Singer Pixie Lott, left, and TV presenter Denise Van Outen are two celebs being promoted as positive role models for Essex girls

Britains’ Essex girls of all ages are tired of being treated like dimwits.

A charity known as the Essex Women’s Advisory Group has been set up by local ladies Daphne Field and Elizabeth Hart, chairman of Essex County Council, who says the teasing is beyond a joke. I’m not certain, but the Essex women may be disproportionately blonde, based on the website, and we all know what ‘blond’ implies: no brain, loose morals.

Apparently Essex women often lie about their heritage, saying they come from Kent or East Anglia. With Climategate happening in East Anglia, they may be forced to choose a new hometown and there’s none better than Essex, say members of the new charity Essex Women’s Advisory Group.

Historians confirm that the Homeric poems decribes Demeter as blonde and Apohrodite as golden-haired. Athena, goddess of wisdom, was described as ‘glaukopis’ and ‘xantha’, making Athena a blonde. As the patriarchy became stronger in its governance of women, blondes became the official temptresses — more or less ‘slut girls’.

Back to Britain, where the Essex girls are fighting back.

Elizabeth Hart, EWAG patron and Essex County Council chairman, said: ‘I am sick and tired of people putting Essex Girls down.

This may be the first time that women have joined hands and fought back against the stereotypes.

Chairman George Courtauld said: “They may be noisy and blowsy and laugh a lot, but it’s because they’re cheerful, self confident, and capable of achieving a great deal.”

Don’t ask me how with two men on the founding charity’s group of 14, the chairman is a man, but farmer, ex-business man and Queen’s Messenger for the last 14 years, George Courtauld (fabric empire) brings clout to the table on behalf of the womanly reputation of Essex.

No word yet on whether top Essex girl Helen Mirren has joined EWAG. Having heard Mirren in person at a New York TimesTalk event, I’m getting a better sense of the ‘Essex girl’ reputation.

The charity has already raised £38,000 for arts and poetry competitions, sports events, fashion shows and women’s refuges and an ‘Essex Girl’ Day is already being planned for the summer, Essex celebrities included.

Rock on Essex Girls. We’ll be following you. Anne

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