'It's obvious that women are smarter then men. Think about it-diamonds are a girls best friend-man's best friend is a dog'. Joan Rivers.
It's a re-occurring argument; 'Why men don't listen and women can't read maps', and is also the title of a book I'm reading.
It is the most fascinating book i have ever read, giving researched and logical answers to all of the things we thought men (and sometimes women) were just being difficult about!
Husband and wife Allan and Barbara Pease, the authors, explain that is is an actual physical difference in men and women's brains that, for instance, make women able to multitask and for men to sit and watch the tele and claim that they are busy...
Back when we were living in caves, men were the hunter and therefore developed long-sight tunnel vision allowing them to concentrate on their prey from a long distance. This could take hours, and concentration meant that there was no need for conversation amongst their fellow hunters. Translated into the modern day? Ask a man to get something out of the fridge and you will probably hear the words ' Where in the fridge? I can't find it.' Deep breath ladies- it's the caveman's fault.
Because of a man's 'tunnel vision' he will only focus on one area of the fridge at a time, searching for the words 'J-A-M' or 'B-U-T-T-E-R', if they are not visible, he will admit defeat.
In terms of conversation, lets take the example of a group of men watching the football on the tele. Conversation is likely to be limited to comments about the game, they are concentrating on their sport so talk is not necessary.
Now lets take us ladies; how often do a group of women get together and chatting is not on the agenda? Even a girls night in with a film turns into a wine-fueled session of putting the world to right, the film on mute.
And as for the finding things in the fridge scenario? Women evolved as the 'nest defender' and needed 'peripheral vision' of almost 180 degrees to spot any threats approaching the home. If a woman is looking straight ahead she can actually still see to her left and right and will be aware of movement above and below. A woman can find the butter in the fridge in three seconds, make sure the potatoes aren't boiling over on the stove, and tell her children to stop pinching biscuits out of the tin behind her all at the same time.
Women must have eyes in the back of their heads then? Oh yes men, we don't miss a beat.
*References from 'Why men don't listen and women can't read maps' by Allan and Barbara Pease.
Monday, 10 August 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Thought i'd join in with the job-crisis panic!
The Government is trying its hardest to convince us that there are PLENTY of jobs out there. This may be true, but jobs for who?
This summer i have had a three month break between first and second year of University (sounds great, really isn't) and it has been the longest and most tedious three months of my life. The only job i have managed to find is a few shifts at a shop where i worked before University, which i found myself being grateful for as i watched many of my fellow students slide further into their already extended overdraft.
Many companies are eager to give jobs to those with family or children to support, or to those with experience, who don't need to be trained using valuable company funding. I find it hard to put fault in this, however with my graduation only two years away, i can't help but feel a little twinge of panic (or full scale breathe-into-paper-bag panic attack depending on the time of the month) when i think of the repercussions of not being able to find a post-graduate job.
It would mean moving back home; i love my family but i love my Independence equally.
It would mean the thundering cloud of student debt would loom over me, a constant burden for longer then I'd like to imagine.
I would feel useless and under-appreciated, as though my new skills and ambition i have acquired over the past three years will have been for nothing.
This is why i fully support the thousands or temporary jobs being created by the government. Positions such as Dance Coaches, Community Workers and Teaching assistants. OK, they may only be temporary, and not your chosen career path, but they are something.
This summer has made me realised the grand scale of the job crisis that we are in. I have stopped assuming that everything will be sorted by the time i graduate, that i am bound to get a job, because it's just not that realistic any more.
I think I'll just remind my Mum not to turn my bedroom into a gym just yet...i might be needing it.
This summer i have had a three month break between first and second year of University (sounds great, really isn't) and it has been the longest and most tedious three months of my life. The only job i have managed to find is a few shifts at a shop where i worked before University, which i found myself being grateful for as i watched many of my fellow students slide further into their already extended overdraft.
Many companies are eager to give jobs to those with family or children to support, or to those with experience, who don't need to be trained using valuable company funding. I find it hard to put fault in this, however with my graduation only two years away, i can't help but feel a little twinge of panic (or full scale breathe-into-paper-bag panic attack depending on the time of the month) when i think of the repercussions of not being able to find a post-graduate job.
It would mean moving back home; i love my family but i love my Independence equally.
It would mean the thundering cloud of student debt would loom over me, a constant burden for longer then I'd like to imagine.
I would feel useless and under-appreciated, as though my new skills and ambition i have acquired over the past three years will have been for nothing.
This is why i fully support the thousands or temporary jobs being created by the government. Positions such as Dance Coaches, Community Workers and Teaching assistants. OK, they may only be temporary, and not your chosen career path, but they are something.
This summer has made me realised the grand scale of the job crisis that we are in. I have stopped assuming that everything will be sorted by the time i graduate, that i am bound to get a job, because it's just not that realistic any more.
I think I'll just remind my Mum not to turn my bedroom into a gym just yet...i might be needing it.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
The Break-up Rule doesn't work!
To my fellow Sex and the City fans.
Carrie Bradshaw once stated that it takes half the length of a relationship to get over someone. SHE LIES.
Being dumped myself earlier in the year (aaawww) after a brief but lovely relationship of two months, i was constantly reassured by friends that i would only have to endure a month of feeling lonely, used, angry, bitter and miserable.
I longed for this four week pinnacle of hope, new beginnings and happiness. I expected to wake up after a month suddenly feeling shiny and new; or in female-language, with glossy hair and a gorgeous new bag purchased as part of essential post break-up retail therapy.
A month came; my beautiful bag sat untouched in the corner of my room.
A week later; my hair was still boring and my worn out winter handbag still accompanied me on mundane trips to the supermarket.
Miss Bradshaw had failed me.
There is no definitive cure for the break-up blues even though schemes including pyrotechnics and a saw, suggested by friends, was very tempting (only joking...maybe).
One thing i have learnt is that bitterness is not the way forward, it eats you up from the inside and makes you think of revenge tactics including pyrotechnics and a saw (it was a seriously impressive plan, but I'd rather not go to prison).
So i dyed my hair; its now all dark and shiny.
I had my make-up done; my smile is now glossy and genuine,
...and my new bag? It's beautiful, reliable and fits perfectly on my arm, what more could a girl ask for?
Carrie Bradshaw once stated that it takes half the length of a relationship to get over someone. SHE LIES.
Being dumped myself earlier in the year (aaawww) after a brief but lovely relationship of two months, i was constantly reassured by friends that i would only have to endure a month of feeling lonely, used, angry, bitter and miserable.
I longed for this four week pinnacle of hope, new beginnings and happiness. I expected to wake up after a month suddenly feeling shiny and new; or in female-language, with glossy hair and a gorgeous new bag purchased as part of essential post break-up retail therapy.
A month came; my beautiful bag sat untouched in the corner of my room.
A week later; my hair was still boring and my worn out winter handbag still accompanied me on mundane trips to the supermarket.
Miss Bradshaw had failed me.
There is no definitive cure for the break-up blues even though schemes including pyrotechnics and a saw, suggested by friends, was very tempting (only joking...maybe).
One thing i have learnt is that bitterness is not the way forward, it eats you up from the inside and makes you think of revenge tactics including pyrotechnics and a saw (it was a seriously impressive plan, but I'd rather not go to prison).
So i dyed my hair; its now all dark and shiny.
I had my make-up done; my smile is now glossy and genuine,
...and my new bag? It's beautiful, reliable and fits perfectly on my arm, what more could a girl ask for?
Monday, 23 March 2009
Campaign for real beauty.
Being only 5ft 2" and a healthy size 12, i along with the majority of women in Britain, or even the world, sometimes feel a little bit short and plump. However i am fortunate enough to have realised that i will never be Kate Moss, and the image that most magazines portray as being 'beautiful' is damn near impossible to safely achieve.
In Britain where 'celebrity culture' is such a phenomenon, there is no escape from the flawless skin, and air-brushed bodies of beautiful famous people gracing the cover of every magazine shelf.
I love programmes like 'How to look good naked' and 'Coleen's Real Women'. They make women feel gorgeous and learn to love their curves and wobbly bits! I think it shows that Britain is really trying to make a difference to the way we perceive beauty, especially by having celebrities such as Coleen Mcloughlin, a down-to earth normal average sized woman, presenting healthy body image shows.
The new 'Dove' advert for their 'Campaign for real beauty', reveals the shocking extent in which photos are airbrushed and tampered with. At least it proves to all us 'normal-tons' that even a leggy blond model isn't perfect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp7IP1XB9WY
In Britain where 'celebrity culture' is such a phenomenon, there is no escape from the flawless skin, and air-brushed bodies of beautiful famous people gracing the cover of every magazine shelf.
I love programmes like 'How to look good naked' and 'Coleen's Real Women'. They make women feel gorgeous and learn to love their curves and wobbly bits! I think it shows that Britain is really trying to make a difference to the way we perceive beauty, especially by having celebrities such as Coleen Mcloughlin, a down-to earth normal average sized woman, presenting healthy body image shows.
The new 'Dove' advert for their 'Campaign for real beauty', reveals the shocking extent in which photos are airbrushed and tampered with. At least it proves to all us 'normal-tons' that even a leggy blond model isn't perfect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp7IP1XB9WY
Friday, 20 March 2009
Wooly hats and flip flops.
What is it with the British and the weather?
If you have nothing to say, talk about the weather is the general rule, so here goes!
A 'mini March heatwave' has caused a stir amongst the nation this week...warm weather, in March, in Britain? My goodness we must all immediately start wearing shorts and flip-flops. But then of course some people get really confused and can't quite decide between their winter and summer wardrobe and end up with a bizarre woolly hat, scarf and hot-pants combination.
As we were all marvelling over heavy snow fall only a month ago, the warm weather was welcomed whole heartedly by Britain. However, the Sun plays tricks on the mind, as was demonstrated by the thousands of people that rushed to seaside resorts on the east coast of England last weekend. As beach-goers galloped into the sea, the sun bearing down on their faces, they forgot it was only weak march sunshine attempting to warm the sea, and therefore it was likely to be freezing!
My mum is very British in her way of blaming everything on the weather. Every illness, emotion, stroke of luck, or act of terrorism; it must be the weather. It never fails to make me smile.
If you have nothing to say, talk about the weather is the general rule, so here goes!
A 'mini March heatwave' has caused a stir amongst the nation this week...warm weather, in March, in Britain? My goodness we must all immediately start wearing shorts and flip-flops. But then of course some people get really confused and can't quite decide between their winter and summer wardrobe and end up with a bizarre woolly hat, scarf and hot-pants combination.
As we were all marvelling over heavy snow fall only a month ago, the warm weather was welcomed whole heartedly by Britain. However, the Sun plays tricks on the mind, as was demonstrated by the thousands of people that rushed to seaside resorts on the east coast of England last weekend. As beach-goers galloped into the sea, the sun bearing down on their faces, they forgot it was only weak march sunshine attempting to warm the sea, and therefore it was likely to be freezing!
My mum is very British in her way of blaming everything on the weather. Every illness, emotion, stroke of luck, or act of terrorism; it must be the weather. It never fails to make me smile.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Shopping, its a woman's game.
I am going to indulge myself by writing about my favourite thing in the whole wide wonderful world. Shopping.
For some people a small piece of chocolate is enough to lighten their mood. An hour at the gym gives others that much needed adrenaline kick.
For me however, there is nothing more spine -tinglingly enthralling then purchasing a beautiful new leather bag. Or satin stilettos, or a cahsmere jumper, a silk pashmina; handing over that crisp note in exchange for that gorgeous emerald dress that youv'e wanted for so long!
I have already sworn that i will never intentionally go shopping with a man. It makes me laugh to see women dragging their boyfreinds round the shops, the men don't want to be there, all that yawning and foot shuffling they are doing ladies, that means they are bored and would rather be in the pub!
And i say let them go! They want to watch sport and play pool and drink beer, we want to by pretty things without being interupted. I'm going to make a sweeping statement and say that this theory applies to most couples (please dont try and hunt me down and accuse me of stereotyping and being sexist, because quite frankly, i disagree). So i'll see you in Topshop then girls, i'll be the one drooling with desire near the jewellery section.
For some people a small piece of chocolate is enough to lighten their mood. An hour at the gym gives others that much needed adrenaline kick.
For me however, there is nothing more spine -tinglingly enthralling then purchasing a beautiful new leather bag. Or satin stilettos, or a cahsmere jumper, a silk pashmina; handing over that crisp note in exchange for that gorgeous emerald dress that youv'e wanted for so long!
I have already sworn that i will never intentionally go shopping with a man. It makes me laugh to see women dragging their boyfreinds round the shops, the men don't want to be there, all that yawning and foot shuffling they are doing ladies, that means they are bored and would rather be in the pub!
And i say let them go! They want to watch sport and play pool and drink beer, we want to by pretty things without being interupted. I'm going to make a sweeping statement and say that this theory applies to most couples (please dont try and hunt me down and accuse me of stereotyping and being sexist, because quite frankly, i disagree). So i'll see you in Topshop then girls, i'll be the one drooling with desire near the jewellery section.
Saturday, 28 February 2009
University = delaying the inevitable?
I can't help but feel a little discomforted about being at University at the moment.
Even our lecturer's are telling us that after we graduate, there will be no jobs for us to pay off the thousands of pounds of debt that we are in, even though the reason we are in debt is because we were trying to get a better job. Great, fabulous, thanks.
According to BBC News this morning, the swarm of 'New Age Universities' that offer a huge range of courses, will not benefit students graduating through the job crisis. Students graduating with a degree in Film Media Production from the University of Bedfordshire, for example, are less likely to get a job then a student with a degree in Politics and History from the University of York, because older Universities, apparently, look better on a CV.
However, i disagree. If you walk in to an interview, and are polite, ambitious, and have the right qualifications, you are more likely to impress your potential employee then the maths genius who has spent eight years in a dark room slaving away at their Masters degree with no social skills to show.
A degree from Oxford or Cambridge will always be impressive, but the practical experience and social skills that those of us at 'little' Universities learn, will stay with you forever.
Even our lecturer's are telling us that after we graduate, there will be no jobs for us to pay off the thousands of pounds of debt that we are in, even though the reason we are in debt is because we were trying to get a better job. Great, fabulous, thanks.
According to BBC News this morning, the swarm of 'New Age Universities' that offer a huge range of courses, will not benefit students graduating through the job crisis. Students graduating with a degree in Film Media Production from the University of Bedfordshire, for example, are less likely to get a job then a student with a degree in Politics and History from the University of York, because older Universities, apparently, look better on a CV.
However, i disagree. If you walk in to an interview, and are polite, ambitious, and have the right qualifications, you are more likely to impress your potential employee then the maths genius who has spent eight years in a dark room slaving away at their Masters degree with no social skills to show.
A degree from Oxford or Cambridge will always be impressive, but the practical experience and social skills that those of us at 'little' Universities learn, will stay with you forever.
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