Here are the five most read comment pieces on the Independent this week
From the terrible recommendations of Conservative think tanks to Obama's tweet about John McCain's brain cancer
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Your support makes all the difference.The big problem is that when advertisers do represent us, it’s on their terms rather than our own. Ads are renowned for reinforcing stereotypes and portraying idealistic and unrealistic expectations. Take these Google and Coca Cola ads as examples – both feature stereotypically good-looking, young, cisgender, white gay men. The first even features a gay nuclear family. No queer people of colour, no drag kings, no polyamorous relationships
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The think tank Bright Blue recommends we take money from wealthier mothers to subsidise maternity pay for poorer mothers. UK maternity pay is among the lowest in Europe: it is hard for any family to survive on this measly sum. Undoubtedly, it is something that needs to be looked at – but why oh why are we pitting mothers against each other? Another recommendation is that families start paying for childcare with loans
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The advances of medical science are a wonderful thing, but that does not change the fact that many treatments for cancer can be brutal. If I were diagnosed with a relapse tomorrow I would ask for the same treatment again, but a decision to “fight” would not come into it.Our unthinking characterisation of cancer as a “battle” hands responsibility for recovery to the patient
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It’s important to note that Kelly, unlike other high-profile cases of celebrities accused of abusing their position, has never shied away from a highly sexualised image. He is not the nation’s father who betrayed our trust like Cosby or Saville. Kelly’s entire brand is sex – sometimes loving, sensual, but sometimes dirty, taboo, nasty. He has very much leaned into the image of the sex-crazed man who sometimes is so overcome with desire that he makes the wrong choices.We like it: we like that brand
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A letter from Boots to Bpas explaining the decision includes the following paragraph:“In our experience the subject of EHC [emergency hormonal contraception] polarises public opinion and we receive frequent contact from individuals who voice their disapproval of the fact that the company chooses to provide this service. We would not want to be accused of incentivising inappropriate use, and provoking complaints, by significantly reducing the price of this product.” This sounds an awful lot like Boots is saying women should think ourselves lucky that the company provides emergency contraception at all
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