Beta Mum's Blog Beta Mum on 19 Nov 2007 08:33 pm
Trinny and Susannah misunderstood
Hannah told our lodger she had “a delicious bottom” the other day.
How odd, I thought, as the owner of the bottom guffawed.
Then later she said something that made me realise where she’d got the idea for the bottom description.
“There are two women who are saving all the women, making them thin.”
“What?”
“I saw them on the telly.”
And then I understood.
She saw a trailer for Trinny and Susannah’s latest TV outing when we were watching You’ve Been Framed, and has completely misunderstood its concept.
At least I hope she has, I wasn’t really paying much attention.
I remember seeing them grab at women’s bodies in the over-familiar way which should have got them punched years ago, but I don’t remember the thrust of the programme.
Normally they bang on about making the best of yourself, and I can’t imagine they’ve stepped sideways into the “Lose some weight you fat cow” territory that others have already colonised so comprehensively.
But I worry that Hannah assumes that’s what they’re talking about.
She’s 6, and she already associates being thin with being saved, and it’s not through any habits/discussions/mindgames we play at home.
When the children accuse me of having a fat tummy, which in their books is any tummy with more adipose tissue than a six-pack, I smile and say -
“All the more of me for you to hug”
We don’t talk about weight, except in terms of how they’ll get heavier as they grow.
But everywhere out there are unhealthy attitudes which will need to be constantly challenged…
… perhaps starting with Trinny and Susannah’s brand of body-awareness switching to post-watershed programming, along with burgers, sex and violence.
on 22 Nov 2007 at 7:21 pm 1.Mother at Large said …
I can always picture Trinny and Susannah as the school bullies, lounging in the sixth form comm and intimidating girls less rich than themselves. I’m not letting them anywhere near my tummy, thanks all the same.
on 25 Nov 2007 at 9:50 pm 2.Omega Mum said …
I love it. And it has to be better than being saved by finding Christ. I had two Jehovah’s witnesses round the dayu after the inquest findings into that poor woman duped into refusing a blood tranfusion. I held my tongue - but only just. Mind you, it could have been Christian Scientists, do it’s just as well. I’m rambling now. Sorry.
on 26 Nov 2007 at 2:50 am 3.Iota said …
I was feeling so darn smug when my 3 year old saw a reflection of herself in a joke mirror, hugely and grotesquely elongated. Amidst roars of laughter, she said what sounded like “Look at me, I’m like Barbie”, and I was just feeling so pleased with myself for the positive impact of all those conversations I have had with her about Barbie’s hopelessly unrealistic shape, when she repeated the phrase. It turned out to be something like “Look at me, look at my body” (’body’ Americanised into ‘bahdie’). Shame.
on 28 Nov 2007 at 11:27 am 4.Laura McIntyre said …
I never got Trinny and Suzanne either, they always seemed cruel to me.
on 16 Dec 2007 at 5:47 am 5.Idetrorce said …
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce