views on Gok Wan?

[tvmum1976]

I know that many view him as some kind of 'saviour of modern womanhood'- personally I can't stand him or his shows and find them patronising and demeaning. I have written a blog post about it if anyone's interested (also talks about a couple of other programmes)

www.calmdowndear.wordpress.com

Would love to know if anyone agrees with me?

What really annoys me about Gok Wan, is that his advice to women who are not happy with the size of their body is,

"girlfriend just squeeze yourself into this thick-as-rubber control body suit and you will love yourself!"

when actually, IMHO the advice should be, everybody should be valued equally regardless of what they look like, but if you are unhappy with your body size, eat healthily and do some exercise!

He always seemed to dress up women as 1950's French prostitutes. He has no bloody idea bout clothes.

I remember one particular episode where his outfit for the school run included 5 inch heels. Completely ridiculous.

thanks Trillian.
yes Miss Naked beauty was possibly one of the most egregious things i've ever seen on TV. Charlie Brooker did a great parody of it.
It's just the general idea that women should be judged on how they look naked and that is how they should derive their self confidence.

He dresses them all to look like some Mad Men/50s/airhostess parody.

Or cross-dressed blokes.

"I look absolutely fine naked, it's the clothes that are the bloody problem!"

That made me laugh :) It's true as well, in my sort of affordability bracket, the cut of clothes is laughable at best so lots of things just fit really 'odd' on me.

I used to absolutely adore HTLGN and was always fascinated by the comparisons and how we often think we're bigger than we are.

However, even after the first few programmes I used to think it defeated the point of loving yourself to have to still resort to hiding who you are with lots of 'control' wear.

My mind always boggles when women are squeezed into what is virtually a whole spanx type bodysuit and then get given a nice floaty summer dress. Surely you'd end up sweating like crazy in what is basically tights with stronger elastic all over you body?

Anyway, since I've been educationg myself in the feminist section I can't stand the programme anymore and really don't understand as well why the women are so keenly encouraged to get naked and be judged by perfect strangers.

Just read the blog tvmum - really great writing, hope you do some more!

"And there is one TV expert who has no equal in the Dark Arts of Empowerment"

Gok Wan VoldeWan

Well I am going to buck the trend on here and say I love Gok. I love his programmes. Have read his autobiograophy and went to see an episode of fashion fix filmed in my town. A couple of girls I know actually met him and said he was wonderful. Whilst filming he came accross as a lovely, genuine guy.

does anyone else wonder if 'gay' is a cover to get to be round womens 'bangers' all day?

can you imagine if it was?

No way! He is 100% gay.

thats what they all say

I wouldn't make comment on whether he is a nice guy or not, however, he's peddling patriarchy and not doing women any favours.

I personally think he's a nice bloke I was only joking with that comment

I totally agree about how uncomfortable it would be to wear all those corset hold in underwear under jeans! Also why is it liberating for a middle aged woman to be naked in front of all her family friends and on tv? I think that it is a bit demeaning to be judged in that way. And why do all the women have to wear tight revealing clothes? Comfy transmits are not allowed by gok, but women can look happy and relaxed in comfy clothes as well as attractive.

It's hard to see how Gok Wan (whatever his sexuality and however nice he may be in real, non-telly life) can be promoting anything other than sexism. He has a woman stripped to her underwear, stands her in front of a big mirror, makes her look at herself and asks her how she feels about herself while she sobs away and mumbles, then tells her she should love her body and that all it takes is him to get her wearing the right clothes.
And the fixation with breasts - objects of fun for all that should be emphasised for the delight of all and sundry! I saw a clip where he grabbed a woman in the street's breasts and then rubbed his head in them (at least she was clothed). How can that be liberating? A human being reduced to bangers, fake tan, and girdles. I hoped that if he made over a man, he'd cup his testicles a few times during the show.

hi bibi- thanks so much for your kind words! would be great if you could keep reading. More soon.

and I love VoldeWan!!

"and I love VoldeWan!!"

He he thought it was quite good myself actually

Unless it should be VoldeGok of course

Fantastic blog title!

I quite like him but I think his program is utter tripe.

I've probably watched it 1.5 times, but for some incoherent reason I do like the guy.

Did any one see the show he did on eating disorders and his own childhood as the only fat, gay Chinese kid the town?

Oh, I just love mumsnet! I never would have thought of the programme in that way before! If I ever watch it I'm too busy fantasising about being given a whole new wardrobe .

Great blog op.

Oh Haughty, I didn't even see your previous post, I certainly wasn't having a dig!!

thanks Bumperlicioso!

I loved Queer Eye too! Bring it back, I say.

I do like him - and I like the way that the show advocates liking yourself as you are rather than having plastic surgery, like they did in 30 Years Younger, The Swan etc. But you're right, he then kind of undoes all that good work by trussing women up in 'support' wear and making them wear heels all the time. And I hate the way he's so grabby with boobs. I've met a couple of gay men who are the same, I always want to tell them that being gay doesn't exclude you from being a gropey pervert!

I loved Queer Eye (the US rather than the UK one, though). Bring it back, I say!

I do like him - and I like the way that the show advocates liking yourself as you are rather than having plastic surgery, like they did in 30 Years Younger, The Swan etc. But you're right, he then kind of undoes all that good work by trussing women up in 'support' wear and making them wear heels all the time. And I hate the way he's so grabby with boobs. I've met a couple of gay men who are the same, I always want to tell them that being gay doesn't exclude you from being a gropey pervert!

I loved Queer Eye (the US rather than the UK one, though).