Occupy The London Stock Exchange

Occupy London is part of the global social movement that has brought together concerned citizens from across the world against this injustice and to fight for a sustainable economy that puts people and the environment we live in before corporate profits.

On Saturday May 5th Police from virtually every borough in London- in addition to members of the Territorial Support Group violently removed supporters of Occupy London who were merely sitting on the steps of the Royal Exchange in a peaceful assembly. The arrests came after a day of “Meet the 1%” activities and marches throughout the city that were timed to coincide with an international day of action marked in over 380 cities worldwide. People with children where warned that if they remained that they would go into care and people with pets said they’d be moved. As a child that was born in Thatchers reign, to witness yet another financial break down like this seems particularly relevant, I was touched and humbled by the effort by the organisers and speakers.

Some images I captured of the more peaceful part of the day …

Tags: Occupy The London Stock Exchange

Absolute Legend

Tags: Madonna

The Lipstick Feminist Movement

Lipstick Feminism. A variety of  Third wave feminism that philosophically reclaims the sexual power of women largely in response to the social and cultural backlash of the more  stereotypical l varieties of  Second Wave Feminism which occurred in the 1960s and the 1970s.  This third wave feminism of today sees women support the belief that it is possible to be a feminist while also displaying femininity and sexuality other which earlier generations of feminists once condemned. In short- you don’t need to grow your pubic hair and burn your bras anymore girls, there are other ways to kick it to the man. Certain older generation feminists have criticized the Lipstick Feminist movement because they believe think it’s contradictory to engage in displays of sexuality at the same time as advocating for equal rights for women. My take on this particular view? I say fuck them. No puns intended of course, I wouldn’t want to offend anyone…

This isn’t make up, it’s war paint

Beauty and power is something that is drummed into most little girls from an early age- that’s just how we’ve been socialised. There are the standard and common adjectives that are used to compliment girls which often refer to how pretty, sweet, cute or kind they are.  It’s seldom that at that young age anyone would note how strong they were or on their skills at a particular sport- that’s what little boys are. Obviously there’s vast contradictions in modern day society but these are still inbuilt responses to the different genders of youth and to a certain extent it’s the norm. However, as a little girl becomes a woman she internalises the idea that it’s the most valuable thing about her, regardless of whether it’s welcomed, the ideal is very evident. This is where we fork off into three sets of women- those that rely solely on their looks and femininity, those that want equal rights between men and women and reject the idea of being objectified and those that use them to their looks to their advantage but don’t see it as a negative impact on their feminist ideals.  Common sense and strong feminist values are something that will last you for life if that’s your bag. Looks on the other hand are something decline in value with age so why not enjoy them for that short window of time?

First Wave Feminism

Now, I’m almost 100% that this will have made some women angry so let’s look at the reasons behind the first, second and third wave feminism and how they evolved and perhaps I’ll sway your thinking. First Wave Feminism refers to the first concerted movement working for the reform of women’s social and legal inequalities in the nineteenth century. Although individual feminists had already argued against the injustices suffered by women, it wasn’t until the 1850′s that something like an organised feminist movement evolved in Britain. The key concerns of First Wave Feminists were education, employment, the marriage laws, and the plight of intelligent middle-class single women. They were not primarily concerned with the problems of working-class women, nor did they necessarily see themselves as feminists in the modern sense (the term was not coined until 1895). First Wave Feminists largely responded to specific injustices they had themselves experienced on a comparatively small level if one is to look at the entire history of feminism.

Second Wave Feminism

The term ‘Second Wave’  refers to the increase in feminist activity which occurred from the late sixties onwards. The tactics employed by Second Wave Feminists varied from highly-published activism, like the US protest against the Miss America beauty contest in 1968, to the establishment of small consciousness-raising groups. The movement was not a unified one, with differences emerging between black feminism, lesbian feminism, liberal feminism, and social feminism. Second Wave Feminism in Britain was similarly multiple in focus, as demonstrated by the strike of women workers at the Ford car plant for equal pay in 1968. The slogan ‘the personal is political’ sums up the way in which Second Wave Feminism didn’t just strive to extend the range of social opportunities available to women, but also, through intervention within the bounds of reproduction, sexuality and cultural representation- to change their domestic and private lives.

Third Wave Feminism

To date, it’s been an up hill struggle to gain equality in something which has years been known as a ‘mans world’ an I’ll put my hands up and admit that we have our sisters to thank for a lot. The gender gap is not quite there although in the Westernised world, as a majority we are a far stretch from the days of not being able to vote and the obligatory serving of husbands as domestic slaves- well most of us. The debate between the lipstick feminists and the older school of feminists waged since the 1970′s, but when will it be time to give into the Third Wave and accept that it’s okay to embrace ones femininity? The key in my eyes is to accept difference rather than repress it. You can be a strong woman who takes pride in her appearance and is aware of ones femininity and still be a feminist. If you really do believe in an equal world and not ‘a mans world’ then lead by example and be a proud woman, we’ve spent years being repressed.  I don’t judge my sisters out there for whom looks are not a priority, different odds for different sods as they say.  However, I celebrate my womanhood in all it’s glory, I am Lipstick Feminist and proud.

“I won’t stop talking. I am a girl you have no control over. There is not a gag big enough to handle this mouth.” - Kathleen Hanna 

Tags: A Handmaids Tale, black feminism, Equal Rights, feminist ideals, Freedom of speech, Gender Equality, Kathleen Hanna, lesbian feminism, liberal feminism, Lipstick Feminism, Miss America beauty contest in 1968, Motivation, Second Wave Feminism, Sex positivity, Sexuality, Slut Walk, social feminism, the personal is political, Third Wave Feminism, This isn't make up it's war paint

Dying to be thin

Eating disorders are the most deadly psychological disorder to date. They’re an illness of the mind that in turn quite literally kills. But where is this ‘thinspiration’ sought? It’s been suggested that the Fashion industry are to blame but it’s my belief that it’s gone beyond that and that this phenomena is only set to rise. There are a lot of other more complex reasons why eating disorders are triggered and I’m by no means undermining them but I can’t shake the feeling that the media are increasingly encouraging us to seek an ideal which in most cases is unobtainable. 

In the late 1800’s fashion designers started using models to sell clothes. These women started out as rubenesque, and curvy as being thin was a sign of poverty back then. The fashion designers however found themselves in a bit of a bind. The buyers (the husbands of the women requesting the garments) at this point and time were too busy staring at the models who wore them and often failed to buy anything afterwards so they rethought who they should use as the models. They began using slender tall women with little to no shape, to try and get the attention back on the clothes which is how it is today, fashion models are merely walking coat hangers. But why must one be right and one be wrong? I believe that true beauty comes in accepting who you are be it naturally thin or curvy. Being different is what distinguishes us from each other, so why can’t we be happy in our own uniqueness? From the era that praised women on the more voluptuous, ‘rubenesque’ side through paintings to the many eras of girdle wearing and tight fitting corsets, whatever was said to be most flattering was the way to be no matter what your genetic make up. These days, with the influx of mindless reality television, popular culture is less based on merit of talent and even more so on image. We are bombarded with their lifestyles, relationships, scandals and particularly their weight which is only perpetuated (some suggest even caused), by the media. With the growing methods of communication and information sharing, it’s become almost unavoidable.

 ”The time has now come for clarity. We all need to work together against anorexia.” - Georgio Armani

Despite the many bigger players in the Fashion industry trying to change the stereotype of the waif like super model here are countless Westernised women who are still holding onto the dream of that size zero ideal even if it does come at a cost. Does Victoria Beckham look happy? Hell no. Let me bring you down to earth girls with a big fat thud- modern size zero clothing, depending on brand and design, will fit measurements of chest-stomach-hips from 30-22-32 inches (76-56-81 cm) to 33-25-35 inches (84-64-89 cm). If you’re unsure of what that looks like, the measurements are comparable with that of an average 12 year old girl.  The British Medical Association revealed that anthropologist Anne Becker of Harvard Medical School, who worked thoroughly with the Fiji population, “has shown that exposure to western ideals of beauty have led to a high percentage of adolescents dieting within the last decade. It is hard to prove that it is exposure to such images which have caused this change, although it is reasonable to assume that this is the case”. In her time, Marilyn Monroe was a size 14; (the equivalent of a UK size 10 now)  back then she was deemed as the ideal size. Since then, the ideal size has shrunk and shrunk, skimming to size 8 to size 4 before heading on to an all-time shocking low of 0. What’s next? Size minus 2?! Despite the contrary medical information being out there we are still being sucked into thinking we need to look a certain way to be perceived attractive which pretty much shits all over the ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ phrase.

But this obsession is no longer predominantly owned by women and young girls. From very early-on kids are taught by society that their looks matter. Think of the small children who are continuously praised for being  cute or precious- I was one of them and believe me it makes you care when you shouldn’t! With an increased population of young people who spend a lot of time in front of the TV, there are more of them coming up with a superficial sense of who they are.  Larger characters on TV/films are typically portrayed as lazy, the ones  with no friends  or more commonly the ‘funny one’- as much as I love Bridget Jones, she has not done anything to sway that view even if she does get it on with Mr. Darcy in the end. It’s been indicated by several specialists that dieting has become the norm and that girls living in houses with a television set are “three times more likely to show symptoms of eating disorders.” But who in this day and age doesn’t own a TV? Researchers have concluded that the prevalence of eating disorders in non-Western countries is lower than that of Western countries, but it seems to be increasing due to media consumption. While thin women and pumped-up men are the successful, popular, sexy and powerful ones- how can we tell our children that it’s what’s inside that counts when the media so shamefully contradicts this message?

Let’s get things into perspective. Ultimately it’s okay to be thin (that’s just how some people are naturally) but in the same way it’s okay to be curvy. Some people are genetically predisposed to hold more weight is certain areas so if you’re lucky enough to be juicy where it counts don’t hide it away- be proud! I’m not saying it’s okay to be over weight because there are serious health implications attached but to be naturally curvy is a completely different thing. If you’re eating healthily and exercising regularly then you are doing all you can, you are the shape you are for a reason so why punish yourself? It’s sad that we’ve excelled so far in terms of technology and medicine yet the percentages of media related eating disorders are on the rise- we need more education.

Tags: "Eating Disorders and Body Image in the Media", A girls guide to taking over the world, Advice, Anorexia, Bulimia, Celebrity culture, Compulsive Overeating, Curvy vs skinny, Dawn Porter, Dying to be thin, Eating Disorders, Eating Properly, Exercise, Mental Health Awareness, Pop culture, Pro-ano sites, Self help, Sex appeal, Size 0, The Media, Therapy, Thinspiration, Victoria Beckham

Who defines your sense of self?

The bulk of us all have people in our lives who do this for us. The people around you reinforce your culture and identity- this is a natural occurance. These people are members of society be it your friends, family, colleagues or acquaintances. They’re members of society just like you.

We learn from an early age that we must be considerate of others feelings and opinions if we are to expect acceptance. But when does being mindful of what others think go to far? From the jobs we go for, to the people we date, even the risks we take- we often limit our actions with fear of criticism or judgment from others. It’s human nature to fear being singled out due to negative cause so like sheep minus the aid of a sheepdog, we keep each other nicely in check. Sounds boring doesn’t it?

I’d count myself as a strong minded and opinionated woman and I consider my personal boundaries to be vital in terms of my personal relationships. Many times I’ve laughed in the face of controversy and uproar- not because it was my immediate reaction but because at the time it was the best thing to do. However, even I have wasted hours twiddling my thumbs and ruminating over things that in the shining light of hind sight really didn’t matter. When you’re self-conscious of what others think of you, you’re conveying to the world that their opinion of you is more important than your opinion of yourself. When you take time to think about it you’ll realise it really is as insane as  it sounds. Why should someone else’s opinion of you hold more weight than your opinion of yourself? There’s a point in everyone’s lives when they need to address who matters and who doesn’t matter. It brings me much pleasure to share with you how you can approach this.

“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.”  – Oscar Wilde

To escape the trap of living life in order to gain acceptance from others, you first must help yourself develop a mindset of doing things for your happiness, instead of doing things that will make other people happy. I don’t mean go to the dark side and developing narcissism, just be safe in the knowledge that you matter too. So how can we take back control? If we are truly ready to give up the drug of approval and importance there’s only one way- you have to know yourself. You can start making a difference in just a few small steps. Everyday examine the situations that cause you grief using your heart and gut instinct to guide you. Sometimes denial and fear of the truth can keep you trapped which in turns  makes you bitter so be real about you feel and stick with your convictions. Doing this over a long period of time will encourage self development, while at the same time offering a better sense of who you are and will gradually decrease your worries of what other may think. In addition you’ll have more energy to devote to finding and doing the things you love because you will spend less time and energy trying to gain the acceptance of others and living your life. Like many things in life, living with this ethos won’t offer instant gratification but it will ensure that you look after what’s important; you. If  you guide your life by your own set of values (not someone else’s) then you are directly reinforcing who you are without the  aid of another.

Tags: Advice, Anxiety, Buddhist Concepts, Coping mechanisms, Crisis plans, DBT, Frankly My Dear I Just Don't Give A Damn, Hind sight, How not to give a fuck, Identity, Indifference, Know yourself, Mind over matter, Mindful Consumption, Motivation, Self help, self soothing, Stop caring what others think

Toxic Relationships

‘As long as we believe that someone else has the power to make us happy then we are setting ourselves up to be victims’

Toxic relationships are a strange thing. In an age where divorce rates are soaring it’s no surprise the term is becoming more and more common. In countless relationships people experience intense love or with others in dysfunctional settings. The perverse twist in this scenario is that we are often so blinded with emotion that it’s impossible to see the damage being done and if it has been picked up on then it’s often hard to escape. This type of love could in theory be classed as an addiction but what exactly makes a relationship toxic and how do you know if you’re in one? Love and commitment  should be a freedom of choice thing, you’d assume you’d only be in a relationship if you really wanted to be? On the contrary, when you have a compulsive drive to go back to this person you are limiting your freedom for something you deem mandatory thus its an addiction!  The same is true for smoking, drinking, gambling, crack etc; in other words all of  the things that feel good short term and cause no end of trouble in the long term. Whether an addiction is to a substance or an actual person, this sense of incompleteness, emptiness and despair will find its relief when we are in touch with the thing we have a reliance on. Hence the unforgivable chain of the ‘Toxic Relationship’.

“Most of us have a relationship pattern — that same type of  person we keep falling for — and it can work for or against us,” says couples therapist Deborah Dunn, author of Stupid About Men. “It’s not uncommon for women to keep going back to the type that wronged them in the past.”

How do you change whom you’re drawn to dating? It’s not easy, but it starts with figuring out where your attraction to these types came from in the first place. The basis for a healthy relationship with another must start with a healthy relationship with yourself, after all if you don’t have respect for yourself how can you expect it from others? Often people who come together in times of trauma on either or both sides form an addiction to each other, this creates an unbalanced foundation on which to base a long term relationship but at the same time becomes inescapable. Because of this imbalance often perceptions on what’s appropriate and what’s not become blurred, boundaries are broken and bad habits are formed. Below are a few key indicators that may ring true if you’re in an addictive or toxic relationship.

Toxic & Addictive

• An intensely consuming, all-pervasive need for the other person. This might only show up during a breakup where one partner or both feel incomplete without the beloved. This is not healthy, you should be able to stand alone without consequence. 

• A difficulty in defining ego boundaries; this is where the couple  no longer see one begins and one ends. Don’t ever let go of the fact that 1+1=2 and this will always the case ladies!

• Partners that exhibit sadomasochism. This doesn’t necessarily mean whips and chains sadly, it means the tendency to either specialise or take turns playing abuser and victim in a passive/aggressive way. An equal partnership is a healthy one, you should not compromise your standards for anyone, if they oppose it then they probably weren’t worth it in the first place.

• Both people becoming afraid to let themselves go and take risks either as individuals or as a part of the couple. They often tend to do the same things and do not try things that are different, things become habitual much like the constant use of drugs- it stops being fun and becomes something the mind tricks you into thinking you need despite the negative implications.

• Resisting and being fearful when a partner tries to grow personally. The other partner often views this as a threat. This could be down to fearing being left behind but ultimately this is shit- your lover should support you, not hold you back!

• The playing of psychological games, as in one being the giver and one playing the victim- if you love someone you should not have to munipulate them and visa verse, these controlling actions are unhealthy and lower self esteem.

• Attempting to change the each other instead of dealing with their own problems or feelings.

• Relying on the other to feel complete.

• The demand of unconditional love. This type of love can only exist between a parent and a child. Your lover is not your mother and neither are you theirs! We don’t always like or approve of what our partners do. There are behaviors a partner cannot allow in the relationship and might well result in its termination. This is harsh and way easier to deny but ultimately is your long term happiness worth it?

• Fearing abandonment when separated, a severe lack of trust- one of the most beautiful things about being in a relationship is trust, without this you have nothing.

• A tendency to recreate old negative patterns with their present partners that occurred in childhood- this is all crap that should be resolved through therapy and self help, not your relationship!

• Attempting to take care of others’ feelings (co-dependence).

Sound familiar?

Fear not, there are lot of people stuck in exactly the same predicament sadly it’s a common occurrance. The reasons for the development  of this kind of reliance are in abundance and varied. If you want to make some positive changes in your life, you have to accept what you are involved in. It is normal to be in denial and you have to be honest with yourself. Ask yourself this; Are you happy? Does your relationship help or hinder your state of mind? The most heart breaking thing is that sometimes it really is possible to love someone whilst being bad for them or visa verse. The question is, is it really worth it?

‘The only one who should have to pay for a bad relationship is the person in your next relationship.’ - Miranda, Sex & The City

If you know that your sense of self is being compromised on the behalf of a toxic partner, it is hoped that you’d want to get out of it- this of course is easier sad than done. No one can make you take that first step but if your gut instinct has been urging you to end it for sometime it’s probably safe to take note. The most important part of recovering from an emotional dependence on someone is to make yourself the priority. Work hard on  breaking all your old bad habits, sex with the ex is a massive no so once you’ve taken that first step stick to your guns. Look back on past relationships to find signs of emotional abuse or dependence. If you see a pattern forming, it’s time to break that as well- wasting your love on something that’s not right will only leave you angry and bitter. Concentrate on what you need and how you can make the future better. This will help you break the chains of negativity and give you something to focus on. It’s hard to be alone especially after a long and intense relationship but it means you’ve taken the first step in breaking a damaging cycle, and who knows- you might just meet the right person once you’re single! But remember; no one can love you as much as you love yourself!

On a slightly lighter note, ever wonder what this song was about?

Tags: Abusive Relationships, Advice, Breaking up, Couples, Ego, Freedom, Gloria Jones, Life changes, Passive Aggression, People addiction, Personal Improvement, Relationship Addiction, Relationships, Self Esteem, Self help, Tainted love, Therapy, Toxic Love, Toxic Relationships

The Quarter Life Crisis

Also known as the ‘Mid Twenties Blues’

‘The quarter life crisis is a term applied to the period of life immediately following the major changes of adolescence, usually ranging from the late teens to the early thirties.’

You might be wondering why I opted to write this now. I am exactly four and a half months away from turning 27 but strangely enough I am still stuck in the limbo of the ‘Quarter Life Crisis’. To quote the overly modified tones of Britney Spears; ‘I am not a girl, not yet a woman’.

Recently there was a new report into research by British psychologists showed that educated twenty and thirty-somethings are most likely to be hit by pre-midlife blues. Bearing all the very obvious hallmarks of the midlife crisis, this unfortunate yet common state in life is characterised by insecurities, disappointments, loneliness and depression. Dr Oliver Robinson, from the University of Greenwich was quoted saying;

“Quarter life crises don’t happen literally a quarter of the way through your life They occur a quarter of your way through adulthood, in the period between 25 and 35, although they cluster around 30.”

The surveys found 86% of the 1,100 young adults questioned admitted feeling under pressure to succeed in relationships, finances, jobs and general life milestones before hitting 30. Two in five worried about money and 32% felt under pressure to marry and have children by the age of 30. Six percent were planning to emigrate and 21% wanted a complete career change. Reading this study gave me a massive sense of relief and a strange sense of belonging. It’s a shitty club- if you’re living in my world, and are 25-35 then you’re likely to be as fucked as me.

Grasping onto the remainder of my youth

In my former years I took a rather relaxed approach to my future. I was good-looking and found it easy to find work. I was content with doing several media jobs at a time and enjoyed the rush of looking for new projects. Around six months after turning 25 my mind began to fester. I started to worry about what I’d do for a living once my looks had dried up, or worse still if I failed in that aspect of my life and then couldn’t find someone rich to save me. I tortured myself by obsessing over all the men that weren’t right for me and despite already wasting unnecessary amounts of time on them in the first place I spent hours wondering why none of them had worked out. In terms of prospect, I felt trapped by my lack of education and most importantly I felt the over whelming urge to get married and have children. This urge only increased with the growing amounts ‘yummy mummies’ cropping up in my social circles. What I struggle to contend with is that no matter how grown up I may appear, I still feel like I’m 19. I’ve heard my father say something similar repeatedly over the years. Is it possible that we spend our old age grieving our youth? Or can we dodge this inevitable crisis and enjoy who we are regardless? Damian Barr, author of the book Get it Together: A Guide to Surviving Your Quarterlife Crisis, said growing numbers of 25-30 year-olds are experiencing pressures previously felt by those in their mid-forties.

“Plenty of people are going to say the quarterlife crisis doesn’t exist. The truth is that our 20s are not, as they were for our parents, 10 years of tie-dye fun and quality ‘me’ time. Being twentysomething now is scary – fighting millions of other graduates for your first job, struggling to raise a mortgage deposit and finding time to juggle all your relationships. We have the misfortune to be catapulted into a perilous property market. We’re earning more and spending more than ever. We’re getting into debt to finance our degrees, careers and accommodation. If, as we’re constantly told, the world is our oyster, it’s definitely a dodgy one. Unlike the midlife crisis, the quarterlife crisis is not widely recognised. There are no ‘experts’ to help us. We have no support apart from each other.The Depression Alliance estimates that a third of twenty-somethings feel suffer with depression”

I like what Barr says about the shift of  the crisis’ in terms of ours and our parents generations. My parents met in their late teens, minus any education. My mother had me and relied on the dole whilst my father studied for his Art A-Levels. I was born in the midst of the last recession and yet things seemed so much more simplistic for the working man. I’ll wholeheartedly prepare myself for the back lash from those who sought work in the mid 1980′s. I’m not saying it was easy and I wasn’t there to witness it firsthand however; there does seem to be an increase in competition when it comes to earning a decent living and certainly in terms stress levels of those competing in it.

But where does that leave a girl like me?

I’d class myself as an intelligent woman but in terms of academia I was too busy stripping in gentlemen’s clubs, doing lewd shoots and temping at various advertising agencies. This led to a rather public melt down and the epiphany that I needed to get my shit together and become something more than a pretty face. The avenue I decided to go down was that of Psycho-sexual Therapy. Anyone out there reading this who is training in the field will know it’s a very long process and you never truly stop learning. That particular situation is all fine and dandy, I am studying to be something better thus I have a wholesome purpose in life. Surely a final fix to this ‘Quarter Life’ predicament?

No. Because I’m still feeling guilty about not having the grandchildren that my mother has been discreetly hinting about for the last five years. I’m also wondering, what with all this studying where I’d even fit the cultivation of a child into my diary? One can only presume that if it does happen, it will happen by mistake and in time for that old clock that was mentioned earlier on in this article. I hasten to add that at this particular moment in time, it would also have to be an immaculate conception. You never know, maybe Jesus really does love me.

It’s been noted that there are four phases of the quarter life crisis

Without disclosing too much, I’d say I am on phase 3. I have reached a stage of independence and while I can’t yet define who I am, I know who I want to be.

Phase 1: Defined by feeling “locked in” to a job or relationship, or both. “It’s an illusory sense of being trapped,” said Robinson. “You can leave but you feel you can’t.”

Phase 2: Typified by a growing sense that change is possible. “This mental and physical separation from previous commitments leads to all sorts of emotional upheavals. It allows exploration of new possibilities with a closer link to interests, preferences and sense of self.

Phase 3: A period of rebuilding a new life.

Phase 4: The cementing of fresh commitments that reflect the young person’s new interests, aspirations and values.

I hope that reading this has enforced the fact that if you are going through this very common predicament that there is light at the end of the tunnel. This stage in life does not have to be a crisis. These are just the final stages of growing up- and it’s up to you what you make of it.  It’s not forever and neither is the rest of your life. Try not to compare yourself to others and be the best you can.

Tags: 1980's, Anxiety, Art A-Level, Biological Clock, Britney Spears, Burlesque, Child Birth, Family, Fertility, Fetish, Friends, Immaculate conception, Jesus, Mid Twenties Blues, Modelling, My Mother, Not a girl, not yet a woman, Old age, Parents, Pressure to find work, Quarter Life Crisis, The Dole, The Guardian, The recession, Turning 27, Wiki, Youth, Yummy mummies