the International Women’s Day, this video constitutes a perfect opportunity to reflect upon the many challenges women face every day.