Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle

The two rhetorical questions at the beginning of the article set a critical tone. They are blunt and pushy; making a quick point, short and snappy. It is a cynical opening, yet does state some truth. It’s an interesting take on the situation, possibly because that’s what people were thinking. It throws the question in their as the first sentence, getting straight to the point. Asking a question that doesn’t need an answer.

The author’s attitude to Susan Boyle is blunt and rude, but in the context of it and what she’s saying it speaks truth. She is a female writer for the Guardian. We are shocked that she’s writing it in an open newspaper, yet we can’t deny the fact that we were perhaps thinking the exact same thing. Describing her she says, ‘small and rather chubby, with a squashed face, unruly teeth and unkempt hair’ its rude and exemplified. The reaction from the audience, ‘walked out to chatter, giggling and a long unpleasant wolf whistle’. The journalist tells us that that is what she would expect the reaction to his middle-aged woman

The writer then goes on to describe her life, ‘unemployed, single, lives with her cat Pebbles and has never been kissed’, its brave on her part to say that on national TV and you could even go as far to say that she’s brought ridicule on herself by saying that sort of thing. Yet its sad that her sentence sums her up and shows us that what we perhaps were thinking is in fact true, showing the stereotype of the unsuccessful candidate. The journalist has included this to show once again the harsh stereotype of the world we live in, showing that it’s a key part to her argument and proving her point.

The rhetorical question used by the author shows the stereotype of women who are middle-aged, not married and lives with her cat, the question poses an interesting point. It’s asking why women who are ‘ugly’ can’t get out and make something of their life, just because they aren’t stunning doesn’t mean they aren’t talented and doesn’t mean they aren’t aloud to get up a do something with their lives. Women should not be ridiculed and judged for how they look, they should be judged on their talent or personality.

The men she mentions are powerful men who have made a name for themselves in many different careers; they are not beautiful or handsome people yet they have carved a brilliant career in showbiz. Yet these men don’t have to be perfectly pruned and gorgeous. Women in showbiz doing similar jobs have to have ‘something about them’, they have to be sexy or beautiful, they aren’t aloud to be ugly and if they are they have to do something about it, funny, clever, smart. If they are none of these things, but are extremely talented sometimes talent is overlooked for physical features. Take Miranda Hart, she is a very tall woman who isn’t the most beautiful, yet she has made herself a brilliant career and people love her, she’s funny and doesn’t fall into society’s harsh ways and is respected (especially by women) for that.

Yes I do agree with what she says, because it’s true. Women do have to be perfect in our world now. Men don’t have half the worries about body image as women do. The writer makes us think about it, and the more you think about it the more you realize that it’s true. The sentence ‘we don’t want to look at you’ is horrid, its mean but shockingly we are only sympathetic towards women who might be ‘ugly’ when something has gone wrong like a personal tragedy, and most of the time people just feel sorry for them because of the way the look. Women feel better about themselves when they see someone who is less attractive than them, and it gives them confidence, that is how you can get self confidence in modern society today.