The Independent Woman and the Metrosexual ManWritten by Advice Diva
A lot of people are starting to wonder why dating in big city has suddenly become such a perplexing and complicated experience. And when, exactly, did this happen? The dating scene has always been a little troublesome for some people and could even feel like more of a chore than what should be a fun time. But lately single jungle of Houston and other large cities are changing and evolving into more complex designs of mass confusion. We seem to be moving faster and faster into complete chaos rather than assimilating into well preserved roles that our mothers and fathers laid out for us. Gender roles are changing and this is basic concept that is generally holding many of us back from entering successful relationships. More and more people are remaining single for longer periods of time. Part of this is because we are finding it difficult to accept and understand new gender roles of our mates, even if we, ourselves, are holding to those new standards. The roles of women have gone through most dramatic changes. They have changed more in last two generations than in last two millenniums. Due to mass media, urbanization and politics, women have achieved equality to men in education and workplace and everywhere else you look. And thanks to sexual revolution, we have freed our minds. Women are now able to support themselves and raise their own children without help of a man, thus escaping traditional role of “mother” and “wife”. Our new found independence is something we fear giving back. The independent woman does not want to be controlled or told what to do. She will never again be docile little lamb once sought after for marrying purposes. This change in lives of women in large cities has led to a second major change, this one in men. Men have moved from being gruff, rugged males to becoming “metrosexual” (a term coined by gay journalist Mark Simpson). Men have started to take over some of duties that women had always controlled. There are women working alongside these men in office. And thanks to sexually homogenous advertising, meterosexual has been created. This new male breed has matching ensembles for every occasion, never has a bad hair day, loves manicures and smells like roses. He has no problem shopping, attending opera and buying new shoes. The metrosexual is completely in touch with his feminine side but there is just one thing: he is straight.
| | Overwhelmed and Overworked: The Myth of American ProductivityWritten by Virginia Bola, PsyD
Employment finally seemed back on track during first few months of 2004. Politicians crowed that "Our tax cuts are working." Then, without warning, job growth slowed to a crawl, resulting in a deficit of more than 2 million jobs from that confidently predicted only a year ago. To counteract that dismal performance, public emphasis turned to another indicator, productivity. The reported increases in American productivity are quite genuine. Individual worker output collectively rose, from 2000 to 2003, by a full 12 percent. Definitely a bonus for Wall Street - but what about Main Street?As meticulous research of Economic Policy Institute shows (Snapshot, 09/08/04), real family income fell, over same period, by 3 percent. Contrast this with economic period of 1947 - 1973 when productivity and real family income moved in tandem, both doubling over those years. What does this suggest? Americans are working harder and longer for less family income. As companies downsize or fail to replace workers who leave or retire, fewer staff are left to handle workload. In fear of losing their own jobs, they respond by accepting new duties and new responsibilities and added work time that accompanies them. In a world where employees are tethered to their workplaces virtually around clock, by laptops, cell phones, and blackberries, traditional balance of home and work has crumbled. There is a tendency to believe that such pressures are only operative for ambitious, career-obsessed, "Apprentice"-like, ladder climbers. In fact, sixty-hour-plus workweek affects a substantial portion of all salaried workers, even down to front line supervisory staff.
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