Sunday, July 24, 2011

Women Traveling Together


Women traveling together can be a powerful experience that forms bonds and memories that bridge differences and last a lifetime. According to a Travel Industry of America survey, 72 million U.S. women traveled during the past year. Of those who currently take nature, adventure or cultural trips, 75% are women.

Women spend so much of their time taking care of and worrying about others, that traveling with other women offers a much-needed respite that gives you room to relax, be yourself, and do whatever you want to do.

And most of all, it gives you the opportunity to enjoy adventures all over the globe as you discover new sights, sounds, tastes and experiences. Whether it's browsing for bargains in Paris, learning about your ancestry in the cultural mecca of Rome or relaxing in a blissful spa along a tropical beach you're after, with women's traveling packages, you can do it all with the support and guidance of an experienced travel leader and the companionship of other women travelers.

For women, traveling together offers security, sisterhood, exploration, enrichment and the chance to explore the world with a group of girlfriends. We as women are more than the roles of mother, wife, boss, employee, sister, daughter, grandma, retiree, student or senior, that are used to define us.

Women are powerful, strong, adventurous, free-spirited, joyous, compassionate, alive, changing, dynamic and inspiring, and what better way to celebrate and nurture these qualities than by embarking on a journey together with like-minded women.

Women's traveling groups have become popular in today's world because more women have the ability, funds and independence to join other women with similar interests to explore new places. According to statistics from the travel and tourism industry, women are making 70 percent of travel decisions for their family, for their own getaways, or for people at work.

Until recently, most women were not allowed or able to travel on their own and were instead relegated to planning trips for the whole family, taking into consideration everyone's interests except their own. But now, with women gaining power every day, making more money than ever and feeling pressures from many sides, many are finding a much-needed break by taking girlfriend getaways and leaving their worries behind.

The typical group of women traveling together is as varied as the interests and backgrounds of the world. Some women need a break from homemaking and with their husband's blessings, sign up for a girls-only getaway with old college friends.

Some women are high-level business professionals who sign up for a women's trip on their own and return with many lifelong friends. Some women celebrate their family relationships, choosing to book a travel package with three generations of women. In short, participants of all ages and backgrounds are living it up and enjoying the benefits of women's travel groups.

Part of what makes women's traveling packages so popular is that they can be personalized to cater to each group's interests, offering anything from upscale entertainment to cooking classes to spa services and cultural sightseeing. And with the expertise of a knowledgeable travel agent, women can rest assured knowing they have one less thing on their to-do list, leaving the details and planning to the pros.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." So go ahead, dream a little, and find some peace, pampering and excitement, as your girlfriend getaway takes you to places you'd never thought possible. The office, laundry and children can wait.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1817622

11 Things You Can Do to Attract Women - Learn How to Attract Women Today!


Do you sometimes feel embarrassed or bad because you don't know how to attract women?

Well good news for you is that, it isn't as bad as you may think!

I know how you feel. You feel socially awkward and a bit ashamed to admit to people that you simply are clueless about the topic on how to attract women. I mean, this ranges from not really knowing what to say, or not knowing how to act around her. Heck, this may also come across in the form of not understanding that she doesn't even like you at all to begin with and you simply just don't know why!

Well my friend... you surely are not the only one!

I've been there too.

So have many other guys!

Fact is, there are a lot of men out there like you who have literally no idea.

In fact MILLIONS, I mean literally MILLIONS of Guys who simply suck at attracting women.

But you know what?

It's quite ok to not know how to attract women...

Now why would I come out and say such a thing?

Simple.

How to attract women was never taught in kindergarten.

How to attract women was never taught in pre-school.

How to attract women was never taught in school.

How to attract women was never taught in high school.

How to attract women was never taught in university or college.

How to attract women was... NEVER TAUGHT AT ALL!

So why are us guys expected to really know something when it was never taught to us at all? I mean, it seems like every time you hear about a guy who doesn't know how to attract women, or admitting that he is lacking in this area he is considered somewhat less of a man! It's as if society is expecting guys to know how to game women from the word get go! And if he doesn't, well he is put down!

But what's even worse is... If people find out that the guy is trying to learn how to improve his skills with women he is further put down because it is considered by society to be taboo and shameful that you have to learn how to pickup girls!

But that's just plain wrong!

I mean, seriously, why are men expecting to know something when it was never ever taught to them? That's just as silly as going up to a person on the street and throwing him a bunch of tools and saying "Ok, now here's the tools and there's the material, now go build me a nice house".

I mean, you know as well I do that if something were to be created from that it would not be considered worthy of being a house. This analogy explains the same reason why most men have no idea on how to attract women!

It is only after being rejected, turned down and hung up enough times do most men kind of stumble their way into some sort of method where they think they are able to get women. This is after years of heart break, trial and error learning and receiving other demoralizing experiences. Plus it's not guaranteed to actually get you anywhere. Also, it's only the few lucky ones who are able to somewhat figure out a sort of "method" to all that madness!

I know myself that I had to learn the hard way. It was not until my late teens till I was able to somehow convince a girl to date me. What was worse is - I didn't even like her. In fact, I think I just settled with her, because well frankly, she didn't say no! It was after years of being in that relationship where I didn't have any feelings for her did I realize that I needed to work on my situation with women. That's when I started the soul searching journey and started to learn how to attract women on the internet - just like you guys are doing right now.

There is so much stuff out there on the internet that it is quite confusing. In fact, it is VERY confusing and it took me a long time to figure out what actually works and what doesn't. The good news is, I FOUND SOMETHING THAT WORKS!

YES IT'S FREE TOO!

Well, the basic stuff is... but not the hardcore advanced stuff.

I'll give you a quick summary of the key points that you need to learn in order to know how to attract women:

1. You need to let her know that you are interested in being more than just a friend - I find it interesting that a lot of guys think it's ok to just be friends with a woman first and attempt to seduce her later. I'm afraid that's not the case.

You don't want to be just any friend, you want to be that "special" friend, the one that she thinks in the back of her mind that might be more than just a friend!

2. You need to show her that you have higher social status than her - this is very important. Women are automatically attracted to men who show higher social value. For example, they like rockstars and rich men because these guys are perceived to have higher social value.

But what if you're not rich or famous? You can still act like you are cooler than her by not whining and begging for her attention.
3. You need to show her that you are a challenge - It is human nature to not value something we get easily. That's why if she wants something from you, you should always ask for something in return, but in a playful manner.

4. You need to know how to flirt with her - flirting is the key to generate sexual interest. If you don't flirt with her, how is she going to even know you are interested in her?

5. You need to present good body language around her - this shows her that you are a confident man and that you are not intimidated by her beauty. That means you need to stop fidgeting, stand tall and create a presence.
6. You need to constantly tease and test her - this goes hand in hand with flirting with women. The best way to flirt with a girl is to tease her about silly things she does. Then you also test her to see how far her boundaries are in relation to what you're teasing her about. This way you get to know her in a fun and interesting way!

7. You need to know how to work the environment - guys, this means if the door is there, you need to open it for her. Be a gentleman but don't be a kiss ass. If you are in a cafe with a bad atmosphere, MOVE and physically move her to an environment that is conducive for you to get to know her better.

8. You need to be a funny bastard - this one is obvious. Women like men with a sense of humor, as this conveys confidence and charisma. Don't try and be too funny. You don't need to tell jokes, in fact all you need to do is tease her and comment on what she does. That's all!
9. You need to be nice at times and mean at others - unpredictability will create intrigue and attraction. If you are way too nice all the time, then you are the nice guy. If you are a nice jerk, then she will hopelessly feel attracted to you.
10. You need to be playful in general - there are men out there who take their interactions with women too seriously. Guys, women like to have fun. They also like to be led. Thus, if you are not having fun and they are following, then she's going to follow you and not have fun, resulting in a boring interaction for both of you!
11. You need to be an alpha male - this one is key! If you are the alpha male you will display all of the above characteristics and have a personality that will constantly draw the attention of women. Being the alpha male also means you will not only get women, but other men will also enjoy hanging out with you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1765455 ==== You are a great blogger. Very nice site. I love that. Keep positif my friend. My Best Regards :
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Saturday, July 23, 2011


Come to think of it, what really attracts women? Do you know? It would be nice if we, men, know what attracts women. We can then capitalize on this knowledge for our advantage. However, let's face it. We are not in authority to answer this question.

No man is. You and I could have different ideas on this one. We make speculations. And that's just that. All are speculations. We don't know exactly what attracts women. So let's cut the guesswork and spare ourselves the hard work. No one can tell what attracts women better than the women themselves.

We ask some women and here are their answers: "I'm attracted to men with a smooth shaved face, "says Debbie, customer-relations manager. "For me, I'd fall for a man's well-groomed hair, "explains Mitch, a restaurant owner.

" A well-groomed hair shows that a guy is aware of his looks. And that makes him attractive to me." "I always flip over a guy who's fit and healthy, "answers Anne, a medical secretary. "I'd go for a man that knows how to lead, "says gorgeous Roxanne. Have you noticed their answers, guys?

These things attract women. Catching a woman's eye is not as hard as it seem. Obviously, you don't have to drive a Ferrari, or own sums of money. You don't even have to be famous. If you think about it, these women's answers boils down to two important factors: our traits and the way we take care of ourselves.

In summary, here are the male traits and qualities that attract women:

1.) LEADERSHIP

Leadership qualities attract women.

These qualities make men admirable. Men with leadership qualities are bold, daring, adventurous, and are always sure of themselves.

But again, let's face it. Men are not created equal. There are those who show leadership qualities, and there are those who don't. If you are among hesitant type, you can still improve and develop leadership qualities.

2.) PHYSICALLY HEALTHY

According to women, a physically fit and healthy man is far more attractive than those who are not.

The feeling is actually mutual, right guys? You will not be attracted to a swaggering, plus-sized woman that looks like a limp ostrich, would you? So to attract women, you need to take care of your body. Lead a healthy lifestyle. Be fit. Eat healthy foods. Exercise. Engage in active sports. A physically fit man definitely attracts women.

3.) WELL-COMBED HAIR

Unless you are famous long-haired, guitar-totting rock star, you should comb your hair. (Even long-haired rock stars comb their hair!)

Don't ever go out with unkempt hair.

Get regular haircuts that fit your personality. If you want, you can apply gel to hold your hair in place. Take time in caring for your hair. As you've learned by now, a well-combed hair attracts women.

4.) GOOD POSTURE

You want to attract women? Good.

But check your posture first.

If you are tied in a desk job, and you sit in front of a computer for extended periods, there's a good chance that you can develop bad posture. You tend to slouch in your seat.
You back bends a bit when you stand up.
And such bad posture turns off women. Don't be surprised if you notice that women deliberately avoid you. Or that you don't get any dates at all.

It's your posture.

To attract women, stand up straight. Make it a habit, at all times and in all places. Adjust your chair so you will not slouch and can sit comfortably when you do computer work.

5.) GOOD MANNERS

Good manners show good cultured breeding.

It reflects your personality. And fine manners attract women. Speak softly and clearly. Be deliberate in your actions. Cultivate a pleasant attitude. And SMILE at people. These are some of the things that attract women.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1680430

Professional Women Advancing Their Careers


Given the challenges for women who want to advance their careers, I asked two groups of women with whom I was working what motivated them to want to take on those challenges. Their responses were varied but displayed an energy and conviction that was inspiring.

"I know I have talent, expertise and potential and I want to develop it and use it."

"I'm ambitious, and I have a vision for my life and goals I want to fulfil."

I'm a bit of a trail blazer. The idea of breaking through barriers, e.g., the famous glass ceiling, is a challenge that I find exciting!"

"I love the buzz of pushing the boundaries and discovering new challenges."

"I want to prove to all the men in my family, who I don't think really believe in my capabilities, that I have as much ability as they do."

"I want to make a difference in my organisation. I believe I have a vision for it and the expertise to implement that vision and I want the chance to do it."

"I want financial freedom to live the life I desire and that can only come with advancing my career and the income that goes with that."

"I want the meaning, purpose and fulfilment that comes with living and working at my full potential."

"I want the status that acknowledges my competence and the power that comes with it to bring about changes that I believe are important."

"I want to open doors for other women."

"My mother has a very successful career and she has been a real role model for me. I want to go where she has been - and even further!"
What motivates you?
Barriers for Women in Growing and Advancing Their Careers.

We know from the statistics on women's involvement on boards and the number who have achieved CEO status in their organisations, to mention just two indicators, that there are many barriers to women growing and advancing their careers as they would like. If they can identify, however, the barriers to their career advancement they can empower themselvces to break through each one and achieve the success they desire. So what are these barriers?

Women Having Children and Caring For Them.

Certainly having children and caring for them is a significant issue for us as women. It does interrupt our careers and poses many challenges regarding work/family balance, especially if we don't have a supportive partner, or an employer who offers us flexibility in balancing our work and our family.

Women Not Understanding Well Enough The Culture of Their Organisation and What They Need To Do To Make It In That Culture.

Culture is that intangible reality that shapes organisations. It creates the ethos, tone, spirit, energy, vibes and motivation that drives the organisation. It determines how things are done and achieved there. It is a powerful (yet invisible) force and personal success and fulfilment depends on whether we fit our organisation's culture. If we do, then the organisation offers much potential for career advancement but the opposite is also true.

Women Not Getting Themselves in The Pipeline.

Knowing what the progression is in our organisation or industry and getting in line, in the pipeline, is something to which many of us don't pay sufficient attention. What has to be done to advance our careers is something men make a priority of knowing, often from the moment they join a company. They then commit considerable energy and time to making it happen. We, as women, often look on with either amusement or derision at how blatantly they do it, yet they get the promotions and we don't! Women who are in the pipeline can sometimes lose their position because of their family commitments. Even three months maternity leave may see us miss a promotion because we weren't there when it came up.

Women Not Knowing The "Rules of The Game".

Growing and advancing a career is not always a clear and transparent process. It is a "game" and there are "rules". If we do not know the "rules" and many of us don't, or if we do know them but don't like the compromise involved in playing by the "rules", we'll have trouble winning the game.

Women's Own Attitudes and Socialisation.

There are still ingrained attitudes out there about the way women should be and act. We need to be "feminine", "nice" and "good". Dr. Lois Frankel has talked much about this in her book "Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office". She says that as grown, educated professional women we tend to act like little girls. We try to keep the peace; we don't rock the boat; we want to keep everyone happy; we take on the caring and nurturing role; we try to please everyone; we try to fit in. This might make everyone like us, but it won't advance our careers. As women we act like that because we don't like the way many men promote themselves. A s Lois Frankel says, however: "Success comes not from acting more like a man, as some might lead you to believe, but by acting more like a woman instead of like a girl.....All it takes," she says, " is acting like the woman you are capable of becoming than the girl you were taught to be."
Women's Styles of Communication.

Aligned with our attitudes and socialisation are some styles of communication that we, as women, favour that also don't help us advance our careers. We tend to favour consensus in decision-making but often over-consult and are then seen to be indecisive and unable to make the hard calls. We favour team work and attribute the success to the team, making our leadership of the team invisible to those who make the decisions about advancement. We tend to be unassertive (confusing it with aggression) and ask permission and apologise often instead of assertively expressing our ideas and intentions. We express ideas as questions, rather than be seen to be putting ourselves forward. There are styles of communication that are highly valued in leadership and management today that women are very good at. We need to fine tune those styles and divest ourselves of those that are part of a past that is no longer relevant to the world in which we are professionally working.

Women's Difficulty with Self-Promotion.

Many of us find it difficult to promote ourselves, our talents and our potential. Even highly successful women, when asked what challenges them most, have acknowledged that they find self-promotion difficult. We need to take much more seriously the importance of consciously building a platform, profile and reputation for ourselves. This is our personal brand.

Women Not Utilising Networking Both Within and Without The Organisation.

In my work with women over many years I have found that many women tend to believe that you advance your career and attain leadership positions by working hard, making a 150% commitment to your organisation, gaining qualifications, getting coaching behind the scenes to improve performance and giving loyalty. Men, on the other hand, believe that your career is advanced by who you are close to, by knowing the right people. They devote significant amounts of time to developing these relationships through networking. They meet the "right" people, get the "right" introductions and belong to the "right" organisations. They take leadership positions on the "right" committees and build their reputation and profile in their industry or professional sector. Women don't generally value the importance of networking to their career advancement and therefore do not utilise it well.

More often than not there is a combination of these barriers creating obstacles for any individual woman. There are, however, always ways through, over and under those barriers, but everything comes at a price. Once we understand what's involved, we can then decide whether we want to pay the price. We can also be inspired by those women who have found creative ways to be who they want to be and achieve what they want to achieve.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1664456

Friday, July 22, 2011

Dating Tips For Women - 21 Insider Tips For Success!


The following 21 dating tips for women are based on research, informal interviews, and personal experience. Most of them are exclusive to women and not applicable for use by men, although they may benefit by reading them. The same is true of the ones for men; women may benefit by reading them as well.

Dating Tip for Women #1: Games will never get you what you truly want. If you want a quality relationship, be a quality partner by being honest, sincere, and genuine. These women and men always end up with the best relationships. Those who have bought into Hollywood's formula for getting what you want through tricks and schemes usually end up like the "actors" themselves: divorced and broken hearted.

Dating Tips for Women #2: Accept nothing less than advanced plans and full attentiveness. If he is not giving you enough advanced notice when he asks you for a date, or he has no plans when he picks you up, or he's not attentive during your dates, move on! If he's doing any of these things he has little interested in you. Don't waste your time! You deserve more. If you don't feel you deserve more than you should not be dating until you've taken the necessary actions to feel worthy.

Dating Tips for Women #3: Two week acid test. If you haven't heard from him within two (2) weeks after your last date, move on! Don't allow yourself to take it personally, even if you had a great time! Don't waste your time trying to figure it out. Just get yourself back out there!

Dating Tips for Women #4: Proportional courtesy. Order food, drinks, and anything else in an amount equal to what he orders. Men really appreciate this. Many men believe that a woman's behavior in these situations is a reflection of her character.

Dating Tips for Women #5: Demonstrate appreciation. Eat, drink, use, and wear what he buys for you. Men really appreciate this as well. Shopping for women's things is very difficult for most men. When you soothe their shaky confidence in this area by using or wearing something they bought for you it's truly a delightful event for most men.

Dating Tips for Women #6: All money matters. Show your appreciation for the money he spends on you regardless of the amount. You never know what his financial situation might be. You'll have a better time and you'll be viewed in a more positive light if you have no expectations as to how much a man SHOULD spend on you.

Dating Tips for Women #7: Giving merry-go-round. Reciprocate for things that the man has purchased for you by doing something special for him periodically. Even a dinner at home or a small gift "of interest to him" would be appreciated.

Dating Tips for Women #8: Ex talk contaminates dates. Do not talk about an ex boy friend, ex husband, or any former love interest of any kind ever! There may be an appropriate time in the future for such a conversation, but it serves no useful purpose during the early stages of dating.
Dating Tips for Women #9: Save your life story for your autobiography. Don't tell him your whole life story right away. Prolong the mystery. In fact, always try to maintain some degree of anonymity in some area of your personality or life, as it naturally provokes more excitement. Mystery is a mental aphrodisiac!
Dating Tips for Women #10: Being yourself is your best act. Don't try to impress your date with the people you know, places you've been, or your body measurements. Using these things to win man over will only attract those with superficial intentions. Win them over by showing them the qualities you have inside by simply being yourself.
Dating Tips for Women #11: Keep your eyes pretty. Do not check out other men. Even when done on the sly many men will pick it up. Loyalty is one of the most important qualities that men look for in a woman. If he sees you looking at other men, he will start to question your ability to be loyal.
Dating Tips for Women #12: Comments don't justify. Do not comment on the good looks of another man OR woman regardless whether it is in-person, on a screen, or in a magazine. These comments don't explain your gawking to a man. They just further complicate the issue of loyalty.

Dating Tips for Women #13: Trust your intuition. Do not continue to date a man if you know he's not right for you. Don't keep him around until you find someone better. That's not fair to him or you. Don't waste your time. Do what's right. Have the courage to move on!

Dating Tips for Women #14: Always look your best. Try to look your best and wear what is appropriate regardless of the occasion or activity. Don't get lazy, ever!

Dating Tips for Women #15: Keep his head turning to look at you! Find out what he likes you to wear. To learn about everything he likes, you'll need to ask him for specific details. Men have strong visual needs. There is no getting around this fact. This doesn't mean short shirts and a lot of makeup for all men. Some men love to see a woman in nice fitting jeans and a minimal amount of makeup, for example.
Dating Tips for Women #16: Show it if you feel it. Show your excitement to see him when he comes to pick you up if you sincerely feel that way. This will establish a heartwarming tradition that he'll love.
Dating Tips for Women #17: The ultimate dating tip! Do not have sex with him on the first date. In fact, don't have sex with him until YOU are ready. During the heat of the moment, men will say things to get sex that they believe are true at the time, but later when their head clears they often feel completely different.

The most important secret that a woman needs to know is that when you have sex with a man on the first date it establishes doubt in a man's mind about your ability to be faithful. It also does nothing to establish any respect. If you resist him, he will respect you for it. The more you resist him the more he will respect you.

If he is truly interested in you he will want you more and he will wait patiently until you are ready. If he doesn't wait he was not very interested in you, therefore he's not worth your time. If you want to have the BEST lovemaking experience of your life, become best friends FIRST and then make love. I assure you, it is worth the wait!

Dating Tips for Women #18: Haste makes waste. Do not rush any aspect of the relationship building process. Resist the temptation to create instant closeness. No one likes to be pressured to feel a certain way. Allow the relationship to build naturally. If you rush it, you'll get unnatural results. If you're patient, it can become what you want.

Dating Tips for Women #19: Men are like lions. They don't get too excited or aroused unless they have to chase after a lioness a bit. If the lioness is too tricky or runs too fast, however, the lion will just give up.
Dating Tips for Women #20: Trickery is a deception of self. Do not resort to any tricks or manipulation to get a man to commit to you. Pretending that another man is interested in you, faking a pregnancy, or actually getting yourself pregnant always leads to disaster. A relationship built on deception can never flourish.
Dating Tips for Women #21: Smartest moves you can make. No matter how truthful, safe, and healthy your partner/friend seems, make certain that you both get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) BEFORE your first sexual encounter and that you are using an adequate birth control method.

If you don't have medical insurance to cover these expenses, most local health departments offer birth control counseling and STD testing for free or at a nominal fee. One bad choice in this area can instantly ruin your life forever!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1534190

Women Self Improvement - You Have the Power Within


There was a time in the United States when women were not considered to be the equal of men. This absurdity culminated in the Suffragette Movement of Women.Women had been denied the right to vote, and it necessitated a Constitutional Amendment passed by the Senate and Congress of the United States in order for women to acquire the right to vote.

This right should have been inalienable, and guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States. But, it wasn't. Women had to fight for their right to vote on an equal standing with men, and they did it.

Women self improvement in the early 1900's was borne from their inner strength. Women were not going to accept inferior treatment in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of their countrymen.

Women self improvement movements are still fighting public battles for equal treatment under the law. One of these issues revolves around equal pay with men for doing the same job. There are also job classifications in which women are fighting sexual discrimination, such as in the fire fighting realm and in law enforcement.

However, women today have wonderful role models to lend them courage, and there are examples for women self improvement in all walks of life. In the political arena, both the Democratic Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and the Republican former Runner for the Vice-Presidency of the United States, Sarah Palin, are prime examples of the women self improvement movement.

Both these women realized that they had the abilities to make changes to better the world in which we live, and they found the inner strength to persevere in order to reach their goals.

They both encountered impediments along the way. However, they never became discouraged, because they believed in themselves, and heeded the calling of their inner voice to meet the challenge undaunted and unafraid.

Today, these ladies shine as beacons of light for the women self improvement train to follow them down the tracks. It is up to women to follow their examples and derive women self improvement by believing in themselves.

Women self improvement comes from changing a mindset, albeit an erroneous one, that renders women a subservient position in society. There are women self improvement techniques that can help them gain the self-confidence, poise, and gallantry to attain what is their rightful due in society.

There is nothing in this world that you, as a woman, cannot accomplish. You can advance to the C.E.O. position of an agency; you can start your own business, and, someday, you can be President. You have the power within yourself to make all things possible.

Today, women self improvement can be actualized in opportunities available in the business world. There are grants available for women to start and expand businesses. Our lawmakers understand that the cards have been stacked against women for too long, and they have finally decided to give women an equal playing field with men.

Women self improvement books, women self improvement tapes and CD's, and women self improvement audio tapes are available in the self-help section of major book stores and online on their websites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1534149

Top 10 - Ways to Date the Women You Want


No. 10 - Don't date problem women

This should be pretty straight forward but there are a lot of people out there that still try to go after the women they really shouldn't be going after. These type of women include: ones with boyfriends, women they work with, or women who for whatever reason aren't the right choice.

You may have a bunch of excuses why you want to go after this women but its still a bad idea. It would be better to flirt and tease with these women. Then in the future if the situation is different then this women will be even more attracted to you because of the flirting and teasing in the first place and she will follow you around like a puppy.

No. 9 - Know how to handle groups of women
There are many ways to approach a group of women such as magic, humor, and other great techniques that may charm a group of women. However its usually one women in that group that you are after.

It is sometimes better to go for that women when she is on her own. However if you do go up to this girl and talk with her when she is with her friends they usually go about their business and don't care. Get her contact information and that's all you need.

No. 8 - Meeting 'fragile' women

After time you may run into a women that is 'fragile'. You will have to deal with this type of women when you give her a hard time she will pout about it. For this type of women you can say such things as "You're cute when you're mad". This usually lightenings things up and makes things go a little easier.

No. 7 - Stop fearing rejection

The problem with most guys is that they imagine the times when they approach a women and don't wind up with a date as being "cold, hard, shut-down" style rejections. As long as you don't have no class or tact this isn't going to happen all the time.

Why not have the objective to make the woman you meet smile. You can find out what kind of women she is and if she is interested before asking her for her number. You can maybe see first if you can make her smile.
No. 6 - Know when you've gone too far

One thing you need to learn and watch is being cocky and funny and not going to far with it. Some guys get a little too cocky and forget to be funny. You need to make sure you don't come off as arrogant and hurting a woman's feelings. You can say something like "Lighten up. What, don't you have a sense of humor?" By saying something like this she knows you were making a joke.

No. 5 - Don't come on too strong

Don't try to be too sweet to soon. You do not want to come off as needy. That is not attractive. It is OK to be a little bit sweet but just don't over do it. You can give a girl flowers after seeing her for a few weeks but you shouldn't get her a dozen roses on the first date. Get it?

No. 4 - Know how to handle tricky situations

Lets say you are in that situation where you are dating a girl casually and she says "I love you." Most guys have no clue what to say in this type of situation. You can respond by saying something like: "I know", "You should", "I don't blame you," and "Well, I would if I were you". I would be careful though if she thinks you are getting married soon you might want to consider acting accordingly.

No. 3 - Stop being a Wussy

It is pretty obvious that beautiful women are not attracted to men who act like Wussies. The sad part about this though is that most guys main strategy with women is to attract Wussy to get them. Don't be a wussy yourself.

No. 2 - Get out of your comfort zone

It is important to try out new things. Sometimes these new things may be out of your comfort zone but they are different and women are sometimes attracted to those things that are different.

Trying to have a good balance between cocky and funny is one of those things you may not be comfortable with but you should try it out. Women don't like men that pussyfoot around looking for approval. This type of thing is a huge turn-off to women. So just try something new and stick with it.

No. 1 - Create positive "tension"

You need to dial up the tension before you can release the tension inside. So if the women say something like "I like you," tell her "I like me too." By doing this you are being "nice" and you are dialing up the tension between you two. It is funny and it is making things build between you two.

It is surprising to a woman when she hears this kind of thing, and it's incredible when it's done in a funny way. So try it out and when you get to the point where you cannot build any more tension then release that tension in a good way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1494418

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Womens Triathlon - A Growing Trend of Camaraderie


The first time I participated in a triathlon, I wanted to stop. As I plowed up hills (who picked this course?) on my heavy mountain bike, women who passed me would encourage me on and yell "you go girl"! As I ran--no, plodded--down the trail, sometimes slowing to a walk, the women coming from the other direction would cheer me on telling me I didn't have much further to go.

And as I finally and unbelievably crossed the finish line, those who finished earlier stood around the finish line hooting and rooting for those of us bringing up the rear. I wanted to stop, but they weren't going to let me. The support and companionship of a womens triathlon is an incredible push, especially for beginner triathletes.

When organized triathlons were first held in the 1970's, the competitors, male or female, were often hard-core athletes who were previously competitors in college swimming, distance biking or marathons. Triathlon participants were looking to be the fastest and garner a spot on the podium.

But there was another breed of competitor, especially among women: an "ordinary" female who enjoyed being active and liked a challenge. These were the women who started organizing triathlon events specifically for women that weren't just about winning, but meeting the challenge and enjoying the effort.

The first womens triathlons were being organized in the US and Australia in the late 80s and early 90's. Now womens triathlons like the Danskin Triathlon Series boast some of the greatest participation rates in the world. In 19 years that the Danskin series has been around, it has grown from 450 women participating in three events to 25,000 women swimming, cycling and running in eight races in different cities.

Other womens triathlons have since been created like the larger Luna All-Women's Triathlon and Irongirl Series all the way to smaller local womens triathlon events. There is probably a women's triathlon held in a city not far from you.

The growth in womens triathlons reflects the growing number of women competing in this sport. As of 2007, USAT, the official governing body of triathlon in the US, reported that the percentage of its 100,000-strong membership that is female has grown from just over a quarter to just over a third in the past eight years.

But why participate in a women's only triathlon? For many women, competing in a triathlon not so much about the results. The fun is in the training and racing and seeing how you improve. You're judging your body by how it performs for you, not by how it looks. For many womens triathlon organizers, the race is about a celebration of women's fitness.

Women's events also offer camaraderie as much as competition in this multisport event. When you are new to this involved sport, it is comforting and inspiring to being able to talk to others with the same life issues and challenges as you. Womens triathlons that welcome beginners also give a lot of instruction on what to expect so you aren't trying to figure it out while you race.

Women's triathlons offer standard race lengths (sprint length at 500m swim/20Kbike/5krun or Olympic length at 1k swim/40k bike/20k run). Many offer slightly shorter lengths (such as .25 mi/8 mi bike/1.5 mi run) so first timers and those who are still a little out of shape, can get their feet wet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1488148

Secrets in Meeting Gorgeous Women


Some men think that they have to be exceptionally good looking to be successful in meeting gorgeous women. But the truth is, there are average looking men who are successful in the dating scene and goes home with the girl. Those men know the secrets in approaching and attracting women.

Attraction is an art and it is not an inborn quality, it can be learned and anyone can be attractive if they want to. In meeting gorgeous women, it doesn't mean that only good looking men have the chance to get the girl and average looking guys are left behind without any chance. If you do not know how to approach and make a connection with women, even good looking men will have a hard time to be successful in the dating scene.

Here are some tips in meeting gorgeous women:

Know where these gorgeous women are. Of course, to be successful in meeting gorgeous women, you have to know the best places where these women are hiding. Singles bar is a common place where these women hang out but if you want the marrying type you won´t probably find her there.

Do not limit yourself on bars or social gatherings in meeting gorgeous women; there are other places that women loves hanging around like museums, church, sports club, community charity work and in the bookstores.

A female friend of mine was in a bookstore reading books about financial freedom and suddenly a guy approached him talking about the book, my friend was impressed and they end up dating but surprisingly the guy is not as handsome as the other guys that she used to date but she was smitten.

Learn to make women laugh. If you asked women what are the qualities of a guy they love, they will probably give you a long list. But their list have one thing in common, they always include that they love men with sense of humor who can make them laugh.

If you know how to make women laugh, you have the power to magnetize women and it will not be difficult to for you to be successful in meeting gorgeous women. Most people, especially women, want to be around a cheerful and happy person.

Know how to use body language. Eye contact and your smile are some of the most powerful body languages that you can use in meeting gorgeous women. Establishing an eye contact with a woman and locking it for a few seconds followed by a smile, will create a connection and hint that you want to know her.

If you are shy, you have to find the confidence to do it. You might fail, but remember that you might also succeed. It is a 50/50 chance and it takes practice. Once you have mastered it, success with women is within your reach.

Have a personality that attracts women. To have a great personality in meeting gorgeous women, you have to love and accept yourself. It is easier to attract women, if you have no insecurities and comfortable with yourself even with your flaws. People with positive outlook attracts people especially women.

Meeting gorgeous women is not that difficult if you know how. Do you want to discover the step by step secrets of meeting and attracting the woman of your dreams and create a lasting relationship? Visit How To Be Irresistible To Women

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1416895

Women Entrepreneurs in Ontario - Support and Services For Business Development


Women entrepreneurs are a growing force in Canada. One million women in this country will own their own business by 2010, according to a CIBC report on women entrepreneurs. This same report states that women-owned businesses are growing 60% faster than those owned by men.

Ontario is home to 40% of all women-owned small businesses in the country, although Western regions in Canada are experiencing tremendous increases in the number of women entrepreneurs.

What is driving this change? For a lot of women, business ownership is a lifestyle choice. Most employers have had trouble adjusting to the fact that employees, especially women, need flexibility in their work schedules in order to maintain balance in their lives.

Women don't want to get home at 7:00 at night. They don't want to put their kids into before and after school programs. And they don't want to miss out on important events in their children's lives.

But it's not all about children. The fastest growing demographic in self-employed women is those 55 and older.

The trend here is obvious. Workplaces have not adapted to women's needs, so women have moved on. They are better educated than ever and have developed skills that are well suited to business ownership, so they are taking the plunge in huge numbers.

Despite the growing success of women entrepreneurs, many still face some harsh realities. Some 41% of respondents in the CIBC study reported being taken less seriously than their male counterparts. And there are income disparities. Women entrepreneurs in retail and personal services earn significantly less than the average self-employed woman, and nearly one-third less than men in the same occupations.

All individuals who start their own business face challenges, but women entrepreneurs face many that men do not. The reasons are obvious and have been well documented. Women are typically the primary caregivers for children or elderly parents. They usually do most of the housework and cooking. Finding the time to manage a new business is difficult.

Women entrepreneurs may also encounter barriers when searching for suppliers or financing, again because they are not taken as seriously as male business owners. Because many women-owned businesses are knowledge or service based, they have no collateral, which can make it difficult to obtain financing.

Luckily, governments and non-profit organizations have stepped up to the plate with a wide range of programs designed to help women entrepreneurs find the advice and support they need.

  • Canada Business is a federal service with a range of programs for women. It also offers a special program for aboriginal women entrepreneurs.
  • The Canada-Ontario Business Service Center has a guide for women in business.
  • Many continuing education centers run courses for women in business. Your local board of education can tell you more.
  • Chambers of commerce and municipal business development departments may also offer programs of interest to women.
  • Women's centers in Ontario provide resources for women in business, from workshops to full training programs. Consult your local women's center for more information.


With the right supports, women can continue to develop as entrepreneurs and, in turn, achieve the work/life balance that eludes those toiling in traditional workplaces.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1303304

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Tips on How to Attract Women - "Personality is the Key"


How to attract women? First of all you should know that its something you can learn. You may think that women are not paying you much attention lately or that you have bad luck to lose a woman's interest pretty quickly. Then mark my words you can absolutely change that.

Unlike many women who are too obsessed with their looks, men can easily improve their personality which is the most important thing when attracting women.The reality is that some men are very good with women and some are not. You can be one of the men who is good with women. And i am going to help you get there and give you some helpful tips on how to attract women.

How to Attract Women Tip #1: Come up with personality traits and behaviors that naturally attract women!

Most of women are attracted to specific things about men which are the same no matter what place in the world you live in. These specific things including confidence, masculinity, sense of humor, being challenge and unpredictable, charm, a personal style, adventurousness and social intelligence.

Here is a question for you: "Are you willing to work on those things if it means dating the women you really want to be with?" If you don't take action now to learn how to attract and date the women you want you may regret all the wasted years in life later.
How to Attract Women Tip #2: Do not try too much to impress women!

It is perfectly fine to be impressive around women (being confident,humorous) but one of the biggest turn offs for an attractive woman is when a guy tries to stridently impress her.

It reveals that you see her as she is having more value than you and that you are trying to get with her more than she is trying to get with you. Women dream and want a man who is a challenge! Do not make it problematic for yourself by not being what women want. We as men do not want women who do not meet our needs of attractiveness and neither do women.

How to Attract Women Tip #3: Be more interesting to women

Lot of women are wishing and hoping to meet an interesting guy who can add more excitement and adventure to their life. When a woman asks you: "So what have you been up to lately?" See this as an amazing chance to say that you do actually have a life going on.Women like to play detectives. Your reply will either fire up her attraction and interest for you or kill it.

If you recently live a pretty boring lifestyle (work, eat, watch TV) then start getting more active. Join some clubs, attend some events, try new adventurous activities and so on.The more you have going on in your life, the more chances you have to meet and attract new women.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1302058

Acne in Women - Its Causes and Treatment Options


Acne is the bane of women's existence. Women are particular with every inch of their bodies. Women worry about cellulites, weight gain, hair dryness and almost every thing that affects their extremities. It is not easy for women to suffer from acne.

Causes of Acne in Women

Acne in women is often caused by hormonal imbalances. Women do suffer from hormonal changes from time to time. Not surprisingly, women would notice acne right before their menstrual period. Women may also suffer acne at the onset of puberty. Women who are pregnant or are going through menopause may also experience a bout of acne breakout. The high level of hormones in women may also trigger acne breakouts aside from weight gain and hair growth.

Acne in women may also serve as warning sign or symptom of an underlying serious health problem. One of the most common health conditions that affect a large number of women is the polycystic ovary syndrome. This also causes acne on women. It is very important for women to consult with their healthcare provider if they notice any other strange symptoms aside from acne.

Other causes of acne in women may include: a.) Use of oral contraceptives or discontinuance of use of birth control pills.

b.) Use of certain types of medications. Antipsychotic, anti-depression and anti-anxiety drugs can cause acne.
c.) Use of make up or similar products especially if the person is fond of leaving on the make up for longer periods than usual.

d.) Poor hygiene which causes dirt and bacteria buildup. This is why it is advisable that women wash their hair regularly or keep their hair off their face to avoid acne. You should also wash your face with gentle or mild cleansers.

e.) Bad diet. Although chocolates and oily foods have not been really proven to cause acne, there are women who experience acne breakouts with certain foods. It is up to the person to take note of what foods cause breakouts and to avoid these foods.

f.) Unhealthy lifestyle. Women who do not get enough sleep or exercise may experience regular acne breakouts.

Acne is common among many women. In fact, women tend to suffer from acne more than men. This is not surprising considering women undergo hormonal imbalances and changes more than men.

The effect of acne in women is devastating. Acne affects their self-esteem and body image. Women tend to get depressed and may result to them being socially withdrawn. It is very important that women seek treatment for acne before they suffer more from it.

Treatment Options for Women's Acne

Women have various options when seeking treatment for their acne. They could try the really expensive but totally effective treatment which includes laser therapy which also helps in revitalizing the skin and removing scars.

They can also try Dermabrasion which removes shallow scars and minimizes existing ones. Some antibiotic creams or oral antibiotics can be tried out too, but you would need prescription from a physician. Of course some herbal creams are available online that are BFAD approved and is worth the try.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1298778

The Secrets to Attracting Younger Women


There are reasons why there are men who are drawn to younger women and why most women are attracted to older men. Maybe you are drawn to younger women because you find them energetic, full of life and exciting to be with.

Women, especially those who are looking for serious relationships are drawn to older men because they are mature, stable in most aspects of their lives and already sure of what they want in life. Of course if you are exceptionally handsome and rich, attracting younger women is not a problem. But how about those average looking and not so rich guys, will they have the chance for younger women?

Despite the fact that there are plenty of women who are looking for older men, there are still older men who find it hard to jump into the wagon of dating and attracting younger women. Here are some tips to help you attract younger women:

First of all you have to believe in yourself that you are attractive and you are capable of drawing people towards you including younger women. If you doubt yourself that you are not attractive enough, that attracting younger women is impossible to happen to you, then you will surely fail.

Remember that attraction is an art, and it is a skill that can be learned by anyone. You already have an advantage because most women are looking for mature and responsible person like you. You just have to put some action and stay on it until you succeed.

Know what you want. Of course if attracting younger women is your goal then you have to look down deep into yourself and ask yourself what qualities of younger women you want. It is easy to meet younger women because there are a lot of young women out there.

In order to attract someone, you must have a clear picture in your mind what kind of woman you want to attract and be realistic about it. You cannot dream of a princess who is so perfect that no one could ever meet what you want. Think about what is really important in your life and look for someone who can match your personality.

Know where these younger women are. As already been said, there are plenty of young women out there and the action that you need to do is find them. You cannot find them if you are just sitting there waiting for her to come to you.

You have to go out to find that special woman. Attracting younger women includes socializing with them. Know where these girls are. Singles bars, parties, libraries, church, bookstore, museums, etc. Of course you also have to enjoy going into those places because if you are not comfortable with yourself visiting those places, attracting younger women will be hard.

Attracting younger women is not impossible and you can attract the woman you've always wanted if you know how. Do you think you are not that rich, not that good looking and not that young to attract women? Find out how to attract women no matter what you look like visit How To Be Irresistible To Women

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1292970

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

American Women In Prison


Women's issues abound in today's society. Working and raising children alone, dating in a cyber world, the glass ceiling, equal pay for equal work, women's rights, and humanitarian issues, are only a few of the leading topics, in the discussions about things that are important to women today (DuBois & Dumenil, 2005).

What seems to be forgotten, or is at least, rarely spoken of, is the issue of women in prison, and why the numbers are rising, at such an alarming rate (Sabol, Couture, & Harrison, 2007).

The American prison population is the largest, in the free world (Bartollas, 2002). Yet, America is still considered, to be the land of the free! How do we maintain our position, as the supporter of individual freedom, when we imprison more people than any other nation, in the Western world (Bartollas, 2002)? Hmmm, how does that work? The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that, one of every fifteen people will serve some type of sentence, in a county, state or federal facility, at some point in their lives (2008).

If you take the 23 May 2008 figure, of 304,153,715 people, in the United States, it means that at least 20,276,914 Americans, will be sentenced to a term behind bars, during their lifetime (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). It is common knowledge, that the majority of the prison population, consists of African American males, but, the reality is, that women of all ages and races, are included in these numbers (Bartollas, 2002).

This is why, the most alarming statistic, is the growth of the women's prison population. The Women in Prison Project, developed by the New York Correctional Association, has published a fact sheet, demonstrating that the number of women in New York prisons alone, increased by 645 percent between the years of 1973 to 2007 (this is not a typo).

Truthfully, this is more than a drastic increase, which supports the contention that this has become a critical women's issue, in today's world. These women are daughters, sisters, wives, and most importantly they are also mothers, who are trying to raise their children, many of them alone. This fact adds to the crisis of the issue; where do these children go when their mother is arrested and incarcerated?

Logically, many of these children will go to the parents of the women, who are arrested. Unfortunately, these are the same parents that abused or neglected the mother, sending her into early parenthood, confusion, low self esteem, and drug use/abuse, to nullify the pain of her childhood memories (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2007). Now these displaced children, will face the same dysfunctional situations that their mother's faced, as they grew up (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2007).

Why do the courts believe that a person, who failed their own child, will succeed with a grandchild? Ideally, these grandparents have matured, learned from their errors, and improved their parenting skills, before their grandchildren are placed in their home.

However, many of them have not changed, and still exhibit the same dysfunctional parenting methods, they used with their own child (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2007). Consequently, the courts must develop a follow up system, to consistently monitor these displaced children, if a repeat of the problems that led the mother to her criminal activities is to be avoided.

The Women In Prison Project, reports that more than 70 percent, of these women are incarcerated for non-violent, drug or property crimes; rather than for a violent, life threatening offense (2007). Consequently, these women are not a danger to the community, in reality; they are more of a danger to themselves, and the children they are trying to bring up, with or without, their fathers.

Rather than putting these women into cages, and putting the children into risky situations, including foster care, or group homes; it makes more sense, to provide education, vocational training, life, and parenting skills, to insure their success as parents, and productive members of the community (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2007).

Unfortunately, the prison system today, does none of these things. Today's prisoners, are warehoused and contained, until their release date, at which point they are returned to society, many of them with no supervision of any kind.

It is to this end, that prisoner release and after-care programs are critical. It is difficult to understand, how society seems to expect that upon release from prison, these women are going to be miraculously cured; no longer suffering from drug dependency or low self esteem issues.

Society appears to imagine, that these women, will suddenly have the skills, to insure that they can obtain the kind of productive employment that was not available to them, when they were arrested and convicted. Does society truly believe that the punishment of living behind bars, where the women will be faced with unimaginable trauma, and isolation; will suddenly eliminate all of the pain, memories, trials, and tribulations that they endured in their childhood; and that they will miraculously become productive adults when the prison gates swing open? It is said that the true test of sanity is when a person continues to do the same thing but expects a different result each time.

Is this not what is happening, when society continues to incarcerate offenders, teaches them nothing, and then releases them back into society in the same or worse condition, than they were in at the time of their first arrest?

Taking a look at what changes, when a woman is sentenced to prison, might help answer some of these questions? The reality is, they lose their children, their homes, any job they might have had, and any property they might have owned, and then they experience isolation, greater than most people, can even imagine (Bartollas, 2002).

It is difficult, at best, to imagine the brutality, loneliness, and sense of loss that a woman faces, when they are incarcerated (Bartollas, 2002). Does it really make sense to believe that these things will cure addiction, provide education and life skills, or teach quality parenting skills to these women? No! Sentencing someone to serve time in a prison facility, does nothing to create rehabilitation, or produce restitution, to their victim (Bartollas, 2002).

It does provide them with very valuable lessons, in cruelty, better criminal methodology, and creates an anger that is often vented on the children, that they reclaim upon their release (Roberts, 2005). What this does is create yet another generation of American's who will turn to drugs, alcohol, and violence to shield themselves from their painful past.

Why does this matter? Many more children are affected, displaced, and separated from their custodial parent, when a woman goes to prison, than when a man is sentenced to serve time (NY Correctional Association, 2007). The Women In Prison Project states, that only about "44 percent of the men who are incarcerated actually lived with their children, at the time of their arrest" (NY Correctional Association; pg.1, 2007). It is not a good situation, for the children of any convicted felon, but more children are affected by the imprisonment of a mother, than by the incarceration of a father (NY Correctional Association, 2007).

Regardless of whether the child's mother or father is incarcerated, these children develop their own unique set of childhood issues, because of that incarceration (Siegel & Welsh, 2005). Studies have demonstrated that children, whose father is incarcerated, often try to follow in their father's footsteps, because, they believe that serving time in prison, is a normal part of becoming a man (Siegel & Welsh, 2005).

When a single or custodial mother is incarcerated, not only does the child suffer the loss of a male role model, but they also suffer the loss of their security, nurturing, and most often their primary caregiver (Siegel & Welsh, 2005). The good news is that when the sentence is served, and their parent is released, many of these children are returned to that parent, and everything will be alright, from then on, right? WRONG! Not only, does the child have a new set of issues and problems, they must learn to cope with; the incarcerated parent has suffered the indignities of living in a cage.

This often leads to even worse anger issues, which can lead to a return to drug use/abuse and their previous criminal behaviors are subsequently repeated, and may lead to another arrest and period of incarceration (Bartollas, 2002).

There are two ways to earn a release from prison. One way, is to serve the bulk of the time a person is sentenced to, and then earn a release without any supervision, assistance, or support (Bartollas, 2002). Many offender's feel that this is the better way, because, they are not placed under the control of a parole officer (Bartollas, 2002). The other way to earn a release from prison is to qualify for an early release, called parole (Bartollas, 2002).

When an offender is released on parole, ideally they are supported by their parole officer as they reintegrate into the community. The parole officer's intentions are supposed to be, community safety, and insuring a successful return to society, while providing assistance, guidance, and supervision to their clients (Bartollas, 2002). In this way, the system helps to keep the community safe, while reducing the overwhelming prison population (Bartollas, 2002).

Today, however, it appears that many parole officers are so overloaded that simple supervision is nearly all they can manage (Bartollas, 2002). These heavy caseloads create the need for the officer to put in inhumane hours, causing exhaustion and leading to distraction, rather than assistance for their clients (Bartollas, 2002).

Consequently, instead of working with their charges; the parole officer, may appear to be, more interested in finding a technical violation, that will allow them to return their charge to prison, thereby reducing their caseload (Bartollas, 2002). To this end, some parole officers, appear to be very strict, with their clients, even insisting that they take any available employment, regardless of whether it provides sufficient income to support the family or not.

Whether an offender serves the bulk of their sentence, and earns an unsupervised release, or is released on parole, there is little, if any help available for them in the community (Bartollas, 2002). If the released offender does not have family waiting, and willing to take them in, and give them a place to live, they could be in serious trouble. Most offenders are released, with a "kick out" fund, of one hundred dollars.

They are expected to make this money last; until they find a job, shelter, food, and clothing and to support their daily needs, until they can earn their first paycheck. Anyone who has paid a month rent, gone grocery shopping recently, or tried to get a telephone and electricity turned on, knows how impossible it is to survive, for even one week, let alone the standard two weeks, to a first paycheck, on one hundred dollars. It simply cannot be done.

Consequently these released offenders are often expected to live in homeless shelters, seek assistance on the street, beg for change, or stand in line at a soup kitchen, just to eat, until they can find work, and earn a paycheck. Not to mention that finding work, with the label of "felon," is harder than just finding work, in today's unstable economy.

How is this mother supposed to reclaim her children when she cannot care for her own needs? How does she shelter and feed them, even if she can get them back? What choice does she have? Many times the only choice that these women see is to return to their criminal activity, and the cycle begins again.

How does society expect these women to be proper mothers, care for their children, and stay away from the drugs that numb the feelings of hopelessness and loss when they face these conditions upon their release?

If there is any hope of keeping these women from just returning to the life of drugs, abuse, and crime that they were living when they were arrested, there has to be a program designed to keep them free.

This program must teach them basic life skills, educate them, show them ways to earn a living that does not involving criminal activity, and teach them how to handle the responsibilities of parenting, so that their own children do not follow in their footsteps.

This is a serious women's issue requiring immediate attention. Everyone must become involved in the community corrections programs, donate their time and services to mentor and teach these women a better way. Without programs of this nature there will never be any hope, of dropping the currently out of control rate of incarceration; of America's daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers.

Supporting community corrections, lobbying for better community assistance programs, and helping after-care facilities to acquire the funding and the residences needed to help these women is a full time job for many, and there is still not enough help to make any difference. This article is a challenge to all women, can you help? Can you give a few hours a day to mentor another woman, can you teach someone how to work in a productive environment, or can you teach cooking and parenting skills? If so, then yes, you can help.

Bridge To Tomorrow, Inc. is a fledgling aftercare facility, located in Fort Myers, Florida. They hope to provide housing for released offenders, who will pay rent by helping to provide upkeep and maintenance on the property for the first few months, and then pay a reduced rate rental after that. They want to provide courses in life skills, budgeting, parenting, and simple survival skills to released offenders, so that there is some hope of preventing them from a need to return to criminal behavior.

In addition, Bridge To Tomorrow, Inc. hopes to fund scholarships, provide job skills, and even plans to provide a list of employers, who are willing to hire ex-offenders prior to their release from prison, so that the offender has a job, starting the day after their release. Finally, it is important that there are crisis intervention services, mental health services, and drug and alcohol counseling, available to these released offenders. These services are critical so that their transition back into the community, and their transformation to a productive member of society, can be completed with the least amount of trauma possible.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1205688

The Culprit on Women Smoking?


Recently I read a report titled "Women and Smoking" published by The Non Smokers' Movement of Australia. It mentioned: "While the prevalence of smoking amongst women is still below that for males, the difference between the two groups has considerably narrowed in recent years.

This is because men's smoking rates have declined by more than 50% since 1945 (down from 72% to the present rate of 32.1%). Female smokers, on the other hand, appear to have been less influenced by anti-smoking messages." Among the factors quoted in the report which have an impact on women smoking are marital status, employment status, occupational status and the relationship between the level of education attained.

However, from a non smoker perspective of whom I am, I believe there are definitely other factors at play, two that I can think of, one is attributed to "Advertising" and the other is "Men".

The reason I am on this opinion is that women smoke because of the way cigarettes are advertised and where they are shown. Women smoke also because they believe smoking will make them act, look, and feel differently.

You will notice cigarette ads when targeted towards women always promote slimness. And if I am not mistaken, six years after Virgina Slims were introduced, twice as many women were seen smoking.

There this kind of cigarette ads will make women think that by smoking, they can become thin, sexy and healthy. Further all smoking ads are set in places with clean, wholesome settings, can you find any ads show people with stained teeth, wrinkled faces, and a large cloud of smoke hovering over heads?

The other reason why I feel is attributed to men is because cigarettes have always been attributed to class and intellect associated with men which men use to portray strength. Hence, the phenomenon of fairer sex in a way has not shy women away from smoking, as women also deem this as a perfect portrayal of women's attitude and strength. For example, cigarettes, also known as the stress sticks, are no longer the domain of the male.

The answer to whether advertising or men is the culprit and which one the more dominant factor, i.e. "The Culprit on Women Smoking", I would say is subject to much debate and further survey, right?

What is needed now is to curb the epidemic of smoking and its related diseases throughout the world. Some measures which could be taken include:

  1. Increase awareness of the impact of smoking on women's health - The media, broadcast authority and women's magazines should play an important role in raising women's awareness of the magnitude of the impact of smoking on their health. For instance, women have to aware that lung cancer is not the only concern, others ensuing such as cardiovascular, health effects on pregnancy, pulmonary, and other life threatening diseases as well.
  2. Increase the awareness to counter the tobacco industry's targeting of women - Get women aware that tobacco industry's sponsorship of women's activities such as in sports, in professional and leadership organizations, its support to curb domestic violence against women, and so on is actually an attempt to associate itself with things women most value. Such associations should be decried for what they are, i.e. attempts to position itself as an ally of women's causes and thereby to silence potential critics.
  3. Recognize that nonsmoking is by far the norm among women - The fact that almost all women have either rejected smoking for themselves or, if they do smoke now, wish to quit, should be promoted aggressively through various means, one of them could be a more vocal constituency related to women and smoking
  4. Encourage the reporting of gender-specific results from studies of factors influencing smoking behavior, smoking prevention and cessation, and the health effects of tobacco use. This reporting will provide additional evidence to help women aware as well as suggest important gender differences exist in the appeal and use of such products, and the health consequences of their use. In a way this will help women to better understand the disparities in smoking prevalence among different groups and sexes, further defined by socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. In short, it helps to tackle issues such as how can the decline in smoking among women who are less well educated be accelerated, how to disassociate cigarette smoking from progress in achieving gender equity and so on.
  5. To arrest the smoking prevalence among women - What is already known about effective means of tobacco control at the societal level should be disseminated throughout the world as soon as possible to prevent the increase in the level of smoking among women worldwide.
  6. Encourage and make aware of the importance to support and participate in the World Health Organization's Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) to government of every country - That FCTC is an international legal instrument designed to curb the global spread of tobacco use through specific protocols, which cover tobacco pricing, smuggling, advertising and sponsorship, and many other related activities.

Article written by Kok Hui, a writer and also in providing online research service [http://www.adabliss.com/online-research-service.html]. Article may be freely distributed with this resource box stays attached.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1188105

Monday, July 18, 2011

Women at Work


Women in the workplace. For some reason this remains a contentious topic no matter what the work. It seems that neither men nor women can get past their differences, accept that people are people regardless of sex, or work in environments of mutual respect.

Ever since World War II, when industries were 'forced' to accept women in the work place, special considerations based on 'feminine' psychology have been made for women at work. Instead of making the transition easier, the adopted principles made working conditions harder for women and are still felt to this day.

In July 1943, Transportation Magazine wrote an article containing 11 tips designed to help supervisors get the most out of the feminine workforce. The article is shockingly laughable, but also frightening as many of the misconceived ideas from 60 years ago still dominate some male mindsets.

For example, tip no. 3 states that it's better to hire "husky" (read slightly overweight) girls because they are more even tempered and efficient than the skinny variety.

Many people, of both genders, still believe that attractive women, who take pride in their appearance, are somehow more vacuous than plainer looking women. It's supposed that pretty 'girls' are so concerned with their looks that all else pales in significance. The biggest tragedy in life is a broken nail, closely followed by a bad hair day (it could be the other way round).

Conversely, women who don't take pride in their appearances and who don't make an effort in their grooming are considered to be slovenly. If they don't care about their looks, how can they care about anything else? Where is the happy medium? I'd be interested to know if there is one.

Men still believe that women use their looks to obtain promotions and salary increases. A recent article on askmen.com stated that making eye contact and wearing revealing attire is simply a means to an end for some females. At least the writer, Armando Gomez, qualified the sentence with the word 'some' and didn't paint all women with his misguided brush.

An attractive, friendly female colleague is seen as a flirt who shamelessly uses her feminine wiles to get ahead, while a plainer colleague, who is just as friendly, is one of the guys.

What is worse than men believing that women flaunt their looks as a self-marketing strategy is the fact that many women subscribe to that way of thinking. Reactions to news of a colleague's promotion include extensive debate on who she slept with to secure the position and how long she'll last now that her abilities will be tested with new responsibilities.

There is an abundance of literature on the topic, available both in print and online. Feminist writers have covered it extensively; men have written about their perspective of the feminisation of the workplace; women have tried to write from a male point of view and men have tried to write with women in mind.

Gomez attempts the latter in his article on askmen.com. He tries to point out all the obstacles that women have to overcome in order to succeed. All that he really creates, however, is a condescending tone and the impression that he doesn't fully understand the subject.

He contends that women develop dual personalities: a work personality that is flirtatious, bubbly and designed to garner respect and acceptance, and more serious (he says normal) personality for home. As a working woman, working with other women I feel the need to say, "Huh?' Maybe I've just worked in good companies, but I've never felt the need to disassociate myself to such a degree to gain recognition for my abilities.

No one is ever truly him or herself at work. Business environments require a certain amount of decorum that our personal lives do not. But men also have to adapt to their work situations. To imply that only women develop professional schizophrenia is grossly irresponsible and inaccurate, not to mention offensive and discriminatory.

Gomez compounds his sins by drawing a table that he feels highlights the different behaviours of men and women at work. Some points of interest include his allegation that women are usually well prepared, while men tend to cobble bits of information together at the last minute.

He also says that women make an effort to keep up to date on industry-related information, while men are happy to make things up on the spot rather than admit ignorance on a subject.

His generalisations about men are slanted to make them resemble badly performing monkeys, while women are depicted as being patient, and glowing pinnacles of virtue. I don't know where he got his information from, but I question the source. Personality types are not gender specific, neither is life that simple or easily delineated.

Attitudes towards women at work have come a long way since 1943, when it was considered good advice to have a physician examine prospective female employees. This was deemed necessary to determine which inherent female weaknesses were present to render her mentally and physically unfit for employment. Unfortunately, articles such as Mr Gomez's prove just how far we've yet to go.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1055883