Be a lady they said. Your skirt is too short. Your shirt is too low. Your pants are too tight. Don’t show so much skin. Don’t show your thighs. Don’t show your breasts. Don’t show your midriff. Don’t show your cleavage. Don’t show your underwear. Don’t show your shoulders. Cover up. Leave something to the imagination. Dress modestly. Don’t be a temptress. Men can’t control themselves. Men have needs. You look frumpy. Loosen up. Show some skin. 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. Don’t wear those sweatpants; you look like you’ve let yourself go.
Be a lady they said. Don’t be too fat. Don’t be too thin. Don’t be too
large. Don’t be too small. Eat up. Slim down. Stop eating so much. Don’t
eat too fast. Order a salad. Don’t eat carbs. Skip dessert. You need to
lose weight. Fit into that dress. Go on a diet. Watch what you eat. Eat
celery. Chew gum. Drink lots of water. You have to fit into those
jeans. God, you look like a skeleton. Why don’t you just eat? You look
emaciated. You look sick. Eat a burger. Men like women with some meat on
their bones. Be small. Be light. Be little. Be petite. Be feminine. Be a
size zero. Be a double zero. Be nothing. Be less than nothing.
Be a lady they said. Remove your body hair. Shave your legs. Shave your
armpits. Shave your bikini line. Wax your face. Wax your arms. Wax your
eyebrows. Get rid of your mustache. Bleach this. Bleach that. Lighten
your skin. Tan your skin. Eradicate your scars. Cover your stretch
marks. Tighten your abs. Plump your lips. Botox your wrinkles. Lift your
face. Tuck your tummy. Thin your thighs. Tone your calves. Perk up your
boobs. 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. Wear makeup. Prime your face. Conceal your
blemishes. Contour your nose. 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. Your hair is too long.
Your ends are split. Highlight your hair. Your roots are showing. Dye
your hair. Not blue, that looks unnatural. You’re going grey. You look
so old. Look young. Look youthful. Look ageless. Don’t get old. Women
don’t get old. Old is ugly. Men don’t like ugly.
Be a lady they said. Save yourself. Be pure. Be virginal. Don’t talk
about sex. Don’t flirt. Don’t be a skank. Don’t be a whore. Don’t sleep
around. Don’t lose your dignity. Don’t have sex with too many men. Don’t
give yourself away. Men don’t like sluts. Don’t be a prude. Don’t be so
up tight. Have a little fun. Smile more. Pleasure men. Be experienced.
Be sexual. Be innocent. Be dirty. Be virginal. Be sexy. Be the cool
girl. Don’t be like the other girls.
Be a lady they said. Don’t talk too loud. Don’t talk too much. Don’t
take up space. Don’t sit like that. Don’t stand like that. Don’t be
intimidating. Why are you so miserable? Don’t be a bitch. Don’t be so
bossy. Don’t be assertive. Don’t overact. Don’t be so emotional. Don’t
cry. Don’t yell. Don’t swear. Be passive. Be obedient. Endure the pain.
Be pleasing. Don’t complain. Let him down easy. Boost his ego. Make him
fall for you. Men want what they can’t have. Don’t give yourself away.
Make him work for it. Men love the chase. 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. Protect yourself. Don’t drink too
much. Don’t walk alone. Don’t go out too late. Don’t dress like that.
Don’t show too much. Don’t get drunk. Don’t leave your drink. Have a
buddy. Walk where it is well lit. Stay in the safe neighborhoods. Tell
someone where you’re going. Bring pepper spray. Buy a rape whistle. Hold
your keys like a weapon. Take a self-defense course. Check your trunk.
Lock your doors. Don’t go out alone. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t bat
your eyelashes. Don’t look easy. Don’t attract attention. Don’t work
late. Don’t crack dirty jokes. Don’t smile at strangers. Don’t go out at
night. Don’t trust anyone. Don’t say yes. Don’t say no.
Just “be a lady” they said.
Directed by Paul McLean
Words by Camille Rainville
Narrated by Cynthia Nixon
Produced by Claire Rothshein
Post by Mini Content
Music by Louis Souyave
