This is your Minister of Defense signing on from Queen Creek Arizona. In this article I will give you my thoughts on two of the most popular self defense products, pepper spray and the key chain kubotan. I get many questions as to which product is best or which one I suggest. I thought it best to share my thoughts here so you can share with your friends and family.
The pepper sprays. The benefit to having this sleek looking inexpensive product is that it can be used at a distance. This is important for those who have moved past the days of having something to prove and now choose to do things without as much effort. If you are into keyring type pepper sprays, there are many styles, colors and sizes to choose from (see link below). They also work well on animals, for those living close to the mountains. The drawback is in a windy environment, you do stand a chance of "tasting your own medicine." Note that the chemical within these products are designed to inflame bodily tissue and cause chocking so being aware of your surroundings is a must.
Moving right along, let us cover the kubatons. These are for those that do not mind getting a little close and personal, because there is no spray involved that will afford you distance like the pepper sprays. If you want to cause maximum pain without expending much effort, then I suggest the "Ninja Style" kubotan. It boils down to personal preference. The applications for this product are many but here is the bottom line. With a little knowledge on how to use this, you can turn yourself into an inconvenient target, which is your primary objective in self defense. We are here to help.
So which one is better, you may ask? That depends on what you feel will work best for your particular situation. The drawback with the kubotan is, you will not have as much distance between yourself and your attacker. However, used the right way, you will be able to create the distance you need to get away. Here is an idea, why not have both? For the price, these are two of the best products of protection to have for under $20
I hope this was helpful, as you can never have too much information when it comes to self protection and the protection of your loved ones. This is your Minister of Defense. Thanks for reading.
As a decorated 10 year US Air Force veteran with training from all around the world in Jiujitsu, I want to help. I have taken all my years of training and distilled only what really works and created a system of simple yet effective techniques that anyone can learn. My passion is to help men, women and children learn these simple techniques, thereby making you more prepared if an attack should occur.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Ideal Indian Women - Then And Now
Who exactly is the Indian woman? Is she the sari-clad, tradition-embracing and culture-steeped stereotype featuring in most 'K-serials' or the booty-shaking, skimpily clad glamour doll heroine of the modern Indian cinema?
As Bollywood toys with the identity of the modern Indian woman, there seems to be a radical shift in the social and cultural context too. Courtesy Bollywood, the average urban Indian is more tolerant towards conversations involving sex, homosexuality, sex education and the likes. The image of the perfect Indian woman too has transformed. Here are a few observations.
Back Then:
1. 'Women from good families' were supposed to be shy, demure and covered from head to toe. Any expression that had the slightest tinge of sexual passion was a strict no-no. And yes, no sex before marriage!
2. Women were ideally supposed to marry the very first man they met or fell in love with and consider themselves doomed if that does not happen for some reason. Suicidal attempts resulting from unrequited love/betrayal were not uncommon.
3. Wet saris and rain dances were the farthest you could go to look sensual or sexy (until Zeenat Aman trotted across the screen in a bikini)
4. If you touched alcohol or tobacco or even hung around with people who did, your reputation was in dire straits.
5. Nice girls were the ones that shunned fashion, partying, clubbing, fast bikes and naughty boys. A simpering, helpless miss was every man's dream.
Now:
1. The limits of modernity are defined by partying, negligible clothes and loud behavior. It is perfectly acceptable (and rather normal) to switch relationships and partners every few months. That's life on the fast track!
2. Pre-marital sex and live-in relationships are as acceptable as the song and dance routines.
3. Conservative clothing is only for wimps, doormats and victims of abuse.
4. Wet saris have given way to thongs, bikinis and what have you (and they are not an exclusive forte of the vamp or the 'other woman').
5. Women have become increasingly independent though it still helps to simper and act helpless every once in a while.
But can skimpy clothes and a footloose lifestyle be counted as sole indicators of women's liberation? Aren't we missing an important point here?
As Bollywood toys with the identity of the modern Indian woman, there seems to be a radical shift in the social and cultural context too. Courtesy Bollywood, the average urban Indian is more tolerant towards conversations involving sex, homosexuality, sex education and the likes. The image of the perfect Indian woman too has transformed. Here are a few observations.
Back Then:
1. 'Women from good families' were supposed to be shy, demure and covered from head to toe. Any expression that had the slightest tinge of sexual passion was a strict no-no. And yes, no sex before marriage!
2. Women were ideally supposed to marry the very first man they met or fell in love with and consider themselves doomed if that does not happen for some reason. Suicidal attempts resulting from unrequited love/betrayal were not uncommon.
3. Wet saris and rain dances were the farthest you could go to look sensual or sexy (until Zeenat Aman trotted across the screen in a bikini)
4. If you touched alcohol or tobacco or even hung around with people who did, your reputation was in dire straits.
5. Nice girls were the ones that shunned fashion, partying, clubbing, fast bikes and naughty boys. A simpering, helpless miss was every man's dream.
Now:
1. The limits of modernity are defined by partying, negligible clothes and loud behavior. It is perfectly acceptable (and rather normal) to switch relationships and partners every few months. That's life on the fast track!
2. Pre-marital sex and live-in relationships are as acceptable as the song and dance routines.
3. Conservative clothing is only for wimps, doormats and victims of abuse.
4. Wet saris have given way to thongs, bikinis and what have you (and they are not an exclusive forte of the vamp or the 'other woman').
5. Women have become increasingly independent though it still helps to simper and act helpless every once in a while.
But can skimpy clothes and a footloose lifestyle be counted as sole indicators of women's liberation? Aren't we missing an important point here?
Evening Dresses For Fashionista Summer Nights
It's the beach during the day but it's strictly romantic evening dresses for summer cocktails and formal dinner dates. But it becomes a challenge to choose the perfect dress from a rack of evening dresses if you want to impress someone or hope someone will see you beyond your beach bum image.
Be a Vision of Loveliness
Summer is always the most romantic time for love to blossom; now you know why your step is lighter when you step out to enjoy a day and countless weekends at the beach. That's fine but it can be bore spending days at the beach. Switch your two-piece to one of those irresistible evening dresses that shows off your curves in a different skin. You might be surprised that men can be doubly charmed when their date is dressed to the nines that show off their feminine curves regally.
Trendy evening dresses for today's younger set can be anything from a tea-length dress or a floor length creation. For cool summer nights, tea-length chic is the perfect choice. It's not too formal yet it gives you the sweet look you want for a summer night date. Your choice of color should reflect the joie de vivre of summer - fruity colors and blues of sky and sea. Wear it with the right accessories and the right hair style; you can surprise everyone with your look - a vision of stylish loveliness.
The floor length evening dress has more dramatic effect. You can choose to be quirky, provocative and whimsical and ooze with feminine charm every turn. The secret is in the details of the dress. Strapless and haltered tops and plunging necklines are eye-popping styles are best for summer evenings for a formal or not too formal function. You bet; you'll be the belle's belle of the ball.
Summer in Your Evening Dresses
The color pink is hot; still you can personalize your style. Go girl for candy colors and see your beauty points zoom up the fashion scale. But don't forget to choose colors that flatter your coloring but take care to choose colors that show well in evening illumination. That's the secret to choosing colors for your fashionista togs. Walk tall with your chin up. Haven't you notice how those glam girls ramp their designer creations?
Show off your assets. If you have it, flaunt it in style. One mistake young misses make is overdoing their flaunting. Cool it. Remind yourself that this is a formal event not a street fest. Choose sheer skirts over tight dresses and pulse-quickening halters, these are more regal looking and with the right frills, you become a picture of summer cool.
There's no stopping you from trying new styles. It might be risky though. Think about it, will your date be impressed with black and brown roses on that chiseled dress? That's a thought. If you are not confident with risqué designs, stick to the predictable styles. Predictable as these evening dresses go, they transform your entirely to a vision of poetic symmetry. Did you hear you date sigh with relief?
To decide which of the evening dresses to add to your summer wardrobe, check out the designer collections from different online fashion shops. You can see for yourself how the dress looks before you order the best one.
Best for Bride - Wedding Dresses and Bridesmaid Dresses
5359 Dundas St. West (at Kipling)
Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9B 1B1
Be a Vision of Loveliness
Summer is always the most romantic time for love to blossom; now you know why your step is lighter when you step out to enjoy a day and countless weekends at the beach. That's fine but it can be bore spending days at the beach. Switch your two-piece to one of those irresistible evening dresses that shows off your curves in a different skin. You might be surprised that men can be doubly charmed when their date is dressed to the nines that show off their feminine curves regally.
Trendy evening dresses for today's younger set can be anything from a tea-length dress or a floor length creation. For cool summer nights, tea-length chic is the perfect choice. It's not too formal yet it gives you the sweet look you want for a summer night date. Your choice of color should reflect the joie de vivre of summer - fruity colors and blues of sky and sea. Wear it with the right accessories and the right hair style; you can surprise everyone with your look - a vision of stylish loveliness.
The floor length evening dress has more dramatic effect. You can choose to be quirky, provocative and whimsical and ooze with feminine charm every turn. The secret is in the details of the dress. Strapless and haltered tops and plunging necklines are eye-popping styles are best for summer evenings for a formal or not too formal function. You bet; you'll be the belle's belle of the ball.
Summer in Your Evening Dresses
The color pink is hot; still you can personalize your style. Go girl for candy colors and see your beauty points zoom up the fashion scale. But don't forget to choose colors that flatter your coloring but take care to choose colors that show well in evening illumination. That's the secret to choosing colors for your fashionista togs. Walk tall with your chin up. Haven't you notice how those glam girls ramp their designer creations?
Show off your assets. If you have it, flaunt it in style. One mistake young misses make is overdoing their flaunting. Cool it. Remind yourself that this is a formal event not a street fest. Choose sheer skirts over tight dresses and pulse-quickening halters, these are more regal looking and with the right frills, you become a picture of summer cool.
There's no stopping you from trying new styles. It might be risky though. Think about it, will your date be impressed with black and brown roses on that chiseled dress? That's a thought. If you are not confident with risqué designs, stick to the predictable styles. Predictable as these evening dresses go, they transform your entirely to a vision of poetic symmetry. Did you hear you date sigh with relief?
To decide which of the evening dresses to add to your summer wardrobe, check out the designer collections from different online fashion shops. You can see for yourself how the dress looks before you order the best one.
Best for Bride - Wedding Dresses and Bridesmaid Dresses
5359 Dundas St. West (at Kipling)
Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9B 1B1
Dare to Get Pretty Hair With These Tips!
If you have ever had the experience of watching a woman getting ready, you would not be shocked to hear that women are actually fussy about their hair cut and hairstyles. Women spend hours in order to make their hair look beautiful and luscious. It is a very common observation that men generally fall for a woman who has pretty hair and who knows how to carry her hair well in different occasions.
There are only a few of us who are blessed with hair that are naturally lustrous and pretty looking. As such, most of us actually require tips and guidelines to maintain beautiful hair in this polluted environment. Women try to follow all the latest trends and do not even miss a single beauty product that they feel can actually make their hair look pretty. As it is commonly said, a woman`s hair is her crowning glory, and believe me this is one statement women take very seriously!!
The most effective way of keeping your hair healthy is regular washing and conditioning. It is important to maintain the moisture of the hair and for that women should take up deep conditioning of hair at least once a week. Women should generally prefer conditioning and cleansing products that are suitable for their own hair. For example, women with dry and frizzy hair should use a heat-activated or thermal conditioning treatment for most effective results. A conditioner containing keratin is also recommended for all types of hair.
Another vital requirement is to keep the hair away from heat and chemicals as much as possible. The hot tools should be strictly avoided as they play a major role in damaging the hair. However, if there is a need to use a curling iron or a flat iron, it is always preferable to use it on a recently conditioned hair in order to minimize all the damaging effects. Chemical relaxers and harsh dyes are also to be avoided as they turn the hair frizzy and uncontrollable.
It is always advisable to keep the hairline smooth and healthy. This helps to retain the moisture in the hair and prevents the hair from looking burnt. Hence. The best option is to wrap the hair in a scarf each night, which can keep your hairstyle in shape while you sleep. Silk and satin scarfs are the most sought after ones as they reduce the breakage to a large extent and do not pull each strand as you sleep. However, it is preferable to use a conditioning serum (your hair type) on the hair ends and comb the hair properly putting it in a wrap.
Like the front page of a newspaper is the loud evidence of its fame and popularity, similarly hair of a woman speaks volume of her beauty and boldness. It is believed that a woman`s glory is in her hair and so many cultures have even made it mandatory for women to keep their hair hidden. Hair is important to a woman because it defines her appearance and it is a proven fact that your looks play a very important role in boosting your self-confidence and self respect.
While taking care of the hair, there are also certain myths that need to be avoided. For instance, daily shampooing of the hair will never make the hair dry, as is the general myth. Similarly the trimming of the hair will not lead to a faster hair growth and brushing of hair would not lead to much hair loss. All such myths are nothing but wastage of time and hence require to be ignored.
There are only a few of us who are blessed with hair that are naturally lustrous and pretty looking. As such, most of us actually require tips and guidelines to maintain beautiful hair in this polluted environment. Women try to follow all the latest trends and do not even miss a single beauty product that they feel can actually make their hair look pretty. As it is commonly said, a woman`s hair is her crowning glory, and believe me this is one statement women take very seriously!!
The most effective way of keeping your hair healthy is regular washing and conditioning. It is important to maintain the moisture of the hair and for that women should take up deep conditioning of hair at least once a week. Women should generally prefer conditioning and cleansing products that are suitable for their own hair. For example, women with dry and frizzy hair should use a heat-activated or thermal conditioning treatment for most effective results. A conditioner containing keratin is also recommended for all types of hair.
Another vital requirement is to keep the hair away from heat and chemicals as much as possible. The hot tools should be strictly avoided as they play a major role in damaging the hair. However, if there is a need to use a curling iron or a flat iron, it is always preferable to use it on a recently conditioned hair in order to minimize all the damaging effects. Chemical relaxers and harsh dyes are also to be avoided as they turn the hair frizzy and uncontrollable.
It is always advisable to keep the hairline smooth and healthy. This helps to retain the moisture in the hair and prevents the hair from looking burnt. Hence. The best option is to wrap the hair in a scarf each night, which can keep your hairstyle in shape while you sleep. Silk and satin scarfs are the most sought after ones as they reduce the breakage to a large extent and do not pull each strand as you sleep. However, it is preferable to use a conditioning serum (your hair type) on the hair ends and comb the hair properly putting it in a wrap.
Like the front page of a newspaper is the loud evidence of its fame and popularity, similarly hair of a woman speaks volume of her beauty and boldness. It is believed that a woman`s glory is in her hair and so many cultures have even made it mandatory for women to keep their hair hidden. Hair is important to a woman because it defines her appearance and it is a proven fact that your looks play a very important role in boosting your self-confidence and self respect.
While taking care of the hair, there are also certain myths that need to be avoided. For instance, daily shampooing of the hair will never make the hair dry, as is the general myth. Similarly the trimming of the hair will not lead to a faster hair growth and brushing of hair would not lead to much hair loss. All such myths are nothing but wastage of time and hence require to be ignored.
Big Step For Women Business Owners
As we reach the end of October (2009), Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'd like to share a story with you that does not involve one specific woman, but women as a community and an entity.
Last week I was given the opportunity not only to be a speaker at the Women's Business Development Conference & Expo, but to experience the event from participants' point of view as well. I have to say, I was very proud to take part in this event; I was proud to be part of the great effort to advance women in the business world. The women business owners' conference left us with a message to the professional world that women are here and we mean business. The Women's Business Development Center, with the help of Office Depot and other corporations, put together a business expo for women business owners, bringing in a great turnout of professional women.
Between meeting exciting, new people, attending my booth, giving a speech, listening to other amazing speakers and even taking part in business match-making sessions, I could barely take in everything that was out there. But as I stopped to take a deep breath and a mental break, I stumbled across a huge realization: This was one of the greatest "wow" moments of my career. I was absolutely inspired by the large and diverse congregation of independent, strong women and even more amazed by the great support we were receiving from executives and top corporations. It felt good, as a woman, to finally receive recognition for women's collective efforts to make women a part of the foundation of the business world. To think of how much society and popular thought has changed just in my lifetime is a bit unbelievable and yet here I was in a beautiful venue, with the latest and greatest technology and some of the most important corporate figures in South Florida, all brought together with great opportunities to follow up with.
It was no accident that the event took place in October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this month we remind ourselves of the ongoing collective battle women are having against breast cancer. So as the month comes to an end and the pink ribbons begin to disappear off of store shelves and sides of busses, I would like to leave you with a this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Last week I was given the opportunity not only to be a speaker at the Women's Business Development Conference & Expo, but to experience the event from participants' point of view as well. I have to say, I was very proud to take part in this event; I was proud to be part of the great effort to advance women in the business world. The women business owners' conference left us with a message to the professional world that women are here and we mean business. The Women's Business Development Center, with the help of Office Depot and other corporations, put together a business expo for women business owners, bringing in a great turnout of professional women.
Between meeting exciting, new people, attending my booth, giving a speech, listening to other amazing speakers and even taking part in business match-making sessions, I could barely take in everything that was out there. But as I stopped to take a deep breath and a mental break, I stumbled across a huge realization: This was one of the greatest "wow" moments of my career. I was absolutely inspired by the large and diverse congregation of independent, strong women and even more amazed by the great support we were receiving from executives and top corporations. It felt good, as a woman, to finally receive recognition for women's collective efforts to make women a part of the foundation of the business world. To think of how much society and popular thought has changed just in my lifetime is a bit unbelievable and yet here I was in a beautiful venue, with the latest and greatest technology and some of the most important corporate figures in South Florida, all brought together with great opportunities to follow up with.
It was no accident that the event took place in October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this month we remind ourselves of the ongoing collective battle women are having against breast cancer. So as the month comes to an end and the pink ribbons begin to disappear off of store shelves and sides of busses, I would like to leave you with a this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
A Personal Hand Alarm Adds Another Dimension to Self Protection
I remember an unfortunate incident during my college days when I had an encounter with a robber. I was on the bus talking with a friend on my cell phone when a man sat down beside me. "No worries," I said to myself because the man looked well mannered and harmless.
After a few minutes, while threatening me with a knife he quietly demanded my cell phone. Scared to death, I instinctively gave it to him. He made his way off the bus swiftly while I was left in tears.
If I could turn back time, I should have invested in a personal safety alarm to protect me from threats.
A personal hand alarm packs an ear splitting, high pitched, head turning alarm usually in the range from 90db to 130db. With these loud attention drawers you will be assured that anyone in your vicinity will take notice that you are in trouble.
It is a known fact that an aggressor is greatly discouraged to pursue his attacks and frightened with the attention the handy, easy to activate, personal panic security alarm will bring.
Women and children are fortunate nowadays because a personal protection alarm is available at very reasonable prices and model selections throughout the internet.
There are clever key chain alarms with blinking lights, child guard remote monitor kits, and personal carry alarm with a flashlight to help you to see when going to your car.
This type of self defense adds another dimension to you protection plan consider adding one to your key chain, purse or pocket for added attention getting security.
After a few minutes, while threatening me with a knife he quietly demanded my cell phone. Scared to death, I instinctively gave it to him. He made his way off the bus swiftly while I was left in tears.
If I could turn back time, I should have invested in a personal safety alarm to protect me from threats.
A personal hand alarm packs an ear splitting, high pitched, head turning alarm usually in the range from 90db to 130db. With these loud attention drawers you will be assured that anyone in your vicinity will take notice that you are in trouble.
It is a known fact that an aggressor is greatly discouraged to pursue his attacks and frightened with the attention the handy, easy to activate, personal panic security alarm will bring.
Women and children are fortunate nowadays because a personal protection alarm is available at very reasonable prices and model selections throughout the internet.
There are clever key chain alarms with blinking lights, child guard remote monitor kits, and personal carry alarm with a flashlight to help you to see when going to your car.
This type of self defense adds another dimension to you protection plan consider adding one to your key chain, purse or pocket for added attention getting security.
Mace Pepper Gun Should Be Your Next Gal Pal
Gone are the days when women are treated with love and respect. It used to be that you could almost anywhere at night and still be safe. Nowadays, the thought of a woman alone at night is terrifying.
Being a woman is tough; I hate to burst your bubble but that is the way it is. With the countless incidents of sexual assault, rape and abuse in the news every day, how can you ever feel secure?
It is never enough to just pay attention to your surroundings; you need to have a plan to defend yourself. For maximum protection, you need to have a security weapons to defend yourself from harm too.
An excellent addition to your protection arsenal to consider is a Mace pepper spray gun.
Unlike other self defense weapons like a stun gun, kuboatan or knife that require close contact with an attacker, with the Mace pepper gun you can effortlessly deploy a potent Oleoresin Capsicum formula or OC up to 25 feet so you do not need to be near an attacker. For accuracy, a trigger activated, battery operated LED light for precision aim is included.
There are four colors available: pink, silver, sky blue and blue/black.
Additionally you can choose two types of replaceable spray cartridge refills; OC refills and H2O (water) practice refills, each cartridge contains up to seven 25 foot blasts.
In any danger situation, the element of surprise is essential to effectively defend yourself. A surprise plan and to temporarily disorient an aggressor is your two important goals for a successful escape.
Being a woman is tough; I hate to burst your bubble but that is the way it is. With the countless incidents of sexual assault, rape and abuse in the news every day, how can you ever feel secure?
It is never enough to just pay attention to your surroundings; you need to have a plan to defend yourself. For maximum protection, you need to have a security weapons to defend yourself from harm too.
An excellent addition to your protection arsenal to consider is a Mace pepper spray gun.
Unlike other self defense weapons like a stun gun, kuboatan or knife that require close contact with an attacker, with the Mace pepper gun you can effortlessly deploy a potent Oleoresin Capsicum formula or OC up to 25 feet so you do not need to be near an attacker. For accuracy, a trigger activated, battery operated LED light for precision aim is included.
There are four colors available: pink, silver, sky blue and blue/black.
Additionally you can choose two types of replaceable spray cartridge refills; OC refills and H2O (water) practice refills, each cartridge contains up to seven 25 foot blasts.
In any danger situation, the element of surprise is essential to effectively defend yourself. A surprise plan and to temporarily disorient an aggressor is your two important goals for a successful escape.
Kryptonite is Killing Superwoman
Many women today tout being a modern day superwoman. They cook, clean, raise the kids, work and volunteer in their churches and/or communities. This is the 21st Century feminist.
Feminism of the early 19th and 20th centuries espoused the rights of women to have a voice and thus to choose what they wanted to do with their lives: work or get married and have children. Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Charlotte Perkins Gilman weren't necessarily fighting for equality of the sexes, but rather the right of a woman to create her own destiny in a time that determined it for her: the silent, reproductive woman.
The feminism of the mid 20th Century saw a major shift in ideology with the advent of technology. They wanted equality across the board. That meant access to jobs traditionally belonging to men, equal pay for equal work and being sexually free and choosing to not have a family. This Helen Gurley Brown generation supposedly burned their bras as a testament to how strongly they believed the Declaration of Independence was also talking about them when it said all "men" are created equal: men meaning humankind.
It's 2009. Where is feminism now? Did women get their equal rights? According to a 2005 research report by the American Academy of University Women, "women working full time earn about 75 percent of what men working full time earn." Health wise, women still live longer than men, but "Each year about 55,000 more women than men have strokes, and about 60 percent of total stroke deaths occur in women." With regards to corporate America, they say the glass ceiling has finally been broken, yet "Currently, 12 FORTUNE 500 companies are run by women, and a total of 24 FORTUNE 1000 companies have women in the top job." Teen pregnancy rates have been fluctuating over the last 10 years, but the STD rates are higher than ever it seems. In fact, 1 in 4 teen girls has an STD, according to the Center for Disease Control. Finally, the national divorce rate is still at 50% and the number one reason for divorce is...finances. Yet, the dating services industry is a multi-million industry.
Is this the end result of the equality so hard fought over the last 200 plus years? Today, if a woman decides to leave her career and be a stay at home mom, women in her own circle call her "nuts." If she decides to put the kids in daycare and go back to work, many in her circle say she must not love her children, or she's touted as a superwoman...a role model even...until she dies of a stroke.
This seems to be the feminism of the 21st Century: the Superwoman. But in an effort to be the superwoman who has it all and can do it all, women are dying physically, spiritually, emotionally and financially by the minute. Kryptonite - the career, volunteer work, the family - the feminism of today - is killing superwoman. What are we going to do about it? What can we do about it?
Feminism of the early 19th and 20th centuries espoused the rights of women to have a voice and thus to choose what they wanted to do with their lives: work or get married and have children. Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Charlotte Perkins Gilman weren't necessarily fighting for equality of the sexes, but rather the right of a woman to create her own destiny in a time that determined it for her: the silent, reproductive woman.
The feminism of the mid 20th Century saw a major shift in ideology with the advent of technology. They wanted equality across the board. That meant access to jobs traditionally belonging to men, equal pay for equal work and being sexually free and choosing to not have a family. This Helen Gurley Brown generation supposedly burned their bras as a testament to how strongly they believed the Declaration of Independence was also talking about them when it said all "men" are created equal: men meaning humankind.
It's 2009. Where is feminism now? Did women get their equal rights? According to a 2005 research report by the American Academy of University Women, "women working full time earn about 75 percent of what men working full time earn." Health wise, women still live longer than men, but "Each year about 55,000 more women than men have strokes, and about 60 percent of total stroke deaths occur in women." With regards to corporate America, they say the glass ceiling has finally been broken, yet "Currently, 12 FORTUNE 500 companies are run by women, and a total of 24 FORTUNE 1000 companies have women in the top job." Teen pregnancy rates have been fluctuating over the last 10 years, but the STD rates are higher than ever it seems. In fact, 1 in 4 teen girls has an STD, according to the Center for Disease Control. Finally, the national divorce rate is still at 50% and the number one reason for divorce is...finances. Yet, the dating services industry is a multi-million industry.
Is this the end result of the equality so hard fought over the last 200 plus years? Today, if a woman decides to leave her career and be a stay at home mom, women in her own circle call her "nuts." If she decides to put the kids in daycare and go back to work, many in her circle say she must not love her children, or she's touted as a superwoman...a role model even...until she dies of a stroke.
This seems to be the feminism of the 21st Century: the Superwoman. But in an effort to be the superwoman who has it all and can do it all, women are dying physically, spiritually, emotionally and financially by the minute. Kryptonite - the career, volunteer work, the family - the feminism of today - is killing superwoman. What are we going to do about it? What can we do about it?
Estrogen - Hormones Imbalance
Do you sometimes feel that your fatigue is something else, and that the reason for having delayed menstrual periods is something other than the possibility of a pregnancy? Are you worried that not being able to sleep at night is something more than just too much stress? Well, probably, what you're feeling could be due to outside influences (let's never discount that as a possibility), but let's not forget the likelihood of perimenopause. Estrogen and progesterone are main protagonists for what we now know as a hormone imbalance.
Perimenopause is usually caused by an estrogen dominance and a lack of progesterone. The body has an excess of estrogen because both estrogen and progesterone production in the ovaries slow down considerably. In reality, a woman's hormones can be nudged off track by a lot of things - stressful events, vitamin deficiencies and illness. This is the time when the hormones grow quite vulnerable; hence, the rampage of the hormone named estrogen.
There are times when there is a lack of estrogen - this will influence the fluctuations of the periods. It will also cause most of the perimenopausal symptoms known as of press time (aside from the irregularity of the menses) - vaginal dryness and irritation, hot flashes, breast tenderness, hair loss (or hair gain in the most unsightly places), urinary tract problems, etc.
Unfortunately, we can do nothing about preventing our hormones to go off balance. Perimenopause is simply a cycle of life that we, as women, just have to go through. In reality, this stage toughens us up, so that when menopause comes around, we're more than ready for it, and our gracefully aging (ahem!) bodies are prepared to take whatever hormone imbalance there could be.
The best way to counter the ill-effects of estrogen and progesterone imbalance would be first and foremost, to have yourself checked out by your doctor (preferably a gynecologist) or health care provider. He or she would possibly ask you to go through some tests just to rule out any underlying medical conditions (which may be causing the symptoms you're having in the first place).
The next and best step (aside from taking the prescription medication your doctor may give you to alleviate and relieve some of the symptoms) would be to have a change of lifestyle. To sum it all up - eat healthy, quit smoking, eliminate alcohol (if at all possible) and exercise daily. Do this, and you shall be free.
Perimenopause is usually caused by an estrogen dominance and a lack of progesterone. The body has an excess of estrogen because both estrogen and progesterone production in the ovaries slow down considerably. In reality, a woman's hormones can be nudged off track by a lot of things - stressful events, vitamin deficiencies and illness. This is the time when the hormones grow quite vulnerable; hence, the rampage of the hormone named estrogen.
There are times when there is a lack of estrogen - this will influence the fluctuations of the periods. It will also cause most of the perimenopausal symptoms known as of press time (aside from the irregularity of the menses) - vaginal dryness and irritation, hot flashes, breast tenderness, hair loss (or hair gain in the most unsightly places), urinary tract problems, etc.
Unfortunately, we can do nothing about preventing our hormones to go off balance. Perimenopause is simply a cycle of life that we, as women, just have to go through. In reality, this stage toughens us up, so that when menopause comes around, we're more than ready for it, and our gracefully aging (ahem!) bodies are prepared to take whatever hormone imbalance there could be.
The best way to counter the ill-effects of estrogen and progesterone imbalance would be first and foremost, to have yourself checked out by your doctor (preferably a gynecologist) or health care provider. He or she would possibly ask you to go through some tests just to rule out any underlying medical conditions (which may be causing the symptoms you're having in the first place).
The next and best step (aside from taking the prescription medication your doctor may give you to alleviate and relieve some of the symptoms) would be to have a change of lifestyle. To sum it all up - eat healthy, quit smoking, eliminate alcohol (if at all possible) and exercise daily. Do this, and you shall be free.
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