When Women Are Guilty of Sex Discrimination

Chapeau bas for Michael Gray's post on the BlogHer conference! I strongly believe women deserve and should fight for equal rights and chances in any field of their life. But I really doubt they will ever obtain that by closing themselves into women-only circles.

The idea of succeeding is not to do well is a closed circle, it is to do well in the world. And the world is made up of boys and girls alike. So I should add a kudos to the Women 2.0 group of LinkedIn who also has quite a few men registered.

If BlogHer wanted to show us all what's right, why not have everything 50-50? Equal numbers of male and female speakers would have been closer to my ideals than a women only support group.

There's something I'd like to disagree with: dear Michael, there's a temporary huge difference between stay at home moms and dads. And that's the pregnancy and post-partum hassle. That's something no man will experience. And if you have more than one kid, well, it can amount to quite a huge period. Other than that, you're right, no real difference!

50 Most Influential Women Bloggers

NorthxEast has just published a list of the 50 most influential women in the Blogosphere. I have to admit I've only heard of 10 or 15 of them, but I am surely going to check them out and see if any of them are worth keeping an eye on.

I hope you also join me in this endeavor to know our fellow women bloggers and see who's actually worthy of the"most influential" list. Do you know of similar lists published on different sites?

How to Express an Opinion without Offending Anyone

I believe most issues we link to sex-based discrimination emerge from one major cause: when people think, write, speak, no matter what the subject really is, they do not leave room for exceptions. And believe me, there are dozens of exceptions.

So getting it right, preserving your right to have and express an opinion freely without having it twisted into a sexist remark or some other form of rudeness or discrimination. Remember there's always an exception! Think of English or French and you'll get a feeling of how simple the rules are and how many exceptions contradict them.

So don't say women do or want or think or act like. Say some women or go ahead, take a risk and say most women. In some cases, you might getaway with it. This goes both ways. Women should really stop thinking in terms of "men" as a compact crowd, all making the same choices and mistakes.

It's easy, I'm sure you can see it now. And as one of the rules of cruel humor says, it is all so hard to implement because it seems so easy! Can you try to assimilate this simple rule in your day to day life? I Know I'll try :)

Should there Be More Women in IT?

I've recently took part in a series of IT industry events organized in the US. My biggest surprise was to notice women are a minority to all these events. I don't know why exactly, but thinking about it, this is also true at work.

There are quite a few women at AXIGEN, but still, less then men. None in tech support, none in software development. Some work as testers, quite a few in marketing, sales and HR. And I have to wonder, why is that?

Thinking back to IT and computing universities, the numbers are the same. A lot less girls than boys. Is it because the field is not attractive for women? Is it because they don't like to have to prove themselves to the alpha males? Which is it, really?

I know from my own experiences that men in IT sometimes have troubling reactions. Some look down on you, as if you had no idea what you were talking about. Some are actually surprised when you know quite a few of the techie toys they play with. Some look in disbelief when you want to learn something more technical.

Of course, on the other side, there are those taking you as you are, regardless of any differences of any kind.

Which do you think are the reasons for us women to be such a minority in this field? Would more of us make a difference and if yes, in what way?

Goldman to Invest $100 Million to Teach Women about Business

One of the world's largest investment banks, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the world's largest investment bank, has recently announced they intent to spend $100 million into the education of 10,000 women from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The funds will be used to develop the business and management skills of women from these regions.

The learning sessions will be developed with major universities from the US and other countries and it will and will last from 5 weeks to nine months, reports CNN Money.

Goldman Sachs Chairman and Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein said those recruited into the program will learn basic business principals such as marketing and funding their business ideas. The hope is that they return to their communities, put what they learned to use, and add to their local economies.

"For example, Africa has about 2,600 women business students in a 900 million person continent. ... That's a waste," Blankfein told The Associated Press. "Helping women get a business education is an issue getting riper and riper, and there's a feeling it is long overdue."

A study by the World Bank showed about 70,000 highly qualified African scholars and experts leave their home countries each year to work abroad, most relocating to more developed countries. Africa then spends about $4 billion a year to recruit expatriates to fill those positions.

How Do Women See Site Usability

I have recently attended a Digital Marketing conference. During one of the debates, someone raised the question about women's online preferences. The basic idea they've drawn, is that unlike men, women aren't that keen on simple sites. They like to discover them, they like them to be beautifully designed and get them to look into them for a while before figuring everything out.

I was a bit dazzled by these affirmations, to be honest. Maybe is the way I am, or my line of business that requires a lot or searching, a lot of contacts to be found and a lot of reading. But I like things clear and simple. I do love exquisite designs, but if this means I don't find what I need fast enough, it becomes a big no-no.

Yes, I love sites that keep me coming back. Rich and meaningful content, frequent updates, great product description and ease of online purchasing, this is what I look online. But if a site tricky and while searching for an item I forget where I started, it gets really annoying.

How about you, girls, what do you think site usability is all about? How important is it to all of you? Is complicated, twisted and challenging something you find appealing in a website? And if there are women who do, why is that? And do you look for it in all circumstances or do you act differently when you're working or in a hurry to find something?

Why Do Women Wear Gold Jewelry?

For Romanian so-called clothing/perfume/jewelry designer and vendor Janine ex-Sarbu, this question has a simple answer: women wear such jewelry to show their man's power!!! No kidding! I heard that in a radio ad. This is the idea she employs to promote her new diamond and gold jewelry line, Janine Joyeaux.

Oh, and in case you did not know, this power Janine is talking about also shows how her husband is tender and loving and whatever else he is... Never mind her own pleasure or taste in jewelry or her personality or getting gold jewels from someone else. It's all about men and their power.

Janine, who ever manages your campaign for the jewelry line should be fired. I could always do a better job...

Intelligent You Say?

I got this on my email, in a list of adds tagged ad (very) intelligent. I'd say funny at most. Does this look intelligent to you? Does it annoy you to see this stupid image of a woman being angry on another one because of her bigger breasts? I'll stick to my Canon for now and am not planning to ever buy a Nikon.

If you are a man reading this blog, does this make you want to buy the product?

Who Are the Women Who Rule the World?

Feel like getting to know powerful women in the world? Then Forbes has the right answer for you. A list of the most powerful women in the world. I've only got to see the first 30, but it all seems quite interesting. Enjoy reading.

Are These the Only Visible Things Women Do?

This was supposed to be funny. I find it offensive to be honest. So, we never meet any of our friends, we only spend time on the phone. We never go out, see a movie, read a book or anything like that. And of course, all women in this universe are housewives. And have no children, cause I see not picking them from school or going to see the teacher.
Oh, and this women - clock is so accurate, it completely overlooks another cliche: the enormous amount of time women spend shopping. Anyway, it did get me a bit pissed off.

Should Aunt Irma Stop Visiting?

I thought of bringing a story published by New York Times to your attention. First, here are some (quite a few) excerpts from the article:

For many women, a birth control pill that eliminates monthly menstruation might seem a welcome milestone.

But others view their periods as fundamental symbols of fertility and health, researchers have found. Rather than loathing their periods, women evidently carry on complex love-hate relationships with them.

The Food and Drug Administration agency is expected to approve the first contraceptive pill that is designed to eliminate periods as long as a woman takes it.

The drug’s maker, Wyeth, said yesterday that it was expecting F.D.A. approval in May, but has declined to discuss its marketing plans.

The company’s research shows that nearly two-thirds of women it surveyed expressed an interest in giving up their periods. That dovetails with the findings of similar research conducted by Linda C. Andrist, a professor at MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston.

“We don’t want to confront our bodily functions anymore,” Ms. Andrist said. “We’re too busy.” Doctors say they know of no medical reason women taking birth control pills need to have a period. The monthly bleeding that women on pills experience is not a real period, in fact.

Ms. Chesler, who teaches documentary making at the University of California, San Diego, said she became concerned about efforts to eliminate menstruation when she first heard about the idea several years ago.

“Women are not sick,” she said. “They don’t need to control their periods for 30 or 40 years.”

Eliminating menstruation is not a completely new concept. Women who take any kind of oral contraceptive do not have real periods.

Menstrual suppression may be particularly appealing to women who suffer severe pain, heavy bleeding or emotional problems during their periods. A study by Canadian researchers found that women afflicted by heavy menstrual bleeding give up $1,692 a year in lost wages.

Views about menstruation have long been mixed. Some cultures have banished menstruating women to huts or required special baths after periods. Others believed that menstruating women had special powers.

Wyeth's therapeutic director for women’s health, Dr. Ginger D. Constantine, cited company-financed research indicating that women often feel less effective at work and school during their periods. They limit sexual activity and exercise, wear dark clothes and stay home more, resulting in absenteeism, she said.

I must say I have no idea what I would choose, given the option. To be honest, before having it, I went crazy waiting for my period. Other girls around me were already talking about this issue and I felt left out and such a child. I would now said I was way too ignorant of the matter. I got it, I was happy, for about two months. Then I faced the real problems of it: impossible timing, extra care needed, all the ill-feeling sometimes associated with it. I do not have an actual PMS. But I do feel fat and ugly while it lasts.

Now I have to think of complete freedom. If using normal pills leaves me with a fake period, why keep it? Is that what makes me feel like a woman? Far from it... I think I would be more inclined to say yes to such an option, after monitoring the issue for a while (a year or so would be enough to see if any health issues arise).

What would you do in this case?

Different perspectives

Have you noticed that when saying something really naughty, almost dirty, a boy and a girl are looked at differently? If a few girls are walking and making comments (not always innocent) on boys they see, they are always regarded as evil doers, unlike boys doing the very same.

Why is that? We can all have such playful, hunter feelings. No one imagines women are blind, deaf and always obsessing on one man alone. As long as they don't say it, it is all very appropriate. Thinking it does not matter, just keep it to yourself. That is so wrong though.

As far as I can tell, being in love, in a relationship, and committed to your feelings and your relationship does not mean you will never have opinions on the opposite sex. It does not mean anyone else is purely non-attractive to you. It only means you are genuinely not interested. You make a choice (you commit to a person) and stick with that choice.

And if you are not in a relationship, not seeing someone and definitely looking, well than you have the same opinions on the opposite sex. A man would seem attractive or not in both circumstances, only that you may choose to take an interest. Or not. For your own reasons.

If when seeing someone you smile and you have that "I am definitely into you" look and also dare to say something about it to your friends and you also happen to be in a public place, you'd better not be a woman! Cause people will definitely look down on you! If you only think it, that's just ok!

If you feel like going a little over the line when talking to your friends, then again, make sure you are behind closed doors or that you are a man. Otherwise, you can have results ranging from people in complete shock, not being able to continue whatever they were previously doing, to serious accidents. And the look, the "You are so going to burn in hell look", well, I just love that!

So here is how I see it: there should not be any difference in judging what people (as in men and women alike) are thinking and saying. It is just the same. Keeping it to yourself or to close friends will not make you better. The difference is between thinking of something and doing it. That's all!

Fun for the Girls

Enjoy!

Is the Eternal Feminine at Bay?

Yesterday I came across another online magazine for women. I browsed to it, as I usually do with such magazines, and then I never return. Unless I am really bored and there is nothing else to do.

Their attitude does annoy me. Even if they are aimed at career women, the attitude is a bit wrong. They still promote diets. None focuses more on careers, on experiences, on real accounts on everything. They still all make a purpose of discovering what’s behind the masculine mind. Well I don’t care about that when reading such a magazine. I want to read about women. How they handle stuff. Not a psychologist’s opinion on how men think.

Anyway, back to the respective magazine. I loved the slogan: for women who successfully combine their career and family life. Great! I need some advice on that. Then I saw the sections. Career is fourth, after Home, Family and Beauty??? And the square in front of it has the ugliest, least attractive colors of all: a gray of some sort.

Then I read this article in the Lifestyle section. About successful business women in a man’s world. OK, enough of that. I am tired of people talking about how women become more and more like men when they handle important affairs. How the eternal feminine might be lost on the way to prove their independence, their leadership abilities etc.

Just because women want to do what men do does not mean they won’t bring in their own style. Yes, they might experience lack of time and everything, but as Cris said at a certain point, they still have similar issues when it comes to relationships and life in general. They won’t turn into copies of men in their field. Not all of them anyway. Some might!

So maybe a HowTo on how to stay a woman when doing a man’s job? That would be an interesting subject for me. Or maybe an extensive article about day care (or the lack of it) in Romanian companies? Or more statistics or employed women vs housewives. Or women’s salaries vs men’s salaries. Or Queen Bees in Romania. Do they exist? Single women and single mothers. How to handle all life’s responsibility on your own when clearly the stay at home option is not available? Maybe we should focus on that more and less on pathological fights within a relationship.

Tags: Women, Career Women, Family, Lifestyle, Garbo, Women's Magazines, Journalism

Women- powerful or not?

Today I read many silly articles for women, you know the kind: advice for your relationship, how to meet the perfect man, how to have passionate sex and so on. I know some impressive career women who despite their position, financial status, power, when they meet a man they like, they lose their mind and emotions go wild. From this moment on they become like any other women, maybe even more emotional and needy. They start having some serious security issues. They need their men to hold them, rub them and tell them how special they are for providing them moral, mental and emotional support.

Read more on Visiosphere's "Women- powerful or not?"