Critical Commentary: “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”

When a care-free late 30’s woman crosses over the 40 year old threshold, she experiences radical changes which are force her to question herself. Society forces these women to feel insecure and anxious. Men and the unique exception of Kate Moss’, on the other hand, have to endure no such feelings when passing the very same barrier. “Shocking news! Kate Moss is 40 and ‘still looks good’”, an article written by Deborah Ross and published by The Times, tackles this issue. Kate Moss, an English model who rose to fame in the early 1990s, is one of England most desirable women. Just recently, Kate turned forty; and like every woman in almost every society, Kate is being scrutinized upon complete 40 years. Kate, however, differs from most women. While society pins down most women upon turning 40 and shreds their self-esteem, society has ‘accepted’ Kate and is surprised at how good she still looks. She ‘simply defies nature’, Deborah Ross claims. This article is intended for women who are either nearing or pass 40. Throughout this ‘conversational’ article, Deborah Ross highlights the adversity most women have to face upon turning forty; an adversity men and Kate Moss don’t have to endure. She does this by writing the article in a personal narrative and by comparing the lives of most women with men and Kate Moss as they reach the same 40 year old barrier.
Deborah Ross cleverly writes the article in a first person narrative; this enables readers to actively engage with the topic since first person narratives form personal and emotional connections between the author and the reader. Through the use of first person narrative, Deborah creatively pens the gruesome moment of her life when she turned forty. The reader, expected to a female near...

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...experience nothing of such sort. I feel, however, that this piece goes beyond this direct message. “Shocking news! Kate Moss is 40 and ‘still looks good’” highlights the excessively stereotypical society we live in today. Women above 40 are deemed to be unappealing and unpleasant while it is perfectly normal for men to be above 40. Many analogous stereotypical exist within the communities we live in today; ‘Men are strong and do all the work’, ‘Girls are not good at sports’, and ‘Men are the backbone of an ordered society’. Such stereotypes have become so shared that the upcoming generation have it drilled in their minds. Most people accept these stereotypes with questioning them. Deborah Ross’s clever use of various techniques in “Shocking news! Kate Moss is 40 and ‘still looks good’” makes it a unique, influential piece which is likely to turn a few heads around.