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When people like Tony Abbott say that the use of gender-neutral language is political correctness gone mad, you know you’re onto something. Qantas recently introduced an initiative to help all people feel included, in particular the LGBTQI community and it got our Tony into a twist. Among other terms, their policy directs staff to use “parent” rather than “mother” or “father” and “partner” rather than traditional words denoting one’s spouse, the idea behind it that the possibility of offending people is reduced when gender-neutral language is used.

Of course, certain gender-neutral terms have been accepted for generations. No one says “manageress” or “authoress” or “aviatrix” anymore, thank God for that. It was always a put down, a qualifier, as if being a woman somehow made you a less effective manager or author or pilot. You still hear people saying, “I went to a lady doctor” when what they mean is that they went to a doctor. Sure, we still refer to waitresses, actresses, postmen and so on, but there is a definite move towards making people feel included and that’s good.

How about our national anthem? The opening line used to be, “Australian sons, let us rejoice” but with a simple change – “Australians all, let us rejoice” – Australian daughters are now included. That change had the added benefit of including immigrant Australians, so it was a doubly winning modification to the old lyrics.

Using gender-neutral terms doesn’t have to be laboured. For years we’ve referred to the person who delivers the mail as a “postie”. Air hostesses are now known as flight attendants, firemen have become firefighters etc, and eventually society will accept more of these generic terms and they’ll become part of everyday parlance.

This isn’t about political correctness or creating a set of hard and fast rules, it’s about recognising that both men and women are equal and should be treated as such. Words suggesting that women are somehow inferior should be discouraged. The point is that no matter our preferences, we are all people, all part of the human experience and appropriate language can help us to recognise this. So, gender-neutral language is not just acceptable it’s also desirable.

On a slight deviation but the same broad subject, let’s consider the term “gay marriage”. Now that same sex couples are free to marry and the law actually states that marriage is between “two people”, the phrase “gay marriage” is as redundant as the phrase “straight marriage”. So let’s phase that one out and simply say “marriage” without the qualifiers.

Since same sex marriage became legal in Australia, small changes have appeared in the words of the ceremony. Traditional labels like “husband” and “wife” are fine of course, but now it’s also permissible for people to say “I take thee to be my lawful wedded spouse”. It’s a choice, so whether it catches on or not only time will tell.

Now, having made the case for gender-neutrality, it has to be said that some situations still call for gender-specific terms and as we’re talking about weddings, I want to share with you my experience at a wedding I recently attended where two lovely men became husband and husband. They were thrilled to be able to use that term for one another. No “spouses” for them – for 50 years they shared a life together and now they could legally marry, no one was going to take away the thrill of having a husband. It was a day of excitement, trepidation and relief given the times through which these men had lived. They could be married, joined at last in conjugal bliss.

The lead-up to the event was like many another wedding – a celebrant to be booked, a venue to be found, menus to be planned, invitations to be sent – but as planning got underway and the men chose their wedding attendants, discussion turned to some of the language we were using. Some time-honoured words were adapted to suit the situation.

In straight/traditional/old-fashioned (take your pick) terminology, there are best men, groomsmen, matrons of honour and bridesmaids. At this joyous event, the happy couple was indeed attended by a groomsman, but they also had a groomsmaid. I don’t know if anyone has used the word “groomsmaid” before so let’s just say you heard it here first. They could’ve gone all “groomsperson” or “bestie” or “attendant”, but the groomsmaid herself was delighted with this appellation.

They’re also personally claiming the term “groomal table” for the official party. These two examples might be made-up words, but you can’t get much more descriptive than that. If there can be bridal tables, why not groomal tables? This wedding didn’t have a groomal waltz and the grooms didn’t carry groomal bouquets, but there was music and there were flowers. As we saw in a recent article, language is fluid, always changing, adapting and inventing, so perhaps these words may one day be added to the lexicon.

Weddings are celebrations and the invention/adaptation of a few gender-specific terms added to the fun. As well, they emphasised a point. Until the law was changed at the end of 2017, same sex couples were denied the opportunity to make a public and legal commitment to their significant others. Now they can – huzzah for fairness!

But back to the point, which is that gender-inclusive language is a strong tool to help break down stereotypes and foster equality. We should at least try to embrace general terms over gender-specific ones, particularly when someone’s gender isn’t at all relevant to the conversation. A lawyer is a lawyer, a tradie is a tradie, a nurse is a nurse, a tax agent is a tax agent and so on.

Still, it’s probably a safe bet to say that a bride will always be a bride and a groom will always be a groom. Gender-neutral language certainly has its place, but maybe not at a wedding.Read more at:tea length wedding dresses | casual wedding dresses

The first time I called myself ugly, I was seven years old. As I looked at the picture of my friends and me at my birthday party, I realized that I looked different from them. They were tiny, blonde and tan. I was a pudgy, glasses-wearing, pale girl with an extremely unfortunate bowl cut.

As I examined these differences, my innocent brain searched for a word to describe the difference between my friends and me. Finally, my mouth formed the word: ugly.

As I grew into my awkward phase, the realization I came to at the age of seven kept recurring. My best friend grew into a tall, slim, tanned, blonde babe. I, on the other hand, grew both vertically and horizontally. Though I (thankfully) was able to ditch the bowl cut, my hair did not magically turn blonde, and my skin remained pale and freckled.

I couldn’t help but notice that people who looked like my best friend were the ones in movies and magazines, the ones who got the guy and were shown living exciting, happy lives. People like me, however, were the source of comedic relief and shows like “Ugly Betty.”

These observations only became more noticeable as I entered middle school, high school and eventually college. The more women I talked to, the more I realized my insecurities were not unfounded, nor were they something only I suffered from. Even my beautiful best friend, who has a body and face that many would love to have, found herself not measuring up to the expectations placed on women.

The “ideal” body image for women in the media includes perfect skin, tiny waists and ample breasts and butts.

Though some movies and TV shows explore positive body image, it’s hard to deliver the message when women who have “ideal” body types are ones acting out the scenes.

So we as women are being told that we need to meet these near impossible standards, but we are also harped about being full of genuine self-love and confidence. The media wants us to love ourselves … but only if we fit their mold. My curvy frame, pale skin and unruly brown hair are seldom shown in the media. Does that mean I’m not supposed to love those parts of myself?

Women in particular are pressured with these reinforced ideals that beauty is of the utmost importance and should be regarded as one of the most important assets a woman can (and should) have.

Girls are taught at a young age to look at themselves critically, and the sad truth that women in society face is that we don’t feel beautiful.

I can’t even remember the first time I called myself beautiful. At the time, I’m sure it felt insignificant. However, every time that a woman realizes how beautiful she is, she is making an important step towards true self-love, the kind that not even Hollywood can get right.

Women are beautiful. They are beautiful when they smile and laugh, when they use their beautiful minds to create new ideas, when they use their beautiful hearts to make the world a better place and when they use their beautiful personalities to decorate our world.

The size of your clothing, the number of blemishes on your face, the color of your skin and any other aspect of your body that society tells you isn’t “ideal” does not diminish your beauty.

You become beautiful the moment you decide that you are.

As for my 19-year-old self looking back on my seven-year-old self: I was not ugly, but different. And isn’t that sort of beautiful?Read more at:bridesmaid dresses brisbane | bridesmaid dresses perth

TAME YOUR TRESSES

Healthy skin actually begins with good hair hygiene.

Sweat, dirt and bacteria collect in your hair daily, so it makes sense to wash them out before hitting the sack.

However, even if you have the habit of showering daily before bed, your tresses could still be sabotaging your skincare regimen.

Leave-in hair products are chock-full of chemicals, oils and fragrances, many of which are not formulated for prolonged contact with your skin.

They can irritate your skin, clog pores and contribute to inflammation and zits. So keep your hair out of your face at night in a loose ponytail.

ORDER PLEASE

Rethink your shower routine.

Hair masks and conditioners contain many rich conditioning agents that work their magic to resuscitate fried strands and even revive dull hair colour. But these are not meant to come into contact with your delicate skin.

So always wash your face after you wash your hair to cleanse away these hair products - not the other way round.

DO THE LAUNDRY

Doing laundry is never a favourite activity, but it is necessary.

Your wet towels are breeding grounds for bacteria. So are your pillowcases, which you press your hair and face to all night. Wash them once a week to prevent this bacteria from transferring to your face and causing ghastly breakouts.

PHONE ETIQUETTE

If you are like most people, your mobile phone is practically an extension of your face. You wash your face about twice a day, so why would you clean your mobile phone less than once a year?

Make-up, sweat and sebum transfer from your face to your phone whenever you use it, and bacteria builds up when you touch it with your hands.

Many experts suggest your mobile phone may be dirtier than the toilet seat. So clean it weekly with an alcohol wipe.

Do the same for your glasses, sunglasses and anything else that touches your face.

CLEAN MAKE-UP BRUSHES

Don't leave your brushes contaminated with month-old make-up, bacteria and dust - this is a sure-fire way to give yourself a bad case of acne.

Wash your brushes with a brush cleanser or gentle facial cleanser. Dry your brushes with their bristles facing up in a container, not facing down so as not to distort their natural shape.

WEATHER-PROOF YOUR SKINCARE

You don't have to give your skincare regimen an overhaul - just use the more lightweight products during the day to avoid clogged pores, and save your richer products for overnight use when your skin will benefit more from them anyway.

SWEAT IT OUT

The best detox you can get is a good workout. Exercise improves blood circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your cells.

It also flushes out toxins, giving you clear skin. Just be sure to cleanse off all that grime and sweat after your workout.

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS…

You are probably tired of hearing beauty experts extol the benefits of drinking lots of water.

You can always one-up them with hot lemon water. This is believed to cleanse the digestive system and rehydrate the body for healthy skin. It also infuses your body with vitamin C - a powerful antioxidant for bonus anti-ageing benefits.

GO GREEN

Filling your plate with green leafy vegetables can also improve your digestive health for better detoxification and more balanced skin. Probiotic supplements can also achieve the same effect.

BANISH DAIRY

Did you know that cow's milk may contribute to inflammation? The hormones present can also over-stimulate oil glands, exacerbate already oily skin and result in an acne attack.

So scale back on ice cream, milk and cheese, or save them for cheat days.Read more at:cheap plus size wedding dresses | beach wedding dresses australia

Nashville Fashion Week, the city's longest-running fashion industry event, announced Tuesday morning that iconic fashion designer Anna Sui and legendary New York Fashion Week founder Fern Mallis will be featured guests during the event set next month.

“We are incredibly honored to be hosting both,” Nashville Fashion Week co-founder Marcia Masulla said. “To have Anna Sui participate in such a meaningful way is tremendous gift to our community, especially with her thoughtful ties to both Third Man Records where she designed its yellow-and-black uniforms, shares Detroit roots with (Nashville rocker) Jack White and has worked with Nashville supermodel Karen Elson, a staple on Sui’s NYFW runways and the muse for her recent collaboration Macy’s I.N.C. collection."

Masulla added that Mallis has been an unwavering mentor of NFW's mission — the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund — and also led the charge to bring Sui to Music City.

The annual four-day event, which began in 2011, was co-founded by Connie Cathcart-Richardson and takes place April 3-7.

The citywide celebration of Nashville’s thriving fashion and retail community and its vast creative talent features local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of events throughout the week and encourages attendees to explore the city’s diverse fashion and retail spaces throughout the week with promotions, partnerships and educational workshops.

Kicking off the weekend be NFW Fashion Talks with Mallis and Sui on April 6 at Union Station Hotel on Broadway.

“I’m thrilled to be back at Nashville Fashion Week to see the talented designers along with our special guest, designer Anna Sui, from New York,” said Mallis, in her third year. “Nashville continues to be one of the coolest cities in the country, inspiring us all with music, food and style.”

Hailed as the award-winning creator of New York Fashion Week, Mallis has been called an industry titan, doyenne, and The Godmother of Fashion. As the creator and host of premiere conversation series "Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis" at New York’s 92nd Street Y, Mallis assembled an incredible roster of guests for her now signature in-depth interviews including Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Tom Ford, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino and Christian Louboutin.

Concluding Nashville Fashion Week will be the finale runway show showcasing Sui’s 2018 spring collection on April 7 at OZ Arts Nashville.

“I’ve been wanting to visit Nashville for a quite some time," Sui said. "Many people I know have moved there to take part in the evolving, super cool music scene. I’m totally excited to discover it all for myself firsthand … and to present my spring 2018 runway collection.”

The career of Sui is a classic American success story. Sui opened her first flagship store on Greene Street in Soho in 1992, and now boasts more than 50 boutiques in eight countries. Her collection is sold in 300 stores in more than 30 countries.

The boutique’s vibrant mix of black Victorian furniture, purple walls, papier-mache doll heads and rock 'n’ roll posters closely reflects Anna Sui’s decorating style and has been the model for all of her shops.

Opening the Saturday runway shows will be Hickey Freeman Tailors Gold and h American Tailor, both presented by Nashville retailer, Levy’s.

Nashville Fashion Week will be in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville with all proceeds benefiting the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.Read more at:beach wedding dress | sheindressau.com