Gender Identity

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1252857/man-66-goes-doctor-and-finds-hes-woman

I woke up this morning and saw this article on a friends Facebook page, and as someone who has Turner Syndrome, I found it to be extremely insensitive. For those of you who don’t know, Turner’s is a genetic condition that affects the female reproductive system, and basically causes the ovaries not to work. This means that sufferers can’t get pregnant.

The article is about a 66 year old man in Hong Kong who went to hospital with abdominal pain and discovered he had two conditions: Turner Syndrome and “congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), which boosted the male hormones and made the patient look like a man.” The writer goes on to say that sufferers of Turner’s ‘usually look like women’. Excuse me?!? We are not some alien inhabitants in the guise of women here on Earth. We ARE women!! There is a lot of media attention surrounding Angelina Jolie at the moment with her deciding to get a double mastectomy and will later get her ovaries removed, to reduce her risk of getting of getting cancer. Mostly the media attention has been positive, this brave move seen as empowering for women. Does it make her any less of a woman? Hell no. And having Turner’s doesn’t make me less of a woman either. But the big difference here is that she made this choice, whereas I don’t.

Another issue I have is with the end of the article: “Private gynaecologist Dr Kun Ka-yan said Turner syndrome was rarer now as most sufferers were identified in prenatal tests. Women would usually choose an abortion as the disease can bring other health problems, including mental disability.” Okay, abortion is a completely separate debate here, but I am proof that Turner’s doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of health problems. I am in perfect health and I am lucky enough not to have any related health problems or any of the physical attributes (except for my shortnss!). I didn’t even find out I had it until I was fifteen. While it's not really a secret that I have it, I don't go around broadcasting it either. To me, it’s just a condition I have, but it doesn’t define who I am.

I think the bigger issue here is that in society, you are either male or female, and for most of us, we live our lives in that gender role. But for a lot of people, like this man in the article, it isn’t as black and white as that, and as a result, these people are seen as outcasts, not normal. People are confused if you are not like them, but most of the time, these people are more confused and scared about their own identity than you are.

Love Triangles

All good T.V shows have one thing in common: love triangles. They keep us gripped, as we get emotionally invested in these love stories. We argue with friends, and with people online, as we root for a side, as we watch week after week, hoping that they will end up living happily ever after.

Here’s a list of infamous love triangles that I’ve compiled from the list of shows from my previous post, ‘T.V Programmes I Miss.’

FRIENDS: (Ross/Rachel/Copy Girl)

Okay, it's not a love triangle per say, but Ross’s one night stand with the copy girl broke up our favourite ‘FRIENDS’ couple, Ross and Rachel. The break up lead to one of their saddest ever episodes, as well as the memorable ‘WE WERE ON A BREAK!’ quote. Later, Ross and Rachel had a one night stand, which resulted in their daughter Emma. In the finale, Rachel was on her way to a new life in Paris. But she ‘got off the plane’, finally getting back to9gether with her ‘lobster’ Ross.

Beverly Hills 90210: (Dylan/Brenda/Kelly)

Brenda and Dylan were Romeo and Juliet of the 90's. Despite Brenda’s parents’ disapproval of their relationship, their love was too strong to keep them apart. That was until Brenda’s trip to Europe. She ended up having a fling with tour guide Rick, while Dylan stayed at home and got closer to Brenda’s best friend Kelly. In the end, Dylan chooses Kelly, as Brenda sets off for a new life in London. Dylan and Kelly break up, as she starts a relationship with Brenda's twin brother Brandon. Dylan ends up marrying the daughter of the man who killed his fatehr a few years previously. This ended tragicallly with her being murdered. But all is not hopeless, as in the finale, Dylan and Kelly get back together and David and Donna's wedding. 'From the new ‘90210’, we know that Dylan and Kelly now have a child together, but Dylan isn’t in the picture anymore, choosing to travel the world, rather than settling down. Me personally, I would have loved to see Dylan get back together with Brenda.

Sex and the City: (Carrie/Big/Aidan)

Carrie was attracted to Big from the very first episode. But Big’s inability to commit left Carrie heart broken. Along comes Aidan, a good, dependable guy that helps her pick up the pieces. In the meantime, Big ends up marrying another woman, Natasha. But Carrie and Big cannot fight their attraction for each other and start a tumultuous affair, which ends when Natasha catches them in bed together. Their subsequent relationships end also. All is not lost, as like a fairytale, true love prevails. In the finale, Big goes to Paris to rescue her from her latest beau, Aleksandr Petrovsky. He takes her home to New York, and ‘absofuckinlutely’ finally gives her the commitment she so desperately wanted. 

Dawson’s Creek: (Joey/Dawson/Pacey)

It was clear from the beginning that Joey was in love with the boy across the creek, her best friend Dawson. Dawson remained clueless for a while, but they finally got together in the beginning of the second season. They were broken up by the end of that season, after Dawson helped put Joey’s dad behind bars again. Dawson asked his best friend Pacey to look out for her, and they end up falling in love, leaving Dawson heartbroken. Joey and Pacey eventually broke up, leaving fans guessing about who Joey was going to end up with until the final episode. While Dawson was Joey’s soul mate, and they will always share a special bond, Joey's heart belonged to Pacey. Joey and Pacey get back togther, with Dawson realising his dream of working with Spielberg.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: (Buffy/Angel/Spike)

Okay, this might not be a traditional love triangle, but this isn’t a traditional story. Buffy fell in love with two vampires with tortured souls, at two different times. First, there was Angel, the vampire with a soul, which was destroyed after they spent a night of passion together. Then, after he moved to L.A, there was Spike. While he spent a good while trying to kill her, he ends up falling for her. He even gets his soul back just to prove to her that he does genuinely love her, and they have a somewhat unconventional romance. Angel comes back in the final episode to help her fight in a battle. They share a kiss with Spike watching in the wings, giving fans hope that these are the two that will live happily ever after.

One Tree Hill: (Lucas/Peyton/Brooke)

Probably one of the most complicated of the love triangles. Lucas had a thing for his brother Nathan’s girlfriend Peyton. It was obvious that they shared an emotional connection. But even after Peyton and Nathan break up, it never really went anywhere. So he ended up dating Peyton’s best friend, Brooke. Peyton finally realises that she wants Lucas, so they have an affair behind Brooke’s back. Brooke finds out and breaks up with Lucas. Peyton, feeling guilty for what she did to Brooke, breaks up with him too. After a while, Lucas gets back with Brooke. Peyton tells Brooke that she still loves Lucas. Brooke breaks up with Lucas again. Lucas and Peyton eventually get together, after Lucas realised that she was the one he wanted next to him when his dreams came true. They get married, have a child and drive off into the sunset at the end of the sixth series. This left Brooke free to find the love of her life, Julian Baker.

Gilmore Girls: (Rory/Dean/Jess)

This one is pretty straight forward. Dean was Rory’s first ever boyfriend. He was kind, dependable, and treated her well. Along comes Jess, a troubled guy who Rory had an undeniable connection with. Rory and Dean break up, and she gets together with Jess. Jess ends up leaving town, and a heart broken Rory. Uncharacteristically, she later has an affair with Dean, who had since gotten married. As with most affairs it didn’t last. Rory went off to college and meets Logan, the guy who she finally ends up with. 

So, who was your favourite couple of all time?

T.V Programmes I Miss

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a bit of a T.V addict. I love nothing more than sitting down after a hard day and engrossing myself in reality T.V or the latest teen drama (hello ‘Geordie Shore’ and ‘Pretty Little Liars’!). But there are some programmes that have since gone, and can never be replaced. What’s great about these shows, is that no matter what genre it is (drama, comedy, supernatural), at the heart of each of them are relationships, growing up, love and heart break. Thank god for boxsets so I can relive my favourite shows over and over again!

FRIENDS

‘Friends’ was the ultimate comedy in the ‘90’s and ’00’s. The fact that the six friends were close off camera added to their chemistry on screen. The show gave us some classic moments: Ross and Rachel on a break, the chick and the duck, and not forgetting ‘Smelly Cat’. By the end of their 10 season run Jennifer Aniston and Co.were paid over one million per episode, and it was worth every penny. While a reunion has been talked about since the show ended, I think it ended in such a cathartic and emotional way, that I think it’s best if we just stick to watching repeats on T.V.

Beverly Hills 90210.

The original, and by far the best. They tried to bring it back with ‘90210’, but it just didn’t have the same impact. This show had everything that you can think of that affected Americans in the 90’s: family problems, love triangles, drug abuse, eating disorders, AIDS, alcoholism, teenage pregnancies, homophobia and racism, domestic violence and bulimia. At the heart of it all was the Walsh family, as parents Cindy and Jim Walsh tried to steer their children, Brandon and Brenda, down the right path. The show was never the same after they left, and oh how fun it is to watch it now and laugh at the fashion faux pas.

Sex and the City

This show was iconic for many reasons. Not only did we drool over the fashion choices of Carrie Bradshaw, but the show also made it okay for us women to talk openly about sex, and sexual matters like female promiscuity and sexual diseases. While the relationship between Carrie and Mr Big enthralled us, the heart of the show was the close friendship between four different girls, Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte. While there were two Sex and The City movies to keep us from missing the foursome, the magic of the show just could not be recaptured. Let’s face it, the first one was okay, but the second one wasn't!

Dawon’s Creek

What we loved about the show was the big teen angst and convoluted dialogue between two of the main characters, Dawson and Joey. While the creek might not have been true to reality at times, we just couldn’t help but fall in love with Pacey’s wit and charm, and the innoncent relationship between Dawson and his best friend Joey in the beginning. And it gave us one of the saddest endings in TV history when Jen died, leaving behind her daughter Amy.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

This supernatural drama showed us that women can kick ass too as Sarah Michelle Gellar fought vampires and demons each week, while still at school, and dealing with her doomed relationship with the vampire with a soul, Angel. This show quickly became a cult classic and created the spin-off ‘Angel’, as well as comics, novels and video games.

One Tree Hill

Described as ‘the little show that could,’ due to its growing fan base over the first few seasons, this is show was essential viewing for any teen. ‘Tree Hill’ is a small town with a lot of history and connections, as parents’ past mistakes ultimately affect their present, and their children. ‘One Tree Hill’, in my opinion, also gave us one of the best bad guys in T.V: Dan Scott. This show also has a strong and amazing soundtrack, which kick started the careers of singers Gavin DeGraw, Tyler Hilton, Kate Voegele, and Bethany Joy Lenz.

Gilmore Girls

This show was famous for its fast, witty dialogue and pop culture references. At the core were the relationships between mother and daughter: the close relationship that Rory shared with her mother Lorelai, and the animosity and social divide between Lorelai and her mother Emily, who, lets face it, always had the best one liners.

So, what T.V shoes do you miss? 

I Have A Dream.

I’m still in a nostalgic mood (see previous post The Year Of Nostalgia). If the Big Reunion was to air again next year, it got me thinking about what pop bands I'd love to see reunite. (Please note that this is my own wish list. I realise that some of them would never reunite or go on the show).

So here’s my list…

Westlife:

Top of it has to be Westlife. Anyone who knows me knows who much I love them. I know they haven’t even broken up a year yet, but I still miss them! I’d even put up with Brian (or Bryan) McFadden rejoining the group if it means they get back together!

All Saints:

They were the English version of Destiny’s Child back in the day. Their attempt at getting back together a few years ago didn’t go too well, but you never know, with the success of the show, it could work this time!

S Club 7:

I’m sorry but I love nothing more than a bit of cheesy pop, and S Club brings it and then some!!

Hear’Say:

This year saw Popstars rejects Liberty X take the plunge, so it’s only right that the winners take a pop at it! We just need Kym marsh to be relieved of her acting duties on Corrie for a while.

O-Town

Love these guys! ‘All Or Nothing’ is still one of my favourite boyband ballads of all time.

So, who would you love to see reunite?

Year Of Nostalgia!!

From The Big Reunion to PJ and Duncan’s epic return last weekend, we all love going back to days of our carefree childhood. Here are a few reasons why 2013 is the year of nostalgia…And it’s still only March!!

The Big Reunion:

Some of the best pop bands of the 90’s are back with a reality show 'The Big Reunion' as they reunite for a special concert at The Hammersmith Apollo in London. Cue lots of tears and arguments as they try to get passed past differences, and Kerry Katona is back as part of Atomic Kitten, making them ‘Whole Again’. Reality TV Gold!!

“Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble”:

Ant and Dec reprised their roles of PJ and Duncan as they sang their hit “Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble” on their show ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’. The song got to number one on the UK iTunes Charts the next day. Hash tag legends!

Superbowl Reunion:

Destiny’s Child reunited onstage for the first time in six years as they performed at The Super Bowl’s halftime show last month.

Girls Are Aloud Again:

Girls Aloud also reunited this year for one final tour to say goodbye to their fans. And after Nadine let rip on Twitter saying she had no part in wanting to split the girls up, it doesn’t look like all five girls will be seen together again!

Clarissa Explains It All…

…in book form! The man who created the show ‘Clarissa Explains It All’, Mitchell Kriegman is in the middle of writing an epic where-is-she-now book. Will Sam still be climbing through her window wherever the now 23 year old is? Will her brother Ferguson still be as annoying as ever? Let’s hope so! Think it’s time to re-watch the episodes on YouTube!

And Finally…

TV stars are getting back in the action with ‘Friends’ Courtney Cox (Monica Gellar) reuniting with Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) in his show ‘Go On’.

‘Malcolm In The Middle’ parents’ Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek will reunite in the final season of Cranston’s award winning show ‘Breaking Bad’.

‘Cheers’ co stars Rhea Pearlman and Kirstie Alley are back together after 20 years with a new show, due to premier in the autumn.

Any nostalgic moments you would like to relive from your childhood??

The Goat Edition

In case you haven't heard the goat who likes to interrupt pop songs, or if you just want to look at him again, here is a list of five of his most brilliant moments that made me laugh the most...

Taylor Swift "I Knew You Were Trouble"

Kelly Clarkson "Since You've Been Gone"

LMFAO "Sexy and I Know It"

Carrie Underwood "Blown Away"

Adele "Rolling In The Deep"

What do you think? Is it funny? Annoying? Any other Goat Edition that made you laugh?

#BeyoncéBowl

After Super Bowl performance 

There are no words to describe how phenomenal Queen Bee was during the Superbowl halftime show! And not only did she bring the roof down off the New Orleans Superdome, she was reunited on stage with her Destiny's Child band mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. While it should have been a great moment for them and Destiny's Child fans, Kelly and Michelle were completely over shadowed by Beyoncé. While they made an impressive entrance by literally jumping out of the stage in heels, Beyoncé let them know that it was HER show, I mean poor Michelle's mic didn't even work properly but hey I'd be surprised if it mattered to anybody other than Michelle!

And just when you thought Beyoncé's amazingness ended after that performance, she only bloody went and announced a World Tour!!!! Time for get to get practicing my Single Ladies routine ;-)
Watch Queen Bee in all her glory below