Does this picture make you angry?

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44659000/jpg/_44659946_millswide_getty_466.jpg

By Finlo Rohrer

BBC News Magazine

 

 

Whether it's Heather Mills or Kerry Katona, the celebrities that ordinary people vilify seem disproportionately to be female. Why?

 

hate, v. 1. trans. To hold in very strong dislike; to detest; to bear malice to

 

Hate's a strong word, but how many people in Britain who ever read a newspaper can honestly say they've never applied the word to a celebrity - celebrities in most cases that they've never met. From Queen of the Jungle to Tabloid Folk Devil: Kerry Katona as 'White Trash Mother'

 

Academic paper on celebrity

 

And if you've honestly racked your brains and come up with a list of the celebrities you "bear malice to", how many of them are female?

 

In a survey this week, by Marketing magazine the respondents' top five most loved celebrities were men - Paul McCartney, Lewis Hamilton, Gary Lineker, Simon Cowell and David Beckham. Of the five most hated, the top four were women - Heather Mills, Amy Winehouse, Victoria Beckham and Kerry Katona.

 

Heather Mills is probably the easiest dealt with. Many people's main gripe with celebrity is that it offers those without talents a chance to find material wealth through manipulation. For the tabloid media at least, Mills fits the bill.

 

But it's a bit harder to fathom the rest of the list. Why are these women seen to be so loathsome?

 

THE MOST HATED

1. Heather Mills - 28.3%

2. Amy Winehouse - 11.4%

3. Victoria Beckham - 10.2%

4. Kerry Katona - 10%

5. Simon Cowell - 4.6%

 

THE MOST LOVED

1. Paul McCartney - 14.9%

2. Lewis Hamilton - 11.2%

3. Gary Lineker - 11.2%

4. Simon Cowell - 9.7%

5. David Beckham - 9.4%

 

Source: Brands We Love and Brands We Hate, Marketing magazine

 

 

The phenomenon is to be tackled in an upcoming gathering of academics entitled Going Cheap?: Female Celebrity in the Tabloid, Reality and Scandal Genres, organised by Prof Diane Negra at the University of East Anglia on 25 June.

 

Among the speakers will be Aberdeen University academic Alan Dodd on the subject Just Too Much? Heather Mills and Celebrity Transgression.

 

In an abstract, he writes: "Her emotional stances on press intrusion and the specifics of her divorce battle, not to mention her defiant drenching of McCartney's lawyer, facilitates her categorisation as the traditional hysteric, with the resultant labelling of Mills as an attention seeker encountering established cultural prejudice concerning 'unfeminine' behaviour."

 

Another talk is entitled From Queen of the Jungle to Tabloid Folk Devil: Kerry Katona as 'White Trash Mother'. Katona has gone from being a figure positively associated with down-to-earth qualities to lurid tabloid tales of drug use as well as drinking and smoking while pregnant.

 

Ms Negra thinks we do hold female celebrities to different standards than their male counterparts.

 

Ambitious women

 

"There has been a conspicuous trend in the last five years towards the production of negatively-valued women in the public sphere. People respond to the pleasures of hating these kinds of figures.

"There is incredible ambivalence in a post-feminist culture towards women in the public sphere."

 

In a nutshell, despite years of equal opportunities, the media - and the people who watch and read - prefer the stay-at-home mother over a woman who lives her life in public, particularly one who is overtly ambitious or successful in making money. There is great satisfaction among many people in seeing them humbled, Ms Negra suggests.

 

But anyone who thinks it is mainly men who are doing the hating of female celebrities is barking up the wrong tree.

 

"We are missing a big part of the picture if we think misogyny is the exclusive preserve of men," says Ms Negra.

 

Advertising expert Hamish Pringle, author of Celebrity Sells, says men and women typically have very different attitudes to the images of celebrities they encounter.

 

"[some women] seem to be incredibly competitive with each other and find it hard to give credit to each other. With male celebrities a lot of men might aspire to be like them or may aspire to be with them."

 

But the split is not one that Ms Negra accepts. Even the idea of having negative feelings towards celebrity is viewed by many as an innately female quality.

 

"Men are less verbal about those reactions - they see that those reactions are seen to be feminised."

 

For Dr John Maltby, senior lecture in psychology at Leicester University and an expert on "celebrity interest", there is a very real motivation for trashing celebrities, particularly in group situations.

 

Watercooler moments

 

"If you have a negative attitude towards somebody; if you make downwards comparisons; if you say I'm better; that helps you raise your self-esteem. If a group is able to say we wouldn't behave like that celebrity it enhances that group's standing."

 

The celebrities help fulfil a role that would have been occupied by over-the-fence gossip when friendship groups were more settled in small geographical areas.

 

"It's the watercooler moment, talking and being with your friends," says Dr Maltby. "The celebrity becomes a reference point. If you look to communities in the 1970s there were always local heroes, local celebrities."

 

And the media gives every consumer plenty of chances to latch on to these reference points, as rarely a day passes without condemnation of a celebrity. The mainstays of the tabloid press have now been supplemented by a wealth of material in the new media.

 

In another abstract for the upcoming conference, Salford University's Kirsty Fairclough writes: "Celebrities including Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Rumer Willis, Mischa Barton and Kerry Katona are routinely condemned for their perceived excessive lifestyles in terms of their disregard for the apparent rules of femininity through extreme diets or weight gain, drug abuse, supposed lack of fashion sense/style, and an 'unfeminine' need for fame and attention."

 

But the hunger for the humbled female celebrity may be waning, Ms Negra suggests, with recent signs that some tabloid readers are unhappy with the way Britney Spears has been treated.

 

"It has become so ubiquitous - it is possible that we are reaching saturation point."

 

Do you agree with this article or not?

 

 

 

I have a perception of how I expect women to be like

 

I expect women to act lady like and dignified so those that do not conform to that are right to be scorned when they are celebs, it is ok for me for male celebs to be laddish but while I like assertive women they should still act lady like and with a bit of dignity and the likes of Mills, Moss, Spears, Hilton, Lohan etc don't.

 

 

Simon Cowell isn't female! Lol. I still hate him because he has ruined the charts and Christmas number 1. Those people you listed have got a bad name against them.

 

1. Heather Mills - Managed to get most of Macca's money.

2. Amy Winehouse - Talks to mice and takes drugs. Shame because she's has talent

3. Victoria Beckham - SCRAWNY spice who tries too hard. EAT SOME FOOD!

4. Kerry Katona - I hate her fellar more than her.

5. Simon Cowell - RUINED THE CHARTS!

 

 

I'd also add Kate Moss to that list. She's an attention seeking brat.

All those hated women (apart from Amy, you can also add other hated celebs like TPT, Jordan and Jodie Marsh) there are seen as the dregs of society, they've become famous for having little or no talent and they're deservedly hated. That kind of person is much less likely with males, there's only like Callum Best...

Edited May 18, 200817 yr by RabbitFurCoat

Hmmm, it probably is a bit unfair that the likes of of Victoria Beckham are up there as being hated... Cant stand her sh!tty "music" or her general attitude, but I hardly think she's in the league of truly objectionable scum like Stan Collymore (a mysoginistic piece of sh!t who beats up women...) or John Leslie (a really nasty, oily, sleazy scumbag, and quite possibly a fukkin' SERIAL RAPIST....), Mel Gibson (a drunken, racist piece of sh!t and all round religious nutjob) and Simon Cowell is far more objectionable to me than either Amy Winehouse or Victoria Beckham... I mean, yeah, Victoria Beckham and Amy Winehouse do p!ss people off, but that's all they do, the four blokes I just mentioned are certainly in a worse league....

 

As for Heather Mills... Well, she's her own worst enemy frankly... I care not one jot for her. I would say that she kind of deserves the vilification.....

 

I take Rabbitfurcoat's general point as well... But I would say that there are some pretty bloody useless male celebs out there as well.....

 

 

i think that most women 'celebs' promote themselves too much, like rfc says ... tpt, jodie marsh, jordan... very big on self promotion but very little on talent. we just dont respect them, they come across as shallow, vacuous, thick... i dont think talentless men push themselves as mush.... after all, ever heard of an 'it man'?...

 

so i dont think we hate talentless women more, its just that theres more of them in the spotlight to hate!

Without wanting to sound sexist, it is the majority of woman who are willing to put and sell themselves out. Esp models who have carved their careers out of their tits. *cough Jordan*

I don't understand what Victoria has done that bad tbh I'ts not like she is a Drug Addict or anything

I don't understand what Victoria has done that bad tbh I'ts not like she is a Drug Addict or anything

She's a waste of space.

 

I think she's an awful role-model, she looks like an alien who has dropped into earth to invade the GPB minds. :o

I agree with Josh. She knows that many people see her as a role model and "great" and she also knows that theres this whole thing with girls wanting to be skinnier and the size 0 epidemic and yet still wants to be skinnier than the skeletor that she is.

 

But its not so much about the British hating female celebrities. I think it has more to do with the celebrity culture surrounding it. Nowadays girls more than boys will do literally anything to become famous. Also, they make such stupid decisions to put their career on line whilst being on a stupid VH1/MTV show. And i dont think you have to be british to be hated or to hate. Example, Paris Hilton. Why is this woman even known?! sure she is heiress to the Hilton fortune but is there ANY need for her to be in my face constantly? When it was all over the news about Paris being released from jail i was like wtf? I was so glad when a US reporter decided not to broadcast news about it. It was just so pointless and a complete waste of airtime that couldve been used on something way more useful like the "war" in Iraq.

I'm suprised Britney isn't on there -_-

An observation. -_-

 

For some crazy reason, female celebs sell more copy than male celebs. Whether it be Britney shaving her hair off, Posh sporting a new frock or Amy snorting anything that looks like talcum. Just think film premieres. How often do you see the leading man on the front page of the tabloids the following day? Hardly ever. How often do you see the leading lady on the front of the tabloids? Yip, there she is. Generally with her boobs hanging out of some hankie disguised as a frock. Female celebs sell newspapers. Female celebs sell mags like Hello.

 

But there's a price to pay for this saturation coverage. When every day you pick up a newspaper and it's the same faces looking back at you you get really pissed off with them. Particularly if the female in question is one of the 'famous for being famous minimal talent types'. I don't know how often I've picked up a newspaper at morning tea-break and exclaimed 'FFS if I see that stupid bint's face in the paper one more time I'm not gonna be responsible for my actions. I can't take any more of her. It's every bloody day!!!!' (or words to that effect -_- )

 

So yes, personally my List of annoying celebs would include a lot more females than males. But maybe that's also because as a female myself I'm a lot less tolerant of other females.

 

My biggest annoyances (just off the top of my head)-

 

- Posh Spice. Torn faced, money grabbing stick insect who cannae sing a note. No talent whatsoever except ability to pout.

- Kerry Katona. Common as muck druggie chav. No talent whatsoever. As above. Cannae sing a note. Famous for baggin the chubby one from Westlife. And I detest those Iceland adverts. :angry:

- Kelly Brook. No acting ability. No presenting ability. Famous for having big boobs. I'm sure you're a lovely person but why are you on the front page of my newspaper every second day?

- Amy Winehouse. Druggie with stupid hairdo. At least she can sing. Plus one point. But I don't like her music. Minus one point. Mice torturer.

- Heather Mills. Geriatric loving, money grabbin fantasist. Bleugh.

- Britney Spears. Sorry love. I know you have problems but I've had enough of reading about you. And you cannae sing a note either. Famous for lip-syncing.

- All the Jordans, Jodie Marches, Jade Goodys of this world. Made millions from displaying their silicone enhanced t*ts and/or being incredibly thick. And that's just not right. <_<

- Wendy Alexander. Whiney voiced harpy spouting twaddle. You hurt my ears. Go away. :arrr:

 

A man-

 

- Louis Walsh! Aaaaaaaaarggggggg!!!!!! :puke2:

I'm suprised Britney isn't on there -_-

 

She made my List :lol:

 

 

Bless. Poor Britney. Maybe I was too harsh. :(

 

I'm not British but why does everyone hate Amy Winehouse? She clearly has drug problems and she's had a few embarrassing and public spectacles, but she generally tries to keep to herself, doesn't she? Unlike some stupid attention-seeking (and talentless in my opinion) twit like Lilly Allen.

^i dont hate her. I just think that she is being publicised wrongly in the media forcing the gullible public to see her in such light. I do not hate people that i do not know i merely dislike. Amy - i neither like nor dislike... her music however :w00t:

i think that most women 'celebs' promote themselves too much, like rfc says ... tpt, jodie marsh, jordan... very big on self promotion but very little on talent. we just dont respect them, they come across as shallow, vacuous, thick... i dont think talentless men push themselves as mush.... after all, ever heard of an 'it man'?...

 

so i dont think we hate talentless women more, its just that theres more of them in the spotlight to hate!

 

Yeah, I guess that's a valid point also.... Thick, Chavvy bloke "celebs" don't in the main go in for the sort of shameless self-publicity that their female counterparts do....

 

Jupiter 9's post has several points that I agree with also...

She made my List :lol:

Bless. Poor Britney. Maybe I was too harsh. :(

 

LMAO. Listen to her demo Untitled Lullabye and then tell me she cannot sing.

Oh, and while your at it listen to Everytime Live From Hotel Onyx.

The absolute, simple answer to the question in the topic title is that the British are a bunch of sexist pigs.

 

If a man cheats, there 'a lad', 'one of the boys'. If a woman cheats, she's 'a slag', 'a tart' or 'a filthy whore'.

If a man lives alone, unmarried, in his thirties, he is a bachelor. If a woman does the same, she's an over-the-hill, failure of a singleton.

Newspapers feature numerous sections with clothes-free women sprawling their sillicone jugs around for men to enjoy; newspapers have nothing for women.

There are numerous straight and gay porn magazines available, all aimed at men. Women get magazines like Living Etc and Cheshire Life.

A female politician has to prove herself time and time again in the face of 'can she hack it?'-style doubts. A male is accepted at once.

 

I could go on, and on, and on, but my point is pretty clear; we live in a foul, blinkered nation of sexist bastards!

The absolute, simple answer to the question in the topic title is that the British are a bunch of sexist pigs.

 

If a man cheats, there 'a lad', 'one of the boys'. If a woman cheats, she's 'a slag', 'a tart' or 'a filthy whore'.

If a man lives alone, unmarried, in his thirties, he is a bachelor. If a woman does the same, she's an over-the-hill, failure of a singleton.

Newspapers feature numerous sections with clothes-free women sprawling their sillicone jugs around for men to enjoy; newspapers have nothing for women.

There are numerous straight and gay porn magazines available, all aimed at men. Women get magazines like Living Etc and Cheshire Life.

A female politician has to prove herself time and time again in the face of 'can she hack it?'-style doubts. A male is accepted at once.

 

I could go on, and on, and on, but my point is pretty clear; we live in a foul, blinkered nation of sexist bastards!

 

well you are right to a point.... but you fail to understand that the likes of marsh, hilton, jordan etc FEED mens sexism, they are being 'sex' objects by choice, they claim to be in control... they are doing it for themselves as an easy life career move.

The absolute, simple answer to the question in the topic title is that the British are a bunch of sexist pigs.

 

If a man cheats, there 'a lad', 'one of the boys'. If a woman cheats, she's 'a slag', 'a tart' or 'a filthy whore'.

If a man lives alone, unmarried, in his thirties, he is a bachelor. If a woman does the same, she's an over-the-hill, failure of a singleton.

Newspapers feature numerous sections with clothes-free women sprawling their sillicone jugs around for men to enjoy; newspapers have nothing for women.

There are numerous straight and gay porn magazines available, all aimed at men. Women get magazines like Living Etc and Cheshire Life.

A female politician has to prove herself time and time again in the face of 'can she hack it?'-style doubts. A male is accepted at once.

 

I could go on, and on, and on, but my point is pretty clear; we live in a foul, blinkered nation of sexist bastards!

 

That's fairly accurate I would say, but what you fail to take into account is that the likes of Heather Mills, Jordan, Jodie Marsh, Paris Hilton, etc, hardly do women, or the cause of Feminsim much favours at all, and they all seem to be the ones with the highest profiles unfortunately... One's a gold-digging, compulsive liar, another's main 'claim to fame' is that she's an heiress and starred in a Porn video, the other two only seem to have a "talent" for getting their t*ts out and pouting whenever a camera is pointed in their general direction... As Radiohead once said - "You do it to yourself/And that's what really hurts"... I quite pity the likes of Jordan and Jodie Marsh that they feel this compulsion to act this way, they're not in control at all, they just feed an industry that exploits themselves and other women.... Pathetic.... And people wonder why the rape statistics are so high.... -_-

 

Also, Jark, I think you'll find that probably the most scathing post in this thread concerning this issue is actually written by a female.... :P