Bag ladies

Aren't we all? Us women I mean. Think about it. When human beings were  hunters and gatherers the hunters (i.e. men) simply dragged or carried their trophies home but the gatherers (i.e. women) needed a hide sack or a folded leaf or a hollow gourd or a woven basket in which to put the vital stuff they collected: roots, shoots, fruits, nuts, eggs, insects, shellfish, fungi. Later on they needed bags to store and to transport things, to take produce to market or to go shopping. As we still do. (These are the carriers belonging to some random women at a bus stop today.)

And yet the term 'bag lady' used humorously in reference to his friend's laid-back appearance at the Baftas provoked a critical reaction that has incensed Stephen Fry. I know that bag lady is a euphemism for a homeless itinerant of the female sex but I'm certain that he was well aware that Jenny Beaven would not take his remark literally, presumably having made a conscious decision to dress casually (black leather jacket, scarf, flowing grey locks), nor that would she have any need for people to spring to her defence - she's an award-winning costume designer for heaven's sake.  Anyway, is 'bag lady' a term of abuse or derision? No more so than 'gentleman of the road' I would contend.
The fact that there are people who exist without a secure abode is a matter of grave concern but I think that the chorus of disapproval directed towards Stephen Fry was ill-judged, even if his reaction was a tad petulant. What a storm in a tea cup....

In other news a friend has just returned from her third visit to the Calais 'jungle' where the French authorities are about to demolish a large portion of the camp, including many vital facilities, and over 800 people will be expelled in the next few days. As before, she's been impressed by the resourcefulness and resilience of the people living there, and of those who are supporting them in practical and creative ways. This is where our attention needs to be focussed.