The world must really believe women are a bunch of nincompoops. At least, everyone seems to enjoy implying we are.
This week, I discovered TWITS (Teenage Women In their Thirties), a new term for women who shun marriage and kids in favor of a social life and personal freedom. Then Time posted a story about how the South Korean government in Seoul is painting parking spaces pink and repaving streets so high heels don’t get stuck in them, all in an effort to make working women happy.
Then I read a headline from Reuters declaring, “Crisis pushes men to therapy, women to handbags.” The story suggested the economy is stopping men from buying luxury items like watches, while women are scampering through Louis Vuitton and Hermes boutiques like kids in the candy aisle at Walmart.
American relationships are feeling financial woes more than other nations. Let's change that tune!
It's no surprise that the recession causes stress in people's lives. Pressure of any sort has a negative impact on relationships, but financial strain can cause even more of a burden between loved ones. While the recession is affecting relationships worldwide, for some reason it's having more of an impact on the marriages and relationships of American's than in other countries.
Reuters reported that in a recent poll, 30 percent of Americans attested to the recession adding stress, strain, or ruining their relationship or marriage. This compared to only 23 percent of Canadians, 24 percent of French and 12 percent of Germans admitting that their relationships have hit a down cycle as the economy has done the same.
While it may be interesting to dissect why Americans are suffering more than other nationalities, it seemed like a better idea to come up with tips to ensure your relationship doesn't fail because of economic woes. So here are four ways to recession-proof your marriage or relationship.
Divorce came because K-Fed hung out with the kids too much.
Finally, Kevin Federline is speaking up on his divorce. It has been ages since we caught anything from old K-Fed. Evidently, Britney Spears thought that Kevin Federline was spending too much time with the kids. Now we've heard everything. Brit-Brit wanted to rock out and get crunk and K-Fed wanted to change diapers and play peekaboo. Reuters drops the ball on some pop culture realities in their analysis of the situation.
According to a recent survey of moms, the most desirable Mother's Day gift is a card. A chore-free day of rest is a close second. Jewelry falls somewhere well below the two.
With women tackling more household duties than their male counterparts, it's no wonder a mother's best gift is of rest and relaxation. Reuters reports that stay-at-home moms work an average 94 hour work week while moms who work outside the home clock in an extra 55 hours of "mom duty."
"It is very comfortable, it's not heavy or scratchy or anything," the Romanian model who wore the $122,000 underwear down a Singapore runway told Reuters last week.
If you've been searching for something to wear with your $12.5 million diamond bra from Victoria's Secret, this thong has your name, along with more than 500 brilliant cut diamonds, all over it.
International study shows contraceptive use is high among teens.
For parents uncomfortable with the idea of wondering -- let alone asking -- about their teenager’s sexual habits, researchers have stepped in.
A 24-country study of 34,000 adolescents revealed that anywhere from 14 to 38 percent of 15 year olds have had sex. The numbers varied from country to country, as did the teens’ proclivity to use contraception. While only 53 percent of Swedish teens reported condom use, 82 percent of all sexually active subjects reported that they protect themselves with condoms and/or birth control pills.
One Columbia University researcher noted to Reuters that pregnancy rates were lowest in countries like the Netherlands that strongly accept teenage contraceptive use and "are insuring adolescent access to contraception and sex education."
