Thin People are Beautiful, But Fat People Are Adorable

Jackie Gleason was not a thin man, but when he is talked about, he is more recognised for his acting and musical work than he is for his weight. I rarely join arguments that have anything to do with eating disorders, or weight issues. People have them, people come in all different shapes and sizes, and no amount of discussion will ever change that. Today I felt the need to say something. Many of you will be familiar with the BBC1 soap, Eastenders. There is currently a character called Abi Branning. The actress who plays her is called Lorna Fitzgerald, she is a keen dancer, and enjoys ballet and tap. She was born in 1996, which, by my calculations would make her 15 years old. Today, somebody posted a facebook status, referring to her as “Abi the chunk”. Now, everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but a grown “man” (and I use the term extremely loosely) calling her a chunk when she is clearly a perfectly healthy size?

In the world of showbiz, people are under constant scrutiny by the invisible forces that pressure us to feel we ought to be 2 sizes smaller than we are, spend silly amounts of time tweezing, waxing, bleaching, straightening, tanning and anything else we can do to change our appearance. Who are these people and why are they telling us to behave this way? Today the Daily Mail posted an article about Gemma Collins, from the ITV show The Only Way is Essex who has recently posed nude for Heat Magazine, declaring that she loves her 17 stone body and the size 20 curves that come with it. Good for her, really good for her, because I know I would never have the confidence to do something as bold. And if she really is happy, then that is a lot more than 90% of the women I know can claim. But as an ambassador for larger women, what kind of message are we sending out? We can ban size 0 models from catwalks, because they’re starving themselves to death, but when somebody who is overweight wants to pose naked, we hold them up as a shining example to the rest of the world.

So now I’ve finished my little rant, I’m aware I am sending rather mixed messages. I know I run the risk of sounding a little bit Mean Girls but please, can’t we all just get along? Guys, don’t comment on a girls body weight. It makes you sound rude, immature and shallow. Especially if that girl is only 15. Girls, you don’t have to be obese and you don’t have to be a stick figure. Find a happy medium, happy being the operative word. Now that is over, I will try really hard not to talk about size issues, because there is far too much of that in the world already.

The sheep are doing well; still no names for the girls, but my cruel, cruel little sister has named the two boys “Lamb” and “Chops”.  I’m thinking maybe Matilda. I used to love that book! Today, I have been re-reading Wide Sargasso Sea for an English essay I have due after the Easter break. I feel like I will never escape Jane Eyre. In other news, Nick Clegg has been urged to pull out of the coalition by one of his own party members. It hasn’t been a good week for him. It has been suggested that Lib Dem MPs around the country are going to lose seats because Nick Clegg has lost supporters. It is a shame, but its also a bit concerning that even his own party are trying to disown him. Do I smell mutiny?

Desperate Housewives?

Day one of sorting my life out and I’m sat in my pyjamas watching children’s TV. How I love the holidays. The lambs are feeding better now too – I’m just looking forward to not needing a shower as soon as I’ve finished giving them the bottle. Still need names for the two girls – I’m thinking maybe Thelma and Louise? There aren’t really too many pairs of girls names, a lot trickier than I thought it would be. The sun is no longer shining, and it actually looks pretty miserable outside. You have to love the British weather.

The reason this is titled “Desperate Housewives” today is because I recently read a news story about David Willetts. The University minister for the UK, Willetts feels that feminism is a huge issue for social mobility. According to Dave, “women who would otherwise have been housewives had taken university places and well-paid jobs that could have gone to ambitious working-class men.”

From Frank Warren's Postsecret

I mean, I understand that there has been a shift in the working demographics for this country, but to blame it entirely on feminism? I am sorry that I have taken such a valuable space in education. He is right, that space could have gone to a man. I’m not particularly fond of feminism. I’m all for women being granted opportunity and equality, but I think people need to remember that there are differences between men and women. And when it all boils down to it, feminism should really be about choice more than anything else. That is when I came across this secret. Postsecret may or may not be something that you are familiar with, but I have been reading every Sunday for as long as I can remember. It is an ongoing community art project where people send in postcards with their secrets on the back of them. This postcard in particular stood out after reading the news story. Sometimes, I agree with Dave on his take on feminism. I think it is sad that clearly some women feel pressured into education because it is naturally the next step. But before the Pankhurst sisters are spinning in their graves, I will say that I am incredibly grateful for the sacrifices they made. It is a shame that people thing feminists only exist in razor dodging lesbians.

This afternoon I have a wonderful friend coming to collect me, who is then going to drive me round and help me find a job. Job searching is so soul destroying, I’m thankful for the company. Also, I think people have now realised if it isn’t free, I won’t be able to join in. I really, really hate being poor. Now for the lunchtime feed – I promise I will get some pictures up while they’re still cute!