Powerful illustration perfectly sums up the pressures women face

LONDON -- You can't do right for doing wrong.

That seems to be the general message that women receive. If you're not being banned for wearing an item of swimwear which covers too much skin, then you're being criticised for showing too much skin. You just can't win.

But clothing is just one of the many pressures women face. That's what journalist and illustrator Daisy Bernard has captured in a powerful illustration about the pressures women face.

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Inspired by the recent illustration pertaining to the burkini ban that also featured a woman of two halves, Bernard paired the illustration with contradictory statements used in conversation with and about women. These include "don't put out on the first date" next to "girls don't like sex"; and "show off your assets" juxtaposed with "girls should cover up".

"I saw the burkini [illustration] and it made me realise that it isn't just [around] clothing that women are set such ridiculous expectations. I had a conversation about it with girls in the office, and we actually found it hard to narrow it down to just four illustrations as there are so many things we're expected to do and be every single day," Bernard told Mashable.

Bernard's illustration has prompted women of all ages to say they can relate to it and that they've experienced every single one of the things mentioned in the illustration. Bernard also said, "There's been quite a few men commenting on how ridiculous it is and how it's just 'a typical example of a woman complaining.' But I guess that kind of just reinforces the 'women can't win' message I was trying to portray. You can't please everyone."