VERY VERY accurate reading of who i am...

Name: Lisa Cobley
July 11 1989
11:01 AM Time Zone is BST
Bournemouth, UK

Rising Sign is in 21 Degrees Virgo
You tend to be very shy and not very self-assertive. You are supercritical about how you appear to others. Even though you may think you are uninteresting and dull, you are actually quite soft- spoken, orderly, neat and very likable. You are a perfectionist with high standards, and at times you can be quite tactless in pointing out the faults of others. Very practical, efficient and purposeful, your appearance and bearing reflect your need to appear graceful, sensible and reserved. You have a crisp, no-nonsense approach to dealing with others. Never lazy or self-indulgent, you tend to be dedicated to the work ethic.

Sun is in 19 Degrees Cancer.
Very emotional and sensitive, you have an intuitive understanding of the "vibes" around you. You tend to be quite generous, giving, loving and caring, but only when your own needs for emotional support, love and security have been met. If they are not met, you tend to withdraw into yourself and become very insecure and selfish. Your home and family (especially your mother or the person who played that role for you early on) represent security for you and thus assume a larger-than-life importance. Very sentimental, you have vivid and long- enduring memories of the past. No matter how well adjusted you are, you will always need a secret quiet place of your own in order to feel at peace. Feeding others can give you great pleasure you would enjoy being part of a large family.

Attention attention

Two of my friends that are actually pregnant, look how beautiful...

So coming all this way with my belly and all, i think its necessary to try and find out why i am rather shy and don't like being the centre of attention. I guess i have been really privileged to of grown up in an amazing family. All amazing people and incredibly funny! Having dinner with my family leaves me with tummy cramps from laughing so hard. Theres never a dull moment with a cobley around. I guess iv always been the one to laugh and listen to the jokes rather than make the joke myself. (hmm i seem to always get it wrong-punch lines are my enemy)

Anyway, so maybe its that?

Iv always followed astrology, looking at my rising sign(star sign and time of birth) i can definately see a lot of myself in this - its scary how true this is..

For you that know me well, take a read..

Iv highlighted what i feel is mostly true.

Your rising sign explains your outward personality, which is the personality that you show to others around you. You can read more about what a rising sign is here.

Virgo in Short

Virgo's are one of the most misunderstood signs of the zodiac. People think they're fussy, critical bad tempered and picky but that's only because they want everything to be perfect. This is the sign of cleanliness, although lots of Virgo's have the grottiest bedrooms and hang their clothes on the floor. They're extremely inquisitive and have a dreadful time trying to relax. Virgo's make fantastic friends. If a minor crises pops up you can be sure the Virgo will have everything under control in 30 seconds. They are always on the move because they like to learn as much as they can before they take off again. They excel at work so they probably get all the boring jobs (the ones Leo wouldn't be seen dead doing).

More About Virgo

Virgo's are highly intelligent, interested in everything and everyone and happy to be busy with many jobs and hobbies. Many have some kind of specialised knowledge and most are good with their hands. Their nit-picking ways can infuriate their colleagues. They find it hard to discuss their innermost feelings and this can make them hard to understand. In many ways, they are happier doing something practical than dealing with relationships. These people can overdo the self-sacrificial bit and make themselves martyrs to other people's impractical lifestyles. They are willing to fit in with whatever is going on and they can adjust to most things, but they mustn't neglect their own needs. Most avoid touching all but very close friends and family members and they find lovey-dovey behaviour embarrassing. These people can be very highly sexed and they may use this as a way of expressing love. Virgo's are criticised a good deal as children and are often made to feel unwelcome in their childhood homes. They in turn become very critical of others and they can use this in order to wound.

Many Virgo's overcome inhibitions by taking up acting, music, cookery or sports. Acting is particularly common to this sign because it allows them to put aside their fears and take on the mantle of someone quite different. They are shy and slow to make friends but when they do accept someone, they are the loyalist, gentlest and kindest of companions. They are great company and have a wonderful sense of humour.

Virgo at Work

If you need something done right, you’ll do it yourself.(sorry) In fact you pay attention to all the details and it’s usually those small differences that really set you apart from your competitors. What helps is that you are the practical type and enjoy learning about and doing all the work yourself. Even though you can be slow to catch on to new technologies, once you embrace them, you soon know them inside out. If things start to go bad, you are excellent at getting in there and fixing the situation. You do however, need to relax from time to time doing the everyday type of work, otherwise you will soon become too stressed and panicked and not much use at all!

OOh i love all this stuff...

Anywho...

AG I dont know why it makes me feel so uncomfortable because i love socializing and chatting to friends, i guess its just the whole stranger aspect. I have a protective bubble and once we have become familiar and are friends then sure invade my lil bubble, but if not i become shy and awkward. I prefer being modest instead of flaunting my qualities and stuff like that, so i hate it when i'm the center of attention. Iv also grown up with someone who is very much the opposite of me, she is my aunt although we are like sisters since she is now 21 years old. I guess for a long time i had been living in her shadow. We always shared friends and went to the same schools. I think this was a major reason for my mom sending me to boarding school in stellenbosch so i can become more of an individual and be my own person.

Im blabbing so im off for the night so i can have my last weekend as a pregnant lady! wheeei

More theory to follow tomorrow,i promise, its weekend and im exhausted so i just felt like chatting away!!

Body matters

The constant need to be more beautiful and thin is a common goal for most woman in the world. You would think pregnancy would hinder this goal for many women because their babys health is more important. Think again..

(The orange county series)

Holly: Are you here for prenatal yoga?

Kirsten: Yes, i am and you?

Holly: Yes, i just found out. How far along are you?

Kirsten: Not very, i just found out too

Holly: Well, this class is great. Iv worked way too hard for this body to just let it turn into some dumpy baby factory. i mean, who says i can't have a baby and a six pack?

Kirsten: (looking very confused) Ok, i should probaly stretch before class, excuse me

Holly: Hold on just a second, hey ho's come here (calling pregnant friends in the yoga class) This is Mrs. Cohen, she just found out shes preganant too.

Friends: O, my gos, congratulations - and your not even showing!!

Holly: so should we let her in?

Friends: o yeah shes totally ripped

Holly: we formed a club, promised ourselves we wouldnt turn out like molly the mammoth over there. (points to a normal pregnant lady in the class)

Friends and holly: euw

Friend: like in 9 months, i am so wearing my bikini. I dont care what anyone says

Friend no.2: and i told jerry if i get too big, im inducing at 8 months. Its much easier to lose the weight.

Holly: So do you want in? we call ourselves the 6 pack pack. Dont you just want to barf its so cute.

Kirsten: all the time

Writing sime thirty years ago, John Berger explored the impact of images of feminity on audiences, ranging from renaissance paintings to advertising. He identified an astounding gender difference in ways of seeing women.

"Men look at women, Women watch themselves being looked at"

This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves (1972:47)

John Berger explains this:

To be born a women has been to born, within an alloted and confined space, into the keeping of men. A women must continually watch herself . She is almost always being accompanied by her own image of herself. From earliest childhood she has been taught and persuaded to survey herself continually.

"Women learn to reconstruct themselves. It is second nature to women to disguise themselves, dress themselves and decorate themselves with materials. Over the past 30 years, it has become more dramatic, women re arrange some of the organic material which is their body- sometimes with no harm on health and sometimes with devastating consequences"

Fashion, diet, extreme exercise, plastic surgery, surgical re modellind and chemical maintenance is just a few things that women are prepared to do to look better.

I just assumed women would do this after or before bearing a child but it seems women still feel the constant pressure to be a hot mommy.

"Gone are the days when an expectant mother would don a potato sack and pack on the pounds. Today’s preggos are sexier, and hornier, than ever. Yeah, baby"

Maxim magazine

"Women with pregorexia, as it has been dubbed, speak proudly of not looking pregnant when viewed from behind - while wearing 'normal' jeans into the second trimester has become something of a badge of honour. (src)"

"I starved my baby to stay thin. Woman Magazine"

All eyes on me

Well its coming to the end of this brief and i must say i think im relieved... the belly attention has become old now and all my clothes are just stretched. boohoo.

Too bad i cant use my special parking space for much longer...

Since the beginning of this case study, I started looking at the representation of pregnant women and how different people view these women.

One art style commonly used is the scopic stance.

Scopophilia is a term meaning, an erotic pleasure in looking.

But where is the erotic visual pleasure in looking at a pregnant women?

(Hmm, i was trying to find an appropriate image i could post here to show you what i meant but wow there is a lot of pregnant porn out there but i think a little bit too risky to post on blogspot-but by all means go see, its pretty hardcore - how far can one go?)

"While the sexualised imaging of women is well developed in the scopic imagery, pregnant women as photographic subjects seem to block the scopic gaze?"

This further explains..

"Maternal sexuality , embodied by the pregnant women, does not lend itself easily to appropriation. Instead, a vigorous patriarchal mandate keeps maternity and sexuality seperate"

There is, as Bourdieu demonstrated, a deep discomfort with applying the gaze, with its implied voyeuristic eroticism, to the figure of the pregnant women.

This is something that i discovered quite quickly in my pregi case study, some people feel uncomfortable looking at me. This was a challenge due to my akward shyness but it also made me think. Are people looking at me because of my class? Is it because i show evidence that i am sexually active? Is it because of my age?

Artist, Alice Neels work explores the visual representation of the pregnant body. Her work is amazing. Here are some of her works (note the gazes)

"Because her sexual history is inscribed on her body, the male gaze cannot penetrate her"

Cheating schmeating

Ok ok so i cheated and yes i know im supposed to be saying, i feel horrible and defeated but i honestly don't. :) (whoops) -10 :p

I can walk through the shops without anyone looking or have the feeling of a million eyes on my body, i can fit through small spaces and i dont have to sit like a pregnant lady with my legs open with everything resting on my belly. yes! I went to the animation college and fellow students did not pass judgement!

I am so not ready to be a pregi lady, i really have appreciation for any women who is pregnant. That constant extra load must be extremely tiring. Iv had a fake plastic one under my clothes and i am exhausted. No wonder why in ten things i hate about you does the dad make his daughter wear a fake belly before she went on a date.

(i wonder what the equivalent action would be for the boy?)

Normally the dad encourages the son to get in there, you know the "go for it my son" attitude)

Although i didnt have it on, i could still feel the belly -which was really weird. I kept resting my hands on my tummy and walking with a slightly arched back. I was still very much aware of my body.

Although shy, talking and approaching people was actually easier to do when i got used to my tummy. I felt older which is something different for me because people still mistake me for a 15 year old girl. Once a girl at gym asked me the other day if i can't wait for matric?? hmmm...

So i felt more mummy like and without it i feel like a regular student. Its amazing how a plastic casing can make me feel more mommy like. :)

Being flat tummied is great - it doesnt stretch all my damn clothes :) haha

Pregnancy in the media

Print ad - Harley Davidson motorcycle tours

So Harley Davidson is for pedophiles?

Harley men impregnate High School students?

 

Woman pregnant. Wasn't me. 

Source: The Bible. FHM. Men are like that.

The bad boy image: is it cool for you to knock up a girl?

MTV's new documentary - 16 and pregnant. WATCH THIS LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLiXS02Mj7U&feature=related

Teen girl pregnancy pact (teenage girls becoming pregnant on purpose)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fvcJ0cnCV8&feature=fvst

Print ads attempting to create a shock value by switching the genders around. Addressing society's discrimination against "girls getting pregnant" Hello! It takes two people to get pregnant and both should be equally accountable!

A pregnant man? Thats new..

Wow how old is this movie??

I remember watching it when i was teeny weeny!! Back then, i laughed at the ludacris thought of Arnold Schwarzenegger being pregnant. Now i wonder what this movie is trying to suggest by pushing the conventions of pregnancy?

Does this suggest men can do exactly what women do? Or is it just a silly comedy that can never become a reality?

"This film simultaneously suggests that women’s pregnancies are unremarkable and unworthy of attention. David Thomson argues that ‘the biology proposed in Junior . . . is fatuous and even offensive for it can be taken as one more way of dismissing the female body’ (1995, 24).

Is it offensive that the holder of the hypermasculine Mr Universe title is shown possessing a characterisitc that only women possess?

"Pregnant women appear to “have arrived” and are free at last from the social constraints which formerly tied them to domesticity and the private realm’ (Longhurst 2000, 458). But like Matthews and Wexler (2000), Longhurst suggests that these gains have not fully shifted ideas that ‘public displays of pregnant bodies are unseemly and improper’ (2000,

470). In Junior, female embodied experiences of pregnancy are perhaps improper and unseemly, but crucially, and in direct contrast to the finely tuned and complex presentations of a pregnant man, they are uninteresting. Women don’t change or benefit from either physical or subjective gestational experiences, as they are figured as always

already almost pregnant"

Its a pretty weird movie but it does suggest the notion of motherhood and if it is something that only women can do. I must say, it is disturbing seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger rub his sore pregnant nipples. Watching it back then i laughed but wow, Arnolds acting is shocking! (seriously, you have to watch it just to see how bad it is-its amusing :)

Well give it a watch and let me know what you all think... im undecided

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It's goofy and ridiculous and preposterous, and yet it makes you feel good, and there is something oddly heartwarming about the sight of this macho guy melting with feelings of protectiveness"

The weekend i had was pretty uneventful (i am exhausted from the week!!) I did minor things and when i did go out, i wasnt even looking to see if i got the reaction i was supposed too. I think im getting used to all of this, even without the belly, i walk as though i am pregnant (tummy pushed out,arched back), wow i must look stupid!

But, I did babysit my lil cousin tonight who i absoloutely love so although the pregi belly was not in full action this weekend, my mothering skills of feeding, bathing, playing and putting to bed were. (below-Sarah, my cousin, yes shes that cute!)

Facebook attention

A few days ago I added a pregnant photo of myself on facebook.

The reaction was instant...

"O my word, why didn't you tell me"

"Are you pregnant"

(pfft, no i just got really fat)

"Why is everyone falling pregnant all of a sudden?"

"Hey,never knew you were pregnant?"

"is this a joke?"

I haven't responded to any of them yet, i do not know if i should leave them to gossip or talk to them and carry on with my happy pregnant story? (any advice?)

What i also found is that people did not comment on the actual photo but they all wrote on chat or sent me a message?? Whats up with that??

I also received a message last night from an ex boyfriends brother asking if i was pregnant too. Wow news travels fast... (via facebook)

No one has approached me in public yet, its all about the stare. Especially when you walking to kfc at 8 30 in the morning with a half naked man. (Cornel)Yes a pregnant women needs her food!

Awesome!!

It has been such a great time seeing the reactions and comments towards my teen pregnancy and the attention i am getting. I am so happy,excited and chuffed that I am actually making a difference and raising questions about conventional pregnancy.

Anita found my blog and commented - this really made me feel great and today i shall be belly exploring with her in mind...

Thanks anita - your awesome!!

Anita said...

"hey. i came across your blog and actually found it really funny. I honestly admire your courage to go out with that belly when you are not really preggies. most young girls who fall pregnant find it hard to walk out in public with their bellies because they feel judged all the time, which is sad because they have to carry they heavy load and they don't understand that what other people think of their pregnancy doesn't really matter. what matters is how they feel about themselves.

I'm 21, but people think i'm 18 and pregnant, but for me the experience of being pregnant is exciting and happy. Unlike you i walk out smiling and not scared at all when i go out with my belly. People look and i actually rub my belly and wink at them when they look at me with displeasure. When my fiance and i go to dinner, sometimes people look at me as if they're saying' look at what this generation get up to these days" and when my man sees that i'm feeling down he just gets up, comes to my side and kisses my belly which instantly gives me a boost.

Neways sorry for this long ass comment, was just passing by and you've just made my week.
Anita 
X"

Not only that but people outside vega are really reading my posts and thinking about these issues!!

Steven said...

"hey, that's interesting. You know, i never really felt the need to watch juno, i always brushed it off as just a well-reviewed teen pregnancy story - not something i ever dwelt on or a topic i would think about for more than 5 seconds before casting a biased/presumptious judgement. 

But with a friend of mine now posing as a pregnant teen, i would love to try to understand it more, your efforts kind of made it more real for me, i'm surprised at my reaction. 

I think i'll watch Juno now, thanks Lisa.

Looking forward to future posts"

Yay, its actually working

This has made me want to go even further into the investigation, thanks so much to all that read my crazy pregi blog.

Pregnancy as a form of dress

I love Juno

After a really grumpy day, a good movie can normally get me in better moods. I decided that Juno would be the best bet and hey I figured that i could do some research while giggling away at Juno's quirky comments...(bonus)

"Juno had agency. She decided to have sex, and decided what to do about the consequences without the help of the babys daddy" 

 megan haines

What i love about juno is that it goes against the nor

m of pregnancy, yes shes a teen but it does not only deal with that, but with adoption,abortion,sex and politics. Don't you also get bored with that pretentious happy mommy image with the healthy pregnant glow rubbing her tummy??

Friends quote:

Joey: but you look so healthy with that pregnant glow...

Phoebe: Ugh you would have that too if you had your head stuck down the toilet every morning.

(Ah i love friends)

Although iv watched this movie many times before, i relate to it more than ever to it since i am walking around college with my tummy for the world to see!!

I had always heard the media hype with juno and i always thought well ye, coz of the teen pregnancy but now after the crit con lecture, i see that it,s not only about that but it also raises feminist questions. The fact that juno struggles through with the pregnancy and decides to give the baby up for adoption to a single mother shows women power. It raises the question, Who said the mom cant do it alone??

my mom did after all - she had me when she was in high school too

i turned out just fine.. i think..

haha just kidding..

Whats also different about juno is that she does think about abortion, she does go through the

 downfalls of pregnancy but she assessess the situation and did what was best and then carried on with ther teenage life. Its great that people are more prone to this at

titude now - i remember movies that i watched when i was younger, unplanned pregnancy was mostly seen as tragic and sinful.. Now, although still a serios subject, the movies are more light hearted, comedical, romantic and sometimes a suprise love traingle occurs. (eg-Knocked up)

"It reflects what's going on in the world, which is that women no longer need to feel like victims, even if something as dramatic as this has happened. For decades the very phrase 'unwanted pregnancy' was a synonym for soap opera. There was no question what kind of film you were going to see: It was going to be weepy. That has changed enormously. We're now open enough in our willingness to deal with it and show that we can even laugh at it. These attitudes are in the zeitgeist, and the smarter, hipper movies tap into that."

Hmm great movie - watch it!!

a pregnancy ponder..

If i don't look like that (see below) , then what??...

What makes the ideal pregnant individual?? (publics opinion)

-happy

-married

-in a relationship

-pregnant glow

-cute

-wears sweet outfits

-loving

-caring

Insights given by family,friends and peers.

Are these people not ideal?

“Glamour cannot exist without personal social envy being a common and widespread emotion.”

John berger

I found this book called, pregnant pictures which has very interesting topics. Yay, it is so hard to find a book that actually deals with the subject as opposed to the millions of manuals about correct diet plans and exercising. Haha i think this belly has created maternal like side effects!

Look what i found - (just something to think about...)

"Popular notions of pregnancy are carnal, often sentimental - sometimes even grotesque. The physical productions of the pregnant body are discreet - a subject for the doctors office, the bedroom and the private talk of women. The swollen womb is an atavistic protuberance of body fluid,blood and tissue. Camera work on the other hand is tasteful, an appropriate topic for the dinner table, the musuem syposium and the chic magazine. The photograph is a sleek and glossy surface, a weightless skin. What is the impulse that would seek to implicate these two firmly with one another and then to dwell on their conjunction? Why the subject of pregnant pictures? "

Sandra Matthews and Laura Wexer

print advertisements. (spot the difference)

The copy reads, "Maternity clothes help to conceal your condition and keep you smart throughout your pregnancy"

Can you believe it??

Present maternity ads

feelings of the day:

EMBARRASSED, UPSET, BIG, MOMMY LIKE (its amazing how much authority you think you have with a belly :)

quote of the day: (thanks Pia)

"O my word, i never realised you were pregnant"

Pia Vehmeyer

Will it ever be socially acceptable?

Ah this article i read really helped me get by today!!

"Teenage pregnancy is still a taboo in this country even after aping a lot of the Western culture. Thus most of the times the pregnant teenager is left alone. It's time to either support the helpless teenagers or prevent such social discrimination"

"OUR SOCIETY claims to be modern by following the Western culture. But, are we able to adapt our thought process with the peripheral change or are we still facing doubts on whether to accept certain issues or not"

After today, it has come to my attention that everyone is stil living very much in the olden days. Ah its 2009 people and yes i have a pregnant belly. Although it has calmed down since then, the hype over a teen pregnancy is huge! I went to the shops today and i received a, "JOH" and a very snooty look from a rich mommy type.Pfft..thank you

I remember many teens during primary and high school that i never knew or heard about until that day when you hear that they are pregnant. The instant reaction to the gossip is, shame and then followed by a sigh of relief that this has not happened to you...yet.

Having this constant pregnant belly on me makes me feel like I have the constant glare of eyes on me from every direction and even when i know people know its not real, i still feel like im on display. Its like having an arrow saying - guess what i did?? Its humiluating actually - a fellow student today was looking at me very strangely and finally came out saying, o my word i never realised you were pregnant.

Not only does it freak me out that she is immediately judging my belly but also that i have to deal with those eyes jumping back and forth from my belly. It's not the pregnant thing that gets me, its the attention from being pregnant - but now that i think about it, it's actually an interconnected concept, you can't get one without the other.

I keep telling myself that there are so many other problems in the world and so much worse can happen sp just grow up lisa and stop being a baby!!

Tomorrow will be a good day :) (repeat,repeat,repeat)

Happy pregnant women is on the move ....

Off to make a to do list for Lisa Cobley and her Bobbley

And watch a movie that always makes me laugh, JUNO!

Nighty night

Emotionally and Physically UNCOMFORTABLE!!

So today was...... interesting.

Wow its really hard to keep a straight face when people stare at your tummy and it really doesnt help that i look ridiculously young!!

The main thing I have discovered on my first day is that many people instantly look at me but then they quickly glance away so our eyes don't meet. I think they feel socially uncomfortable too. I really need to be more brave and next time it happens just smile and wave or throw in a lil belly rub with a wink. HAha..

Today i intended on going to Pick n Pay to do my groceries with Ivan, my boyfriend, but i really couldnt pluck up the courage to do it..Unfortunately my belly stayed in the car.

This decision of mine made me realise how daunting it must be to actually be pregnant at this age because at least now i have a choice whether i want to take my belly off or not...

Hmm i was a coward today, tomorrow i will be more brave...! promise...

I went to my moms birthday cake and tea event with family and

friends tonight. I was approached at the door with a stressed and hysterical mother. She didn't find the whole thing very amusing (whoops) but my aunt did, she is also pregnant so we plan on taking our bellies out together sometime :)

I proceeded to eat the night away as if i was pregnant and then ended the night with a nice mc donalds meal where no one looked at me funny.. yay for mcy d's :)

The night before...

After chatting to many of my friends and family members as well as evaluating myself, I have come up with a few main things that distinguish WHo i am?

This is what i have picked up....

20 year old student

female-happy-shy-introvert

lovable-shy-quiet

humble-conscious

Due to the characteristics such as SHY,INTROVERT,CONSCIOUS and QUIET you could imagine how i felt when we got this crit.con brief. How the hell am i going to do this?

i am shy meeting new people and when people do look at me, i always think theres something wrong with me or theres something on my face. I prefer not being the centre of attention.

This is why i have chosen to complete this body intervention while wearing a pregnant body suit.!! Yes, i know...

I will be doing what i normally do on a daily basis but with my preggie belly. This unfortunately will result in a whole lotta attention. (which i dread!!)

BAD - partying,drinking with my baby bump and the GOOD-eager pregnant women asking when im due..... haha

So here goes...