Like many people, I had a scroll through the Daily Mail website during yesterday's lunch hour in order to see what people were wearing to this year's Ladies' Day at Aintree. I won't post a link to the article as it's pretty predictable, ending with readers (anonymously) insulting people's chosen attire. Luckily, I also came across this article by Stephanie Heneghan which sums up my feelings on the matter perfectly.
A day later, however, and I just can't shake off my feelings of anger. Since when was publishing deliberately bad photos of women (as one commenter observed) in order to spark a string of hurtful insults a valid career choice? And as for the comments themselves, I appreciate we're all entitled to an opinion but where do we draw the line? You wouldn't shout at a woman in the street because you didn't like her fake tan (well not if you're a decent human being) so why does the Daily Mail make it okay for us to do so online?
Women really cannot win. If we don't make an effort we're seen as lazy and committing a crime against femininity however if we dare to show a bit of personality through our style then, as Stephanie points out, we're publicly ridiculed. But there's a happy medium you say? I'm sure there is however when society continuously changes its idea of what's desirable in a woman, this 'happy medium' gets increasingly difficult to achieve.
Considering beauty is so very subjective, how about people just shut the hell up and stop criticizing the ladies of Liverpool for being too damn fabulous.
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Sunday, 11 March 2012
I am a bad feminist
I seem to pick and choose when I want to fight the cause. I hate gender stereotypes yet I fully embrace the one given to me (shopping and pink cocktails? Hell YEAH). I have issues with strip clubs but I've taken a couple of pole dancing classes myself (definitely no hidden talent there). I can't stand guys who pass judgement on a woman's body, as if being slightly bigger without covering up is a crime against femininity, however I look longingly at the skinny models in my magazines all the time. I fully accept that sexual harassment is a serious issue although I wouldn't mind being wolf whistled at once in a while. And you know what? There's nothing wrong with any of those things. Because that's what feminism comes down to- choice.
On a very basic level it's finally giving women the choice between forging ahead with their career or staying at home with children (although we're still not quite there with that one). On another level it's also about embracing the other choices we may wish to make. We talk about respect and equality yet too many women (and men) seem intent on reserving these 'privileges' for those who hold very specific views about how a woman should express her desire for equal status.
I am a feminist. I also have the right to decide what I deem to be sexual harassment, whether or not pole dancing constitutes a legitimate past time and how I feel about the sex industry. I appreciate the arguments surrounding these issues however I am quite capable of coming up with my own views without sacrificing my feminist values.
When the internal arguments so often alienate people from the cause why do we continue to make them our focus? I'm not saying we should all suddenly sacrifice our beliefs in the interests of getting along; I love a healthy debate as much as the next person. However debate is the operative word here. This shouldn't be a one way dialogue and listening is just as important as making your views known. By enforcing your beliefs on others, no matter how passionate you feel about them, you're already in the same territory as the so-called oppressors who have done so for years (granted your views may have women's best interests at heart however the principal's pretty much the same).
When will we finally say to women that it's okay to be unsure? Feminism throws up some tricky issues and I'd much prefer someone spent time thinking about where their beliefs sit and what they are comfortable with rather than shunning certain activities simply because feminism says they're bad.
I love that women's rights and 'issues' are often in the spotlight and I think it's so important to keep them there. I don't, however, like the assumption that all feminists should hold the same views on a range of issues just because we happen to have one view in common. As Cate Sevilla says, "Equality is not a sisterhood of women who agree on everything". Provided women are in an environment that allows them to make an informed choice (eg. not forced into the sex industry due to being economically disadvantaged) I think we can agree to disagree in a lot of cases.
In the words of Caitlin Moran (I will never stop quoting this woman): "the purpose of feminism isn't to make a particular type of woman...You know what? Feminism will have all of you". So let's stop with the judgement, the belittling and the snobbery. Go right ahead and book a burlesque lesson, wear an indecently short skirt, dress up as a sexy nurse for a fancy dress party- just don't do it out of a sense of duty as a woman.
On a very basic level it's finally giving women the choice between forging ahead with their career or staying at home with children (although we're still not quite there with that one). On another level it's also about embracing the other choices we may wish to make. We talk about respect and equality yet too many women (and men) seem intent on reserving these 'privileges' for those who hold very specific views about how a woman should express her desire for equal status.
I am a feminist. I also have the right to decide what I deem to be sexual harassment, whether or not pole dancing constitutes a legitimate past time and how I feel about the sex industry. I appreciate the arguments surrounding these issues however I am quite capable of coming up with my own views without sacrificing my feminist values.
When the internal arguments so often alienate people from the cause why do we continue to make them our focus? I'm not saying we should all suddenly sacrifice our beliefs in the interests of getting along; I love a healthy debate as much as the next person. However debate is the operative word here. This shouldn't be a one way dialogue and listening is just as important as making your views known. By enforcing your beliefs on others, no matter how passionate you feel about them, you're already in the same territory as the so-called oppressors who have done so for years (granted your views may have women's best interests at heart however the principal's pretty much the same).
When will we finally say to women that it's okay to be unsure? Feminism throws up some tricky issues and I'd much prefer someone spent time thinking about where their beliefs sit and what they are comfortable with rather than shunning certain activities simply because feminism says they're bad.
I love that women's rights and 'issues' are often in the spotlight and I think it's so important to keep them there. I don't, however, like the assumption that all feminists should hold the same views on a range of issues just because we happen to have one view in common. As Cate Sevilla says, "Equality is not a sisterhood of women who agree on everything". Provided women are in an environment that allows them to make an informed choice (eg. not forced into the sex industry due to being economically disadvantaged) I think we can agree to disagree in a lot of cases.
In the words of Caitlin Moran (I will never stop quoting this woman): "the purpose of feminism isn't to make a particular type of woman...You know what? Feminism will have all of you". So let's stop with the judgement, the belittling and the snobbery. Go right ahead and book a burlesque lesson, wear an indecently short skirt, dress up as a sexy nurse for a fancy dress party- just don't do it out of a sense of duty as a woman.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Progress
And the fitness regime has begun! I was half preparing for a blog post on how last week's plans fell through (negative, moi?) however I guess even I can manage a few days of exercise when the gym is about a minute away from where I work.
Unfortunately all the exercise classes I want to take are at really awkward times (and I don't think 'legs, bums 'n' tums' is an adequate reason for leaving work early). This meant that I had to face the actual gym. Now it's not that gyms particularly intimidate me (I'm quite partial to watching the guys in the weights room), I just find running on the spot really tedious. And the TV doesn't help (mainly because I still have issues working it but that's besides the point). Anyway, I went along to the running club a couple of nights later which was much better. I mean there was the close shave with the fire brigade, and I did almost get left behind towards the end, but I suppose that's the risk you take when you break free from the safety of the treadmill.
I also managed to get to a Box-Kick Fitness class which I would thoroughly recommend to anyone with pent up rage. Seriously though, it's a great workout and the novelty of wearing boxing gloves adds to the enjoyment factor.
I fnished off with a run on Saturday which, in all honesty, was hell. You know when you keep trying to psyche yourself up only to realise it's just not working? I remember reading somewhere that the bad runs are actually the most effective ones, which I guess makes sense seeing as they're more of a struggle, however I managed to replace any calories burnt by consuming large quantities of nutella on my return. As much as I joke about my horrendous diet, I'm starting to admit that it probably does affect the way I feel when running. Maybe I'll take baby steps and just give up chocolate on exercise days and see how it goes. There's no waaay I'm jumping on the deprivation bandwagon for Lent and going cold turkey. I've done it before and have no intention of doing it again!
All in all, quite a good week exercise-wise. Although it has drawn my attention to the fact that I'm in need of a decent gym bag (my Topshop shopper isn't really cutting it). I do have my eye on a neon pink asos number however it will clash horribly with my winter coats (yeah I'm obvs not ready for Spring time yet). Any suggestions? Perhaps accessories would be a better exercise incentive than the prospect of another jar of nutella...
Unfortunately all the exercise classes I want to take are at really awkward times (and I don't think 'legs, bums 'n' tums' is an adequate reason for leaving work early). This meant that I had to face the actual gym. Now it's not that gyms particularly intimidate me (I'm quite partial to watching the guys in the weights room), I just find running on the spot really tedious. And the TV doesn't help (mainly because I still have issues working it but that's besides the point). Anyway, I went along to the running club a couple of nights later which was much better. I mean there was the close shave with the fire brigade, and I did almost get left behind towards the end, but I suppose that's the risk you take when you break free from the safety of the treadmill.
I also managed to get to a Box-Kick Fitness class which I would thoroughly recommend to anyone with pent up rage. Seriously though, it's a great workout and the novelty of wearing boxing gloves adds to the enjoyment factor.
I fnished off with a run on Saturday which, in all honesty, was hell. You know when you keep trying to psyche yourself up only to realise it's just not working? I remember reading somewhere that the bad runs are actually the most effective ones, which I guess makes sense seeing as they're more of a struggle, however I managed to replace any calories burnt by consuming large quantities of nutella on my return. As much as I joke about my horrendous diet, I'm starting to admit that it probably does affect the way I feel when running. Maybe I'll take baby steps and just give up chocolate on exercise days and see how it goes. There's no waaay I'm jumping on the deprivation bandwagon for Lent and going cold turkey. I've done it before and have no intention of doing it again!
All in all, quite a good week exercise-wise. Although it has drawn my attention to the fact that I'm in need of a decent gym bag (my Topshop shopper isn't really cutting it). I do have my eye on a neon pink asos number however it will clash horribly with my winter coats (yeah I'm obvs not ready for Spring time yet). Any suggestions? Perhaps accessories would be a better exercise incentive than the prospect of another jar of nutella...
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Back at the start line...
So I have finally decided to get back into the whole fitness thing. I genuinely miss the aching muscles the day after a brilliant work out and the feeling I get after a run. It's not even about thinness anymore (okay maybe it is a little, all that chocolate is catching up with me!). I don't think I'll ever be as motivated as I was during my military fitness/healthy eating stint and, seeing as I no longer have the pressure to be beach ready, I know I'll need more than a little push to get back into things.
Luckily my job comes with free gym membership (did I mention I also get free diet coke? Yeah that's job satisfaction for you) and, as most of my office seems to be on some kind of fitness kick, there's certainly no shortage of gym buddies. Funnily enough, I haven't actually made it to the gym yet (what? Talking about exercise isn't enough?) however did manage to go out with the running club last week. I knew it would be a bit of a struggle seeing as I haven't properly exercised yet this year (apart from one pathetic run) however I didn't quite anticipate feeling so sick as we were made to sprint up and down the car park. Nor did I realise I would practically need to be dragged as we ran up and down the steps to the Cathedral (my calves are still not back to normal...).
It was also strange to class myself as a 'beginner' again. Having already trained to a stage where I could complete a half marathon in a decent time, it's kind of disheartening to be back at the start line when it comes to my fitness levels. I mean I wasn't that bad during the running session, however I certainly have my work cut out if I want to enter another race (which I think is pretty essential if I want to stay motivated for longer than a week).
I have actually always wanted to run a marathon however I know I'm not in a place in my life where I could committ so much time to training (that's probably more down to laziness than being particularly busy). Instead I quite like the idea of doing another half marathon but possibly somewhere more exotic than Liverpool this time. I have been talking to Kathyrn about doing one in Paris (a bit Bangs and a Bun style!) however, for me, the main attraction is the number of macaroons we could consume for energy purposes. There's also a 10K through the Mersey Tunnel which I've always wanted to do and might be a more realistic aim for now.
Anyway despite all of this talk, I'm still yet to go for my second run (I'm blaming the aching calves) however I have high hopes for next week! The plan is one running session (with the running club) and two exercise classes a week which I will then step up when I have a bit of discipline back. Despite knowing how great I will feel after some exercise, it's likely I will either need a friend physically dragging me to the gym or a big piece of cake waiting for me at the end of a run (preferably both) in order for me to follow through with this fitness pact. Maybe I should carry some photos of macaroons around with me as a reminder that every run will be one step closer to the Paris Half Marathon- forget thinspiration, foodspiration is where it's at!
Luckily my job comes with free gym membership (did I mention I also get free diet coke? Yeah that's job satisfaction for you) and, as most of my office seems to be on some kind of fitness kick, there's certainly no shortage of gym buddies. Funnily enough, I haven't actually made it to the gym yet (what? Talking about exercise isn't enough?) however did manage to go out with the running club last week. I knew it would be a bit of a struggle seeing as I haven't properly exercised yet this year (apart from one pathetic run) however I didn't quite anticipate feeling so sick as we were made to sprint up and down the car park. Nor did I realise I would practically need to be dragged as we ran up and down the steps to the Cathedral (my calves are still not back to normal...).
It was also strange to class myself as a 'beginner' again. Having already trained to a stage where I could complete a half marathon in a decent time, it's kind of disheartening to be back at the start line when it comes to my fitness levels. I mean I wasn't that bad during the running session, however I certainly have my work cut out if I want to enter another race (which I think is pretty essential if I want to stay motivated for longer than a week).
I have actually always wanted to run a marathon however I know I'm not in a place in my life where I could committ so much time to training (that's probably more down to laziness than being particularly busy). Instead I quite like the idea of doing another half marathon but possibly somewhere more exotic than Liverpool this time. I have been talking to Kathyrn about doing one in Paris (a bit Bangs and a Bun style!) however, for me, the main attraction is the number of macaroons we could consume for energy purposes. There's also a 10K through the Mersey Tunnel which I've always wanted to do and might be a more realistic aim for now.
Anyway despite all of this talk, I'm still yet to go for my second run (I'm blaming the aching calves) however I have high hopes for next week! The plan is one running session (with the running club) and two exercise classes a week which I will then step up when I have a bit of discipline back. Despite knowing how great I will feel after some exercise, it's likely I will either need a friend physically dragging me to the gym or a big piece of cake waiting for me at the end of a run (preferably both) in order for me to follow through with this fitness pact. Maybe I should carry some photos of macaroons around with me as a reminder that every run will be one step closer to the Paris Half Marathon- forget thinspiration, foodspiration is where it's at!
Monday, 13 February 2012
The big V
I seem to be disproportionately excited for tomorrow considering I am single and the only person buying jewellery for me is, well, me (during today's lunch hour to be precise). Anyway, regardless of my relationship status, I have never been one to shy away from Valentine's Day. Whether it was sending a carnation to an unsuspecting boy back in year seven, or living up to the stereotype with a rom com and my single girlfriends, I've always been a firm believer that February 14th is there to be celebrated.
This year I shall be drinking cocktails with one of my best friends (because nothing says 'I love you' like a Cosmopolitan) and potentially feeling awkward when we realise we're the only non-couple out on date night (actually that won't happen, I'm sure there'll be tons of fellow singletons out in force trying to ensure they're coupled up by this time next year).
I did have the idea of sneaking into work early to change everyone's screensaver to pink puppies however, seeing as I barely make it in on time anyway, that may be a bit of a challenge.
Anyway, this isn't going to be a post aimed at dissecting the meaning of relationships or exhibiting any form of bitterness (honest!), just my general musings on the whole V day. I think any kind of themed day will always be a winner, even if only for comedy value (because changing my email signature to Cupid's would be hilarious and not at all unprofessional...).
Whatever you're doing, have a fabulous day x
This year I shall be drinking cocktails with one of my best friends (because nothing says 'I love you' like a Cosmopolitan) and potentially feeling awkward when we realise we're the only non-couple out on date night (actually that won't happen, I'm sure there'll be tons of fellow singletons out in force trying to ensure they're coupled up by this time next year).
I did have the idea of sneaking into work early to change everyone's screensaver to pink puppies however, seeing as I barely make it in on time anyway, that may be a bit of a challenge.
Anyway, this isn't going to be a post aimed at dissecting the meaning of relationships or exhibiting any form of bitterness (honest!), just my general musings on the whole V day. I think any kind of themed day will always be a winner, even if only for comedy value (because changing my email signature to Cupid's would be hilarious and not at all unprofessional...).
Whatever you're doing, have a fabulous day x
The land of Tim Tams and Koalas
Seeing as I made such a big fuss about needing a bikini body for Australia I thought a blog post about my trip was in order (so that you can see I did do other stuff apart from moan about a few extra pounds!). Having been home for almost a month now, I'm kind of dragging this out a bit (yeah I don't think 'jet lag' is an acceptable excuse for being late for work again) however at least blogging about my travels means you can just exit this page if you're bored as opposed to feigning interest as I recount another story involving sand, sunburn or koalas.
I started off with my parents and sister in Melbourne, where my sister is currently studying for a year. This city is amazing. I keep telling people it's like Liverpool in the sun (which is a good thing, honest!). I loved the whole cafe culture, quirky bars and the general friendliness of the place.
Being the typical Brit English rose that I am, I managed to get sunburnt on the first day by misjudging the need for sun cream (rule of thumb: always wear the stuff). Luckily my sister and I have nursing sunburn down to an art thanks to years of experience. Premature skin ageing aside, we had a great time. We stayed in a place called St Kilda which was full of bars and restaurants (and cake shops. Lots of cake shops). There's a nearby beach (Elwood) which is refreshingly laid back and has a cafe that sells the loveliest milkshakes. As you can see by the food talk, any attempt to look half decent in my swim wear was quickly forgotten.
We spent quite a few days wandering around the city, stopping more often than necessary for snacks. Being a city which clearly likes its food, I was right at home. In fact one of the bloggers I follow, Gourmet Chick, has been blogging about restaurants and cafes in Melbourne and she knows her stuff. I was also introduced to Tim Tams (penguins will taste rubbish after you've tried these bad boys) and lemon lime bitters (makes vodka go down a treat although you can actually get these in the UK, I'd just never seen them before).
Aside from stuffing my face, I did manage to take in some culture. And get my Christmas shopping done (so much easier when you're just with your family!). Rather than turning this into a day by day account of what we did, which is no fun for anyone, I thought I'd let a few holiday snaps do the talking.
One of my favourite things about Melbourne was how understated the run up to Christmas was. Now I'm no scrooge but I do get irritated by the new levels of tackiness the festive period often brings. It wasn't that nobody over there cared it was Christmas, they just seemed to be busy enjoying life in general as opposed to building up to one individual day. I guess if Christmas day was slap bang in the middle of our summer (and we had an abundance of fabulous beaches to choose from...) we mightn't be so ridiculous about the whole thing either.
I'm not really one for posing in the sun (at least not for extended periods of time) and so it's often the sea which will make or break a beach experience for me. Bondi is definitely a favourite as the waves were amazing (if not slightly dangerous when I was pushed under water for longer than I was comfortable with!). Despite the crowds (and the slightly too-cool-for-school vibe the surrounding area gave out) I loved it and will someday live there with my surfer husband (it's important to have aims).
We camped on the island which was an experience in itself. Our tour guide kindly told us just how many species of snakes it was home to and advised us to go to the toilet in pairs (well somebody has to be on dingo watch).
Melbourne
I started off with my parents and sister in Melbourne, where my sister is currently studying for a year. This city is amazing. I keep telling people it's like Liverpool in the sun (which is a good thing, honest!). I loved the whole cafe culture, quirky bars and the general friendliness of the place.
We spent quite a few days wandering around the city, stopping more often than necessary for snacks. Being a city which clearly likes its food, I was right at home. In fact one of the bloggers I follow, Gourmet Chick, has been blogging about restaurants and cafes in Melbourne and she knows her stuff. I was also introduced to Tim Tams (penguins will taste rubbish after you've tried these bad boys) and lemon lime bitters (makes vodka go down a treat although you can actually get these in the UK, I'd just never seen them before).
Wise words for a paper cup
Shrine of Rememberance
Royal Botanic Gardens
St Paul's Cathedral
T'Gallant vineyard (wine time counts as culture, right?)
Even the Christmas trees don't over-accessorize
Christmas day itself was spent on the beach (obvs) although I tend to leave out the part of the story where we hid inside from a thunderstorm. So in actual fact Christmas morning was spent on the beach and the remainder of the day was pretty similar to Christmas in Liverpool (except Australian TV is very disappointing and we gave the turkey a miss this year).
More highlights from Melbourne include the Great Ocean Road (stunning scenery and if you're lucky you'll see some koalas in their natural habitat), a day trip to the Grampians (complete with creepy tour guide) and the Victoria market (anywhere selling that much food is always a winner).
More highlights from Melbourne include the Great Ocean Road (stunning scenery and if you're lucky you'll see some koalas in their natural habitat), a day trip to the Grampians (complete with creepy tour guide) and the Victoria market (anywhere selling that much food is always a winner).
Sydney
I feel I should get the generic tourist snaps out of the way first...
Sydney Opera House
Harbour bridge
I think Melbourne spoilt us a little and it took quite a lot for me to get excited about Sydney. Granted, my first impressions of the city were of Kings Cross (Oz's answer to Magaluf) which is fine for an alcohol fuelled night out however not so fun when you're walking past strip clubs with your parents in toe. My sister and I also booked the rest of our travels here and so Sydney will always be the place that left a massive dent in my bank balance!
Anyway, I started to warm to the city on our second day when we stumbled across Harry's Cafe de Wheels (although I must admit I prefer Pie Face's offering). I think at this stage of the trip I was past caring about my waistline and eating so much pie was some sort of rebellion against all of the toned bodies around us. Seriously, people would jog past us whilst we were still catching our breath from climbing the steps near our hotel. I really don't think I'd survive in a place where everyone is so damn skinny (unless Pie Face came up with a low fat option).
Anyway, I started to warm to the city on our second day when we stumbled across Harry's Cafe de Wheels (although I must admit I prefer Pie Face's offering). I think at this stage of the trip I was past caring about my waistline and eating so much pie was some sort of rebellion against all of the toned bodies around us. Seriously, people would jog past us whilst we were still catching our breath from climbing the steps near our hotel. I really don't think I'd survive in a place where everyone is so damn skinny (unless Pie Face came up with a low fat option).
This was also when things became quite hectic as we realised just how much we wanted to fit in. We welcomed in the New Year at the harbour (next NYE has a lot to live up to) and then were up bright and early the next morning to squeeze in jet boating followed by the obligatory visit to Bondi Beach.
Cairns
My sister, her friend and I continued our journey up the East Coast, starting with Cairns. Turns out there's not a great deal to do in Cairns apart from book expensive trips and/or drink. A guy tried to sell us tickets to a party with perks such as a free toga however we politely declined as we had to be up bright and early the next day for white water rafting. I also felt I should give him a lesson in knowing your audience. Showing a 24 year old photos of drunk people will not convince her to hand over $20. It's not that I don't want to get drunk, I just don't want someone younger than me trying to sell me the idea. We ended up drinking in our hostel bar instead where we were subjected to topless jelly wrestling and so, in hindsight, we probably should have just gone with the toga party...
Whitsunday Islands
You can't really go wrong with being on a boat for a few days, especially when you're fed regularly and are taken snorkelling. Whitsunday Island itself was beautiful and, apart from the charming guy who decided to comment on my sunburn whenever I walked past, we met some lovely people. I think limited space definitely helps the bonding.
Fraser Island
Despite having reached a stage where budgeting was becoming a necessity (the meals out with our parents had turned into noodles in our hostel), I'd say this was one of my favourite places. Having facebook stalked people who had already been to Fraser Island, I was under the (mistaken) impression that it was pretty much just a shipwreck on a nice beach however turns out it's a little more than that. For one thing, getting about without a four wheel drive would have been quite a challenge (not least because of my abysmal sense of direction).
In short we went to lots of lakes, which doesn't sound like much however don't underestimate the novelty of crystal clear water and a lack of sea salt (finally, I could open my eyes under water!). There was also one lake surrounded by sand dunes where you could sand board into the lake. Unfortunately this was easier said than done and my attempt (having asked a family if I could lend their board) resulted in what could only be described as rolling into the water having screamed all my way down the hill. Guess that wasn't the best day to wear my tiniest bikini.
It may look pretty but that damn sand burned the feet!
Dangerous creatures and unfortunate sand boarding incidents aside, we had a brilliant time (however felt the need to disregard the hostel's five minute shower rule on our return).
Brisbane
Ah the land of affordable shops and cheap drinks. I only had a couple of days here before flying home however made the most of them by fitting in some much needed shopping, more Pie Face (dessert pie really is the way forward) and koala hugging (money well spent I'd say).
All in all an amazing trip which has made me even more determined to travel and/or live in another country at some point. I was so jealous of all the people we spoke to who were in Australia for a year and so had months to explore the east coast at their own pace (as opposed to sleeping on night buses and running about like crazy people with back packs on). There were some people who had moved simply because the job situation back in their own country was so dire which was a little depressing however as far as new homes go, Australia certainly isn't the worst (just don't mention the bikini body maintenance).
Monday, 16 January 2012
Judging a book by its cover
I have always had a bit of an obsession with magazines. A copy of 'Glamour' in my handbag ready to read on the bus home genuinely makes my day and, sad as it may sound, it can sometimes take a well written article to make you realise you're not alone when it comes to a particular view point. That said, I never hesitate to say when the magazine industry gets a little, well, ridiculous. I've also read other people's criticisms of my favourite titles and, despite initially feeling defensive, I've often came to realise that they have a point.
Today an unfamiliar publication caught my eye as I scanned the shelf of the newsagents for my latest fix. The magazine in question was called 'Body' and, judging by the advert I have since seen, appears to be dedicated to helping females keep tabs on their figure. Brilliant. Just what we need. Come on guys, we have a gazillion books/magazines/websites telling us how to lose weight- how can you still be trying to milk this? I appreciate that it's not always as simple as eating less/exercising more and I love reading about diet fads as much as the next person however even I am beginning to reach saturation point when it comes to calorie talk. More importantly, doesn't anyone else feel a little uncomfortable with the launch of yet another magazine guiding us towards a body which is probably unattainable for the majority of the female population?
I guess I should give them some credit for promoting a 'curvier' role model with a headline of "You don't have to starve to look like this! Kim Kardashian's shape-up rules" however I highly doubt I will look like the magazine's cover star simply by mirroring her eating habits. Which brings me onto another thing which infuriates me. Why give us unrealistic expectations? We're always told that looking like a celebrity is a full time job and often dependent on good genes yet the same magazine will still dedicate an entire eating plan to looking like our airbrushed idols.
Another headline also made me roll my eyes- "Is your salad cheating on you?" Um yes, it's pretending to be a full meal when we all know it's barely a snack- lying scumbag! As you can see, I struggle to take such articles seriously.
As the title of this post suggests, I have not even picked up a copy of 'Body' magazine and so am more than happy to admit I'm wrong if I do actually read through it and am pleasantly surprised. I also appreciate that this time last month I was blogging about my quest for the perfect bikini body. Considering this magazine may well have helped me to achieve just that, I guess I'm being quite the hypocrite here. It's not that I don't care about my weight, it's just that I'm currently relishing the extra layers of clothing which allow me to eat all the chocolate I want (thank God for winter!). I'm certain there will come a time when I am back on the bandwagon and clinging to any piece of literature that promises weight loss however, until then, I think I'll stick to reading articles which don't leave me questioning my salad's fidelity.
Today an unfamiliar publication caught my eye as I scanned the shelf of the newsagents for my latest fix. The magazine in question was called 'Body' and, judging by the advert I have since seen, appears to be dedicated to helping females keep tabs on their figure. Brilliant. Just what we need. Come on guys, we have a gazillion books/magazines/websites telling us how to lose weight- how can you still be trying to milk this? I appreciate that it's not always as simple as eating less/exercising more and I love reading about diet fads as much as the next person however even I am beginning to reach saturation point when it comes to calorie talk. More importantly, doesn't anyone else feel a little uncomfortable with the launch of yet another magazine guiding us towards a body which is probably unattainable for the majority of the female population?
I guess I should give them some credit for promoting a 'curvier' role model with a headline of "You don't have to starve to look like this! Kim Kardashian's shape-up rules" however I highly doubt I will look like the magazine's cover star simply by mirroring her eating habits. Which brings me onto another thing which infuriates me. Why give us unrealistic expectations? We're always told that looking like a celebrity is a full time job and often dependent on good genes yet the same magazine will still dedicate an entire eating plan to looking like our airbrushed idols.
Another headline also made me roll my eyes- "Is your salad cheating on you?" Um yes, it's pretending to be a full meal when we all know it's barely a snack- lying scumbag! As you can see, I struggle to take such articles seriously.
As the title of this post suggests, I have not even picked up a copy of 'Body' magazine and so am more than happy to admit I'm wrong if I do actually read through it and am pleasantly surprised. I also appreciate that this time last month I was blogging about my quest for the perfect bikini body. Considering this magazine may well have helped me to achieve just that, I guess I'm being quite the hypocrite here. It's not that I don't care about my weight, it's just that I'm currently relishing the extra layers of clothing which allow me to eat all the chocolate I want (thank God for winter!). I'm certain there will come a time when I am back on the bandwagon and clinging to any piece of literature that promises weight loss however, until then, I think I'll stick to reading articles which don't leave me questioning my salad's fidelity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)