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30 Honest And Relatable Comics Exploring Societal Standards By Lainey Molnar (New Pics)
Interview With Artist
Lainey Molnar is an artist that explores topics of masculinity and femininity in honest and empowering comics. In her illustrations, she talks about body image, stereotypes, motherhood, freedom of choice and many other resonating themes that many people, especially women, can relate to.
Scroll down for some candid illustrations. Lainey's work has been featured on Bored Panda before, so if you'd like to see the previous parts, make sure to click here, here, here and here.
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Bored Panda reached out to Lainey again to get to know more about her creative process. We asked her where she gets inspiration and motivation for her work. The artist replied that besides getting inspired by her own experience as a woman, she also follows a variety of content creators from psychologists, spiritual pages, body-positive influencers, mom influencers, and other inspiring people to "understand more about matters thousands or even millions of women go through."
Yep...My wife was going somewhere (can't remember, its been awhile.) Anyway, she was putting on makeup and doing her hair and such, and I ask her why. She said that since she has been working from home, she kinda misses getting "made up" ( not that she needs it. I think shes fine in sweats and her hair rolled in a bun) and it makes feel good...she was doing it for herself and not anyone else. I just always thought it was a chore that she would rather not deal with.
Since the majority of Lainey's illustrations are about women, we got curious whether she receives some feedback from men that are following her on social media. The artist replied that only 5% of her audience is men and she has experienced two kinds of interactions with them on different ends of a spectrum. "Some men are really warm and kind and express their support and understanding, ask about what they can do better, or tell me that they are having conversations about the topics I bring up with their families or friends. On the other hand, unfortunately, the majority of comments and messages from men are deeply misogynistic or they are trying to force aggressive arguments. Nothing I engage in, we are clearly not on the same page."
Lainey revealed that she receives countless requests from teachers from all over the world to get permission to print out her illustrations for their classrooms, which shows that this medium seems to express a message very well.
The artist shared that if all goes well, she's going to start writing her book very soon! "Besides being an illustrator and content creator I’m also an author (my first book came out in my native Hungarian in 2014) and it’s time to share my story along with drawings and the wisdom I picked up about womanhood over the years!"
I honestly don’t get why people got so upset over Ariel’s casting. The only part of her racial identity that has significance in the story is the fact that she’s a mermaid. I guess it could be a nostalgia thing but honestly you’d be better off sticking to the original in that case.
The secret is to just run from these people. Edit just to clarify that I don’t condone this in any way, just saying that it seems like it could very easily become dangerous here. Secondary edit: By not condoning this I was referring to the dude's behaviour
Now at 42 I wear all the dresses I wouldn't have before. And I feel fabulous, better than ever!
Exactly! Whatever you need to do to get by! (Or even just whatever you need to do to feel good).
Same for masculinity! I’m a trans guy who likes wearing dresses and skirts sometimes and that makes me no less of a guy. It just makes me one who has a slightly more feminine gender expression.
There are men who look downright gorgeous in skirts or dresses. Women have fought for wearing "men wear" a.k.a trousers. It's time men fight for the acceptance for wearing "women wear". Clothes have no gender. Edit: Men should wear skirts/dresses when they want to, not when it looks good, of course. That first sentence was just an observation that I made over the years. Perhaps the gorgeousness came from the *selfsureness* (sorry, don't know the right word in English) they had
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I somewhat disagree. Femininity and masculinity are two different ways of presenting (though it should be noted that one can present as both), people can be masc/fem no matter their gender and it doesn't make their gender any less valid. These are simply descriptors! Although, they are defined by dated societal norms, and it feels a little unproductive to put everyone's style under labeled boxes.
Why's there even a need for femininity or a difference between what is and what is not in the first place? Both of them are women and look great in their preferred style, that's all what should matter.
I don't know dear, but when I was growing up it seemed to me that femininity was a limitation arbitrarily imposed to stop me doing or wearing things, with no actual logic behind it. Half a century later I see no reason to change that definition. On the contrary I expand it to include masculinity.
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People are as diverse as grains of sand are many I wish we could just let people be!
Clothes are clothes, anyone should be able to wear whatever they like without any judgement.
I will note that both seem to have heavy makeup and earrings/jewelry, just not the same types. I shaved my head for years and didn't wear earrings (skin sensitivity) and I don't like makeup. The right image looks very feminine because the face looks feminine.
As long as she has makeup and a symmetrical and feminine face, apparently.
THIS! I am the right, I like street style clothing, comfort is priority, but I also love doing makeup and getting different ear piercings.
Whatever makes u feel masculine is masculine. I'm a woman who sometimes wants to have a more masculine style. I've felt masculine while wearing a skirt sometimes, and feminine while wearing sweatpants. It's not the clothes that matter. All you have to do is look at yourself in the mirror and say "wow, nice, I'm looking feminine/masculine/androgynous today" and you can feel however you want in terms of gender expression
Shaved my female head for the fun of it. One year later, still going. Absolutely 💯 liberating
Women's jeans suck, no pockets.....men's jeans aren't nearly as comfortable though. The true dilemma of clothing XD
Feminine and Masculine are cultural then the second image is a women dressed as a man.
I draw a lot of portraits and one of my favorite things about it is seeing the different ways people can be beautiful.
Can someone remove this Sarah Elizabeth and her/his.\/their blatant scam promotion? (I reported it twice already)
If Aphrodite can have belly rolls and still be the most beautiful goddess, I can too!
Ahh... Lelo... the sex toys that, with one look you know... maaaybe you don't need the Rolls-Royce of vibrators... (seriously. Crazy. Craaaazy overpriced).
Note: this post originally had 32 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
love how bps censors are trying their hardest not to censor this
I freaking love all the diversity in these comics. Absolutely amazing
Genuinely curious, but are there any comics like this for men? I tried looking it up, but didn't find any. All that showed up in google was superhero stuff, or politics
These are all so amazingly cathartic to read . We all need these affirmations.
I dont like how the focus is made on male vs female. I agree there's statistics relevance for it, but it take aways the core of the problem and focus it on gender rater than the problem. For exemple "harassment is not tolerable and should not be shameful for the harassed person" is really different from the statement "women harassment is not tolerable and should..." both are true, but one put the problem on gender and not behavior!
Gosh yes. All those smiling female faces just *scream* bitterness.
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Then make a comic about all these experiences as men! Other people - or group - having a shared experience doesn't invalidate anyone's. Thanks for your opinion :)
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love how bps censors are trying their hardest not to censor this
I freaking love all the diversity in these comics. Absolutely amazing
Genuinely curious, but are there any comics like this for men? I tried looking it up, but didn't find any. All that showed up in google was superhero stuff, or politics
These are all so amazingly cathartic to read . We all need these affirmations.
I dont like how the focus is made on male vs female. I agree there's statistics relevance for it, but it take aways the core of the problem and focus it on gender rater than the problem. For exemple "harassment is not tolerable and should not be shameful for the harassed person" is really different from the statement "women harassment is not tolerable and should..." both are true, but one put the problem on gender and not behavior!
Gosh yes. All those smiling female faces just *scream* bitterness.
Load More Replies... Then make a comic about all these experiences as men! Other people - or group - having a shared experience doesn't invalidate anyone's. Thanks for your opinion :)
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