My Meeting with WuDunn and Kristof

I was nervous walking into the restaurant, knowing that I was about to meet with the most cultured scholars in the country. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn ran in the door about ten minutes late hand in hand. I can see not only the love between the spouses but the respect as well. I stand up and firmly shake both of their hands- not knowing which partner "wears the pants" in the relationship.

Before I can even ask them a question about their book, Kristof and WuDunn thank me for showing interest in this monumental issue.  They go on to explain that this is the largest humanitarian rift of our time and that I should be proud to want to make a difference. When asking Nicholas Kristof what made him hop on board with the novel (being a man and all) he responds by saying, "I would never forgive myself if I didn't join my wife in helping bring awareness." With a twinkle in her eye, WuDunn responded,"you don't have to be a woman to connect with this population, you just have to have a heart."

I must admit that I am very intimidated speaking with the couple- having both been Pulitzer Prize winners- but they are more than willing to talk to me. It seems as though they are trying to teach me. After hearing what feels like fifteen stories of different oppressed women, the waitress brings the check. I thank the couple again and twiddle my fingers debating my first step in making a contribution.

Online Dating - Wray Herbert

Since Valentine's Day just passed, I loved reading Wray Herbert's blog titled "Likes Long Walks in the Woods on Autumn Days." The post talks about the validity of online dating. Can math and science really be used to find us life partners? "Five psychological scientists at five universities spent a year distilling and analyzing more than 400 scientific studies related to dating and romance and marriage, to determine what traits are measurable and valuable in successful matchmaking. " Romantic right? Not so much. If two people have similar character traits or life goals, this doesn't guarantee lifelong happiness. Two people must act with each other in a successful way in order to have any sustainable relationship. Love is something that we will never be able to find a definition for, regardless of how hard we try. 

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/were-only-human/likes-long-walks-in-the-woods-on-autumn-days.html

Half the Sky Introduction Paragraph - Before Revisions

Catherine Glass

            In their book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, couple Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn write, “More girls were killed in the last 50 years, precisely because they were girls, than men killed in all the wars in the 20th century. More girls are killed in this routine gendercide in any one decade than people were slaughtered in all the genocides of the 20th century.” This loaded statement has brought a lot of attention to the oppression of women and the book has started a movement of change. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn won the Pulitzer Prize in 1989 for writing about the protests of Tiananmen Square. Both are public intellectuals who write about economic and social issues. Nicholas Kristof is an Op-Ed writer focusing on societal injustices. Sheryl Wudunn writes about female entrepreneurs and was a journalist for the New York Times. In 2009, the spouses wrote a book exposing the cruelty of women in under developed countries. They found that women tend to be harder working in education, business, and nutrition. Kristof and WuDunn concluded that, if we work towards helping these women, not only will their lives improve, but also our economy will sky rocket. The anecdotal way of writing conveys emotion and intensity while the facts prove the world’s ignorance in women’s potential. Renowned author Anne Rice commented, “Half the Sky can and should galvanize support for reform on all levels. Inspiring as it is shocking, this book demands to be read.” Kristof and WuDunn didn’t just write a book, they began a movement.

Sheryl WuDunn - Half the Sky

Although I'm in the beginning stages of WuDunn's Half the Sky, I am passionate about its message. The oppression of women is a critical issue in the world today and does not get enough care or attention. Women are getting raped, beaten, and under educated. The author not only addresses these issues in her book, but she speaks about the potential that the female population has. Women are a critical source of income and production. By taking advantage of the population and not seeing this potential, a critical issue is not being addressed properly and the economy is suffering. Half the Sky uses individual cases to get an important point out into the public. Oppressed women who are given the chance to succeed seem to always deliver. This is a pattern that WuDunn and her husband have noticed. They have made it their mission to get the message out there and many people have joined the movement.

Whitney Houston

This week I felt it appropriate to comment on the passing of Whitney Houston. Last night, the Grammy's continuously payed tribute to the artist. Jennifer Hudson sang a beautiful rendition of Houston's "And I Will Always Love You." Houston was one of the greats. She made a mark on the industry as well as on a lot of people. Her gentle beauty and powerful voice made her a woman to be reckoned with. Whitney Houston was also a great actress. All around, she was born to entertain. Personally, I loved the singer's music. Her CD's would always be playing from my sister's room and her voice remains in my childhood memories.

Towards the end of her life, Whitney became involved in drugs. I am not sure how she ultimately passed, but I am assuming that drugs played a part. This life ate the artist up. She lost tons of weight and seemed to disappear from the music world. The singer let fame's toxins get the best of her and ultimately, beat her. Still, Whitney Houston will go down in history as an irreplaceable entertainer.

Woman In the Workforce - OpEd Continue

Personally, I was offended by John Stossel's comments on woman in the workforce. While men are able to have as many babies as they want while remaining a CEO of a job, women are not afforded this luxury. It biologically does not work that way. By saying that woman should not get a paid maternity leave regresses back to a time where women were only accepted in certain situations. Women are a strong part of this society. They already generally get paid less than men. To take it further and not give them paid time off to have a baby forces women to choose between a career and a family.

My opinion is a popular one. Stossel received hate mail for his article. We must move forward and give women as much responsibility as they want. Not punish them for having children. This will discourage women from working. Also, it will leave single mother's in the dust. If a women gets pregnant and the father leaves her, how is she supposed to support her family? This article was ignorant in my view. On the other hand, the liberal article was inspiring. I believe that if you treat your employees well, including pregnant women, not only will you have less law suits but you will have a more productive company.

People Watching at Firehouse

This past weekend I was at Firehouse Deli in Fairfield and this is who I saw....

Person #1: She's a small woman, about 5'1, with a short blonde bob and very put together. She is wearing a Burberry jacket and designer flats, telling her equally put together son to go get himself a drink. She seems not happy nor sad, simply going about her business and being a woman in Fairfield county. I wonder if she is being true to herself or trying to fit in with the stigma of people living in that town.

Person #2: He is wearing a Fairfield University sweatshirt and Polo hat. This guy seems like he is in his early twenties and he isn't trying too hard to hide the fact that he is hungover. Chugging a power aid while his friends talk to him, seeming as though he is pretty confident in himself. Maybe he is the ring leader of his group of friends? Maybe he is just too tired that I misread his "cool factor?" Regardless, this guy seems to fit in with the typical college student on a Sunday morning.

Person #3: He is frantically taking orders behind the counter, seeming as though his body is moving without his mind being present. Granted, the deli is packed and he needs to get his job done quickly seeing that the manager is right behind him. With his uniform covered in the remains of sandwich condiments, this guy takes his hat and puts it backwards, takes a deep breath, and gets down to business. He seems focused and ready to work.

Person #4: He seems like he's not comfortable. He is hispanic and filling up with salad bar with fresh lettuce and tomatos. He seems almost sad, politely excusing himself when in the way of customers. I wonder where his family is. Is he here alone and his family is in a different country? Or, is he using this job to feed his wife and children? Does he have a wife and children? The "bus boy" of Firehouse Deli intrigues me and I find myself wanting to know more about his life.

Person #5: He is wearing a suit and tie, with his Mercedes outside, and cuts the line. The deli already knows the man's order and he is in and out of there within five minutes. His gaze is straight the entire time and he seems extremely professional. I am a little intimidated by him, wondering what he does for a living.

Op.Ed Women In the Workforce

Town Hall - Conservative Side

           
NY Times - Liberal Side

            In these economic times, what should happen about working women and maternity leave? Should females get paid even though they’re not working? Or, should they be put on unpaid leave or let go since they can’t perform? The female population clearly has a lot to offer, however they are the same population that gives birth. Op. Ed. journalists conservative John Stossel and liberal Dina Bakst offer opposing views about this issue.

            John Stossel, writer for Town Hall, commented that all of the lawsuits due to women in the workforce are unnecessary and ironically, harmful to women workers. Stossel very smartly interviewed a mother who doesn’t believe in pregnancy lawsuits yet claims to be a feminist (she is vice president of the Independent Women’s Forum). By interviewing this woman, the journalist was able to write from an empathetic angle, portraying that even working mothers don’t agree with The Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Stossel used a guileful approach. He found an interviewee who believes that women should not be compensated when it is time to have a baby.  This interviewee, to the conservative’s benefit, is a working mother. The Town Hall writer hit the jackpot by finding a working female that agrees with this, helping to widen his audience to more than just wealthy white men sitting in their office chairs. This is because, by laying out the issue as Stossel did, it seems reasonable that we should only be payed for the time we work. If women want to be equal, then shouldn’t they be equal in all aspects? Stossel went even further to say that once Congress starts protecting certain groups (i.e. pregnant women), companies become decreasingly likely to hire these groups. So, when women decide to have children, they should be payed less since they are working less. Throughout the article, the journalist never brought up why a woman should receive no pay for the time off to have a baby, but at the same time, is expected to want a family. Since men do not bear children, they don’t have to quit their jobs in order to start a family. Women are not afforded this luxury. This was a big gap in the Op-Ed’s argument.

            The liberal Dina Bakst held the more popular belief that women are not only being fired unfairly, but are forced to work in unacceptable conditions when pregnant. “In 2008 a federal judge in Brooklyn ruled that a pregnant women’s firing was fair because her employers were not obligated to accommodate her needs.” If a pregnant employee cannot lift something heavy or has to leave work early to make a doctor’s appointment that does not make them disabled, so, employers do not legally have to provide accommodations for women. Democratic legislation has introduced a bill to provide better conditions for pregnant women. Bakst maintained that these types of laws are necessary to public health. Since many women are reluctant to ask for these accommodations due to fear of loosing their job, it is important to protect these employees as well as their unborn children. Another insight that the journalist suggested is that, by helping these pregnant women, there will be healthier, more loyal, and harder working employees. Bakst’s argument seemed to be rooted in facts. Women are not getting the accommodations they need, and maybe that is why they are suing so often.

            Both of these Op-Ed articles, while addressing the issue of women in the workforce, use completely different angles to paint their picture. Stossel was being seemingly objective, claiming that there is a simple solution to these rampant lawsuits. We should be paid for the time that we work. On the other side of the spectrum, Bakst’s solution was to give women more benefits. This way, with a happier employee, there will be a happier company. With women becoming increasingly more powerful, the liberal aspect of this argument is clearly the more popular one. John Stossel received hate mail for preaching his conservative angle. The question to be drawn from these articles is how should the government handle compensation for women in the workforce? Stossel was assuming that men and women have equal rights, and therefore should receive equal consequences when time must be taken off. What he was insinuating is that men and women are the same. I think it is blatantly obvious that men and women are different, although equal, different. Since women must perform the act of having a baby, it is popular belief that women should be given the right to a paid maternity leave. Stossel completely looked over this point. Bakst is assuming that women are constantly battling the choice of whether or not they should have a baby or a job. In today’s society, many mothers are on their own or are even the source of income in their family. Bakst didn’t have to work too hard to prove her point. In order to strengthen her argument however, the journalist should have taken note of all the lawsuits and used it as a way to tell her readers that women are fighting back.

            I found it compelling to read two articles with completely contradictory viewpoints. I feel as though I had a more well rounded outlook on the issue. Reading different opinions allows for a more objective and thorough understanding of the problems going on in our society.

A Look Into Sheryl WuDunn

Sheryl WuDunn is a public intellect that works closely with her husband, Nicholas Kristof, pondering issues such as alternative energy and women entrepreneurs. WuDunn has worked with Goldman Sachs and was a journalist for The New York Times. What I am interested in is Sheryl WuDunn's mission to liberate women as a way to help better the world. I have posted a link to one of her articles, the website to her book, Half the Sky, and a video link of her appearing on the very funny Colbert report.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/magazine/23Women-t.html?ref=sherylwudunn


The Women's Crusade
WuDunn talks about how in this century capable and intelligent women are facing brutality (i.e. sex trafficking, rape). These women, and all women, hold the key to a better economic and political system in this world. The countries where females are experiencing brutality are the same places that are dealing with poverty and uproar. The journalist states that, "There’s a growing recognition among everyone from the World Bank to the U.S. military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff to aid organizations like CARE that are focusing on women and girls is the most effective way to fight global poverty and extremism." Foreign aid is increasingly going to the female population and people are joining the movement of putting power in women's hands. The author goes on to tell anecdotes about female success stories and facts about what female's are going through. This article served not only as an advertisement for her book Half the Sky, but as a way to get the message out there and encourage people to take notice in the potential of women.


http://www.halftheskymovement.org/


Half the Sky

This link is to the promotional website for Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof's book, Half the Sky. The link has stories, ways to join the movement, and many other resources to help get out the message that women hold "half the sky." This is an Asian aspiration that, with attention to this serious humanitarian issue, we can help women gain the power and respect that they are capable of. Not only does this book and message intrigue me because I am a female, but because I want to join this belief that women need to be put in a higher light. Further, this shameless harm and hurt that is being done to people because of their gender needs to stop. The credentials of Sheryl WuDunn and her husband reassure me that this is an intelligent and thorough way to gain insight into this issue. 

The Colbert Report

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/250398/september-28-2009/sheryl-wudunn

Living In a Material World, Am I A Material Girl?

While most tend to label materialistic people as pretentious and vane, we may all have a little voice telling us to purchase that make-your-day bag or must-have necklace. Although Wray Herbert claims that materialism is correlated to anxiety and poor physical and mental health, he also maintains that most of us can't resist buying certain knick-knacks as a quick fix to self-fulfillment. We live in a culture of consumerism, constantly willing ourselves not to buy the new best gizmo or gadget. For example, how many of us have Ipads? Is an IPad necessary when we have a desktop, MacBook, IPhone, and IPod? Of course not, but we wouldn’t dare not have the set. The simple truth, at least to me, is that on some level we are all materialists. As a culture harping on consumerism, how can you expect us to be socialized any differently?

Wray Herbert’s current post on his blog We’re Only Human is titled, Awakening Your Inner Materialist. As a psychology writer, Herbert unsurprisingly connects the concept of materialism to our society's feelings, thoughts and emotions. He explains an idea from Northwestern. Even those of us at the top of the anti-materialism movement may respond to situational cues. Since materialism is associated with wealth, power, achievement, etc., it is relatively simple to be morphed into a consumerist. To make it even worse, since these values are shallow, dissatisfaction and social disengagement often surface. The following were done to test this theory:

1.   Volunteers were put in a controlled setting and asked to rate the pleasantness of certain images. These images ranged from luxury goods to more neutral images. Then, volunteers were asked to link these images to positive or negative emotions. The experimental group, who was more responsive to materialistic cues, had more negative emotions (i.e. stress, anxiety). Further, these people were also more socially disengaged. Herbert asks us to connect this study to the advertisements and T.V. commercials we see during the holidays. It may offer an explanation as to why negative emotion is often linked to the holiday season.

2.   The other two experiments, which were not explained as thoroughly, insinuate that when we try to find value in extrinsic things, emotions such as competitiveness and self-comparison come about.

All in all, Wray Herbert got me really thinking about how media cues trigger certain emotions within us. Constantly watching television commercials and advertisements about expensive things that we don’t need may inadvertently decrease our confidence and self-worth. This vicious cycle will never end, furthering the message that, if we can’t find an intrinsic moral code, the world will be a pretty tough place to face.

Here's Herbert's Blog: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/were-only-human/awakening-your-inner-materialist.html

Enjoy!