The Riff-Raff Element Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 A chum was kind enough to draw myattention to the vacuous Helena Frith-Powell pontificating in alow-brow moron-baiting article in some bum-fodder named “Grazia”on the subject of someone called Kirstie Allsopp who got herself intohot water by saying women should always put their menfolk first:“After living in France for 10 years,I'm totally in agreement. French women always put their men first. Iremember one French friend refusing to breastfeed her first-bornbecause, she said, her breasts belonged to her husband.”As generalisations go, this seemspretty sweeping. In fact, I can't really square the notion with anyof the French women I know. Perhaps it's a generational thing:practically all the women I know are under 45. Or – and I thinkthis more likely – it might be because la Frith-Powell knows onlywomen who regard getting out of bed in time to see the kiddies off toschool with the nanny before spending time with their personal trainer, having amanicure and then a very small but very expensive lunch as being afair day's graft. All the women I know (with a soleexception) work for a living.Anyway, while I wouldn't presume to askthe ladies on the forum who their breasts belong to, I would be quitecurious to know their views (and anyone elses) on H F-P's observation: completely barkingmad or the voice of common sense? [8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Neither. She is well versed in knowing exactly what kind of contentious, seemingly off-the-cuff, remarks are likely to get readers, both of forums like this and of pseudo-highbrow periodicals, huffing and puffing into their cheap French plonk. [:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 I don't know who their breasts belong to but Marilyn knows who owns their Hearthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teq_FPun9K4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 My breasts are mine, who I would favour with them at any given point is solely at my own discretion!And yes, this great breastfeeding myth when 'what they do in Europe is quoted', I know a lot of french women who wouldn't or didn't, but never the reason. I do know the odd one who fed their baby though for months. Still it was not encouraged for more than a few weeks either, but as many return to work in weeks, the convenience of not breastfeeding, probably won out.Do I look after my husband? I do. Do I feel a lesser person for it, nope, never have. I understand that our brains work differently and I don't moan about 'him not doing this that and the other with a few insults thrown in' as a lot of women do. Sometimes this whining to her other half and sometimes to anyone else who'll listen. I like men, I don't care that their brains aren't bogged down with somethings that women's brains seem to get fixated on. And men can run households, I know that, but men's brains always seem to me to get singularly focused on things, and if running a house is that, then they'll run it well. But I do understand that many men do not instinctively focus on the mundanities of housework as it is bloody boring. And if I like men, then I do not like boring men, I am always fond of 'odd' ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frecossais Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 [quote user="The Riff-Raff Element"]A chum was kind enough to draw myattention to the vacuous Helena Frith-Powell pontificating in alow-brow moron-baiting article in some bum-fodder named “Grazia”on the subject of someone called Kirstie Allsopp who got herself intohot water by saying women should always put their menfolk first:[/quote]I think I might print, cut out and keep this sentence for its exquisitely put description of a modern magazine. wonderful!On the subject of the quote about the breasts belonging to her husband, that's an old one from years back. I doubt whether many (or even any) women now, French or British would own it. More likely to be regarded with derision.I'm reminded of a song whose verse went:Hey little girl, comb your hair, fix your make upSoon he will open the door.Don't think because there's a ring on your fingerYou needn't try any moreFor wives should always be lovers tooRun to his arms the moment he comes home to you.........I'm rather hoping we women have got past that stage in our efforts to become equal partners in a relationship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Burt Bacharach sung by Jack Jones, a song I would sing when I was but a young young girl. If I update that song in my head, then it would be that even if married or living with someone, you both still have to try and cuddles etc are eternally important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyinfrance Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Hey little girl, comb your hair, fix your make upSoon he will open the door.Don't think because there's a ring on your fingerYou needn't try any moreFor wives should always be lovers tooRun to his arms the moment he comes home to you.........I was tempted to print this out so I could hang it on the kitchen wall as a little reminder for my beloved.Then I thought about it again and concluded she would wrap it round a rolling pin and put it to good use........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 'For wives should always be lovers too'Still if you cannot be that in the normal run of things, illness being an exception, really what is the point anyway. Now I realise that my weapon of choice, perhaps would be a baseball bat, I have never given it a thought before. I do know that I bake too much to mess up my perfectly good rolling pin, turned by 'him'[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Breasts belonging to anyone else than the person attached to them, that always strikes me as terribly odd. Do men's testicles belong to the wives? Don't think so.I might be contentious but to me, it is in the same category as a man saying "we are pregnant" when his partner is expecting their baby. Being pregnant is not quite the same as "going to be a father". Unless the womb is shared equally?However, what I HAVE noticed in Frenchwomen my own generation (that is, a bit older than 40-something), is that many, even in retirement, will adjust their timetable to fit in with their husband's. In a class I go to, which is great, great fun, if it is in the evening (for an hour, from 7.30 to 8.30), the only women who go regularly are the ones who live on their own. On two occasions now, (and even a third which is even worse, because the woman concerned won't even admit to it), two different women have said that they can't go because the husband doesn't like it, he wants her to not only provide his dinner, but also be there to share it with him when he comes home exhausted after some tournoi de pétanque. And god forbid that there should be anything clashing with his sacro-sanct annual repas des anciens combattants. His wife just has to be there with him, full stop, even when there is something she REALLY wants to do taking place that day.My 85-year old neighbour said to me once "You are lucky that your husband lets you go out on your own!". Presumably, her (now deceased) husband, would not allow it. About HFP, the less said the better[6]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 HFP is the youger annoyance in the same box as Carol Drinkwater... not my cup of tea.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Do men's testicles belong to the wives? Don't think so.Frankly if they weren't in bags and attached, then I reckon the men in my household would have lost them long ago![Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 [quote user="idun"]Do men's testicles belong to the wives? Don't think so.Frankly if they weren't in bags and attached, then I reckon the men in my household would have lost them long ago![Www][/quote]My wife would have broken them .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 NormanH, that is truly terrible. Nothing to do with me incidentally, every male in the house, manages to disappear things that they had just put 'there' and it magically has disappeared in the intervening seconds. A hob sometimes gets blamed, even me, if, they are feeling particularly brave, as I am rarely the guilty party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Riff-Raff Element Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 [quote user="Will"]Neither. She is well versed in knowing exactly what kind of contentious, seemingly off-the-cuff, remarks are likely to get readers, both of forums like this and of pseudo-highbrow periodicals, huffing and puffing into their cheap French plonk. [:P][/quote]Enough of the cheap, already! I'm paying €1,80 per litre at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.