Roommates, in a world full of often irrelevant beauty standards, it can be difficult to truly embrace your natural beauty; This is especially difficult when you are a public figure. However, there are those who are in the public eye who decide to be an example to others with regard to their beauty, no matter how personal or painful the experience may be, just like Ayanna Pressley.

Representative Ayanna Pressely is known for her incredible political work, and recently she was one of those who advocated the removal of Donald Trump on the floor of the House, but her latest headline movement is inspiring women across the country.

Ayanna only bravely revealed her fight against alopecia in a recent interview that ended with her bare bald head for the first time. As soon as the video was released, Ayanna was praised for shedding light on her journey and giving others a voice that may be suffering in silence.

Speaking about his alopecia trip, Ayanna said the following:

I was missing her. I was mourning my hair. I was mourning the state of our democracy. I was mourning my mentor, President Elijah Cummings. When I saw myself in the mirror, I had done a beautiful job, but I didn't recognize myself. She wore this wig, fully dressed. But at that moment, I couldn't remember the last time I had felt more naked. I want to be released from the secret and shame that secret entails. It is about self-agency. It's about power. It's about acceptance. "

We believe that Ayanna Pressley looks absolutely stunning and as a true definition of #BlackGirlMagic!

Roommates, what do you think about this?

I like0 0Dislike0 0

%MINIFYHTMLa6867a17ff525dd6d0e73c3e9de5f0b212%

The rest is here:
Social networks react to the revealing empowerment of Representative Ayanna Pressley of her fight against alopecia - Up News Info

Grande Prairie Volunteer Services Bureau logo.

Sandra Heasler

GP Rural Crime Watch nominates for Sandra Heasler Volunteers of the Week. They wrote, Sandra is an exemplary volunteer who works tirelessly as Secretary of our organization. She is truly an asset and blessing to have in our group.

Barry Chorney

The North Peace Bracket Racing Association nominates Barry Chorney for Volunteers of the Week. They wrote, Barry looks after all our Security and Fire Services needs. Thanks, Barry!

Verna Horney

GP Centre for Newcomers nominates Verna Horney for Volunteers of the Week. They wrote, Since September 2018, Verna has been facilitator for our Wednesday Evening Group for the English Conversational Club. Each week clients meet for one hour and 30 minutes to practice speaking English in a small group setting through facilitated conversations. We are so grateful and blessed to have Verna as a volunteer. She is a cheerful, patient and friendly. She is passionate about her volunteer work with us and is genuinely interested in teaching and learning herself about different cultures. Her lessons and activities are always fun, and participants really appreciate and enjoy her facilitation style. Thank you so much for all that you do!

Silvia Coules

The North Peace Bracket Racing Association nominates Silvia Coules for Volunteers of the Week. They wrote, Silvia is always ready to help at the track whenever we are need. Thanks, Silvia!

Beverly Hildebrandt

GP Centre for Newcomers nominates Beverly Hildebrandt for Volunteers of the Week. They wrote, Since October 2019, Beverly has been co-facilitator for our Wednesday Evening Group for the English Conversational Club. Each week clients meet for one hour and 30 minutes to practice speaking English in a small group setting through facilitated conversations. Even though Beverly had no previous experience directly related to facilitating conversational group, she proved herself to be a perfect fit from get-go. Thank you so much for all that you do! We are so grateful and happy to have Beverly as our volunteer.

Find volunteer opportunities in Grande Prairie and area at https://gpvsb.volunteergrandeprairie.com.

FREE courses for individuals 18+ to develop skills and look for employment.

1/20

Career and Information Planning 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

1/21

Job Search Techniques 9 a.m.-Noon

Online Job Search 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Writing Effective Resumes and Cover Letters 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

1/22

Personal Development: Positivity Works 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

1/23

Personal Empowerment 9 a.m.-Noon

How to Use the Cloud 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Job Search Techniques 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

For more information and to register, visit https://wired2hire.ca/events or call 780-538-2727.

Non-profits become a GPVSB member! We offer advisory support, resources and more to the non-profit community. See all the great Benefits we offer our members athttps://www.volunteergrandeprairie.com/membership. For information about becoming a member, contact us at 780-538-2727 or email membership@volunteergrandeprairie.com.

The rest is here:
Tim Hortons Volunteers of the Week - Alberta Daily Herald Tribune

By Anna Iovine2020-01-20 10:30:00 UTC

Mashable's new series Don't @ Me takes unpopular opinions and backs them up with...reasons. We all have our ways, but we may just convince you to change yours. And if not, chill.

Anne sees lights-on sex as a mirror, or a Mbius strip. The 24-year-old looks at her partner looking at her, looking at them looking at her...

This does not scare her. In fact, that's what makes lights-on sex hot in the first place.

Anne, who's an MFA student in New York, went on to tell me that lights-on sex has always been the norm for her. In a society heavily impacted by porn, it's easy to see why. Porn shows sex with the lights on, for obvious reasons.

"I didnt think lights-off sex was necessarily real I thought it was a teen-movie trope or a relic of the 50s," Anne said. "I watched porn from a young age and the majority of that is obviously lights-on."

Now, she sees lights-off sex as a turn off. It makes her feel like her partner does not want to see her body, as if they're doing some sort of shadowy activity.

My first sexual experiences were lights-on, so that's what I got used to.

I am in the same camp as Anne. My first sexual experiences were lights-on, so that's what I got used to. I also watch porn, and no matter whether it's a glossy production or home video taken on an iPhone 10, the lights have been on. Even many movie sex scenes are lights-on because frankly, we need to see what's going on!

So, I never balked at it. I enjoy seeing my partner's body; I would not be having sex with them otherwise. And I assume they feel the same way about me. I can easily see what I'm doing, and what they're doing, and it just adds to the hotness of it all.

Now, having sex with the lights off almost seems utilitarian, or like we both have something to hide.

As I had talked to others and had new partners, however, I soon learned that not everyone thought lights-on sex was hot. In fact, some seemed downright afraid of it.

While Anne and I have been comfortable with having sex with the lights on since our sexual awakening, many people have the opposite experience. Given our Puritan, body-image focused society, it's easy to deduce why.

"Having sex with the lights off can stem from several personal and societal factors," said Adina Mahalli, a certified relationship consultant and sexual health expert at Maple Holistics. These factors can range from body image struggles to societal taboos originating from religious beliefs.

"Sex is seen as a sin in Catholicism and sex in many religions is seen as something that shouldnt be done recreationally. Shame in an act will make you not want to see well while participating in it," Mahalli continued.

Everything is on display.

Holistic sexuality coach Christie Federico explained that having the lights on adds an element of vulnerability to the act. Sex is vulnerable to begin with, and having the lights on can amplify those feelings. Everything is on display. Even eye contact during sex can make people uncomfortable.

"There's a fear of 'What will this person see if they look that deeply?'," Federico said, "A fear of not being good enough."

These are just some reasons why one might be hesitant to have lights-on sex. Frank, a 22-year-old software engineer in New Jersey, compared it to an old cheese or fermented fine wine. He said, "It is an acquired taste that needs not only getting used to but conscious pre-planning or thinking about." Frank said he liked having sex with the lights on when he was "proud" of himself and proud to be with his partner.

Given that having the lights on can amplify one's insecurities, having a supportive partner could help make it easier. That was the case for Alice, a grant writer from Oregon. "I started with lights-on sex when I met my current boyfriend, who is very into body worship and praise," she said. "I'm heavy, and I have some confidence issues, so I found it a little uncomfortable at first."

It can increase intimacy and connection with your partner and can lead to better sex overall.

Alice's partner gave her compliments and "sweet talk" that she said "smoothed the transition" for her, and now she finds light-on sex empowering and loves to be seen.

And there are other benefits, too. It can increase intimacy and connection with your partner and can lead to better sex overall. Mahalli noted that humans are visual creatures, and during sex you can go off of subconscious visual cues.

Also, plainly, you get to see your hot partner better with the lights on, and that is, uhh, hot.

That's one reason 22-year-old Sonia prefers lights-on sex. "I enjoy seeing my hot partners, and I like being seen by them in return," she said.

For those who want to feel that same level of empowerment and intimacy that lights-on sex can bring but are not sure where to start, here's some advice.

Start with the lights dimmed not fully on, but not fully off either or in natural light, so something like morning sex or an afternoon delight. "Dimmed light sex can set a more sensual mood than having the lights on full, while still allowing both parties to see everything that is going on," Mahalli said.

If you want to go a more woo-woo route, Federico suggested "eye gazing" or "soul gazing." Couples can sit or lie next to each other and stare into each other's eyes. This is an exercise aimed to make you more comfortable being seen, but with clothes on first.

If your hesitations have to do with body image issues, you may need to do separate work before embarking on a lights-on journey. There are a lot of ways this could be done, either on your own or with the help of a mental health professional.

Federico suggests spending more time lounging around naked to get comfortable with yourself and telling yourself positive affirmations. Something that's helped me is unfollowing social media accounts that cause me to compare my real-life body with someone's (often Photoshopped) photos; you can even replace them with more body-positive accounts if you'd like.

Ultimately, lights-on sex is something to try at least once.

The goal here is not to love yourself immediately; asking yourself to unlearn decades of body hate in an instant will backfire quickly. Take it slow. "A better goal than working toward loving every single inch of one's body is working toward simply accepting it as is, even if you don'tlove it," Federico said, "And remembering that your worth isn't determined by your appearance whatsoever."

Ultimately, lights-on sex is something to try at least once. If you are afraid or if you have and you didn't like it take a look and examine why. Is it because of your body-image? Is it because of awkwardness between you and your partner? The reason is probably beyond the bedroom entirely. It may take time to figure out and worth through but it may send ripples of benefits in your life including but not most importantly improving the sex you have.

Doing it with the lights on might feel awkward at first but sex, especially with a new partner, is naturally awkward sometimes. You are learning about your partner's body and they are learning yours, and it is not meant to be perfect.

"Lights on feels like an aid to the treasure hunt," Anne said. "Lights on feels like sharing. It feels like consent. It feels like bearing witness."

And, if you really want to, you can just close your eyes.

Read the original here:
Sex is better with the lights on - Mashable

The EMPOWERCARE project has been awarded more than 4 million euros of European Regional Development Funding via the Interreg VA 2Seas programme.

The project, involving 13 partners from the UK, Netherlands, France and Belgium, aims to fully involve older people in decisions concerning their own health and wellbeing, and provide the right support to enable them to remain in their homes, assisted by their local community. EMPOWERCARE will address the issues facing communities in caring for the growing ageing population, by bringing together existing, proven solutions, including innovative technologies, from across all project partners.

In 2013 the over 65s made up 18.2% of the European population and this figure is set to rise to a staggering 28.7% by 2080. Traditional services are already at capacity and the present system pushes people to the default point of safety: the hospital. With the cost of care for older people increasing it is necessary to integrate these groups more closely with their communities.

EMPOWERCARE will take a holistic approach, with 3 areas of activity: Empowerment, Technology Strategies and Workforce Development resources. These will contribute to a more personal approach to care and technology learning whilst reducing isolation/loneliness and increasing solidarity amongst older people.

Community Asset Based Development approaches will get to the heart of what matters most to local communities by harnessing skills and expertise of local people, co-creating innovations that make a real difference to lives, health and wellbeing.

The project will oppose a medical deficit model and instead focus on empowering people to take more responsibility for their care using technology and local services to keep them in work, healthy andmotivated, having control over decisions that affect their health and wellbeing. Learning networks will enhance shared knowledge amongst professionals and families to ensure durability and transferability.

Kent County Council Director of Partnerships, Anne Tidmarsh said: The EMPOWERCARE project provides a fantastic opportunity to address some of the challenges we face with an ageing population through technology, innovation and work to reduce social isolation. We are committed to putting people at the heart of service redesign and will use our ESTHER programme to help structure this project to ensure we engage our community in developing and achieving the right outcomes. Kent County Council and its Design and Learning Centre for Clinical and Social Innovation are very pleased to be part of this project.

ENDS.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

Interreg 2 Seas: http://www.interreg2seas.eu/

Interreg 2 Seas 2014-2020 is a European Territorial Cooperation Programme covering England, France, the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders). The Programme is part-financed by theEuropean Regional Development Fund and has a total of 241m (203m) ERDF to co-finance projects in the 2014 2020 period.

About The Health and Europe Centre:

The Health and Europe Centre works in partnership with local NHS and government stakeholders to bring innovation and investment to the health sector. We are unique in our focus of facilitating international learning and accessing EU-funded projects for the benefit of our local stakeholders. http://www.healthandeuropecentre.nhs.uk

ESTHER

The ESTHER philosophy was created in the region Jnkping in Sweden in 1997. The Esther model was one of the best-known examples of putting patients at the heart of redesigning services and has been adapted in Kent.

ESTHER

. Tags:

Read the rest here:
EMPOWERing individuals & communities to manage their own CARE - KCC Media Hub

Members of the Global Shapers Community, a network of young people at the World Economic Forum, talk about what theyre hoping to accomplish at this years summit.

Several members of the Global Shapers Community answered questions from The New York Times. Their responses have been edited and condensed.

With some of the mixed perceptions about Davos, what are your expectations of the conference?

I will be attending as part of an inspiring delegation of young people from the Global Shapers Community, which is an initiative of the World Economic Forum. I look forward to connecting and working with those who are leading at the front lines of their communities in the fight against climate change, who are restoring nature, who are helping to drive equitable societies, and who are committed to creating a more caring and inclusive world.

What do you hope to accomplish at Davos?

The most important part of the Global Shapers Community is the word community. At a time when our generation faces ecological, economic and values crises, some of the most vital technologies in navigating the path ahead are not necessarily artificial intelligence, blockchain or robotics they are empathy, collaboration and justice. I hope, as a community, we can be a constant reminder of that, as this years annual meeting in Davos seeks to redefine what truly matters as a measure of success for governments and corporations.

With some of the mixed perceptions about Davos, what are your expectations of the conference?

There has been a fair bit of criticism of Davos in the past, questioning whether the worlds elite has the courage to take necessary action in terms of climate change. For the 50th anniversary, the World Economic Forum has launched a new manifesto that is looking to hold companies accountable and nudge them to be more responsible, which I believe is crucial when we now have around 10 years to drastically reshape our societies to become more circular and self-sustaining.

In my eyes, its actually quite simple: We only have one planet, so business as usual is no longer an option. Our current model is clearly not going according to plan. Luckily, circular societies and circular business models would not only make us less vulnerable to the very scary consequences of the climate emergency but also create new opportunities for jobs and economic growth. After all, the pioneers of today will be the market leaders of tomorrow. That makes me hopeful.

What do you hope to accomplish at Davos?

With the COP25 summit, formally known as the Conference of Parties, concluding at last months U.N. Climate Talks, there is a clear pressing need for countries to set more ambitious targets to scale up renewable energy. I personally look forward to meeting world leaders and sparking discussions on how we enable a global clean energy transition.

We have never been better equipped to take on the challenges we face, and we could create much more democratic, decentralized and decarbonized energy systems for the future while lifting up to a billion people out of energy poverty in the process. If the future can be bright, why would we choose differently? This is a question I would like to discuss with world leaders.

With some of the mixed perceptions about Davos, what are your expectations of the conference?

I think its interesting and important to bring together different representatives to discuss shaping new economies, and I am proud to represent the youth and future generations. I look forward to meeting fellow Global Shapers and hope to meet women in power, to learn about barriers they have had to overcome and best practices to accelerate empowerment for future leaders.

What do you hope to accomplish at Davos?

I will represent the Shaping Fashion project and show how young people in 45 cities around the world have come together to share knowledge and tools, run collective action campaigns and change personal behaviors to revolutionize the fashion industry.

Besides shifting consumer sentiment, the $2 trillion industry needs drastic change and I will be calling for multi-stakeholder collaboration to measure, improve and transparently communicate environmental and social sustainability of fashion.

Transparency is something I feel very strongly about. It is our right to be able to choose companies and products that meet our values and we need information that is complete, comparable and trustworthy to do so. The industry and legislators need to empower us to make these decisions. Its what can truly accelerate the sustainable fashion revolution.

With some of the mixed perceptions about Davos, what are your expectations of the conference?

Davos may have the reputation of being a space where business and political leaders come together to sign deals, and perhaps forward their own short-term interests. However, there is no doubt that the decisions made today will affect our environment for centuries to come.

I wish to be a voice for future generations and young people, who will be the most impacted by these decisions. I seek to have empathetic and courageous conversations with those in power, and to advocate for a long-term, values-based lens in decision making.

What do you hope to accomplish at Davos?

Davos also brings together phenomenal leaders across sectors, and I believe they have a genuine desire to improve the world. One could call it idealistic, but I very much resonate with Margaret Meads notion never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.

I look forward to exchanging ideas, and forging relationships with those also committed to restoring the health of our planet, and fostering the self transformation of individuals with the intention that this will support greater collective action and impact.

With some of the mixed perceptions about Davos, what are your expectations of the conference?

The Davos 2020 meeting comes at the onset of a new, vital decade, and 2020 is also the year that countries are required to renew their commitments with even greater ambitions. I hope this meeting will coerce world leaders to take action, especially in reducing emissions by 7.6 percent in 2020 and every other year! I hope the world will look back at this meeting in 10 years as one among many that jolted world leaders to take action.

What do you hope to accomplish at Davos?

Deliberately leaving no one behind is the only way we will achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030. Over 70 percent of Africans still reside in rural areas and continue to be alienated from development.

We must urgently listen to concerns from those on the streets and from deep in the rural interiors whose voices are rarely heard or examined with the primary aim to design and redesign and implement relevant action points with measurable outputs. As such, the question on my mind as I head to Davos is how to marry social innovation with technological innovation to achieve a cohesive and sustainable world!

With some of the mixed perceptions about Davos, what are your expectations of the conference?

In Davos, Ill be rubbing shoulders with many chief executives and heads of state who will no doubt acknowledge the importance of tackling climate change. However, those watching may view these words as lip service to the sustainability and stakeholder capitalism narrative.

While my country is experiencing the worst bush fire season on record, globally climate change is set to cause increasing harm in the coming decades. Now is the time to find innovative solutions for urgent climate action.

In Davos, I will be representing progress toward these solutions, seeking to convince business leaders that utilizing carbon emissions can in fact ease the pressure on the bottom line.

At Mineral Carbonation International, we have developed a technology platform that transforms carbon dioxide into building materials like cement and plasterboard. This is a long-term, safe storage solution that has the potential to lock away billions of metric tons of emissions from industry or captured from the atmosphere.

What do you hope to accomplish at Davos?

This year, we have the opportunity to spark real climate change action in many areas. I hope to demonstrate that carbon dioxide is a resource that can help, not hinder the planet.

If I can convince business leaders that decarbonizing is profitable, this will encourage desperately needed climate action, contribute to our Paris Climate Change targets and provide hope for humanity.

With some of the mixed perceptions about Davos, what are your expectations of the conference?

Davos is often viewed as an elitist and exclusive event. Even if this is true, it also serves as an opportunity for impact thought leaders and experts take the stage to influence our worlds decision makers and their agendas.

The theme this year, Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World, spotlights this point at the onset of a critical decade: It is our last chance to limit global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius and safeguard our future. My expectation and hope are that whenever plans are being made about the future onstage or offstage reducing emissions must be at the core of these plans.

I expect our world leaders to be bold in their decision making and actions. We need them now more than ever to lead from a place of empathy to serve those most impacted by their decisions including vulnerable coastal communities, minority groups and the young people of our world.

What do you hope to accomplish at Davos?

I hope to use this opportunity to support the voices and messages raised by young people around the world. We must listen to the scientists we are not running out of time, we are now out of time and we need ambitious, deliberate, action. I urge world leaders to take the following actions in true partnership with local Indigenous communities.

Make the policy changes needed to meet the Paris Agreement, as we must reduce global emissions by at least 7 percent every year until 2030 to safeguard our planet.

Support the protection of at least 30 percent of our planet by 2030 and invest in nature-based solutions and biodiversity.

Recognize young people and nature as primary and core stakeholders and authentically incorporate their interests and voices into decisions and actions that will impact them.

Read more:
Hoping to Shape the Conversation at Davos - The New York Times

Bengaluru: Poor women in Indias villages are more likely to take up jobs if their wages can be deposited into their bank accounts and they can be trained in digital banking, a September 2019 study by the US-based National Bureau Of Economic Research (NBER) has concluded. This eases patriarchal social norms and increases empowerment among the one section of Indian society with the least labour market experience, it added.

If poor, rural women can control their access to wages through bank accounts and receive adequate training for handling it, they are more likely to join or continue in the labour workforce in India, the study found. It also helped in accommodating changes in gender norms on women going to work: The study found that women who received digital deposits and training were more likely to hold female work in high regard. Although their husbands did not change their personal beliefs, they became less likely to report that husbands suffer social costs when their wives work.

Researchers used randomised control trials (RCTs) to study the effects of channelling womens wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), into their individually controlled bank accounts, and not the account of the head of their family, typically a man.

Women who received digital wage deposits as well as the training to use their bank accounts, were found to be working more, as we said earlier, in both jobs generated by MGNREGS and the private sector. This increase occurred even though the market wage remained static.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh state government and the rural development ministry in socially conservative areas in the northern pockets of the state--Gwalior, Morena, Sheopur and Shivpur.

Despite robust economic growth, the female labour force participation rate has declined from 37% in 1990 to 28% in 2015, making Indian women some of the least employed in the world, the study noted. Indias growth trajectory, and the well-being of its population, will depend on how well it uses public policy to lower barriers to female employment, it said.

Policy, when appropriately designed, can empower women in homes and even dilute common patriarchal norms, said Charity Troyer Moore, co-author of the study and director for South Asia Economics Research at The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University.

By working with women to open accounts, training them on how to use the accounts, and linking those accounts to NREGS so they could receive their wages as mandated, we see important improvements in womens financial activity, paid work--especially in the private sector--and views on women and work, she said.

India ranks low on gender parity

While global gender parity will not be attained for 100 years, India has fallen four spots to 112 among 153 economies since 2018, as per the World Economic Forums Global Gender Gap Report 2020.

The economic gender gap runs particularly deep in India, the report noted. Only one-third of the gap has been bridged. Since 2006, the gap has gotten significantly wider. Among the 153 countries studied, India is the only country where the economic gender gap [ranked 149th] is larger than the political gender gap.

Only one-quarter of women, compared with 82% of men, engage actively in the labour market (working or looking for work)--one of the lowest participation rates in the world (145th)--and estimated female income is a mere one-fifth of male income, which is also among the worlds lowest, the report noted.

Indias gender issue is a jobs issue--womens overall well-being has fallen as access to work outside their homes has declined, and especially as women move out of agriculture in rural areas, said Moore. There is a multitude of challenges to helping women access employment, but increasing demand in sectors that suit womens practical circumstances seems to be key here.

Many of the policy efforts undertaken to support women focus on their specific role as a household caregiver or mother. Though important, it should not be given at the expense of other efforts, like hiring more local women to serve in frontline work to support their communities development, and encouraging employment for young women who are out of school and not yet married, Moore added.

Empowerment for socially constrained women

The study conducted randomised control trials in 197 gram panchayats. And in 67 of these, womens bank accounts were linked to their MGNREGS wages and provided basic financial training to ensure they understand how to use their accounts if they decided to work. The study was conducted between 2013 and 2014, prior to the start of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana targeting Indias unbanked population. Follow-up surveys were then conducted in 2015 and 2017.

The study then compared outcomes for women who only received bank accounts (accounts only) with those who additionally received direct deposit of MGNREGS wages and bank account training (direct deposit and training).

Low levels of engagement with the formal banking sector beyond simple withdrawals and deposits by women and marginalised communities suggest that universal account ownership does not necessarily translate to financial inclusion or the ability to use banking services effectively, IndiaSpend reported on May 17, 2018. In 2015-16, 53% of women used a bank account in their own name, according to the fourth National Family Health Survey data.

The intervention found long- and short-term benefits in the group. Three years after the intervention, women used their accounts more frequently and more women were able to go to a bank to operate their accounts.

Women living in gram panchayats where training was offered to operate bank accounts worked more, as we said earlier, than those who only had individual bank accounts opened for them.

Further, the impact was more among women who had least or no work experience--in the study, those who had never worked for MGNREGS. These women have been classified as socially constrained to reflect that they are less likely to work, less empowered, and that their husbands are more likely to oppose female work.

The transfers to individually controlled bank accounts empower women to assert themselves in their families, the authors surmise. So giving a woman better outside options to the status quo may help her bargain and assert her preferences, which can result in increased mobility, said Moore.

Three years later, in 2017, socially constrained women reported an increased ability to spend and greater freedom to move about. After three years, their empowerment score was increased, effectively closing the empowerment gap between constrained and unconstrained women.

Gender norms and mobility

The study found that, compared with women who were given only bank accounts, those women who received digital deposits and training were more likely to hold female work in high regard. Although their husbands did not change their personal beliefs they became less likely to report that husbands suffer social costs when their wives work, the study reported.

Gender norms became more progressive in families where women controlled their wages, the study found. The actual norms (average personal beliefs about women and work) of women who received direct deposit and training were more progressive than those of women in accounts-only areas. Also, on average, the community was more accepting of working women.

Although husbands actual norms remained unchanged, perceived norms among men in the community were significantly liberalized, with greater perceived acceptance of working womens husbands, suggesting that women may in part be held back from working by mens misperceptions of the stigma they would suffer, the study said.

There are signs of womens increased decision-making and financial independence, but that does not necessarily come at a cost to men, said Moore. The results on decisions hinge around whether women report higher involvement in either deciding or helping decide how to spend money and whether to work outside the home--so an increase in womens power here would not necessarily mean mens influence declined, since they could be making more joint decisions.

Policy implication

The study is significant for programmes such as MGNREGS which aim to include and empower women through employment, offering them equal wages, the study says. Policies that cause women to increase engagement with those outside their families are likely to change social norms, especially as more conservative men change their beliefs about the consequences of adopting or accommodating progressive behaviours.

One thing our study didnt speak to is that limited mobility also reflects individual and household concerns about safety and violence against women, which are valid concerns, said Moore. This is where policy can play an important role. It can work to ensure public spaces are safe and open to both men and women, she added, to improve responsiveness to reports about harassment and violence, and to be responsive to womens inputs on these issues.

(Paliath is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)

We welcome feedback. Please write to respond@indiaspend.org. We reserve the right to edit responses for language and grammar.

Bengaluru: Poor women in Indias villages are more likely to take up jobs if their wages can be deposited into their bank accounts and they can be trained in digital banking, a September 2019 study by the US-based National Bureau Of Economic Research (NBER) has concluded. This eases patriarchal social norms and increases empowerment among the one section of Indian society with the least labour market experience, it added.

If poor, rural women can control their access to wages through bank accounts and receive adequate training for handling it, they are more likely to join or continue in the labour workforce in India, the study found. It also helped in accommodating changes in gender norms on women going to work: The study found that women who received digital deposits and training were more likely to hold female work in high regard. Although their husbands did not change their personal beliefs, they became less likely to report that husbands suffer social costs when their wives work.

Researchers used randomised control trials (RCTs) to study the effects of channelling womens wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), into their individually controlled bank accounts, and not the account of the head of their family, typically a man.

Women who received digital wage deposits as well as the training to use their bank accounts, were found to be working more, as we said earlier, in both jobs generated by MGNREGS and the private sector. This increase occurred even though the market wage remained static.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh state government and the rural development ministry in socially conservative areas in the northern pockets of the state--Gwalior, Morena, Sheopur and Shivpur.

Despite robust economic growth, the female labour force participation rate has declined from 37% in 1990 to 28% in 2015, making Indian women some of the least employed in the world, the study noted. Indias growth trajectory, and the well-being of its population, will depend on how well it uses public policy to lower barriers to female employment, it said.

Policy, when appropriately designed, can empower women in homes and even dilute common patriarchal norms, said Charity Troyer Moore, co-author of the study and director for South Asia Economics Research at The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University.

By working with women to open accounts, training them on how to use the accounts, and linking those accounts to NREGS so they could receive their wages as mandated, we see important improvements in womens financial activity, paid work--especially in the private sector--and views on women and work, she said.

India ranks low on gender parity

While global gender parity will not be attained for 100 years, India has fallen four spots to 112 among 153 economies since 2018, as per the World Economic Forums Global Gender Gap Report 2020.

The economic gender gap runs particularly deep in India, the report noted. Only one-third of the gap has been bridged. Since 2006, the gap has gotten significantly wider. Among the 153 countries studied, India is the only country where the economic gender gap [ranked 149th] is larger than the political gender gap.

Only one-quarter of women, compared with 82% of men, engage actively in the labour market (working or looking for work)--one of the lowest participation rates in the world (145th)--and estimated female income is a mere one-fifth of male income, which is also among the worlds lowest, the report noted.

Indias gender issue is a jobs issue--womens overall well-being has fallen as access to work outside their homes has declined, and especially as women move out of agriculture in rural areas, said Moore. There is a multitude of challenges to helping women access employment, but increasing demand in sectors that suit womens practical circumstances seems to be key here.

Many of the policy efforts undertaken to support women focus on their specific role as a household caregiver or mother. Though important, it should not be given at the expense of other efforts, like hiring more local women to serve in frontline work to support their communities development, and encouraging employment for young women who are out of school and not yet married, Moore added.

Empowerment for socially constrained women

The study conducted randomised control trials in 197 gram panchayats. And in 67 of these, womens bank accounts were linked to their MGNREGS wages and provided basic financial training to ensure they understand how to use their accounts if they decided to work. The study was conducted between 2013 and 2014, prior to the start of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana targeting Indias unbanked population. Follow-up surveys were then conducted in 2015 and 2017.

The study then compared outcomes for women who only received bank accounts (accounts only) with those who additionally received direct deposit of MGNREGS wages and bank account training (direct deposit and training).

Low levels of engagement with the formal banking sector beyond simple withdrawals and deposits by women and marginalised communities suggest that universal account ownership does not necessarily translate to financial inclusion or the ability to use banking services effectively, IndiaSpend reported on May 17, 2018. In 2015-16, 53% of women used a bank account in their own name, according to the fourth National Family Health Survey data.

The intervention found long- and short-term benefits in the group. Three years after the intervention, women used their accounts more frequently and more women were able to go to a bank to operate their accounts.

Women living in gram panchayats where training was offered to operate bank accounts worked more, as we said earlier, than those who only had individual bank accounts opened for them.

Further, the impact was more among women who had least or no work experience--in the study, those who had never worked for MGNREGS. These women have been classified as socially constrained to reflect that they are less likely to work, less empowered, and that their husbands are more likely to oppose female work.

The transfers to individually controlled bank accounts empower women to assert themselves in their families, the authors surmise. So giving a woman better outside options to the status quo may help her bargain and assert her preferences, which can result in increased mobility, said Moore.

Three years later, in 2017, socially constrained women reported an increased ability to spend and greater freedom to move about. After three years, their empowerment score was increased, effectively closing the empowerment gap between constrained and unconstrained women.

Gender norms and mobility

The study found that, compared with women who were given only bank accounts, those women who received digital deposits and training were more likely to hold female work in high regard. Although their husbands did not change their personal beliefs they became less likely to report that husbands suffer social costs when their wives work, the study reported.

Gender norms became more progressive in families where women controlled their wages, the study found. The actual norms (average personal beliefs about women and work) of women who received direct deposit and training were more progressive than those of women in accounts-only areas. Also, on average, the community was more accepting of working women.

Although husbands actual norms remained unchanged, perceived norms among men in the community were significantly liberalized, with greater perceived acceptance of working womens husbands, suggesting that women may in part be held back from working by mens misperceptions of the stigma they would suffer, the study said.

There are signs of womens increased decision-making and financial independence, but that does not necessarily come at a cost to men, said Moore. The results on decisions hinge around whether women report higher involvement in either deciding or helping decide how to spend money and whether to work outside the home--so an increase in womens power here would not necessarily mean mens influence declined, since they could be making more joint decisions.

Policy implication

The study is significant for programmes such as MGNREGS which aim to include and empower women through employment, offering them equal wages, the study says. Policies that cause women to increase engagement with those outside their families are likely to change social norms, especially as more conservative men change their beliefs about the consequences of adopting or accommodating progressive behaviours.

One thing our study didnt speak to is that limited mobility also reflects individual and household concerns about safety and violence against women, which are valid concerns, said Moore. This is where policy can play an important role. It can work to ensure public spaces are safe and open to both men and women, she added, to improve responsiveness to reports about harassment and violence, and to be responsive to womens inputs on these issues.

(Paliath is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)

We welcome feedback. Please write to respond@indiaspend.org. We reserve the right to edit responses for language and grammar.

Shreehari Paliath - Shreehari is an electrical and electronics engineer and had a brief stint at the National Aerospace Laboratories, Bengaluru. He has a master's degree in development from Azim Premji University, a post-graduate diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, and as a writer has reported on enterprise IT and water, the latter at Arygham, a non-profit that works on such issues.

View post:
Women More Likely To Work If They Can Control Their Earnings: Study | - IndiaSpend

LETTER | The Association for Community and Dialogue (ACID) appreciates the Human Resources Ministry's efforts in empowering technical and vocational education training(TVET) by developing a more relevant new policy in implementing TVETS agenda in line with industry needs.

This was outlined in the ministry's 2019 achievement report to strengthen the various sectors led by minister M Kula Segaran.

The empowerment of TVET education is unprecedented and the ministry should be commended for its efforts. This is also in line with the spirit of C 142 of ILO convention on human resources development.

While the efforts of the ministry are laudable, it is also vital to understand that TVET education by itself will not bring about the needed transformation in the education landscape of the country if there is no integration between technical training, social context and work ethics.

Integration results in having an effective and dynamic work culture.

I have come across students who graduate from TVET colleges, lack a proper understanding of what it takes to succeed in their chosen vocation. This entails an attitude of a long-term commitment to career development and the importance of interpersonal, communication and coordinating skills which has the elements of emotional and spiritual intelligence.

Being a human resources practitioner, I have come across young graduates who are very technically inclined but unable to express their knowledge well, besides not being able to recall instances of behaviours that resulted in problems being resolved or job well done that attracted good comments from superiors or teachers.

There is also the absence of general knowledge on current events in the country and how they could use such knowledge to improve themselves and the organisation they are in.

There are also issues related to grooming and inflated resumes about personal attributes that reveal little about practical work excellence. When I was in the UK last year, I had the opportunity to meet young people who were part of non- governmental organisations.

I was surprised to see young man and women aged between 24 and 27 heading departments in their respective corporate organisations, besides being part of NGOs fighting for causes dear to them.

In my conversation with them, I found a great deal of maturity that is shaped by knowledge beyond technicalities.

Therefore, it is vital that TVET education is integrated with character formation, social awareness and learning the social-psychological dynamics of an organisation.

It should be followed up with reflective learning based on experiential exposure that would test their character and social-organisational knowledge.

This is to ensure that students of TVET have a wider understanding of what it takes to succeed in their careers.

RONALD BENJAMIN is secretary the Association for Community and Dialogue.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

Read more from the original source:
The missing link in TVET education Ronald Benjamin - Malaysiakini

Mashable's new series Don't @ Me takes unpopular opinions and backs them up with...reasons. We all have our ways, but we may just convince you to change yours. And if not, chill.

Anne sees lights-on sex as a mirror, or a Mbius strip. The 24-year-old looks at her partner looking at her, looking at them looking at her...

This does not scare her. In fact, that's what makes lights-on sex hot in the first place.

Anne, who's an MFA student in New York, went on to tell me that lights-on sex has always been the norm for her. In a society heavily impacted by porn, it's easy to see why. Porn shows sex with the lights on, for obvious reasons.

"I didnt think lights-off sex was necessarily real I thought it was a teen-movie trope or a relic of the 50s," Anne said. "I watched porn from a young age and the majority of that is obviously lights-on."

Now, she sees lights-off sex as a turn off. It makes her feel like her partner does not want to see her body, as if they're doing some sort of shadowy activity.

My first sexual experiences were lights-on, so that's what I got used to.

I am in the same camp as Anne. My first sexual experiences were lights-on, so that's what I got used to. I also watch porn, and no matter whether it's a glossy production or home video taken on an iPhone 10, the lights have been on. Even many movie sex scenes are lights-on because frankly, we need to see what's going on!

So, I never balked at it. I enjoy seeing my partner's body; I would not be having sex with them otherwise. And I assume they feel the same way about me. I can easily see what I'm doing, and what they're doing, and it just adds to the hotness of it all.

Now, having sex with the lights off almost seems utilitarian, or like we both have something to hide.

As I had talked to others and had new partners, however, I soon learned that not everyone thought lights-on sex was hot. In fact, some seemed downright afraid of it.

While Anne and I have been comfortable with having sex with the lights on since our sexual awakening, many people have the opposite experience. Given our Puritan, body-image focused society, it's easy to deduce why.

"Having sex with the lights off can stem from several personal and societal factors," said Adina Mahalli, a certified relationship consultant and sexual health expert at Maple Holistics. These factors can range from body image struggles to societal taboos originating from religious beliefs.

"Sex is seen as a sin in Catholicism and sex in many religions is seen as something that shouldnt be done recreationally. Shame in an act will make you not want to see well while participating in it," Mahalli continued.

Everything is on display.

Holistic sexuality coach Christie Federico explained that having the lights on adds an element of vulnerability to the act. Sex is vulnerable to begin with, and having the lights on can amplify those feelings. Everything is on display. Even eye contact during sex can make people uncomfortable.

"There's a fear of 'What will this person see if they look that deeply?'," Federico said, "A fear of not being good enough."

These are just some reasons why one might be hesitant to have lights-on sex. Frank, a 22-year-old software engineer in New Jersey, compared it to an old cheese or fermented fine wine. He said, "It is an acquired taste that needs not only getting used to but conscious pre-planning or thinking about." Frank said he liked having sex with the lights on when he was "proud" of himself and proud to be with his partner.

Given that having the lights on can amplify one's insecurities, having a supportive partner could help make it easier. That was the case for Alice, a grant writer from Oregon. "I started with lights-on sex when I met my current boyfriend, who is very into body worship and praise," she said. "I'm heavy, and I have some confidence issues, so I found it a little uncomfortable at first."

It can increase intimacy and connection with your partner and can lead to better sex overall.

Alice's partner gave her compliments and "sweet talk" that she said "smoothed the transition" for her, and now she finds light-on sex empowering and loves to be seen.

And there are other benefits, too. It can increase intimacy and connection with your partner and can lead to better sex overall. Mahalli noted that humans are visual creatures, and during sex you can go off of subconscious visual cues.

Also, plainly, you get to see your hot partner better with the lights on, and that is, uhh, hot.

That's one reason 22-year-old Sonia prefers lights-on sex. "I enjoy seeing my hot partners, and I like being seen by them in return," she said.

For those who want to feel that same level of empowerment and intimacy that lights-on sex can bring but are not sure where to start, here's some advice.

Start with the lights dimmed not fully on, but not fully off either or in natural light, so something like morning sex or an afternoon delight. "Dimmed light sex can set a more sensual mood than having the lights on full, while still allowing both parties to see everything that is going on," Mahalli said.

If you want to go a more woo-woo route, Federico suggested "eye gazing" or "soul gazing." Couples can sit or lie next to each other and stare into each other's eyes. This is an exercise aimed to make you more comfortable being seen, but with clothes on first.

If your hesitations have to do with body image issues, you may need to do separate work before embarking on a lights-on journey. There are a lot of ways this could be done, either on your own or with the help of a mental health professional.

Federico suggests spending more time lounging around naked to get comfortable with yourself and telling yourself positive affirmations. Something that's helped me is unfollowing social media accounts that cause me to compare my real-life body with someone's (often Photoshopped) photos; you can even replace them with more body-positive accounts if you'd like.

Ultimately, lights-on sex is something to try at least once.

The goal here is not to love yourself immediately; asking yourself to unlearn decades of body hate in an instant will backfire quickly. Take it slow. "A better goal than working toward loving every single inch of one's body is working toward simply accepting it as is, even if you don't love it," Federico said, "And remembering that your worth isn't determined by your appearance whatsoever."

Ultimately, lights-on sex is something to try at least once. If you are afraid or if you have and you didn't like it take a look and examine why. Is it because of your body-image? Is it because of awkwardness between you and your partner? The reason is probably beyond the bedroom entirely. It may take time to figure out and worth through but it may send ripples of benefits in your life including but not most importantly improving the sex you have.

Doing it with the lights on might feel awkward at first but sex, especially with a new partner, is naturally awkward sometimes. You are learning about your partner's body and they are learning yours, and it is not meant to be perfect.

"Lights on feels like an aid to the treasure hunt," Anne said. "Lights on feels like sharing. It feels like consent. It feels like bearing witness."

And, if you really want to, you can just close your eyes.

Excerpt from:
Here's Why Sex Is Better With The Lights On - Mashable India

It is always an honour and a privilege when previously showcasedguests who have appeared on the Living Fearlessly with Lisa McDonald internationally heard radio/podcast show, wish to be re-interviewed particularly when their momentous growth is fierce and steadfast! I love talking to the spitfires, who have new and exciting updates in which to discuss and to generously share with my loyal global listeners, and the podcast subscribers!

Jim Britt a person who I very much admire and respect, was my first guest of this brand new decade. It was important to me to set a strong tone on my platforms right out of the 2020 gate! Jim and business partner Kevin Harrington from Shark Tank (also interviewed on Living Fearlessly with Lisa McDonald) are jointly two of my radio/podcast sponsors, who are consistently supportive of me personally, with my brand professionally, and with my overall contributions to the shared space.

I feel very akin to Jim both personally and professionally, and so, any additional opportunity that I too, can publicly reiterate my immense gratitude for the ways in which Jim (and Kevin) have continued to pay it forward and have been of service to not only to me, but to countless others, I actively jump on it by seizing the moment!

Similar to our first initial interview, and not at all surprising to me Jim brought his dynamic energies, and nuggets of inspirational wisdom to the airwaves for our second go-around on Living Fearlessly with Lisa McDonald! I am in awe of the ongoing and newfound wheelhouses, Jim continues to immerse himself in with respect to projects, endeavours and concentrated areas of focus and sheer dedication! Jims time management skills in which to effectively juggle it all is spell-bounding to me. I touched upon that more than once in our fast paced, chalk-filled discussion, which can be heard in the enclosed podcast link!

Jims world renowned reputation is indicative of his longstanding commitment to excellence. For one to have successfully honed and mastered decades of genuine buy-in from clients, peers, colleagues, audiences, purchasers, and studentsthis can only speak to the conscientious application of methods consistently demonstrated by Jim, and for how it is reflective of his grasp and handle on ingenuity, vision, integrity, service delivery, and relatability. Clearly, Jim has a firm pulse and a genuine read not only on people overall, but also with respect to his intuitiveability to glean the trends and patterns of the marketplace. Jim has a remarkable knack for staying ahead of the curve for what people want and what people need thus responding and delivering accordingly. He is so on top of it, which makes following himMesmerizing!

I am exceptionally grateful to Jim once again for graciously bringing me into the fold with his joint venture book series, Cracking The Rich Code with Kevin Harrington, also endorsed by the one and only Tony Robbins! It has been an exciting collaborative partnership as one might imagine! I take nothing lightly or for granted when it comes to others like Jim, who are generously affording me additional opportunities in which to equally shine and grow yet another stellar example of Jim paving the way for all of us! Leadership at its finest!

On behalf of both Jim and myself, we wish to thank you for kindly taking time out of your hectic schedules so as to read this Feature Article, in addition to kindly tuning into the enclosed podcast link, and also for any forthcoming contact or connection you may wish to initiate or extend to either or to both of us. We equally value the growth and development of the overall collective. It would be our mutual honour to assist, support and encourage you, in any way you deem it to be a good synergistic fit!

Thank you once again, Jim, for the generous gift of your time and for once again bring your A-Game to Living Fearlessly with Lisa McDonald. The global listeners, podcast subscribers and I very much appreciate you our friend! Keep Shining!

Uplifting You To Fear Less And To Live More!

Be your own Hero. Be your own Shero. Be your own Leader. Be your own Best Friend! Love & Gratitude ~Lisa #Grateful #ThriveThursday #ThriveGlobal #LivingFearlessly

Who is Jim Britt?

Jim Brittis an internationally recognized leader and highly sought after speaker in the field of peak performance andpersonal empowerment training. He is author of 13 best-selling books including,Cracking the Rich Code, The Power of Letting Go, Freedom, Unleashing Your Authentic Power, Do This. Get Rich-For Entrepreneurs, to name a few.

Jimhas presented seminars throughout the world sharing his success principles for entrepreneurs and life enhancing realizations with thousands of audiences, totaling over 1,500,000 people from all walks of life.

As an entrepreneur Jim has started 28 successful business ventures. He has served as a success counselor to over 300 corporations worldwide. He was recently named as one of the worlds top 50 speakers and top20 success coaches. Early in Jims speaking career he was Business partner with the late Jim Rohn for 8 years, where Tony Robbins worked under Jims direction for his first few years in the speaking business.

In addition to Jims speaking schedule, he is currently working on a business venture with Kevin Harrington from the TV show Shark Tank on a collaborative book series and PR, Marketing, Branding and lead generation strategy for entrepreneurs, titled: Cracking the Rich Code.

Continue reading here:
Activating Your Real Potential! - Thrive Global

The Bradford Womens+ Group celebrates its first anniversary on Jan. 16 a full year of providing a safe space for women+ to come together, for personal development and empowerment.

The groups mission statement is simple: To empower women+ through personal development, education and building community. To that end, Bradford Womens+ Group has organized free monthly meetings and special sessions on topics that in 2019 ranged from yoga and Zumba, to the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

The topic on Jan 16 is 'Tips and Tools for Stress Management' - a workshop, led by facilitator Sue Carr, that will help participants gain a better understanding of the many ways in which stress can impact their lives, identify'early warning signs' for stress-related problems, and cope with stress.

The workshop takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Zima Room of the BWG Public Library and Cultural Centre, 425 Holland St. W. (doors open at 6:15 p.m.), and isopen to all women+ ages 18 and older.

The session is free, but space is limitedand pre-registration is recommended. Register online by clicking here, or contact the Group at 905-251-9926 or bradfordwomensgroup@gmail.com, or see BradfordWomensGroup on facebook.com - and check out the video recapping the events and achievements of 2019.

Bradford Womens+ Group is also looking for facilitators, for sessions on mental health, mindfulness, body acceptance and healthy relationships in 2020.

As we reflect on our first year, we couldnt be more thrilled about our achievements and growth, say the organizers. We are so grateful for your support and cant wait to see where 2020 takes us!

Read more:
Marking a first anniversary of empowerment, education with the Bradford Women's+ Group - BradfordToday