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fat is a political issue
Political correctness continues this week with muffin
tops, bingo wings and thunder thighs. All terms our
women readers will be familiar with, even those who
don’t identify with them personally.
Have you noticed how Thai people can make the word
‘pompoey’ sound almost complimentary?
‘Aaah, pompoey’ they say with a smile, while gently
patting a farang beer belly. And of course they don’t
really mind that extra bit of fat at all, or mean any
offence, because it is a sign that the farang can afford
to eat well.
In the UK however, once we have left the playground
taunts behind, we avoid using the word ‘fat’ altogether
when talking to people, even our best friends. We don’t
call people ‘skinny’ to their faces either. In fact even when
we are worried about a friends’ weight and appearance
we find it very difficult to broach the subject at all. But
that doesn’t mean that we don’t recognise those bits of
our own bodies which are beginning to swell, sag, or
flop around. Of course we do, and we are quite capable
of referring to our own bingo wings and muffin tops in
company, and deciding for ourselves whether or not
we can be bothered to do anything about it, or just let
nature take its’ inevitable course.
But now our Equalities Minister (yes - we have one of
those), Jo Swinson, has decided that terms like muffin
top, bingo wings and thunder thighs should be banned.
Liberal Democrat Ms Swinson thinks that this kind of
‘fat talk’ is depressingly commonplace, and doesn’t
believe that women should be using it to insult their
own bodies.
She has clearly never been within earshot of my gaggle
of friends when we are in our favourite real ale bar in
Hull of a Wednesday evening. Swigging back pints of
Great Newsome while comparing the sorry state of our
Call: 0805626735 Swe/Eng
0915094729 Thai/Eng
feet, (crows’ as well as those at the ends of our legs,)
and discussing whether we are getting a bit too crepey
to risk a lower neckline, or how we just couldn’t wear
that sleeveless number without a pashmina. We are not
insulting our own bodies, (although we reserve the right
to do so if we wish,) simply being realistic.
Coincidentally Jo Swinson, who also runs an all party
group on body image, did once work in Hull for a local
radio station, and stood against our very own tubby
John Prescott in a 2001 election, stealing 6% of his
Labour constituency voters. Not enough to rock the
boat of course, but she went on to take a Scottish Lib
Dem seat in the 2005 General Election, becoming the
then youngest ever Member of Parliament. She is a good
looking, very successful, well educated woman, who
appears to be of average size and shape, has apparently
survived childbirth without any noticeable ill effect,
and can clearly afford to be well groomed. You have to
wonder what qualifies her to speak so vehemently about
the need to promote positive body image in women, so
that they can increase healthy behaviour and become
more successful.
Yes, there have been some dangerous precedents set by
the trend for ultra thin catwalk models and celebrities.
Young people are impressionable, and some do become
ill in their attempts to look just like their role models. But
is banning a few commonplace words going to change
that? Or would it be more productive to try to change
the habits of those parents who constantly undermine
the confidence of their tiny children by swearing and
screaming abuse at them in public.
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