Do non-Australians understand the word "yobbo"? If not, it's a description of someone who is extremely laid back and a bit rough around the edges. Some people would consider it a compliment and others an insult. Normally a yobbo is an Aussie bloke but sometimes they can be women.

Anyway, there is an ad on TV here at the moment that I hate. It features a single mother who introduces herself as such in a yobbo accent that suggests she is a real "battler", another Australianism for someone who is poor and battling to make ends meet.

The point the advertiser is making is that even people as poor as single mothers can still get on in life if they use their service. The ad is for renting household equipment.

The poor stereotype is bad enough but the characterisation also suggests this woman isn't very well-educated and that people should both feel sorry for her and look down on her. Gee if she can rent a computer, maybe we can too.

I also read somewhere the other day that a factor in poverty is being a woman as we are more likely than men to lose out in divorce and have to cope with the incredible expense of raising children alone.

No doubt all of these descriptors are accurate to an extent. But I wonder whom they help? I would like to see the woman on the ad say "I researched a lot of deals on financing computers and this is the best available. Why not benefit from the homework I put in?"

Not just because it's a more positive portrayal of single mothers but also because it's more accurate. Single women are resourceful, frugal and survivors. Aren't we?