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Theresa May: she's a diabetes sufferer, not a plotter in kitten heels Theresa May: she's a diabetes sufferer, not a plotter in kitten heels
(about 2 months later)
It makes all the people who think a woman's weight is the most interesting thing about her look like people who don't have much to say. And it makes the Labour MP Keith Vaz, who tweeted in February that he was "worried" that the home secretary was looking "a bit thin", look very silly indeed. "I thought," said Theresa May, in an interview revealing that she has type 1 diabetes, "it was unfortunate that he wanted to make these sorts of personal comments … I will be interested to see what the next thing he chooses to say will be."It makes all the people who think a woman's weight is the most interesting thing about her look like people who don't have much to say. And it makes the Labour MP Keith Vaz, who tweeted in February that he was "worried" that the home secretary was looking "a bit thin", look very silly indeed. "I thought," said Theresa May, in an interview revealing that she has type 1 diabetes, "it was unfortunate that he wanted to make these sorts of personal comments … I will be interested to see what the next thing he chooses to say will be."
It's a shame the interview wasn't on YouTube, where you could hear her tone of voice, and see the expression on her face. It's a shame Vaz, who was "worried" enough about May to tweet to his 5,933 followers, but not enough to speak to her, couldn't see it too. It would have been nice to see the expression on his face, and the expressions on the faces of the people who thought the home secretary's weight loss was part of a plot. They seemed to think the only reason a woman her age might lose weight would be because she wanted to become prime minister.It's a shame the interview wasn't on YouTube, where you could hear her tone of voice, and see the expression on her face. It's a shame Vaz, who was "worried" enough about May to tweet to his 5,933 followers, but not enough to speak to her, couldn't see it too. It would have been nice to see the expression on his face, and the expressions on the faces of the people who thought the home secretary's weight loss was part of a plot. They seemed to think the only reason a woman her age might lose weight would be because she wanted to become prime minister.
If you're a young woman – for example, a young woman who has just given birth to a future monarch – then it's clear why you should lose weight. You have to do this, as so many magazines have told us this week, because it's your duty, if you're going to be photographed, to always look slim and pretty. But if that sounds a little bit tiring, you don't have to panic. When you hit 45, or 50, or 55, you don't have to bother so much, because men don't really care. You don't need to worry about "flaunting your curves", or looking "worryingly gaunt", or even about your cellulite, because the people who used to look at you are now looking at someone else.If you're a young woman – for example, a young woman who has just given birth to a future monarch – then it's clear why you should lose weight. You have to do this, as so many magazines have told us this week, because it's your duty, if you're going to be photographed, to always look slim and pretty. But if that sounds a little bit tiring, you don't have to panic. When you hit 45, or 50, or 55, you don't have to bother so much, because men don't really care. You don't need to worry about "flaunting your curves", or looking "worryingly gaunt", or even about your cellulite, because the people who used to look at you are now looking at someone else.
You can like it or not like it, but this is the message the media sends out, and it seems to be the message that many men in Westminster have picked up, too. If you're a woman in Westminster, you'd better be careful what you wear. It mustn't be too flashy, or too tight, or too low-cut, or too bright. It mustn't look as though you're making an effort, but it mustn't look as though you're not. It mustn't look as though you want your colleagues to think you're sexy, but if mustn't look as if you don't. You should want your colleagues to think you're sexy, and be grateful if they do.You can like it or not like it, but this is the message the media sends out, and it seems to be the message that many men in Westminster have picked up, too. If you're a woman in Westminster, you'd better be careful what you wear. It mustn't be too flashy, or too tight, or too low-cut, or too bright. It mustn't look as though you're making an effort, but it mustn't look as though you're not. It mustn't look as though you want your colleagues to think you're sexy, but if mustn't look as if you don't. You should want your colleagues to think you're sexy, and be grateful if they do.
May didn't quite say this, in that interview in the Mail on Sunday, but she did say that she'd had "various descriptions" of what she had worn over the years, "some positive, some not". You "get more used to it", she said, "but of course it's frustrating". She thought, she said, that people should "feel comfortable in themselves". She clearly likes fashion. But she's more interested in how to run a police force, control borders and run prisons. She's interested in these things, and she's pretty damn good at them.May didn't quite say this, in that interview in the Mail on Sunday, but she did say that she'd had "various descriptions" of what she had worn over the years, "some positive, some not". You "get more used to it", she said, "but of course it's frustrating". She thought, she said, that people should "feel comfortable in themselves". She clearly likes fashion. But she's more interested in how to run a police force, control borders and run prisons. She's interested in these things, and she's pretty damn good at them.
If you want to succeed in politics, she says, you have to be "tenacious". You also have to work very, very hard. She does 18-hour days, and diabetes won't stop her. You might not want to work 18-hour days, but if you want to succeed in politics – particularly in high office, and particularly if you're a woman – this is what it takes.If you want to succeed in politics, she says, you have to be "tenacious". You also have to work very, very hard. She does 18-hour days, and diabetes won't stop her. You might not want to work 18-hour days, but if you want to succeed in politics – particularly in high office, and particularly if you're a woman – this is what it takes.
You don't have to be a Tory to like her. She's cool. She's calm. She's smart. She carries on fighting for what she believes, but she doesn't like a fuss. She didn't start a Twitter backlash when she saw Vaz's tweet. She stayed silent for five months, and then gave an interview.You don't have to be a Tory to like her. She's cool. She's calm. She's smart. She carries on fighting for what she believes, but she doesn't like a fuss. She didn't start a Twitter backlash when she saw Vaz's tweet. She stayed silent for five months, and then gave an interview.
She is also the longest-serving woman in one of the big offices of state since Margaret Thatcher. More important, you might think, than a few lost pounds. More important, even, than some kitten heels.She is also the longest-serving woman in one of the big offices of state since Margaret Thatcher. More important, you might think, than a few lost pounds. More important, even, than some kitten heels.
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