But Daddy has to look for a job

According to an article in the New York Times, women's jobs may be more secure in this financial crisis. But there is a striking difference between how an unemployed woman spends her hours and how an unemployed man spends his hours.

"When women are unemployed and looking for a job, the time they spend daily taking care of children nearly doubles. Unemployed men’s child care duties, by contrast, are virtually identical to those of their working counterparts, and they instead spend more time sleeping, watching TV and looking for a job, along with other domestic activities."

Just another case of the 2nd Shift...

Here Comes the Botox!

Like the $40 billion wedding industry wasn't ridiculous (or patriarchial) enough, now bridesmaids may feel press to alter their bodies for someone else's big day. A NYT's article, "It's Botox for You, Bridesmaid," describes the trend for bridal parties to get group makeovers that may include a chemical peel, botox or breast implants.

"Becky Lee, 39, a Manhattan photographer, declined when a friend asked her — and five other attendants — to have their breasts enhanced. “We’re all Asian and didn’t have a whole lot of cleavage, and she found a doctor in L.A. who was willing to do four for the price of two,” said Ms. Lee, who wore a push-up bra instead."

Brides out there: it's okay to make us wear horrible dresses, we are fine standing through a long cermony but please don't ask us to change our bodies.

One benefit of being a woman

We live longer!

U.S. News and World Report listed 7 Reasons Men Die First.

Who is the enemy?

Women serving in the miltary face discrimination on the battleground and off.

A recently published study found that "The review of the quality of care at VA facilities, which was mandated by Congress, found that at about one-third of its facilities, the quality of outpatient care given to women wasn't as good as what was offered to men."

Last month a New York Times Op-Ed, reported that "Women make up some 15 percent of the United States active duty forces, and 11 percent of the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly a third of female veterans say they were sexually assaulted or raped while in the military, and 71 percent to 90 percent say they were sexually harassed by the men with whom they served."

How things remain the same

The New York Times Magazine article, "When Mom and Dad Share It All," reports that household chore ratio between husband and wife has essentially not changed that much in 90 years.

"The most recent figures from the University of Wisconsin’s National Survey of Families and Households show that the average wife does 31 hours of housework a week while the average husband does 14 — a ratio of slightly more than two to one."

And if you think that's bad. The ratio of childcare responbislities is worse:

"Where the housework ratio is two to one, the wife-to-husband ratio for child care in the United States is close to five to one."

Shock Value or Retail Value?

Rape. Sometimes saying that word itself is shocking. But Jennifer Baumgardner is trying to prove that saying, "I've been raped," through t-shirts is even more shocking.

I haven't had decided if I'm buying a shirt, yet. But I'm glad people are talking.

Progress!

More Common Than You Think

One of the most insightful articles I have ever read about abortion