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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to find Gok Wan an annoying patrionising tw*t

92 replies

lilystyles · 12/10/2010 16:47

I have yet to meet another woman who feels this way, everyone seems to love him!

OP posts:
Rockbird · 13/10/2010 11:24

Oh and "lapped up gratefuly" is pretty patronising tbh. I stated earlier that I didn't give a toss whether it was real or not. I might be fat but I'm not stupid thanks. I know how tv works.

sethstarkaddersmum · 13/10/2010 11:41

Andrea Dworkin was fat and she was a feminist leader.
She certainly got way more than her fair share of flak due to anti-fat prejudice but it's not true to say the leaders of the revolution aren't going to be fat.

there is a huge issue around even feminist leaders having a much harder time of it if they're not attractive and I'm not minimising it, but it is wrong to be completely defeatist about it.

Anyway right now, with so much activism happening via the internet, there is a huge amount you can do without anyone having even the foggiest idea what size you are. (Actually, if you are a feminist you will get regularly accused of being fat and ugly even if you're not Confused.)

I also don't agree with SBR that no-one will admit to being a feminist now - a few years ago I'd have said the same but the tide is turning again; feminist activism is suddenly starting to snowball and a lot of people are reclaiming the label.

as for what women are doing now.... the Girl Guides anti-airbrushing petition is good; there is Object, there is the campaign against Hooters, just off the top of my head.

Hedgeblunder · 13/10/2010 11:51

Yuuup yanbu!!!

I hate how it's insinuated that being slim is unfeminine, and if you don't hae enormous Breasts (NOT BANGERS FFS) then you might as well be shot.

It fucking posses me off that people who look after themselves are public enemy number one and aren't 'real women'.
So what I'm fictional??
Grrrrrr!

Nellykats · 13/10/2010 12:07

Hedgeblunder I agree that Gwok promotes a very specific, dolled up, big boobs type of beauty but I don't think overweight women just don't look after themselves. It's very very easy to put on weight gradually but hard to keep it off.

And, really, why is there no room for big women in the world? You can be curvaceous and stunning, or thin and gorgeous, or anything in between.

My objection to his ideology is that your life won't change by feeling prettier, because life's too bloody short to spend constantly preening yourself.

And those "girly nights in" that he recommends piss me off, hey girlies lets get together, drink and talk about how we can make ourselves even prettier. Perpetual adolescence, constantly seeking reassurance by men fancying you.

In this show, it's a gay man's idea of what a sexy woman is, which seems to be an over the top lady from the fifties.

I'm in my mud thirties and have more to do than attract men's gazes, thank you very much. I'm not saying we don't need love or sex or anything in between, but it shouldn't drive our existence!

Nellykats · 13/10/2010 12:08

haha my mud thirties, I sound like a dirrrrty girl

messylittlemonkey · 13/10/2010 12:11

He bloody drives me mad. I don't understand the appeal at all!

JinnyS · 13/10/2010 12:13

YANBU. I wouldn't let him near me

LouMacca · 13/10/2010 12:17

YABU. I love Gok! He is lovely.

Infact we played How to Look Good Naked with my 7 year old DD's Barbie Dolls the other day. We built a runway down the hallway, had a full Barbie audience and one of DD's Disney Princes was Gok - clad in skinny jeans, sparkly top and glasses - it was fab! Grin

Nellykats · 13/10/2010 12:24

so you're teaching your 7 year old how to look good naked?

Confused
LouMacca · 13/10/2010 12:36

Sorry Nelly but I don't see a problem? My DD has watched on the telly (one of the Mums at school was featured on the last series) and we played a game. How is that teaching her how to look good naked??

Nellykats · 13/10/2010 12:38

that's the point of the show isn't it? to lose your inhibitions in order to look sexy. You're bringing her into that mind frame by making it into a game.

LouMacca · 13/10/2010 12:48

Well we'll have agree to disagree on that Nelly. She is 7, she is playing with her dolls by dressing and un-dressing them. I guess I haven't thought any further than that.

I don't have body issues and I am far from perfect so hopefully my daughter will feel the same when she starts thinking about these things.

sethstarkaddersmum · 13/10/2010 12:50

gosh, I am quite surprised someone would watch this with a 7 year old - it seems like a bad idea to me to put the idea of body issues into their head when they are so young.
But I am sure the most important factor is what the mother's attitude to their own body is like so if she has a mother who is confident and happy she will probably be able to rise above any dodgy messages she picks up from tv.

Nellykats · 13/10/2010 12:52

Lou, I'm sorry if I offended you, I was a bit blunt; And you're right about your own good body image being a positive influence to your daughter.

My son is two and likes to walk around wearing my old leopard-style print bag around his neck. He'll grow up to be Gok, isn't he?

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 13/10/2010 12:55

Both DD and I love him. She's 11, and we both watch HTLGN together - so far, we've both managed to avoid any body image issues Grin

There's a nursery teacher at DS's nursery who is a caucasian version of Gok - the kids and the mummies (not sure about the daddies..) adore him - he's amazing.

LouMacca · 13/10/2010 13:02

Nelly - you didn't offend me at all Smile My DDs twin brother still loves to dress up in her dressing-up stuff, I think its great! Leopard-style print is back in this season so your son obviously has the flair for it!!

Seth - My DD watched some of the episode which featured my Mum friend who did the naked Midwife shoot, my DD had a good giggle about it but hasn't mentioned anything since. She is a very young 7 year old so hopefully I haven't done any permanent damage Smile

Nellykats · 13/10/2010 13:04

maybe I'll ask my son for a makeover - no bangers grabbing though, I'll draw the line there :)

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