And that is why I will never be a celebrity...

I would rather be jobless, friendless than be a celebrity. And yes, I'm jobless but I'm only a student. But I'm sure won't be a celebrity when I grow up. And it's not because I can't sing, dance or model but because of the  media...

I was reading Daily Mail online because of my research into "Real Life Lara Croft" and I saw an article titled "She is not a size four!" Project Runaway's Tim Gunn takes aim at newly slimline Kirstie Alley (who, by the way, is a model/actress). Kirstie Alley told Radar Online how, when she was a size 14, she wished she could get to size 4, and declared that she lost 100 pounds after being on the show Dancing with the Stars. 


But she was slated by Tim Gunn who said that Miss Alley is only a size 8-10.

I bet that must hurt. I mean, being slated by a man who is on a fashion show. And I think what both people done was wrong. Miss Alley is not a good role model by saying she didn't feel comfortable at size 14 and that she wanted to get to size 4 (and maybe she is a size 4). And then it was wrong for Mr Gunn who claimed that the model is not a size 4, but a size 8-10. It really isn't his business to get involved. I know everyone has its own opinion, but MY opinion is that Mr Gunn was wrong to argue against Miss Alley and then say that she still looks beautiful. I don't think Miss Alley can forgive you, Mr Gunn, even after the "compliment".

I also read that in Big Brother (which I don't watch) the bellydancer (forgot her name) was voted off and then booed by the crowd. I wonder (because again, I don't watch BB) is it because the bellydancer has a great body that she has been booed? Hmmm...

I also read on Daily Mail online that a young six year old has been used in a fashion show somewhere in America. This is obviously disgusting and disappointing but I'm not surprised. After all, the society has become twisted and now encourages children as being sex objects.

I also read about an dancing star who took on to high-waist trousers and see through black top with green bra. While I agree that maybe she doesn't look good with those jeans, I however think that the media should stop picking on curvy celebrities and actually encourage curvy bodies as they are healthier than skinny, anorexic celebrities. I mean, the society wants to stop suicide or/and death due to anorexia, right?

Lastly, why I could never become a celebrity is because of all the added stress: "You have to lose weight" "Your teeth need to be whiter" "You should be more sexy". They are all examples of what celebrities, especially women, have to face every single time they go out. And lets not forget the harsh critics on your clothing and the haters.

Single Parents

I want to say a warm welcome to our first member, Rabia. I'm afraid Zarrin isn't able to join, but if she does she is welcomed. I took the ads down because they took too much space and it didn't work.

As I spoke about most of subjects that annoy me, I went to Google to find inspiration. I didn't. Maybe because I wanted to speak more about things that annoy me. Now, the subject will be single mums.

My mum is a single mum. There are many single mums, and figures show that 52% of those single mums are below the poverty line. They are scapegoat in the society, like teenagers (ah! Inspiration!). What is scapegoating? Scapegoat is when a group in society are blamed for problems in a society. For example single mums are blamed for poverty. Some might even go far and say it's their fault they are single and in poverty, because they couldn't "keep" a husband.

That is very unfair. But it is known people hate those they can't understand. And most males blame single mums, in politics. As I said before my mum is a single parent, and I know how it is to be in such a family. It isn't my mum's fault they split up. I think they both have their own faults.

Moving on. The fact that most single parents are in poverty means that the society is messed up. And I'm speaking about single parents in UK. I really believe this should change, because we should respect single parents as they are alone and are looking after one or more children.

Why do I keep saying single parents? Because there ARE single dads too. Maybe their partner died, and they can't move on, can't re-marry or want a girlfriend.

Single mums are always blamed, especially by media. But most single mums that are blamed are teenage mums. I don't know where, but I did write that most mums are middle age women. So teens should be HELPED not BLAMED.

Lastly, why are single parents in poverty? In my opinion it's because the society blames them for poverty and all bad in society. And media encourages this. So employers don't want to employ single parents, and they end up in poverty. I mean, there are benefits right? But are they enough? Why pay a football team when you can stop poverty? Pay a football player/team less and do something better with the money.

Conclusion? Single parents shouldn't be blamed, as it's not their fault for all problems in society. Next time I'll be talking about teens and how they are blamed as well.

The Colour Pink

I'm sitting here, on the sofa, debating about what to write in my first blog. I must confess, I'm terribly shy and self-conscious. But, this idea came over me. Right now I'm actually pretending I speak to a friend, because I guess whoever reads this is a friend and a feminist. And all feminists are friends, right? Hopefully, because if it's not so, then it's weird. Pretending to you are writing to a friend.

My name is Miruna, as it says on my profile. And my spell-checker just said I misspelled it. Yeah, just because it's a foreign name it is misspelled. Well, it's not.

Anyhow, I was speaking about the debate I had with myself. What should I write for my first blog? Well I'm going to start with the fact that I hate the whole shit that just because you are a girl you should wear pink; and if you are a boy you should wear blue. By the way I'm speaking of babies. I mean, when you're a teenager you get to choose what colours you wear right? (For some anyway, because my mum thinks brown suits me. NO IT DOESN'T!!! Especially pale brown. I like R-E-D because it's sensual, like me. Roar...).

I actually started thinking about this when I took sociology (and I only got a B...*sigh* four marks away from an A...). My first lesson was about how parents treat their babies, by their gender/sex. We also learned the difference from the definition of biology (sex) and of sociology (gender). But that's something else. (If you REALLY want to know, leave it in a comment I'll try and get back at you, but you can also use Google).

The booklet said that when we are born, the things in our life come from stereotypes. What I mean, for example, if you're a girl then you're made to wear "pretty, little pinky dresses" and you are given dolls and other girlish stuff to play with. While, if you're a boy, you're given "masculine, blue and green" trousers and T-shirts. You are given cars and figure men to play with.

It is also known that it is more likely for a girl to be taken to and from school by their parents/guardians while if you are a boy you are less likely. Really? Can't parents trust us, females, too? Does EVERYONE think we are weak? Not my parents anyway, because even in Romania I went to school by myself. Now, in London, I take the bus by myself and if it's snowing and the buses don't work anymore I have to walk. And am I alive? Am I well? You bet I am. Parents need to trust their daughters more, give them more freedom, or at least treat us equally.

I'm not saying my family is not stereotyping gender. Nup. Because they are. But what I'm saying it's that it's time for a big change. Because we can look after ourselves too, like boys.

What I also learned that day is that we learn our gender roles (i.e.: what the society expects of you if you're a boy and what the society expects of you if you're a girl), from our parents. We see our mum cooking, so us girls should stay home and cook. We saw our dad coming home from work, being breadwinners, so boys should do the same when adults. We copy what we see at our parents because when we're small they are our role models. And I'm not saying it's their fault...No-no-no-no, just a little bit, but what I'm saying it's the society's fault. Society, you suck. Media, you suck (expect your magazines. Man I love reading those magazines). But you still suck. Encouraging stereotyping, *tut tut*.

Media does encourage sexism. Both against male and females. But more against females. And it angers me, all the adverts encouraging the idea that the job of a woman is to stay at home, cook, have kids and have no freedom. I mean, my mum had freedom but now she's a single mum so obviously she has to work. My dad was sexist. (So am I apparently. I was told since I was in primary school. I'm a F-E-M-I-N-I-S-T. Ok?)

It was found that in cleaning adverts it is more likely for a man to do the voice-over while the woman does the cleaning. What does that mean? That men control women. And maybe they do. It's called a patriarchal society. Do I believe in that? You bet I do. And I believe it has to change. Quickly. Because us females, even though some might disagree, are important to the society. And by stopping treating us unequally the society can save money. The society will be a better place with equality. Because you DO need the man's competitive spirit, his business mind and his confidence, but you also need a woman's caring, understanding and empathy. Without a woman, there would be NO man, and vice versa.

We are born into this world and then we are stereotyped. We are taught our gender roles, and that we are not equal. We are taught to accept this, but I don't. And I bet there ARE people who don't believe in that. And I'm here to speak our mind, and to maybe educate people.

****Next time: Double standard and teenage years. How does media contribute even more?****

(PS: All opinions are welcomed, all comments and suggestions are read. I'll try and answer some, but if you insult me don't wait for my answer. You're not worth my time. You can have your opinion, you can be against feminism, but don't insult me because I won't insult you back. Thanks,

~Miru)