March 8 is not just about spring and tenderness—it's a day of solidarity for women around the world fighting for equal rights and emancipation. In honor of this day, we’ve gathered some of the most impactful, bold, and inventive videos from recent years that tackle feminism, gender equality, and the stereotypes still attached to women in today’s society.
Cynthia Nixon for Girls. Girls Girls
The Sex and the City star, politician, and director Cynthia Nixon appeared in a video for Girls magazine titled Girls Girls, which sparked global conversation in late February. In it, the actress reads a manifesto addressing the contradictory stereotypes women encounter daily. Her monologue draws from a 2017 text by student Camille Rainville—a piece that remains strikingly relevant.
Madonna for Vogue
Three years ago, to mark International Women’s Day, singer Madonna and German Vogue released a short black-and-white feminist film called Her Story: Women Who Fight for Their Rights. The video unfolds in eight scenes, each capturing a phase of the feminist revolution. Clocking in at nearly 13 minutes, it’s well worth your time.
Elle
In 2015, the editors of British Elle magazine created a feminist video to illustrate why women’s rights advocacy matters. The first frame shows a photograph of some of today’s most influential women surrounded by men. The next frame reveals what happens when all the men are “cut out” of the image—a stark reminder of how few prominent positions women actually occupy in society.
H&M
H&M is known for its provocative ads, and one standout is a 2016 video where women, set to the iconic song She’s a Lady, behave exactly as they please, defying societal norms: they don’t worry about body weight, lounge in relaxed poses on the subway, eat fast food, flex their biceps, choose dark lipstick, and wear men’s suits. Among the participants are actress Lauren Hutton, model Adwoa Aboah, singer Gillian Hervey, and trans actress Hari Nef.
La Semaine Paris
The famous French clothing brand released a series of videos tackling stereotypes women still face. Titled “Women have no ambition,” “Women are weak,” “Women can’t drive,” and “Women get crazy during menstruation,” each ends with an empowering message about the strength, intelligence, and ambition of modern women.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by La Semaine Paris (@lasemaineparis) on Mar 4, 2020 at 7:51am PST
