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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Sorry - it's another link to the DM - but I KNOW this couple

87 replies

Treats · 02/02/2011 10:54

this article

Ironically I was just googling 'Feminism' and the name of the town I'm moving to in a few weeks because I was inspired by a thread on here to think about joining a feminist group. Coincidentally a couple I know from uni live in the next street and they've just popped up as the first couple featured in this article.

I think I'm going to faint........

OP posts:
sethstarkaddersmackerel · 02/02/2011 11:00

you have to remember the so-called quotes may be totally made up - as in the example here

would be interesting to ask your acquaintances if this is a true reflection of what they actually said....

zikes · 02/02/2011 11:00

I think I'm going to throw up. Grin

TrillianAstra · 02/02/2011 11:02

No adult should be proud of not knowing how the washing machine works.

Ibet they've been massively misquoted and are cringing about how they have been portrayed.

Bramshott · 02/02/2011 11:03

[vomit emoticon]!!

And LOL at "Occasionally, I miss the buzz of the trading floor and seeing a deal through. But these days I get as much of a thrill over Madison learning a new ballet step". Her DD is 22 months FFS!

darleneconnor · 02/02/2011 11:05

Those women aren't going to be smiling in 20 years when their husbands run off with a younger model and they're left homeless and pennyless.

Feegle · 02/02/2011 11:06

eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww hideous article i have to go and bleach my eyes.

FannyLogan · 02/02/2011 11:06

Surely I win the price for the ultimate status symbol- a SAH husband.

ChessyEvans · 02/02/2011 11:07

Er... I don't understand what's wrong with what they're saying? Are you talking about Jon and Rebecca? Haven't been on this thread much so is there just a general view on here that there is a problem with housewives? Confused

Feegle · 02/02/2011 11:08

Ah but Fanny does he bake a decent cupcake ?

Original poster
Treats · 02/02/2011 11:08

I am in the process of emailing him (who I know better than her) to ask if it's all true. My hunch is that a lot of it's exaggerated but that he doesn't really mind it being said. He's a bit of a charmer and very personable, but I've always known that there's a highly unreconstructed male underneath that exterior.

Feel very sorry for her........

OP posts:
Feegle · 02/02/2011 11:09

Chessy read the title of the article again.

falsemessageoflethargy · 02/02/2011 11:12
Original poster
Treats · 02/02/2011 11:13

ChessyEvans

The problem - and I've only read about Jon and Rebecca - is that his part of the interview is all about how well it works for him, but her part of the interview is all about the things she's given up so that her husband and children can have a nice life.

OP posts:
Original poster
Treats · 02/02/2011 11:15

Oh yes - and it's all about how she's HIS status symbol....... That's the purpose of her life, rather than doing anything she might want to do.

OP posts:
sethstarkaddersmackerel · 02/02/2011 11:15

she looks so much out of his league in terms of looks. I would ask if that was a true reflection of how they look in RL but you can't really answer in case they find the thread!

I think when dh comes home tonight I'm going to ask him if I'm a status symbol and if he shows off about me much at work. I'm sure I could be the perfect partner for black tie events too, pity we never get to go to them Sad

greenlotus · 02/02/2011 11:16

Feminism is about opportunity. It's fine to be a housewife/SAHM and a noble calling indeed, but those of us who didn't choose a partner for his earning potential, or who discovered we have a talent for doing a "man's" job, find it pretty handy to have the choice to work.

It is a bit nauseating how it's portrayed by if you must read the DM what do you expect?

FannyLogan · 02/02/2011 11:17

Well, I have to admit that it would not occur to him to make cupcakes.Sad

But he is at toddler group while I laze around in bed (day off). So on balance, I can live without the cake.Wink

TrillianAstra · 02/02/2011 11:17

They were almost certainly told that it was an article about how they both chose this way of living and it benefits both of them.

Then cherry picked quotes (if not making them up entirely) to make it more controversial.

falsemessageoflethargy · 02/02/2011 11:17

I must be the anti-status symbol as I expect dh and me to do 50/50 everything in childcare and house stuff even though he has the 'bigger' job then me - and to actually spend some time with the children and not be either a) at work all hours or b) at the cricket on a sunday.

Original poster
Treats · 02/02/2011 11:21

Can't really comment much more because they will know who I am in RL if they read this. But, yes Rebecca really is that gorgeous - if not more so - in RL. That's not the most flattering picture I've ever seen of Jon (although important obviously to get the mobile and the laptop in the shot to show just how BUSY he is) but he hasn't aged as well as she has, shall we say - he was more of a looker when they first got together.

OP posts:
nickelthenaughtybutnicefairy · 02/02/2011 11:22

I'll be interested in what Treats 's friend says about the truth of the article.

Especially after reading the blog from the lady in seth's link.

ChessyEvans · 02/02/2011 11:23

Well ok Feegle but I doubt I agree with many headlines in the DM! The OP was specifically commenting on the relationship of her friends, not slating the DM (which I am more than happy to do!). The headline is deliberately sensationalist which is not a great surprise with the DM!

I don't think Jon comes across as saying that having a wife who is a housewife is a status symbol, I think the point of the article is that they can only afford to choose due to their incomes. It's a choice they have both made. Would you still have a problem if the salaries were the other way around and the husband had decided to stay at home?

Was just genuinely interested to see what the upset was in relation to as I don't think being a housewife would be automatically un-feminist (if that's even a word!)

Darlene - what makes these women more 'leaveable' - if anything they're making themselves indispensable! And in what way would they ever be left homeless or penniless?! They would get at least 50%, regardless of who "earnt" the money.

I understand that it's not for everyone but I don't understand where the shock and disgust at their choices comes from? If it's just the tone of the article that you don't like rather than the underlying content, that's what you get for reading the tabloids!!

zikes · 02/02/2011 11:27

Oh the fact it's the Daily M@!l is enough to make me vom, so for me it was indeed the tone of the article and the quote: "I think my university education has served to make me a better ­companion for my husband."

I've no problem with sahms, I am one. Grin

Bramshott · 02/02/2011 11:30

I suppose in some ways it's fine if he is transferring half his salary to her on a monthly basis, for her to invest as she sees fit, in her name only to protect against future financial instability. But you can bet your bottom dollar that he(they) isn't.

MmeLindt · 02/02/2011 11:32

I don't believe for one minute that they knew that the title of the article was going to be "High fliers with the ultimate status symbol" and I bet that they are fuming.

After reading the article that Seth linked to, I would bet my dog on them being wildly misquoted.

She does say that she trained to be a teacher, but her salary would barely cover childcare. So does not rule out working ever again, just that it is financially not viable at the moment.

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