Brentwood Council vs TOWIE : Battle of the Scantily Clad!

Well hello, you deliciously avid readers, it seems to be a slow month for product testing. Hence for a time I shall inflict my opinions on you and I dare say lose a few followers into the bargain. Whilst my opinion is not always the most thought out (or reasonable), it is still mine, and often mine alone. If something sparks an interest, feel free to comment. Your honest views are welcome, Though please be aware and considerate of my younger blog readers in your speech. Thank you.

Obviously I live nowhere near Essex and in addition I have no interest in 'The Only Way Is Essex'  'The Only Way Is Essex'. To the extent that I had to be told that 'TOWIE' was actually the same program. So this news story from the Daily Mail should have had no impact on me. However the headline 'Council considers fare discount for 'scantily clad girls' to stop them being attacked' intrigued me. Reading further into the story and conflicting opinions, I found my bra burning feminist kicking her unshaven legs in anger.





Councillor Chris Hossack is to head a new action group 'to keep young people safe and stop anti-social behaviour on the streets at night.' To this end he has decided to blame the entirety of the inebriated scantily clad women on a television program.

This has upset Victim Support, who stand firmly against the sexist stance demonstrated by the council. 'It should never be suggested that a victim makes themselves open to crime because of what they wear or how they act.' Surely just common sense but it really needed to be pointed out to the council.
Amy Childs, (an actress from TOWIE) spoke out against the council after she was declared part of the problem in his rant: ‘I think the comments are very unfair... I don't feel that being, or wanting to look glamorous makes us irresponsible.' I suppose you could claim that the cast are poster children for the councils bigoted views. The skin tight dresses and excess skin along with the photographs of them falling out of clubs hardly provide an adequate counter argument.


People have always enjoyed dressing up for nights out, and the outfits over the decades have always caused complaints. I wasn't even born in the 60's, yet I'm fully aware of the war cries over mini skirts. A hundred years ago a woman was 'asking for it' if she bared her ankles. Isn't it disgusting that after all these years we're still blaming women's clothes for forcing unwanted attention.

I know how easy it is to be judgemental (I think Chris Hossack is a sexist fool, for example), but I don't think the clothing is entirely responsible. A figure hugging, leg baring dress will not in any way force a woman to drink herself into a vomiting pile in the gutter. A corset top will not insist on doing shots until unable to avoid dangerous situations. Besides, we live in the UK, it's really not warm enough for clothes like that most of the year.

Rather than blaming material, we could as easily that say woman and men need to learn their limits for alcohol and what ever other entertainment they enjoy. Enjoy being the operative word, because who really enjoys waking up with a 'never drinking again' hangover. Who enjoys having to piece a night together from online updates and photographs, sent text messages and ruined clothes. Perhaps an extreme example, but still more accurate than most would ever admit.

Whilst we are blaming alcohol, I believe that bartenders shouldn't serve people unable to stand without assistance. People can have fun without crawling along the streets. However respect for themselves and others seems to be a lost language for men and women. I also adore how the councils idea of cleaning up the streets and preventing crime was to help drunk women home. I've seen just as many drunk men, surely attacks on men aren't that unheard of? It can't be clothing related because most men parading the streets at 3 in the morning seem to be completely topless, and lacking a shoe.

I believe that this scheme was to try and protect women who get too drunk to protect themselves, an honourable ideal, with less chance of a woman being attacked. Perhaps it might also be something to do with the cat fights that always seem to occur outside clubs. Half a dozen women screaming and hair pulling until the police separate them, surely a more common hormonal occurrence than attacks across the sexes. Taking women from the equation should also have a knock on effect on male fighting, as there's no visual incentive to fight over. Hence an overall saving in police time.

Personally I find it offensive that being half naked and drunk in public will be rewarded with cut price transport. What about everyone else? I guess I'm paying full price with my usual jeans and T-shirts ensemble, unless I start stripping to get a taxi (potentially tempting, but perhaps a moral loss). Anyone can be attacked: anywhere, at any time, wearing anything. Late night may be a more dangerous time for women, but surely if women are to get special treatment, it should be for all.

Rather than try and teach people the common sense to stay in control of their faculties and men in particular the decency to respect women. It has been decided that it would be easier to give discounted travel, which will allow more money for alcohol. Humanity's progress again stifled by bureaucrats.

The insanity hurtles onwards with the Daily Mail showcasing a few classic clips from a 1938 Dating Tips for women. Originally shown on  Retronaut  the images and 'helpful' tips for women include don't bore him with fashion and don't chat up the waiter. But the resounding one was 'Don't drink too much, as a man expects you to keep you dignity all evening. Drinking may make some girls clever, but most get silly.' The resounding truth, being highlighted across the generations.

Read the original article here, and the Daily Mail version here.