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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

thinking Linda Barker is a bit of a knob end?

106 replies

Eyelasher · 27/10/2011 10:56

in the ( gasp) daily mail
"Linda, who is married with a 19-year-old daughter, Jess, says she still gets wolf whistles from men on building sites ? and loves it."

Funny how so many women find jeering and cat calling by men patronising nad sometimes even scary

OP posts:

Rindercella · 27/10/2011 13:35

I am utterly amazed at all the 'right on' women on here, who criticise women in one breath for liking the occasional wolf whistle from a man then go on and berate a 50 year old woman for her looks. The hypocrisy is fucking staggering.

noddyholder · 27/10/2011 13:37

Blimey you are easily utterly amazed then!

Slacking9to5 · 27/10/2011 13:37

Bloody bang on rindercella. I have been reading agog!

Rindercella · 27/10/2011 13:38

Not really noddy.

GetOrfMo1Land · 27/10/2011 13:38

I don't think it is hypocrisy. I am not calling them ugly, fat or haggered (haggared, how do you spell that?). I am criticising the way they are presented and styled (presumbaly by the daily mail style team).

noddyholder · 27/10/2011 13:40

It is not about liking the occasional wolf whistle it is about keeping the myth going that it is acceptable to be harassed in the street under the guise of a compliment. The mail always makes a laughing stock of older woman by dressing them up in a style they consider acceptable which is inevitably frumpy. All those woman prob look great in their own stuff but that wouldn't wash with mail readers so you get the mother of the bride look that won't offend.

Slacking9to5 · 27/10/2011 13:40

No, you are slagging off a group of women for how they look and calling them sad desparados.

So much fo rteh fecking sisterhood.

Rindercella · 27/10/2011 13:42

Slacking took the words right out of my mouth, "No, you are slagging off a group of women for how they look and calling them sad desparados."

squeakyfreakytoy · 27/10/2011 13:45

I dont think any of them look frumpy. All of thoses dresses look fine.

And as I said, I do not think a wolf whistle is harrassment, nor do many other women, so why should anyone decide for me that it should be illegal for someone to give me a compliment.

GetOrfMo1Land · 27/10/2011 13:45

I have just re-read my posts and I think it is clear that I am slagging the styling and presentation of these women. They are made to look and sound ridiculous. As noddy says in their own kit they probably look 100 times better, and they are all successful businesswomen/broadcasters so WHY get trussed up in Phase 8 fashions and bleat on about how they look and how they get wolf whistled.

I am not saying anything about how they look per se, but how they are being MADE to look.

You seem to want to wilfully ignore that explanation.

Slacking9to5 · 27/10/2011 13:49

WTF is wrong with how they look?

They look fine. They look happy and healthy and in clothes that flatter. YOU may prefer no to wear those dresses, that is your choice.

noddyholder · 27/10/2011 13:49

Getorf I think you are fighting a losing battle! I totally agree. A wolf whistle is not a compliment. I see many attractive men but if I was with a group of girlfriends on a night out for example I would never comment or call out as I would hate anyone of either sex to feel uncomfortable and hassled. All of my close friends would feel stressed by this and men have no right to do this. If you feel being called after like that is a compliment that is your perogative but it does make many women feel awful. I work with builders a lot and they are appalled by this too like getorfs dh.

Slacking9to5 · 27/10/2011 13:49

They look fantastic for fifty. They keep fit and healthy and look great.

nethunsreject · 27/10/2011 13:50

But squeaky - how would they know if it would make you feel okay or make you feel awful? I wanted the ground to swallow me! It is not pleasant. Ime.

I have an Asian friend who doesn't mind the 'P' word. That doesn't stop it being incredibly offensive to most people!

MonstrouslyNarkyPuffin · 27/10/2011 13:50

I haven't said a word about how they look.

squeakyfreakytoy · 27/10/2011 13:51

The article is about how they look now, in comparison to how they looked 30 years ago. Considering they were in jobs which meant their appearance and sex appeal was a major factor, then the point of the article is to discuss how confident they feel about their looks now they are in their 50's.

None of them look like mutton dressed as lamb, and none of them look like they should be shuffling off to collect their pensions.

I can look at photos of myself in the 80's and wonder how the hell I thought I looked great, but I probably did look fine at the time.. it is just an era of fashion which you can look back on and laugh at now.

GetOrfMo1Land · 27/10/2011 13:52

I personally don't think those clothes are flattering, they look like they would combust if you went near them with a lighter, and I think it is slightly ridiculous that a bunch of successful women in their 50s would be styled in a co-ordinated look like some daft girl band on a reality show.

But yes it is personal opinion, however I think that any woman of a certain age in certain publications is styled to look like a 'cougar' (I loathe than term but it seems poular with the mail) which is not very flattering, and I don't know why the hell they agree to it tbh.

worraliberty · 27/10/2011 13:53

Wow some very bitchy comments about how they look!

I'd love to see what the bitchy comment posters look like themselves....no doubt very well groomed, slim and attractive?

noddyholder · 27/10/2011 13:54

The DM does have a standard acceptable look for women though anything else and you've 'let yourself go'.I am 46 and none of my friends dress like that or have that hair etc and they all look and feel good.

GetOrfMo1Land · 27/10/2011 13:54

I wore brown pinafores in the 80s. I look like something from the 30s.

GetOrfMo1Land · 27/10/2011 13:55

Some very bitchy comments worral about how they are STYLED.

squeakyfreakytoy · 27/10/2011 13:56

But squeaky - how would they know if it would make you feel okay or make you feel awful? I wanted the ground to swallow me! It is not pleasant. Ime

I am sorry that you felt that way. Personally I would just turn round and give them a grin... I worked in the construction industry so I suppose I was and still am fairly immune to getting offended by a wolf whistle, and if anyone actually said anything I would either not make eye contact and ignore, or if it was someone I knew, I would give them an insult back.

worraliberty · 27/10/2011 13:56

however I think that any woman of a certain age in certain publications is styled to look like a 'cougar' (I loathe than term but it seems poular with the mail) which is not very flattering, and I don't know why the hell they agree to it tbh

Again the old 'they can't possibly know their own mind' chestnut

Really, I can't imagine a group of men being this bitchy about George Clooney or any other 50+ good looking man....the odd put down maybe but not this level of criticism and judgement because they committed the cardinal sin of daring to look good.

catgirl1976 · 27/10/2011 13:57

ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh george cloony. Now I would whistle at him.

worraliberty · 27/10/2011 13:57

Well I'm sure your 'style' is of a far superior standard to the style these ladies have chosen

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