Do These Women Mean A Word They Say?

Do These Women Mean A Word They Say?

If I read one more ridiculous, overblown soundbite by one more ridiculous attention-seeking celebrity, I'm going to give up the internet. There, I said it. God, that feels good.

I can't take it anymore - the crazily out-of-touch statements, the insincere opinions, the embarrassingly needy attempts to provoke any kind of reaction. And my main gripe with this behaviour? The worst offenders at the moment are women. Excuse me while I curl up and weep.

Naturally, the incident that has pushed me - and probably several others - over the edge is Kirstie Allsopp's loon-like claim women should have children first and careers later. Because that's possible for the vast majority of us.

Mother nature "is not a feminist" she said to The Telegraph and therefore us - the female population - should attempt to make our mark on the workplace later in life.

But Allsopp's not the only one who's a complete idiot. If it's not a Channel 4 presenter telling us how to get on, it's an ex-Apprentice contestant saying she "doesn't like fat people" (Katie Hopkins) or a popstar making endless empty shouty statements (Lily Allen - the latest is she'd "turn" for Beyonce. Yawn).

The trouble is, it's all nonsense. I don't believe Allsopp, Hopkins or Allen genuinely mean a word they say. Depressingly, they're using their position as women in the public eye to churn out soundbites that are more look-at-me than listen-to-me.

They're not really trying to start conversations or make revelations about who they are. They're trying to do one thing and that's stay in the public eye. If people are talking about them, they're relevant. They'll get spots on panel shows, presenting gigs, album sales.

Except beneath the smokescreen of outrage, anger or shock they've provoked, there's nothing much to get excited about. Three privileged people who don't really live on the same planet as the rest of us.

Anyone can trill out a bunch of empty soundbites to get attention, but what would really be cutting edge right now is if a woman got Allsopp-level press for saying something clever.

Off the top of my head, isn't it kind of mental Hopkins' gets more column inches and clicks than Stella Creasy? Just to clarify, that's someone who says public-baiting nonsense for a living vs someone who's a hard-working MP trying to make a difference.

The sad reality is I suspect this is what it takes to maintain media - and public - attention. These days publishing happens so quickly you're only really "news" for a couple of hours, so a continual stream of insincere gibberish is required to maintain a constant presence.

But let's be honest, do any of us really care what Allsopp's thoughts on fertility are? Do Hopkins' attention-seeking opinions have consequences for any us? Is Allen's latest shouty statement even that interesting?

Some might say at least these women have something to say and criticising them is negative. I respect their successes and agree no one should be silenced, but given their influence and reach (5,248,180 Twitter followers between the three of them) couldn't they just think of something better to say?

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