But why? Where did it come from? And why did I want to disassociate myself from that notion? I am no better than any other woman who chooses to wear a certain type of footwear. From Egypt to California, the white stiletto wearing, bad fake tanning trope dragged behind me like Marley’s chains. The Essex Girl trope followed me to all four corners of the world. My entire life, to everyone I met abroad, I lived “just outside of London”. Photographed in Southend-on-Sea, where they studied and make a lot of their work. They collaborate in the community and with young people, gathering and portraying stories using various theatre techniques and styles. I’m so passionate about showing the true Essex to those who make hackneyed assumptions, either through my radio work or bringing visitors to hidden gems around the county.Įleanore and Michelle, based in Stanford-le-Hope and Rochford respectively, are co-artistic directors and founders of the Blown Fuse Theatre Company. From the ex-pat I met in a South African park who bluntly implied Essex Girls were promiscuous, to the BBC reporter who sneeringly told me my name was ‘appropriate for a girl from Essex’, the dictionary definition of the term is one of the most lasting stereotypes England has to offer.Įxploring the origins of this shamefully outdated perception - and that of ‘Essex man’ - has interested me greatly for years and I’m proud to have spoken to many people who illustrate the rich culture, intelligence, creativity and kindness you can find in my home county. Like many others, I’m no stranger to Essex stereotypes being applied to me by complete strangers.
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Jodie grew up nearby and says that every time she sees it she is reminded of home.
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Photographed in the borough of Chelmsford, at the Great Baddow Mast - part of Britain’s early warning defence network during World War II. She’s reported on the Essex stereotype in her work, and uses the #iamanessexgirl hashtag on her Twitter profile. Jodie is a BBC Essex radio presenter, and was formerly a BBC News online journalist. I’m father to two young daughters, and wonder whether the stereotype will still persist by the time they become adults.Įach portrait is a collaboration and I encouraged suggestions on location, themes, pose and dress etc, so that every person is projected in the way that they would like to be portrayed.Īll participants have a connection to Essex, and cover a diverse range of backgrounds, age, abilities, class, ethnicity, body shape, sexuality, geographical locations etc.
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It’s a stereotype based on a mixed bias of gender, social class, and geography, dating from the early 90s and more recently perpetuated by the TV series ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ (TOWIE).Īs a lifelong Essex resident with a working-class background, I am challenging this pejorative, stereotypical portrayal with this series of portraits of real ‘Essex Girls’. The Collins Concise Dictionary in my local library defines an ‘Essex Girl’ as “a young working-class woman from the Essex area, typically considered as being unintelligent, materialistic, devoid of taste, and sexually promiscuous.” Other dictionaries there have similar definitions.