The NHS is one of the biggest employers in the world. As an outpatient, whenever I step into the hospital, the frequent hum of activity surprises me. You’ve got the café, the patients inside or the relatives, cleaners, volunteers by the entrance to help you know where you’ve got to go. There are receptionists, staff in the hospital shop full of teddy bears and chocolates. If it’s a teaching hospital then you have the nurses, doctors, surgeons and their legions of students. You, as a patient, can literally help someone learn. It can be a little bit tiresome if you have six students staring at your weird retina but that’s why they ask first before sending you in as an example.

I’m not a big fan of One Born Every Minute—the TV show, not the sardonic expression—but I understand it’s great at showing the good things the NHS do. Maybe it’s constrained, though, to the maternity wards. I don’t know if my experience with the NHS is typical, but it’s mine, and here’s why I’m so grateful for it.

When I was ten years old, my NHS optician noticed I had something weird going on in the back of my eye. She advised my parents it could be something serious, and to get me seen to by a specialist at the city hospital. Within a few weeks, I was there having various tests (ever had electrodes strapped to your head as you watch various lines and dots move on a TV screen? It’s interesting, to say the least). Within a few months, the doctors had ruled out ocular atrophy (the muscles in my eyes deteriorating) and a brain tumour. And within that year, the net to diagnose me was cast wider until, after a blood test, a lumbar puncture and an endoscopy, I was found to have Coeliac Disease. It’s an incurable autoimmune syndrome that can be controlled through not eating gluten. And this diagnosis—which, if I hadn’t had it, could have led to bowel cancer—came about via an eye checkup.

Let’s talk about the operation and lumbar puncture. I don’t remember any of it. Short paragraph! But, seriously, the medical professionals on the wards were fantastic. They have a sixth sense for terrified children. My surgeon in both cases came to visit me and told me in plain English what was going to happen. If there’s a better way of helping a nervous human being than telling them exactly what’s going to happen and that they’re going to be fine, I want to hear it. The surgeon for my endoscopy had a musical tie, and played it for me after the explanation. The doctor who did my lumbar puncture deliberately didn’t let me see the needle until after the procedure, where you feel brave about having been stuck with a massive syringe rather than shaking in fear. When the results came through for Coeliac Disease, the consultant personally rang us and gave us the news immediately.

Since having to readjust your diet completely is a bit of a shock to a then eleven-year-old in her first year of Big School, I got to see an NHS-approved dietician within three days. I remember these incidents clearly because the people who helped all took the time to calm me down and express hope for the future. The rest of your life is a very long time, and it’s even longer when you’re eleven. The dietician took me through the steps of my new diet, told me about societies and support groups to join, and sent my parents and I away laden with gluten-free food. It was as much about helping the parents as it was me; this was a complete shock to all of us and the way she handed us coping mechanisms like lifebelts couldn’t have been better. Brusque and matter-of-fact, she kept us all looking forward at a time when I just wanted to mourn the pasta I would never eat again.

The NHS fucks up sometimes. So does any other business. The difference is that the consumer doesn’t get a substandard TV, but a drop in their quality of life. But take my random experience; the NHS has been there for me when I needed it. It hasn’t ever dropped the ball with regards to my case and my health. Granted, I have a bit more of a familiarity with it than a lot of people. When occasionally they do make a mistake (like my GP referring me to the wrong eye department recently), they fix it (the doctor realised this and got me an appointment in the right place, and all I had to do was wait sixty little minutes).

The current government is trying to change how the NHS operates. It’s controversial, to say the least, but not all change is bad; some change is needed. No government comes in with the aim of ruthlessly destroying the healthcare system we in the UK are so proud of. I think what I hope for is that everyone can get the same standard of care I have from the NHS—where departments talk to each other, mistakes are rectified before they can do too much damage, and every scared ten-year-old is spoken to like they’re a person and not a percentage.

Image Credit:
http://www.lepnetwork.org.uk

Why I’m Proud of the NHS, written by Emma Pearson for Heart of Glass Magazine.

I was talking to a family friend several years back. She is an older woman, in her early 60s, married for almost 40 years and has two adult children. Recently, she told me I needed a boyfriend. She then said with a questionable tone, “or girlfriend?” When I told her I wasn’t a lesbian, she seemed flustered. She’s always asking two questions to me, “Do you have a boyfriend?” And, “When are you going to get a boyfriend?” I just politely say I haven’t seen anyone who’s caught my eye. What I really want to say is, “I’ll find one when I feel like it and not before!” Seeing as though she’s old enough to be my mother I just keep the rage within and moved on.

I found an interesting tidbit about what life was like, or expected to be like, for women in the 1950s. This excerpt talks about the “M.R.S.” Degree.

As far as getting a M.R.S. Degree is concerned, I didn’t get one of those. I actually got a B.A. when I went to college, to each her own.

I’m sure if I lived in the 1950s, the term “old maid” would be engraved on my forehead. Several years back, the same lady told me that if I didn’t get a man soon I’d be too old for anyone to date me. Please keep in mind I was barely 25 years old at the time and this was in 2007.

I bring all this up to say, we as women have the right to live however we want to live, be it single, attached, gay, bi or straight. It’s about what makes you feel comfortable. At the end of the day, it’s your life and your right.

SOURCE:   http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/peopleevents/p_mrs.htm

My Life, My Right, written by Stephanie Taylor for Heart of Glass Magazine.

Yesterday I did the unthinkable. I left a project. I was part of a good bunch of people with a vision. Together the writer, artist, colourist and letterer (that’s me) created a comic. No one else has seen it yet, but soon it will be sent to a comic publisher for consideration. And I feel I was slowing the team down. I had to re-do things three times, I couldn’t get the information I needed, and I made the mistake of trying to learn too much on the job. Sometimes things are too big for a beginner to handle.

The following article is my advice to anyone in creative or business fields. Especially if you don’t want to tear your hair out.

Congratulations, you can be part of the team! Think about what you need in order to do your part; skills, resources and contacts. Think about how much of a learning curve you need.

This will speed everything up, especially when asking for help. Add them on Facebook, Twitter, get their email addresses, their mobile numbers – whatever they check most. Nothing is more frustrating than precious time creeping away before a deadline, waiting for a reply.

A mentor can be a wonderful port in the storm, especially if they’re in the same profession. Find someone who is not involved in the project. They won’t be biased, and may have resources which can help you.

Improving means finding your mistakes, fixing, and learning from them. I suggest that artists and writers join Deviantart (deviantart.com). It’s a great place to share your creations and gather a following. There will be the usual smattering of ‘trolls’, but also comments or critiques left by the ever-growing online community.

Constant work is dull. Especially when you’re re-doing something for the third time. Make time for relaxation. Take time away from your computer screen.

Without this motivation it will be hard to finish anything. Find the heroes who have gone before you, aspire to surpass them.

No one can live exactly as you can. Just do your best. But remember–you must deliver the project to the brief.

If you don’t know what you need to deliver, it is going to be very difficult to produce it. Briefs are generally an outline or list of ideas, styles, and the size the final product must be.

Yourself, others, or promises? If you aren’t learning, being paid, boosting your portfolio/CV or having fun it’s probably time to re-think.

Do you know when you need to finish? Are they reasonable? Can you finish the brief on time without working yourself to death? How many projects do you have on the go? If you’re studying, have more hobbies than you have time for, and are taking on extra work, something will be neglected. Usually, sleep. The quality of your work and life will begin to wane. No matter how organised you are. I have a wonderful ‘to do’ spreadsheet, but no matter how I ran the numbers there simply wasn’t the time to do everything.

I hope this helps you. I had to make a hard decision, but it’s meant that I’ve had more time to focus on other projects I agreed to. I’ve been finishing on time, and my ‘bosses’ like what I created. I feel happier about what I’m doing, and there’s more time for friends. Projects have found a balance, and I’ve been able to say ‘yes’ to projects for the future.

I may not have achieved what I set out to do, but I’ve certainly learnt lessons to take with me for the future.

Knowing Yourself, Knowing Your Project, written by Emily Cooper for Heart of Glass Magazine.

What made you decide to become a music producer?

I never really made the choice to become a music producer . . . it just kind of happened.
I [used to] listen to a lot of metal and kind of industrial stuff and I always noticed some of the weird electronic sounds that were used to pad the tracks out or used in the background. Later on I started listening to a lot of Aphex Twins and Squarepusher who use really trippy sounds. They use these keyboard type contraptions; I had literally no idea how it was made.

One day I just started research and came across some DAW’s and ended up re-creating The Knight theme just by messing around. After that I was just making my own tracks on a regular basis, for fun. It only became an actual thing when I started showing people. They said I should make it [available] online; so I created Mungo [Nation].

Do you ever feel like people act differently towards you because of your age?

Yes they do; sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. I remember the first time I went in to BBC Radio Lancashire and they were all like ‘Wow, are you really only 16?’ that’s the general reaction I’ve been getting ever since.

Where the age starts to change things is when it comes to gigs. It’s hard to get a gig if you’re under eighteen. It’s hard enough to get shows in electronic music around here [Lancashire] as it is, never mind if you are under eighteen.

What inspires you?

I think the better question would be ‘What doesn’t inspire me?’ My brain is wired to think in a way that is always coming up with ideas. Just walking along in the street gives me sample ideas, then a melody. People usually say to me ‘Alex, why are you swaying?’ but in a sense of what artists inspire me, it’s usually the weirder ones: Aphex Twin and Squarepusher, both artists have a kind of weird image and an almost creepy sound. The IDM scene is one that has inspired a lot of people, especially in the 90s, but unfortunately people don’t seem to be looking at the artists who are doing something different for inspiration these days. Most of the artists who are doing things ‘differently’ have started to look at the kind of gothic electronic scene from the 80s. It’s almost like they are moving back to move forward; even people like Robert Smith seem to be coming back.

Why did you choose the name Mungo Nation?

That’s a question that always gets asked and the honest answer is I simply don’t know.

I needed something that wasn’t being used and thought to myself erm ‘mu’, ermmmm ‘go’ hmmm ‘Mugo’. That sounds funny…what about Mungo! I literally just slapped Nation on the end. Names have never really been a priority of mine.

Where do you come across the people you work with?

I am always on the lookout for people who I think are potentially talented.

Are you working on any future projects?

Yeah, I’ve got a few bands who I’m working with. I’m trying to mix instruments with electronic to keep something that is still electronic, but with the real instrumental elements. Also bands have vocalists. I think it will be interesting to see what they do.

What is your favourite quote?

It is without a doubt ‘We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.’ That was said by Carl Sagan. It is so true, at the end of the day it’s [science and maths] what keeps the world running. Society beats interest out of you so in effect we are making life a lot harder for ourselves. The human race is constantly screwing itself over because of it. Can you imagine if aliens listened in on us? Surely they would think that we were the planet of the idiots.

Mungo Nation’s debut album, Atomic Vomit, is available from iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and free to download from his official website.

Official Website - http://www.officialmungo.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/officialmungo

Souncloud - https://soundcloud.com/mungo96

Interview with Music Producer Mungo Nation, written by Dominic Cuthbert for Heart of Glass Magazine.

Writing allows for self-expression in a positive way. No permission is needed to vent anger and rage, misery or loss. There is room for negative emotions on a blank page, and what comes from this negativity can be uplifting and, ultimately, positive.

The damage we do to ourselves by not allowing to forgive is devastating. Instead of hurting those who have caused hurt, we end up hurting only ourselves.

 

A friend of mine, after experiencing a painful (and unwanted) divorce, wrote a series of letters to her ex-husband. The first were a stream of consciousness, of bitterness and anger. She then showed me one written about a month after the separation. This one was full of longing. She blamed herself for not giving him the attention he clearly craved. She wished to turn back the clock, to change, to be something he wanted. It was a painful read.

The last letter was beautiful: ‘I cannot forget what you have done to me. But I forgive you. It is not your fault. I can see now, we wanted different things. I still love you. Actually, that’s not true. I loved the person you was. And you are so far removed from that person, that I truly do not know you anymore. I wish you well. I wish you love.’

We sat in her garden, one summer evening, whilst her children were sleeping. The letters lay on her lap; a heavy burden. She stood and walked over to the chimera and placed the letters in the grate. We watched as the flames licked over the paper, slowly at first, and then greedily. A breeze tickled the paper, ash and smoke rose in the air. We lifted our eyes and watched as the wind carried those thoughts away.

The symbolism attached to the act of burning those letters resonates strongly. She had, by her own admission, felt bereaved by the loss of her marriage. Writing down her feelings during this process clearly helped and the image of ashes blowing in the wind was a powerful one, for it symbolised a cremation. A final goodbye.

Imagine instead if my friend had kept her anger bubbling away inside. There is no outlet, no hole for the steam of resentment to escape through. Instead of releasing those negative thoughts, they are stored up inside, ready to be inflamed once more when something else comes along.

Resentment comes from the inability to deal with tough emotions. Spitefulness comes from the same place. The damage we do to ourselves, by not allowing to forgive is devastating. Instead of hurting those who have caused hurt, we end up hurting only ourselves. And whilst the act of forgiveness is difficult for some people to do, penning a letter that may never be sent is a powerful and redeeming act. It allows the victim closure; it allows them to move on.

Not only can writing help to deal with painful and traumatic events, it can help to make sense of the self. Natalie Goldberg, creative writing practitioner and spiritualist, has this to say in Writing Down the Bones:

Goldberg defines the self as a ‘home’ and this is a powerful image. A place to live can be described as a home, but ultimately it is only bricks and mortar. No truism has ever been expressed more aptly than ‘home is where the heart is’. For where else is there a permanence, except in ourselves? Relationships change, children grow up and move on, and with it, the dynamics of  the family home adapt. Whilst we as individuals may change, our sense of self is constant. It is the ‘real home’ Goldberg talks of.

Whilst the act of forgiveness is difficult for some people to do, penning a letter that may never be sent is a powerful and redeeming act.

 

I was once asked why I write. The answer I gave was surprising, even to me: ‘To write myself back into existence.’ What I meant by this is that I am a mother, a wife, a sister and my parents’ child. Alongside this I am a creative writing practitioner at a local primary school, a columnist for this wonderful magazine, a copy editor and proofreader for an academic publisher and…well, you get the picture! I have so many versions of me (professional writer, mother, lover, friend) that I sometimes lose the very essence of ‘me’. I write to bring that back. For it is only when I am writing that I feel truly at home.

So the next time you want to scream from the rooftops or finally tell that boss of yours what you really think, buy a journal instead. No-one is going to read your musings apart from you. Unless of course you feel inspired by your creativity and decide to pen your first novel (though I would advise on changing your boss’s name first)! The benefits of journal writing far out-way the effort of picking up a pen – or for that matter, finding a new job!

Bibliography:

Goldberg, N., 2005,1986. Writing Down the Bones. 2nd ed. Boston: Shambhala Publications Inc..

Why Writing a Journal May Keep You Sane, written by Lisa Shipman for Heart of Glass Magazine.

Most of us get our first mobile phone at a relatively young age and then continue to get the newest upgrades year after year.  We can use the internet for the obvious such as communicating/socialising (if you can call it that) but also job searches, to get fast accurate information about any topic under the sun, online shopping, games, directions just to name  a few functions!

But there are also several disadvantages to technology.  Cyber bullying is a huge one; anonymity–so people posing as someone that they aren’t–malware, children can access information that they shouldn’t.  It can also cause laziness and people to not go out socialising in person if they spend too much time on the computer.  Some people argue that children should be outside taking up hobbies and being sporty and active, rather than spending all their spare time in front of a screen.  As hard as it is to imagine, the internet is a fairly recent phenomenon and although we may find it difficult, if not impossible, to believe that people managed to live without it, they actually did!  And quite happily–according to old fashioned grandparents and those scared of technology.

However there is no question about it. Technology in all its forms is a revolution and if used correctly, can really enhance people’s lives.  Mobile phones mean you can call your mum to tell her you will be late home for dinner or rearrange plans, online job searching means you can send out your CVs in masses and apply to lots of different jobs on various websites.  You can send out emails as a fast and efficient alternative to handwritten letters.  You can save work permanently on the computer and instead of having to trawl down the library spending hours looking through books, a quick search on Google can get you all the information you need.

Therefore, although the cynics amongst us could argue that technology is our greatest downfall; there is no denying that it is incredibly beneficial to most of us on a regular basis.  But that’s not to say that it can replace other methods, just enhance and work alongside them.

Is Technology Our Greatest Downfall?, written by Kimberley Tough for Heart of Glass Magazine.

The 1960s sexual revolution helped to cement the way forward for women, and finally progress was made. Social roles were relaxed more; women could dedicate their lives to careers, but it seems in the late 1990s and early 2000s a new breed of woman emerged. The ladette. Most people will have heard of the programme Ladette to Lady, where it takes young women who binge drink, swear freely and generally don’t behave like ladies at all. The course is ideal, but the programme is rather set up, like leaving the girls to make cocktails unsupervised. It’s then no surprise the group start mixing lethal cocktails, stashing the alcohol for later and drinking as much as possible from the bottle. The moment the girls are left alone with some rich, upper class men everything goes wild; one young woman is caught snogging one. One of the young men commented, ‘I love ladettes!’ Not for the ladettes being liberal in their sexuality, but for being perceived to be easy. Sadly it comes back to the old adage that men are players if they’ve had many sexual partners, and women are sluts if they’ve had more than a handful.

Some would say that being a ‘lady’ is backtracking into everything feminism has achieved for women, but I like to look at the modern version. The modern lady is not aiming to get married or simply run a few cocktail parties and turn up on her husband’s arm; these are women who simply want to better themselves. The core idea of being a lady is to be elegant and have good values. ‘How to be a Lady’  courses have sprung up across the country, all aiming to  teach women the different aspects to being a lady, from how to walk with confidence and how to enter the room to make a good impression. All of these are useful for the workplace and job interviews. The process of woman to lady isn’t done overnight–or a week as happens with Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman–but being a feminist and being ladylike can be mixed. It’s about personal pride and respect. A ladylike feminist can still enter the room with grace and poise without having to submit to anyone or be considered a lady by social rank of her husband/partner.

A good friend whom I see as a ladylike, but still a modern woman with feminist principles, kisses a guy on a night out. Afterwards she commented he’d tried to put his hand up her dress, on the assumption he could do that. It’s a hard mix, to try and enjoy some sexual freedom without being seen as ‘easy’. She had the self-respect to walk away from the guy. I still think she’s a lady, even if the guy didn’t think so.

Being a lady is something deeper than dressing well and speaking in a posh accent; it’s not all about trying to be upper class, either. It’s about trying to be a better person; we can all learn to hold our shoulders back, stand straighter and say, ‘I’m proud to be my own woman and have ladylike qualities.’  There’s no shame in trying to better yourself. Just don’t start saying it’s a scone. It’s a scone.

Can a Woman be a ‘Lady’ AND a Feminist?, written by Victoria McDonagh for Heart of Glass Magazine.

Say what you want about things like Fifty Shades of Grey, Twilight, Harry Potter and A Song of Ice and Fire, but they all have something in common.  The writers have all achieved something in these series, and that’s that they’ve created very vivid, very real worlds.*  You not only feel for the characters, but you feel the love that they were written with, and they feel as real to you as the last person you spoke to.  Their creators know everything about them from their favourite colour to how they pick their cuticles when they’re nervous.  If the writer is good, and not just in it for the kitsch, the character will even have their own unique way of speaking, and you can instantly read something and think, “That sounds just like something [insert name here] would say!” much like you would with your best friend.

Now, I’m not saying every writer doesn’t write with love and compassion–although we’re both aware that there are some out there that do churn out novels with no love and compassion at all–but with these novels, they don’t just feel real to the writer, but to the reader as well.  We each see a little bit of ourselves in one of the characters.  Me?  I always had a soft spot for Hermione, and I loved it when she punched Draco.  Or perhaps we find one of the characters insanely attractive.  I was always a Jacob girl myself; Edward far too brooding and stalkerish to me.

I read the Twilight books when I was in a dark place; I was lost, I was lonely, and I had no idea what I was doing with my life.  They offered me an escape.  I could envision myself running away, far into the woods with Jacob, lying on his warm, muscly body, or happily baking a cake then munching away on it together.  And that’s the other thing that all of the novels I’ve mentioned above have in common: escapism.  None of them are really set in the real world.  The first three pretend to be, but the early nineties are a bit too far away for most of us to remember now (when the Harry Potter books are set), plus, unfortunately, Hogwarts isn’t real; Westeros is most definitely fictional, although some of its themes are very real; Twilight may be set in a real town, but, unfortunately, vampires and werewolves are not and Fifty Shades of Grey is set in a real place, but most of us will never be that adventurous in the bedroom, or have the opportunity to meet a millionaire, let alone have passionate sex with one.

So next time you sit down to write your great novel, keep these two points in mind: it’s not just about a great story.  You can have the best plot in the world, but if you characters are flat and nobody believes the world it’s set in, they’re not going to care.  But if they truly connect with, and care about, the people that you’ve created, then you’re already on to something magical.

*Please note that I did not say “original” or “likeable”

Why Fifty Shades of Grey and Twilight Are So Damn Popular, written by Kristina Adams for Heart of Glass Magazine.

Mary was a very active person, always on the go living her life the way she wanted to. She never let her age get in the way of the things she felt she needed to do. That also included relationships. She was a very passionate woman all of her life. I think this says we should stop worrying about how old we are and just live. Also, take people at face value regardless of their age.

Sometimes it’s assumed that only older people like to garden. (I can’t imagine why). This says to me that age should not be a barrier we can do anything at any age, be it gardening or keeping up with the times. It’s allowed.

Mary’s books are humorous, emotional and laced with illicit sex all the way through. She also uses language and four letter words that women of her age and class would not normally use. But when you read them they do not appear cheap or nasty, they are just an exceptionally good read. You can see that she never wrote for any particular type of person. I think the writers among us could learn from this. Mary loved to write and she just wrote for herself and for the pure pleasure of putting words onto paper.

There is no doubt that Mary was a fun-loving person and took risks all her life. I feel to a certain extent we could follow her lead. If we don’t try different things or take some sort of risks then we’ll never really get anywhere. The lesson here is to take the bull by the horns and then run with it. Life really is too short not to.

I agree with this quote entirely. Children love to try new things, investigate and figure things out. They are constantly learning. If we, as adults. stop wondering about life and the things around us then what do we have left? We should always be inquisitive about everything; it’s a big and beautiful world out there; it’d be a shame to miss a second of it.

I like this quote, it made me smile. At the risk of repeating myself; Mary always lived life to the full even before she became a famous writer. The message here is very clear. There are no barriers, only those that we put into place of our own accord. Live for today because you are a long time dead.

Mary was married twice. Her first husband was Lord Swinfen whom she met when she was presented at court. I don’t think she actually fell in love with him. It pleased her parents and they had two sons. But when she met her second husband Eric Siepmann, Mary fell head over heels in love. After his death and she’d come to terms with it, she still had relationships, even if they weren’t as intense. Falling in love was part of her and her life. You could say she thrived on it.

When we first meet someone and fall in love we see them through rose-tinted glasses. Then if we still love them when we get to know them better, that’s when we can tell if it’s the real thing. That is what real love is all about, that we still feel deeply for them in spite of all their faults–or lack of them.

Mary lived through two world wars and must have seen many acts of courage. What we can take from this quote is that everyone is–and can be–courageous. It just appears in different guises. It’s being courageous if you suffer from any type of phobia and you can overcome it; that certainly takes courage. It would be wrong to assume that just because a person is afraid of something they don’t have the nerve. We all posses courage in one form or another, it just isn’t always obvious.

This is a case of don’t believe everything you read. The press in Mary’s day and most definitely today like to print things to get people’s attention. Such a statement would catch a girl’s eye, but I feel that’s all it would do. I think, as Mary said ,the reverse is in fact the case. Men and women enjoy intelligence as well as all the other attributes that attract one to the other.

Life Lessons We Can Learn From Mary Wesley, written by Ann-Marie Cooper for Heart of Glass Magazine.

Naturally, any story about Angelina is bound to spark debate, appear on front pages of papers and continue to be a talking point for weeks on end, and this is particularly true for a topic as sensitive as this.

Surprisingly the megastar had the operation three months ago but somehow managed to hide it from the press, obviously preferring to have some privacy through the difficult time.  However she decided to announce her decision to the public, and most people would, and have, said that they have a new found respect for her for making such a brave and selfless decision, putting a middle finger up to vanity and telling the masses, in order to raise awareness and show others who may be deliberating the decision, that actually it’s a hugely empowering one! And though the actress acknowledged its potential threat to femininity, it is worthwhile and the right decision to make.

Now some people could say, well so what?  Thousands of women have the operation every day, silently, and go about their lives, struggling but making the best of the situation.  Why because it’s Angelina, does she deserve to be put on a pedestal, hailed as some kind of nation’s sweetheart–endlessly praised for what any other mother would have done?

However what we need to think about is the fact that Angelina is a hugely influential, powerfully dominant figure in society.  Whether people want to talk about her latest adoption plan, how she got that figure, those famous lips or her recent holiday with the gorgeous Mr Pitt, people take note!  The fact that she can use her position for such a worthy cause is admirable.  Knowing that due to her level of fame, she is constantly under scrutiny for every decision she makes, always in the spotlight and an easy target for speculation.  Remaining fully aware that we live in an image-obsessed, celebrity saturated, media-driven world that waits to catch people out to get a shot without make-up, or comment on their fluctuating weight, yet she still decided that this was a small price to pay in comparison, because by informing us of her decision she is taking a stand to show that she is a normal person like every one else, and that cancer can affect anyone even when they are multi-millionaires.  She is portraying that even though she is a figure of beauty, an envy of women all over the world, she is willing to have her breasts–the true symbol of feminism–removed  in order to significantly decrease her chances of getting a life threatening disease that would leave her children with no mother, and not only that but she is happy to tell the public of this decision so that other women deliberating whether it’s the right thing to do, can have  a strong, independent, caring role model to look up to.

One of the discussions after the media reports was on Loose Women.  Carol McGiffin said that she thought the decision was extreme.  Despite Angelina having an 87 percent chance of developing cancer if she hadn’t gone ahead with the procedure, Carol argued that there were still other types of cancer that she could get and implied that having regular checks and mammograms may have been just as effective.  However, she also acknowledged that having no children herself she is in a completely different position to Angelina.  If Carol was faced with the devastating news, she would only have to think about herself when deciding what was the best option.  But for Angelina there is six children in the equation, so for the sake of vanity, it seems completely irrelevant when you are comparing the loss of body parts to the loss of a life.  Carol ended by saying that it is something you wouldn’t know unless you were facing that dilemma yourself.  Another huge factor to be taken into consideration is that Angelina’s mother died of breast cancer when she was 56, after having battled it for ten years.  Therefore she knows that it could happen to her.  87  percent is a huge percentage and she has seen first hand what it’s like to lose a parent.

Angelina has received masses of support from fellow celebrities and members of the public.  Comments and messages have shown that people are so pleased that someone has come forward to speak about this and reach out to others.  Similarly when Jade Goody tragically lost her battle to cervical cancer, there was an increase of people going to get smear tests, particularly young people, and that was because of her hard work to raise awareness.  Michelle Heaton, former band member of Liberty X decided to take the same gruelling decision months ago and spoke briefly about it on TV.  That received a little exposure, but obviously due to Angelina’s profile the high level of coverage could work wonders for others facing the same circumstances, and will potentially save a lot of lives.  TV actress Brooke Kinsella spoke about having a friend going through the same thing, and said that Angelina being regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world, will gives others someone to look up to.  Ex member of The Only Way is Essex Maria Fowler also tweeted about how her mother had the operation, and reinforced the shared view of how inspirational Angelina is.

Regardless of people’s views of Angelina as a person, whether they are a fan of her work, don’t agree with her opinions on parenting or whatever else individuals want to comment on this was undeniably an act of bravery and courage.  By making this decision and then sharing it she has shown us that she is relatable. She faces the same every day struggles as others even though the media would often have us believe otherwise.  Her decision will undoubtedly have a positive effect on women worldwide.  She is showing that she may be a successful actress with money, houses and make-up at her disposal, but her number one priority is her role as a mother, to be there for her children and do the best for them, and this is something that many will understand.

Angelina’s Double Mastectomy: Was It The Right Decision Or Was The Preventative Measure A Tad Extreme?, written by Kimberley Tough for Heart of Glass Magazine.