Spinster’s Got Talent
NS April 11th, 2009
This is shocking, apparently: An unmarried woman in her 40s who fits the stereotype in every way (frumpy, shapeless clothes; wild hair; no makeup; eccentric and assertive behaviour; lives alone; has cats) can….wait for it….HAVE TALENT!
When an unassuming lady named Susan Boyle walked onto the stage at auditions for tv show Britain’s Got Talent, the judges and audience rolled their eyes and grimaced. This woman couldn’t possibly possess skill at anything other than cat care or lesbianism, surely! They looked at one another knowingly when she reported that she had never married and was 47. When Simon Cowell asked her who she aspired to sing like and she answered “Elaine Page,” everyone sniggered. All three judges were looking around in boredom and bemusement when she began singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables. Within seconds, their faces changed to ones of awe and piety. As Boyles’s voice soared and tears formed in audience members’ eyes, Ant and Dec, the presenters backstage, said “You didn’t expect that, did you?” in absolute shock.
She was phenomenal, no question. The arrogance of those who judged her made Susan’s success all the sweeter. But why did they judge her talent based on how she looked and her marital status? Are we so shallow as a society that those two things are primary criteria for ascertaining whether or not someone will have talent or the ability to be successful? Ridiculous.
