THE
No. 143
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February 1994
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TOOTHILL CHINESE KITCHEN
Circulation 15,500
Fish & Chips and Chinese Food Takeaway
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Boredom and babies no connection says researcher -
Evening Advertiser story 'misleading' A university researcher and a local community worker have reacted strongly to a Swindon Evening Ad-
vertiser story which they believe distorts their work and puts at risk their contacts in the community. The story which appeared on the 5 January front page alleged that Cambridge University research student Hazel Christie had discovered that women in West Swindon are becoming pregnant because they are bored. Thamesdown Council community worker Pam Pixton, who has lived in West Swindon for nearly 14 years, is quoted as saying that women can get so desperate and lonely that getting pregnant can seem the only solution. Both Hazel and Pam reject the Evening Advertiser story as being 'crude and misleading' and want to set the record straight through The Link magazine. They are joined by the coordinator of the West Swindon Family and Community Project Mark Thomas, also reported in the same article. Hazel was featured in the January Link magazine as carrying out research work into how couples cope when they fall into mortgage arrears or find themselves in a negative equity situation. In particular she is trying to discover the contri-
Upset. Hazel Christie and Pam Pixton
bution women make to the household budget. Hazel said she presumed the Evening Advertiser had contacted her after seeing the article in The Link. "I am very embarrassed that the Evening Advertiser should paraphrase my early findings and draw such crude conclusions under a sensational headline. There is still another fifteen months of research to be done. This report makes me sound an arrogant and irresponsible outsider commenting on the difficulties couples are having."
"There is no research evidence that women get pregnant because they are bored." She said that West Swindon is an interesting study area because of the concentration of couples who bought houses duringthe 1980s price boom. The price collapse over the last few years has left many households with mortgages worth more than their homes. Unemployment and children put a big strain on finances which can lead to defaulting on mortgage payments.
"Some of the women I have interviewed freely admit they feel isolated. It's a feature of new housing developments across the country. My comments to the Evening Advertiser tried to show how constructive and resourceful women are in dealing with financial difficulties," said Hazel. Pam Pixton believes her comments had been selected to satisfy the Evening Advertiser's story and headline.
We bring the International Year of the Family down to a community level
International Family Group appeals for more Bosnia food UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE FAMILY 1994
The Link magazine and Thamesdown Relate have joined together to celebrate the family and its contribution to community life. Join us in sa ying 'A Little Thank You' to people who have helped your family. Turn to page 3.
(continued on page 3)
The Swindon International Family Group is collecting for another convoy on 1 April. Details of how you can help on page 3.
Another 500 houses We discovered our new expanded distribution area of Hayden Wick and Woodhall Park is 500 homes larger than we thought. Luckily we overprinted and everybody received The Link last month. Our total distribution is now 15,500.
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