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31-Year-Old Independent, Modern Woman Draws Comics On Her Observations About Society
31-year-old Lainey Molnar is on a mission to empower women, and she's using her creative expression to do so. Molnar creates honest comics that cut through all of the filters and focus on women's role in society and the way it perceives them.
"I believe that the pressure on women comes from both inside our own community and outside, be it family, media, or men," the artist told Bored Panda. "It is incredibly hard to navigate all of their expectations and reach the milestones society has set out for us, like maintaining the perfect size and shape, being maternal but also ambitious, strong but also sensitive, staying youthful and fresh while gracefully accepting the aging process, looking ideal but not overdoing plastic surgery. I could go on and on and on, and we are all so tired of this."
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You could say the series was a long time in the making. Molnar, who is from Hungary and works as a digital business strategist, deals with content creators and women-owned businesses to align their goals with their social media, facilitating growth. "I started my career as my country's first personal blogger and ran my blog and the fashion store attached to it for almost 8 years, wrote a guidebook for powerful women, and I also wrote for women's magazines."
Drawing and art in general has been Molnar's hobby for over two decades now. "After my blogging days, I stepped away from the limelight because of the habitual online harassment I received, so when [the place I live in] went into lockdown [due to the pandemic] earlier this year, I decided to create a comic-style avatar for myself and started posting drawings about her to process what I'm going through (or all of us go through) as a woman under the pressure of society and just simply... life."
It’s 2020 can we stop telling woman how to dress their own bodies already? No matter where we are on the scale from tatas out to modest - judgement, sexual assault, objectification, catcalling, accidental pregnancy, broken heart, and disrespect can happen to every single one of us. The way we dress mirror our personalities, moods, beliefs, and comfort zones, not out moral backgrounds. You do you.
@Petra Christovová, It's not that everything Islam is women-empowering, it's that normally Muslim women aren't perceived as confident, empowered women. This artist was showing people that they too can be confident and empowered. I hope I cleared things up.
Great job at standing up to a judgemental comment, Kate Baumann.
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Hm ... hm ... I'm a bit ambivalent about clothing that follows religious (or otherwise sexist) rules, as this may be a free choice in one country, mandatory in another, and mandatory with cruel & unusual punishment elsewhere ... opposing dresscodes of that kind isn't doing anything valuable in itself, but sometimes may be needed to gain the opportunity to chose freely...
i love how she set a muslimah as an example... some people thing hijab opresses women, but the truth is, they wear it because they want to and cuz they feel safer... hijab is a crown for muslims rather than a peice of cloth.... so its the best feeling in the world for me when i wear it
In many countries they wear it because if they don't they will be killed, beaten, or imprisoned.
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In a liberal country, a woman should be allowed to wear whatever she pleases, however, in no way should we turn a blind eye to the fact what she is wearing is symbolic of one of the most repressive religions on earth. In many ways, it is like sincerely wearing a Nazi outfit, wearing it symbolizes her agreement and tacit approval of the harassment and bigotry of everything not Muslim. There is no Muslim country that is tolerant. There is no Muslim country in which women are "empowered". In many Islamic countries it is illegal to be gay, and often fatally so.
Both of the women doesn't look like empowered to me. Both just privileged. Not unordinary, not unique, not creative and not powerful. The one is just an ordinary fashion follower, spends lots of time just for the ''look''. Other one is just highly privileged person who lives in Islam-dominated country. Lots of them she can't wear that shoe and that style of headscarf. If real believer of Islam which is non-reformed, very strict religion, she wouldn't spend that time and money for her ''look'' also the clothes and headscarf would be completely different. In my opinion both two women is not free and really liberated.
Because she is wearing what SHE wants to wear. >:(
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Some extremists do it "because Islam said so" But actually Islam does not promote violence. Sadly they still don't listen and keep messing with others. But please dont judge Islam by the horrible people, but judge the religion itself. no religion is immune to bad peeps
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Thats the whole point though isnt it... why the f**k should how we choose to dress have consequences? When you get dressed in the morning do you wonder whether a red tie might give your assistant 'the wrong idea'? Do you wonder whether the brown leather shoes sends the wrong message about 'what kind of man you are'? Women have the right to simply be without other people "perceiving" them as anything other than a human being.
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some people wear hijab because they feel confident in it, ya know
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What's wrong with wearing hijab? Yes, it is bad that there are some countries where women are forced to wear one, but if they are allowed to make their own choice, it's all right. You do you, that's what this post is about.
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Throughout her career, Molnar has always been a supporter of no-shame talks surrounding stigmatized topics like mental illness, adult friendships (or the lack of them), not wanting children, and failing and getting back up again. "The idea to start drawing about the vulnerability that is actually our biggest strength came naturally to me. I think us women (womxn, actually) need to stick together to break the barriers and push these topics so far that eventually, nobody would even question 'alternative' life choices that are out of our control anymore."
"At the end of the day, they don't hurt anyone. Going against the grain when it comes to societal standards and still being happy and content can take away the sense of control from people who align with these standards and I believe that's why they're judging, because suddenly their system isn't foolproof and that can be scary."
Molnar said she has empathy for these people too but she strongly believes that it's time to normalize women's choices, whatever they might be.
Always glad to see harry potter. BTW my Patronus is an Occamey.
Wait till you hit 50. Menopausal hormones. Adolescence with wrinkles. Oh rapture.
Life choices don’t range from wrong to right based on societal expectations. The last 30 or so years the world turned upside down - the internet, social media, dating apps, remote work, digital nomads, startups, cheap air travel, EU, globalization, and the cracking of the glass ceiling raised generations of women whose priority isn’t marriage or children. We are the 30-something Lost Boys, half of our friends our age buy houses and raise families and the other half is still at school, figuring themselves out. There’s a constant pressure of missing out on something and the constant validation of freedom. It’s sometimes incredibly lonely, but the privilege of sleeping in, going out, and traveling on a whim is super rewarding. No matter how you decide to live your life, or no matter what life decides for you, give everyone else respect and compassion, because we’re all doing our best.
I always launghed at the “your metabolism will change with age” type of comments and now I’m unbuttoning my pants at dinner. Ps. This post has nothing to do with nutrition, diets, and workouts, I know this is a complex issue that has solutions, but that doesn’t make aging less cruel lol. But anyway, both are lovely, perfect bodies and they’re worthy of love and care!
Solutions like what, I wonder? Surgery? Never aging? Never eating? We change as we age. It's normal. Medically speaking, that is.
Yes, just like that, just not one hair but a handfull. And that's why i wash my hair separately. :D
It took me a while to learn that people who expect happiness from anything that can be taken away from them any moment are the furthest from it. Beautiful things and experiences are so easy to get used to but the problem with them is that they’re never enough, there’s always more and bigger and newer and fancier and there are always people who do better than you. If you base your value on things you own, they will end up owning you. The “perfect” life we are sold on social media is a sad one full of denial, distractions, and unresolved traumas. Appreciate nice things for what they are, just things. The truly great things in life are really fucking simple.
I always feel like a monster when I say I simply prefer adults at all times, but what can I do about it? Us women are all different, with different desires, preferences, and life goals, and for some being a mother is none of them - at the time or at all. But as we all are nurturing in one way or another, a childless woman can contribute so much to making the world better and we’re running on more sleep to do so. Love to mamas and love to kidless ladies, we all deserve to follow our hearts without judgement!
The world is still changing, not everybody would be OK with the single, childless, independent woman - mostly by projecting old fashioned life standards on their environment; "how dare you are alone, free-spirited, and on top even happy with your life!? This cannot be true, you cannot be satisfied with such a life..." Overheard such things many, many times (mostly women bitching women). On the other hand childless people (don't make a difference tween men and women) are putting themselves into the position of criticizing (most often) single moms when they are experiencing a child mid-breakdown. That breaks my heart, too, as nobody really knows what kind of situation this mom (or dad) has to actually overcome atm. It's not only a crying / screaming child... there is always more beneath the surface... Just make your view on life a bit more permissive would make this place a better one for sure.
'CAN WE TALK ABOUT BUTT SWEAT?? I can’t sit pretty in this heatwave without leaving a puddle wherever I go. I think my worst performance was a job interview about 10 years ago when I promptly jumped up to shake hands and left two dripping thigh marks on the leather chair, then made eye contact with the interviewer after he saw it. He was horrified. I didn’t get the job
Anyway, it is what it is. Ladies in shorts and skirts, please tell me I’m not alone!'
Live and let live. You wanna do push-ups? Knock yourself out, sweetie. Just don’t try to push the rest of us to do them too. If we want to, we will. If not, we’ll tell you you’re doing great and leave it at that.
'Every single time!! I hug guys with my head bent back like an exorcism patient and still get stains on their shirts, so I started yelling “No no I don’t want to get makeup on you” when hugs are initiated. They usually say “I don’t care” but I feel mortified. Anyone else?'
The post about not wanting kids? In some cultures it's like a sin to not want kids. Often time girls get pressured or shamed into having kids. Not wanting kids should be a norm, not something that people give you a double look for! I'm not a girl, but stop making us childless people explain ourselves - we can be unmarried, childless, and happy.
I AGREE!!! I don't want it have kids, I'm sterile and i would rather change a guy, than change my mind. But it's soooo frustrating, when I hear all the f time "you will change your mind". Stop. Just stop. Accept people the way they are. I'm not walking around people and talking about tattoos or saying, that they will change their minds and get one. I respect others, their opinions and their choices. Do same or go home
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I like the drawing style, it's stylised, yet realistically convincing. Also, she (her character at least) kind of reminds me of Rihanna.
Love the realistic "non-cartoonish" style and the ever pertinent messages to all women.
Really pretty art style, and I love how this comic has a mostly non-judgemental vibe compared to a lot of other "relatable" comics
i thought this would be another "im not like other girls #relatable" comic post... was not, thank goodness!
most of these r so relatable like anna waking up for elsa's coronation day.
Empowering comes from within, not from someone else. So does pressure. Internalizing what you *think* others are saying/thinking about you is what needs to be met with, recognized, accepted, and overcome.
I'm jus saying are u sarcastically saying they are amazing?? Just asking no offense
Load More Replies... I heard about a girl who was going to get a sterilization, because she didn't want children. On the day the (male) doctor arrived with his nurses in tow and asked her if she was sure, that she wouldn't regret it. She answered "No but it is better than if I had a child and regretted that" She told, that the nurses tried not to grin so that he would hear them.
The heroine is thin and archetypically 'pretty', which is ironic given the theme.
The post about not wanting kids? In some cultures it's like a sin to not want kids. Often time girls get pressured or shamed into having kids. Not wanting kids should be a norm, not something that people give you a double look for! I'm not a girl, but stop making us childless people explain ourselves - we can be unmarried, childless, and happy.
I AGREE!!! I don't want it have kids, I'm sterile and i would rather change a guy, than change my mind. But it's soooo frustrating, when I hear all the f time "you will change your mind". Stop. Just stop. Accept people the way they are. I'm not walking around people and talking about tattoos or saying, that they will change their minds and get one. I respect others, their opinions and their choices. Do same or go home
Load More Replies... I like the drawing style, it's stylised, yet realistically convincing. Also, she (her character at least) kind of reminds me of Rihanna.
Love the realistic "non-cartoonish" style and the ever pertinent messages to all women.
Really pretty art style, and I love how this comic has a mostly non-judgemental vibe compared to a lot of other "relatable" comics
i thought this would be another "im not like other girls #relatable" comic post... was not, thank goodness!
most of these r so relatable like anna waking up for elsa's coronation day.
Empowering comes from within, not from someone else. So does pressure. Internalizing what you *think* others are saying/thinking about you is what needs to be met with, recognized, accepted, and overcome.
I'm jus saying are u sarcastically saying they are amazing?? Just asking no offense
Load More Replies... I heard about a girl who was going to get a sterilization, because she didn't want children. On the day the (male) doctor arrived with his nurses in tow and asked her if she was sure, that she wouldn't regret it. She answered "No but it is better than if I had a child and regretted that" She told, that the nurses tried not to grin so that he would hear them.
The heroine is thin and archetypically 'pretty', which is ironic given the theme.
