We know that ever woman wants to be thin. Our images of womanhood are almost synonymous with thinness.

Being able to provoke a different point of view to the standard current ideological or political perspective as played out in conventional newspaper or radio reportage is what a public intellectual does. But it's not merely about being oppositional, because that's too negative.

Consumer society tantalises us. We then try within ourselves to control the needs that are being constantly stimulated.

Mothers unconsciously allow more latitude to sons, and open encouragement, and with daughters they treat them as they would treat themselves.

We accept there's an emotional aspect to life. But we're not very developed in our ways of understanding it.

Skinny is only one body type.

If I were afraid of wrinkles, I'd probably be hiding in a cupboard, because I have a lot of them.