Widowhood can come with a heavy burden, as the loss of a partner affects every aspect of life. Widows and widowers used to be marked out in Western societies, and while the tradition of wearing black and other signifiers has largely faded out, the term still has negative connotations, according to widow Lucy Chambers. In many parts of the world, widows are shunned and left destitute, abused and invisible, while in the West, those who are bereaved can feel invisible in a different way. As grief counsellor Aurora Hammond points out, widows and widowers can feel lost amid a mix of divorced people and those who have never been in a serious relationship. It is a stage in life that is a rite of passage, but no easier for its inevitability, no matter how old you are. Finding another partner can play a big role in the healing process, with some people seeking intimacy and a shared life after their loss.
As seen at the G7 summit in Hiroshima last weekend, LGBTQ rights are being increasingly recognised by governments as an important issue. Although there was little said during the Weekend as to LGBTQ concerns, it was notable that the G7 communique stressed the need to “work toward creating a ‘world free from violence and discrimination regardless of gender identity or expression or sexual orientation,’” with a commitment to work with all parts of society, to bring about “ full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in all their diversity as well as LGBTQIA+ persons in politics, economics, education and all other spheres of society.” However, given host nation Japan is the only nation of the seven that does not recognise same-sex marriage, actual change in the short term is likely to be slow. The Japanese government has not made legalisation of same-sex marriage a priority with the public remaining split: 44% of respondents saying in an NHK poll released in May that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry; 15% saying they should not; while 37% were undecided.
Architectural designer Bianca Censori, head designer for rapper and entrepreneur Kanye West's Yeezy fashion range, has reportedly wed the artist. The marriage, believed to be in the form of a non-legally binding ceremony, came after reports surfaced in January that the two were involved romantically, following West's divorce from reality TV personality Kim Kardashian. Censori confirmed her status with a TikTok influencer. The fashion designer caused a stir recently by donning a daring outfit from former Yeezy employee Mowalola Ogunlesi, consisting of black thigh-high heels and body tape shaped into a cross over the derriere and crotch.
Julie Goodwin has spoken about her past relationships, her close bond with her stepdad and raising her three sons. Goodwin’s grandfather died of stomach cancer when her mum was 16. Her mum never dated anyone after that, and Goodwin considered her marriage to Tony Hunt when she was seven as a loving father figure. Goodwin started dating her husband Mick after joining St Vincent de Paul’s Youth Group. They have three sons, Joe, Tom, and Paddy. Goodwin has so much hope for this generation of young men, believing they're aware of humanitarian and social-justice issues.
The intricate details of love across Europe during the Renaissance are explored in an upcoming exhibition of paintings at the Holburne Museum in Bath, UK. In particular, the Renaissance is shown to be a time when marriage provided a pretext for all sorts of glamorous purchases, including paintings and commemorative tableware. The works on display range from paintings of couples to upholstered banquet furniture. The exhibition is intended to uncover how marital mores changed during the Renaissance period. At its start, brides were often shown off in all their finery, but later the focus moved towards matrimony itself, with couples depicted as pious upholders of a godly society with the family at its core.
The Renaissance period also saw the rise of a moral campaign in England against female beautification. Upper-class girls were matched with carefully selected bridegrooms and tested for their beauty from the age of 14 to check if they met Renaissance standards. Men were largely responsible for the vast majority of portraits and historical documents commissioned and created at the time, meaning much of what is known about women’s lives was influenced by the views and experiences of their husbands.
The exhibition focuses especially on artworks representing life in Italy and England. It includes Jean Decourt’s 1520 portrait of an English nobleman and his wife; Giovanni dal Ponte’s 1400s tondo with Sts Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Virgin Mary, seated opposite each other, and Hans Eworth’s portraits of the Wakemans, originally intended to be hung together.
The "micro age gap" is an age difference of between seven and 12 years, and a recent piece in The Telegraph argues that it is an optimal range for a successful relationship. Those in micro age gap relationships benefit from knowledge sharing and are able to learn from their partner's lived experiences, while still circling the same life stages and reference points, the author said. The piece cited examples of celebrity couples such as Jay-Z and Beyoncé and Davina McCall and Michael Douglas, with both pairs enjoying successful relationships. Couples with more significant age gaps can face issues when the older partner's health declines earlier, but life expectancy is increasing, a psychotherapist quoted in the article said.
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The frenzied speculation and gossip surrounding the alleged recent breakdown of the TV friendship between "This Morning" presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby has sparked PTSD in Emma Beddington who lived through a similar experience with suspended "Good Morning Britain" presenter Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid. Emma questions why audiences become so invested in the relationships between TV couples, with many people rushing to declare their allegiances and even speak about the "real" and "true" machinations of their on-screen couple. Emma suggests that TV couples mirror our own domestic frustrations and that viewers are projecting or seeking drama in their own lives.
Tim Keller, the important theologian and preacher, has died aged 72. Keller was known for his ability to draw on a vast array of intellectual sources but with a voice that was warm and observations which were crystal clear. He spent most of his career at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, ministering to young, highly-educated people from the worlds of finance, medicine, publishing and the arts. He offered a radically different way of thinking, pointing people to Jesus and through Jesus’ example to a life of self-sacrificial service.
