Cynthia Nixon goes viral with powerful video about the contradictory messages society gives women

A new video of Cynthia Nixon reciting the countless contradictory messages that women face has given social media users ‘chills,’ with thousands applauding the ‘powerful’ and ‘necessary’ clip.

Cynthia, 53, recorded the video for Girls. Girls. Girls. Magazine, speaking dramatically in front of the camera about all the things women are told to do and be in order to ‘be a lady.’

While images of women flash on the screen, she lists the most common lessons that women are taught, like ‘don’t be too fat’ but ‘don’t be too thin,’ ‘Botox your wrinkles’ but ‘look natural,’ and ‘don’t be a w***e’ but ‘don’t be a prude.’ 

Viral: A new video of Cynthia Nixon reciting the countless contradictory messages that women face has given social media users ‘chills’

The viral video has already been viewed 2.7 million times on Instagram, at least 1.4 million times on Twitter, and 235,000 times on YouTube.

While it was created by Girls. Girls. Girls. Magazine, the words were actually adapted from a December 2017 essay by Camille Rainville called ‘Be a Lady They Said.’ 

Cynthia’s reading has brought a wider audience to the essay, as the Sex and the City star lends gravity to the weighty words.

‘Be a lady, they said,’ she beings. 

‘Your skirt is too short. Your shirt is too low. Don’t show so much skin. Cover up. Leave something to the imagination. Don’t be a temptress. Men can’t control themselves. Men have needs. 

‘Look sexy. Look hot. Don’t be so provocative. You’re asking for it. Wear black. Wear heels. You’re too dressed up. You’re too dressed down. You look like you’ve let yourself go. 

On tape: Cynthia, 53, recorded the video for Girls. Girls. Girls. Magazine , speaking dramatically in front of the camera

The viral video has already been viewed 2.7 million times on Instagram, at least 1.4 million times on Twitter, and 235,000 times on YouTube

On tape: Cynthia, 53, recorded the video for Girls. Girls. Girls. Magazine , speaking dramatically in front of the camera

Message: She lists common lessons that women are taught, like 'don’t be too fat' but 'don’t be too thin,' 'Botox your wrinkles' but 'look natural,' and 'don’t be a w***e' but 'don’t be a prude'

Message: She lists common lessons that women are taught, like ‘don’t be too fat’ but ‘don’t be too thin,’ ‘Botox your wrinkles’ but ‘look natural,’ and ‘don’t be a w***e’ but ‘don’t be a prude’

‘Be a lady, they said,’ she goes on.  

‘Don’t be too fat. Don’t be too thin. Eat up. Slim down. Stop eating so much. Order a salad. Don’t eat carbs. Skip dessert. Go on a diet. 

‘God, you look like a skeleton. Why don’t you just eat? You look emaciated. You look sick. Men like women with some meat on their bones. 

‘Be a size zero. Be a double zero. Be nothing. Be less than nothing.’

‘Be a lady, they said,’ she repeats.

‘Remove your body hair. Bleach this. Bleach that. Eradicate your scars. Cover your stretch marks. Plump your lips. Botox your wrinkles. Lift your face. Tuck your tummy. Perk up your boobs. 

The writer: The words come from a December 2017 essay by Camille Rainville called 'Be a Lady They Said'

The writer: The words come from a December 2017 essay by Camille Rainville called ‘Be a Lady They Said’

‘Look natural. Be yourself. Be genuine. Be confident. You’re trying too hard. You look overdone. Men don’t like girls who try too hard.

‘Be a lady, they said,’ she repeats again. 

‘Wear makeup. Highlight your cheekbones. Line your lids. Fill in your brows. Lengthen your lashes. Color your lips. Powder, blush, bronze, highlight. 

‘Your hair is too short. Dye your hair. Not blue, that looks unnatural.

‘Look young. Old is ugly. Men don’t like ugly.

‘Be a lady, they said,’ she says.

‘Save yourself. Be pure. Don’t be a w***e. Don’t sleep around. Men don’t like sluts. 

‘Don’t be a prude. Don’t be so up tight. Smile more. Pleasure men. Be experienced. Be sexual. Be innocent. Be dirty. Be the cool girl. Don’t be like the other girls.

‘Be a lady, they said. 

Proud: Cynthia shared it on social media, saying she was 'proud to be involved with this powerful film that has struck a chord with so many people around the world'

Proud: Cynthia shared it on social media, saying she was ‘proud to be involved with this powerful film that has struck a chord with so many people around the world’

Celeb fans: Stars also praised the clip, including Debra Messing, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lily Aldridge, Ilana Glazer, Lea DeLaria, and Rosario Dawson

Celeb fans: Stars also praised the clip, including Debra Messing, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lily Aldridge, Ilana Glazer, Lea DeLaria, and Rosario Dawson

‘Don’t talk too loud. Don’t talk too much. Don’t be intimidating. Why are you so miserable? Don’t be a b****. Don’t be so bossy. Don’t be so emotional. Don’t cry. 

‘Don’t yell. Don’t swear. Endure the pain. Don’t complain. 

‘Fold his clothes. Cook his dinner. Keep him happy. That’s a woman’s job. You’ll make a good wife some day. 

‘Take his last name. You hyphenated your name? Crazy feminist. 

‘Give him children. You don’t want children? You will some day. You’ll change your mind.

‘Be a lady, they said. 

‘Don’t get raped. Don’t drink too much. Don’t walk alone. Don’t go out too late. Don’t dress like that. Don’t get drunk. Don’t smile at strangers. 

Moved: Commenters have called it 'brilliant,' 'powerful,' 'amazing,' 'profound,' 'perfect,' and 'necessary.' Several said it gave them chills and even brought them to tears

Moved: Commenters have called it ‘brilliant,’ ‘powerful,’ ‘amazing,’ ‘profound,’ ‘perfect,’ and ‘necessary.’ Several said it gave them chills and even brought them to tears

‘Don’t go out at night. Don’t trust anyone. 

‘Don’t say yes. Don’t say no.

‘Just “be a lady,” they said,’ she concludes.

Since the video was released on February 24, it’s continued to earn attention on various social channels. 

Commenters have called it ‘brilliant,’ ‘powerful,’ ‘amazing,’ ‘profound,’ ‘perfect,’ and ‘necessary.’

Several said it gave them chills and even brought them to tears.

It’s also earned praise from some other celebrities, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Debra Messing, Lily Aldridge, Ilana Glazer, Lea DeLaria, and Rosario Dawson.

‘Proud to be involved with this powerful film that has struck a chord with so many people around the world,’ Cynthia tweeted in response. 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk