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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To Ask Edwina Currie to Stop Defining Women by Their Size?

88 replies

AuntyMary · 29/02/2016 09:54

She's attacking women's size and shape again saying that a model (Ashley Graham) is obese and that plus-size women are unhealthy and thus should be removed from public view. Ashley Graham appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.

Read the Independent article here

OP posts:
tb · 01/03/2016 08:47

Nrft - but doom saying "is all mouth and no substance, with a narcissistic arrogance and a narrow mind. And I use the term "mind" loosely" is, imvoho a tautology - she's a politician. Most are like that, chasing promotion and changing their minds over

claiming expenses as an employee - ie providing receipts - no
getting redundancy pay - dressed up as "resettlement grant" - yes
paying capital gains tax on profits on sale of second home - depends which 'home' has increased in value most - that's the main one on the day, else it's the other one.....

With very few exceptions, and over 50 years of talking about politics, off the top of my head, 2 that don't fit that, not in any order, and from both sides
Frank Field
Enoch Powell

Both dared to think the unthinkable, and say it.

Frank Field wanted to overhaul the benefits system, make it fairer, and Blair sacked him, as it would have cost him votes. The tax and benefit systems aren't fit for purpose and need to be integrated. It's a nonsense to have a system where people earning £15k a year pay tax so that someone else can get £50k in benefits that are free of tax. No government will ever have the political will to do it. Well, unless the IMF forces them to do so the next time UK Plc is going bust.

Enoch Powell warned about uncontrolled immigration involving the lack of assimilation, making a classical reference that few really understood. He was, to an extent, sadly proved right by events in Germany over the New Year.

RosyCat · 01/03/2016 08:59

Edwina Currie, when asked for an opinion, will run her mouth off without thinking. Sure as eggs is eggs.

suzannecaravaggio · 01/03/2016 09:00

I think it boils down to the harms caused by normalising obesity vs the harms caused by 'fat shaming'
Clearly both are harmful and I don't know how the two Canberra reconciled

suzannecaravaggio · 01/03/2016 09:01

Can be, not Canberra!

suzannecaravaggio · 01/03/2016 09:01

EC is a right plonker imo

shamonts · 01/03/2016 09:59

Expecting to be flamed but I think she looks terrible. And its sad that a girl that young is that overweight already. I can confidently predict that when she gets dropped by the fashion industry as they are bored with her, she will slim down to an unhealthy weight to try and stay in the game (Sophie Dahl anyone?)

I agree with other posters who've said whats wrong with a standard size 10 or 12 as a model?

Ginkypig · 01/03/2016 10:55

Forgetting about dress size.

Disclaimer I'm a size 14/16 5f7" 12-13 stone so classed as overweight according to bmi (incase anyone needs to know or cares)

The very very basics of this are generally

Underweight =unhealthy
Overweight = unhealthy
So where In between probably healthier

Obviously this is not talking about the myriad of things that affect health that are not related to weight.

Now of course there is a spectrum and not every individual will fit the above statement, my issue is size has nothing to do with beauty imo

I don't really have an opinion on the model except to say, she is representative of some of the population so therefor she should be modelling clothes for that population same as there are thinner models to represent other parts of the population.

Ultimately people come in all shapes and sizes so the there needs to be models to fit that but none of them should be held up as examples of health they are there to sell products not to show us that if we look like that we "are healthy"

None of them should ever be used as examples for people opinions edwina one model does not represent the entirety of women of that size and dress size.

shamonts · 01/03/2016 11:33

So mad though because most designers don't even make their clothes in her size. So you might like her on the catwalk but that doesn't mean you'd ever be able to wear the outfit if you were a size 18 (as she is if she is a US size 14)

eaudeparfumpooie · 01/03/2016 11:50

Edwina Currie, why the fuck would anyone listen or give such a vile duplicitous person the time of day?

I would of thought she needs to spend more time addressing her own failing before daring to even comment on anyone else.

NewLife4Me · 01/03/2016 11:52

Anybody who shags John Major can't be taken seriously.
She should put her own house in order first.

Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 01/03/2016 12:27

I don't think there is any need to worry about Eggwina influencing teenaged girls to have negative body image etc - of all thy myriad of media influences on teens, Edwina Currie is very unlikely to feature as so much as a distant blip...

She is the Katie Hopkins of her generation isn't she? Her notoriety stems mainly from saying outrageously controversial things ("good Christian people" don't get AIDS" "old people who can't afford their heating bills should wrap up warm and eat cheap, nourishing food like eggs" - immediately before her mishandling of the salmonella scare - "northerners die of ignorance and chips" and generally making big public gaffs ...

Thefitfatty · 01/03/2016 12:32

I'm sure Ashley Graham has heard it all before. She's very open about her exercise and eating habits and encouraging people to live a healthy lifestyle, so frankly I can think of worse role models for young women (Kate Moss comes to mind...)

shoesSHOES · 01/03/2016 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rusure · 01/03/2016 12:48

Not seen the pic, but a former MP having the brass neck to slag anyone when almost all of them have had their snouts in the trough taking our money illegitimately makes me laugh.
Immoral, unfaithful, ignorant gob on a stick. Euthanasia should be enforced pronto.

HelenaDove · 01/03/2016 13:58

shamonts a lot of people cant afford designer anyway and shop high street so what difference does it make?

Ive lost a lot of weight but my breasts are still an HH cup Im a UK size 14 with a 32 back size. I keep dropping weight off my back Ive lost it from everywhere but hardly off my boobs at all and no i dont need a bra intervention ....ive been getting measured at the same place since the "90s.

Women cant help WHERE the weight comes off Ive seen pics of Ashley working out Why is there the misogynistic assumption that women can change their natural body shape? Losing weight is possible. Changing the natural body shape you were born with isnt.

NuckyT · 01/03/2016 14:06

Sums up my feelings on the matter:

www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/men-puzzled-by-debate-over-bouncy-girls-201003232584

LovelyFriend · 01/03/2016 15:27

Edwina is a dickhead for hire.

She is no doubt really jealous of SheWhoMustNotBeNamed Katie Fucking Hopkins "fabulous career" hating people for money.

Ignore her.

AntiqueSinger · 01/03/2016 18:00

Flame away, but what did she say that was wrong? She said it is neither healthy to be too thin or too big, and that being obese can lead to diabetes and joint problems in later life. This is a fact, in the same way that being underweight increases your risk of fertility problems, osteoporosis, and heart problems.

I myself have let myself go entirely after a holiday last year, and recently brought myself a mini trampoline and started jogging, because my weight is creeping up, and with asthma and thyroid problems I cannot afford to just be ok about it.

I never understand the hysteria caused by people speaking facts. It's almost like the strange reaction people get when doctors say its overall better to have a baby before 35 and people start getting angry. Its the simple truth. What she said was not subjective. Had she given an opinion about whether the model was sexy or not that would be entirely subjective.

I'm glad there are people who aren't so intimidated by the thought police, (because it now deemed wrong to criticise anybody for anything) and are prepared to speak and take the consequences.

shamonts · 01/03/2016 18:22

I agree. I don't like edwina currie but I think what she said here was completely reasonable and can't understand the fuss.

MrsDeVere · 01/03/2016 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pointythings · 01/03/2016 20:01

People should be proud of and love their bodies. That is a healthy attitude and will lead to a healthy weight. Hating your body will not lead to a healthy weight for anyone it will just lead to disordered eating

^^ This 1000x. I have lost 3 stone over the past 9 months for a lot of reasons - one of them has definitely been stopping the negative thinking. I am allowed a biscuit if I want one. Much better than saying I am not allowed a biscuit, then caving, hating myself and having another 5 biscuits.

Not sure why anyone would want to take any notice of a single thing Edwina Currie says, though.

jeremyisahunt · 01/03/2016 20:12

Come to think of it, I wouldn't be surprised if she was on AIBU once in a while! She seems the type...

PacificDogwod · 01/03/2016 20:57

I have no time for EC and her opinions.

BUT- the point she is making about health is a valid point. It IS unhealthy to be carrying extra weight (just as it is unhealthy to be underweight) and we are only just beginning to understand what fatty tissue does metabolically, so not just a case of more weight and bulk.

I totally agree with the points made that size (big or small) has nothing at all to do with beauty and that models should come in all shapes/sizes/colours etc etc.

Ginkypig said pretty much said everything I came on here to say Smile

PacificDogwod · 01/03/2016 20:59

Oh, and weight carried around the middle (which suggests not just an external 'inch to pinch' but also internal 'visceral' fat) is just as damaging to men's health as woman's.
I cannot think of many male 'Plus sized' models as females?

The health and beauty issue really needs to be debated separately IMO.

MrsDeVere · 01/03/2016 21:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.