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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."

More info: Instagram

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."

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#3

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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.

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Kate Baumann
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@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.

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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."

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"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.

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Leo Domitrix
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait till you hit 50. Menopausal hormones. Adolescence with wrinkles. Oh rapture.

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#8

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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.

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#9

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Monika Soffronow
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's the problem? That teenagers are human beings with their own free will? Only non-teenagers have problems with the way teenagers dress.

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LittleMissLotus
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a teenager, I can say this is pretty much bs. Most of live in oversized T shirts and sweat pants, not tint bralettes lmao

Blinding_Darkness
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in hoodies and jeans, so idk if this is true for everyone. Definitely some people, but not all

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Blinding_Darkness
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think I'm the first one. Not quite a teenager yet but still, u get the point (I'm 12) I refuse to use any form of social media, I hate it. Too many nasty ppl. Bored pandas ok tho, it's nice here.

Black Panther
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me to dude/dudette and dude to notice nasty PPL jus play among us on American public server it is HORRIBLE people are either dating or fighting or calling me N***** they are very bad but bored panda is clean and more happy place .and there is also another website like boredpanda it's called brightside.com it's also pretty clean and lit

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Charl Marx
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is bollocks, I'm 31 and remember some teen girls dressing like this over 15 years ago. Age hasn't got anything to do with it, it's whatever you feel comfortable in, or however you manage to not be pursuaded by peer pressure and the media.

Coco
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so, trying to send a strong "no judgement" message and then goes and judge teenagers... ON HOW THEY LOOK.

CeeJay
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 38 with a 20 yr daughter and she does not feel comfortable with the sexualisation of young people! Jean's... tshirts.. just be comfortable and be u Nor does my son and nephews....it's all very fake. Too much pressure on the young ones to look sexy instead of being just young and happy! If they are genuinely happy then good in them but they are missing out on childhood. Its makes me so sad x

Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not all teenagers look(ed) like this.... there is always a mix of both...

i'll sleep when im dead
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh for f**k's sake! I am so tired of everyone thinking that teenage girls now dress slutty, hook up with every other guy, and are constantly high on heroin! Newsflash, people: THEY DON'T!! Just because a few girls act like that, all of us teens get tarred with the same brush. I'm a teenage girl, and I generally don't like to change out of comfy tracksuit trousers and a big jumper all day. Stereotypes are so annoying! If you think that this is how we all act, then you're the childish ones. Stop whining about how today's teens are all slutty and retarded, and take a good long look at yourself. Quit your judging!

Jayda Estrella
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s because now we have social media, and now there’s so many people to compare to ourselves

Kelz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Riiiiight?? Teenage girls now days look like they are 25, and not an actual teen. Its crazy!!

Joanna
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1. Who cares? 2. I'm also 31 and I remember very short, ugly denim skirts and crop tops. We weren't any"better." The only difference is that today's teenagers have better hair.

Lea S.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never seen a teenager that looks like that and I see hundreds of them every day.

Jagerzamo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank God I never was into the skirt over jeans fashion trend.

NinjaWolfy94
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've not seen a teenager looking like that (second pic) in person since I went to see my cousins and we went to the beach maybe a year ago... I just finished college. (or year 11 and 12 if you will)

Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we just feel more pressure now to look perfect, thats why we dress like this

KillerKiwi
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’d wear both (minus the skirt) so y’all can f**k right off

sylvanticx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i'm glad that in my school, no one cares how u dress. bc i'm not giving up my tshirt and jeans for anything.

NWB
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could've looked great as a teen, if I had GHD's and a youtube makeup tutorial!!!

Colin Mochrie At Its Finest
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I MUST wear the skirt but it's cold. Or, I really want to wear this skirt AND I want to wear the pants but I only have 1 day left to live.

Quinn Nix
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On the left is an example of what my teenage daughter wore in high school, a few years ago. I was surprised then that public schools nowadays allow a bare strip of lower-midriff to show, since they certainly didn't back when I was in high school.

StealTheFruit
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I blame the media. I've had skinny models and most clothes in stores are tight fitting and has holes all over. Nothing fits a realistic female body, from my experience, and that's not the fault of teenagers. <3

GalaxyZo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so true my cuz is 18 see wore belly shirts al the time and so she gave me some cloths that didnt fit 3 belly shirts one was faded the other cant wear till im 16

The Coated Dev
Community Member
4 years ago

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xD yeah, Yk I'm 15 and I like girls with class, I also like tall one's. That's just a preference, I don't really like the ones that show skin a lot yk?

S.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought teenagers were varied individuals who come from different households, cultures, backgrounds, and countries. But nah, ALL of us are the same. (PS: there isn't any shame in wearing the clothes you like)

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CatWoman312
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4 years ago

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Don’t have teenagers or children yet, but when I do and they reach that age I’ll be just like my mom I think. I wouldn’t allow my teenage girl to dress like that. It’s not age appropriate and since men can’t control themselves still It’s for her protection

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#10

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VANILLA
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where are the dogs that run around barking and making as much noise as possible? My dogs do this when my mom is on the call. I think it’s because they hear all the voices

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#11

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S.
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SAME!! Cramps before, during, AND after, I can't ever catch a break smh

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#12

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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!

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Leo Domitrix
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Solutions like what, I wonder? Surgery? Never aging? Never eating? We change as we age. It's normal. Medically speaking, that is.

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Neva Nevičica
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, just like that, just not one hair but a handfull. And that's why i wash my hair separately. :D

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#15

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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.

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#20

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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!

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Okokok!
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#21

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'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!'

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#22

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Daria Z
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish there were 60s again; I love the style and it's perfect for my Twiggy-esque frame...

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#26

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Kathryn Baylis
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#28

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'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?'

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#29

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Kelz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a backwards tan......and the sad thing is, is that some women do this on the daily and THINKS it looks good.

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