Gogglebox. Ageism on tv towards women.

[rafthoggerrose]

Gogglebox in particular?
Nearly every week they show Debbie McGee performing brilliantly and every week the googleboxers take the pee out of her. (interestingly, they rearely show the other performers)
Now I'm neither a fan, or not a fan of Debbie McGee, I don't even know that much about her except she was married to Paul Daniels and used to be his assistant.
But, she's been brilliant on Strictly and obviously keeps herself fit and active and has worked hard.
So why the constant jibes about her age?
There's almost a ''Woman! think of your age! mentality. You shouldn't be doing all of that''

It's not only Googlebox.
I've noticed it happening a lot, across the board. It's as if all women over 50 should be sat in a corner crotcheting and looking after their grandchildren and baking cakes. People think that's 'acceptable'
Anybody of a certain age who is fairly active and takes up a physical sport or hobby is made fun of and is fair game for ridicule.

Why, in this day and age, when other 'isms' are carefully avoided, is ageism allowed to stand (and in the case of GB, blatantly encouraged) on tv/

This whole thing really bothers me, because I recently turned 60 and have worked hard to turn my life around. I'm the fittest I've ever been, more so than I was in my 20s and 30s and most of my hobbies are 'physical'.
I hate the thought that people are possibly making fun of me

Do men experience the same level of ageism?

Ok.
Fair point. Maybe people don't like her.
But why bring her age into, it a all?
Which they do. Nearly every episode.
Why's it even necessary? (the goggleboxers don't comment on the person's size or their colour) but age is fair game?

It was the same when they were commenting on Len Goodman.
Yeah, it's a stupid show, it deserves to have the piss taken out of it, say it's crap, but
''At Len's age he's happy to get down the stairs unassisted''

Really?

For the record, I love Gogglebox.

I think her age literally comes into it as she is pretty bloody flexible ! Far more than me at quite a few years less I watch gogglebox and they are fairly well moderated

I think it is overwhelmingly positive comments about Debbie every week -she DOES look absolutely incredible for a women of 60, she does things that most of us can't do at half that age. That isn't a negative comment. There is nothing wrong with being 60. It is gentle pisstaking, not ripping her to shreds, I take the piss out of my mum and dad weekly for being old fogies and they laugh and give as good as they get. In no way do I think they are old fogies, its gentle ribbing.
You could pick Gogglebox apart and get offended by comments weekly if you tried about anything and everything. It is a lighthearted comedy show where people make jokey comments they don't always mean or take seriously. Lighten up.

If people don’t like her, perhaps they are envious.

rafthoggerrose Your approach to this whole thread makes me think that you've basically laid some bait and you're eagerly anticipating someone to bite.

Calm your tits love

They said milf not gilf...
You can get a new lease of life after a partners death at any age.
Suggesting she’s getting it on with Giovanni has nothing to do with her age and isn’t it refreshing that because she’s an older lady they aren’t assuming the young man wouldn’t be attracted too her.

My company's lawyers are currently wasting time on a woman who was sacked (after due process) for being a waste of fucking space*. She thinks that any woman who is sacked is sacked because of inbuilt prejudice.

You sound a little like her OP.

Not at all.
I'm not usually the type of person to take offense over things and I hate when people try to pin their uselessness or laziness onto something, when in actual fat they're crap at their job (like your example) or have no willpower.

6rafthoggerrose Your approach to this whole thread makes me think that you've basically laid some bait and you're eagerly anticipating someone to bite.^

Calm your tits love

and that's not laying some bait?
Oh the irony.

As others have said, pretty much all of the comments about Debbie that I have seen on GB have been overwhelmingly positive. I agree that what the Malones were burbling last week was a bit unsophisticated but none of it came across as negative. (Oh and most people I know seem to love her so not sure why there is a suggestion that she’s unlikeable).

While I agree it was a bit crude to speculate on Debbie and Giovanni’s relationship, the point is that the viewers are saying it is completely plausible that a fit young bloke in his 20s might want to sleep with her! How much more positive than that can you get? Same with MILF- it’s not an insult!

And the “new lease of life” point is not about her age, it’s about her being recently widowed and seeming to be enjoying herself again.
They say “oh no” not because they don’t think that she should not be doing what she’s doing but because she’s doing things so daring you fear for her safety/dignity if it goes wrong- it’s an exclamation, not censure.

I’m not saying ageism doesn’t exist, but you’ve chosen a very bad example.

OK so Debbie McGee wasn't a good example.

Calm your tits love

Now now, keep yer hair on, Sweetie.

I know this is aibu, but really.

and that's not laying some bait? Oh the irony.

I'm delighted that you sensed no irony in my original post .

Give it a rest Vladmirs.

The not very funny joke's over.

I’m not saying ageism doesn’t exist,

you would never guess.

Ok raft, apologies. I solemnly do apologise if my comment got under your delicate skin. I shall duly take myself to the corner for some time-out. Do let me know when I can come out, mum!

I think it's more to do with Debbie McGee being Debbie McGee rather than her age. She's always been a bit of a joke and rather plays up to it.

Since we're now on the subject of tits
'calm your tits love

You've just reminded me.
I'm a Celeb, last year.
Remember the first skyscraper challenge?
Daily Fail did an article about her shortly afterwards.
Was it about her many achievements and the fact she had recently completed a Im a Celeb 'task' that would have most young men shitting their pants and quaking in their boots?
Did they heck. No, lets do a double page spread about her 'menopausal' boobs instead.

It happens all over the media.

Carol Vorderman, that is.

Do let me know when I can come out, mum!

Vlad, you're trying too hard

Another example is Sharon O.
The press will often rip the shit out of her on her clothes choices, even though she always looks a million dollars.
They rarely do it with the younger women on the panel.

It’s the Daily Mail! Next you’ll be expecting The Sun yo day something positive about immigrants

OK so Debbie McGee wasn't a good example.
Wow so you just kept looking, can a you find a good example? Simon gets the piss taken out of him for his style more so. Stanley Johnson is getting laughed at this year as the only male to be told to watch out for boob fungus and he doesn't know who anybody is. I think your problem is here I hate the thought that people are possibly making fun of me hmm . You on the other hand raft are going on my list of people who anecdotally prove to me that the boomers really are the most snowflake generation of all time.

I get slightly annoyed about all the hype about Debbie McGee looking fantastic for her age as I don't think she looks a day under her age and actually looks older (facially) and quite haggard actually in some shots. I am a year older and I have a lot less wrinkles than her and I don't think I am particularly ageing well or badly but about right compared to many of my peers/friends of similar age.
This may not be her fault that people are saying this or otoh she might actively encourage it in which case if you constantly put your head over the parapet and say 'Hey over here look at me and how young I look/how clever/good looking I am ' then unfortunately some people are always going to 'put you right' .

I think its meant in a positive way. She is an older contestant on the show and bringing her age into it is appropriate as she's probably a lot fitter and more flexible than a lot of people half her age. If anything, I think they are showing that there is still a place for older women to do well on tv, or that's the intent anyway.