Why on earth did she have so many?She doesn't even come across as being particularly maternal.
I think she's a throwback to times past when it was quite the norm for women to have big families.
Also with the delegation of care to the elder siblings so it's less an act of heroism and more just stoic getting on with things and you could argue instilling old fashioned family values.
I think the way they live gives a reminder to many of not just the past and the way things used to be done but also in a sense of what some people feel like they have lost connection with
The security of a big family where people help each out a healthier more practical less cerebral way of life and the celebration of a strong powerful matriarchal figure. (Some British men really have a thing about that bordering on a fetish!)
I think rightly or wrongly she not only rules the roost but it's almost like a mini tribe the way they live and is very insular and self sufficient (they need no one) and again it's that spirit of independence (unattainable) that makes her attractive to many along with their lifestyle.....
Fancy being dependent on universal credit or being scared that you could loose your job or income at any minute? (No me neither but it's a sad reality for many at the moment).
You could say then that she has it made? There will never be a dull moment in the house and because she doesn't come across as the reflective type always lots to do and be busy with.
With that in mind I don't find it unusual that she's had such a large family it looks like she can cope with the practical side pretty well (pregnancy breast feeding and giving birth)
Once a child is born it seems as if the child is a shared responsibility and also that she expects a child to learn the ropes and help out at the earliest chance.
Many hands make light work and all that.
I also think that she's someone who thrives on being in the spotlight and whatever goes on behind the scenes (and the family must have issues just like any other) she knows how to make it look easy and takes pride and care about how she comes across and is seen by others?
As others have rightly pointed out if she was a single mother on benefits would she be praised so lavishly?
Or if she was an Irish gypsy for example they have communities in rural areas and know the traditions some of them still have very large families stay together and stay married and are also house proud and work hard and keep their figures.
Yet when was the last time that they were held up as a positive role model or praised or had people wanting to emulate their way of life?
I would say that rarely happens for the most part they are still rejected complained about and discriminated against ....
So as I said in a previous post other people work hard as well as Amanda but it looks as if when your in a group that gets discriminated against or demonised people don't take that into account or give credit because it doesn't fit into the stereotype.
Some are marginalised and naturally seen as outsiders no matter what they do or who they are or how hard they work.....that makes me very sad.
Amanda Owens is interesting to me because through her I see just how unequal and prejudiced and rooted in the past (also in a bad sense) our society is (sometimes).
