The Wise Feminist Business Woman

I was recently reading a book called " Feminist Economics Today: Beyond Economic Man", the book explores how interplay of masculine and feminine traits are necessary in the business world. Although women are allowed more rights within the United States, their notary of achievement and influence has gone unnoticed. It is important for women in the field to not settle for the goal of success, but to desire to change the very field of economics. False assumptions about gender roles have shaped theoretical structures within economics. Masculine thought toward economic disciplines are influenced primarily through Western thought, assuming that self-interest is more important than inter-dependence and human connection.   Although individualism is important in the economic world, but when it comes out of a self-interested striving, it does not enhance human connection.  Western thought tends to selectively highlight the positive aspects of characteristics encouraged in men and only the negative aspects typically encouraged in women.  For example softness which is a part of feminist was seen as negative, because it is seen as weakness. However, softness is an important part of flexibility.  In men, hardness is viewed as a sign of strength which is a positive quality, but without the proper balance of strength with softness, hardness can also mean rigidity. As a result of the influence of feminism in the economic world there are even some males who are more feminist than women themselves. The spark I once lost to stand up for my own personal truth as an authentic woman and a future professional were reignited when I heard this!
                                                                     My Story:

It's not that I don't know how to assert myself as a woman, but for a long time I held a lack of assertiveness. My lack of assertiveness in my personal life has lead to a final conclusion which I have been missing a part of myself until now.  Several times in my life when I tried to show the world some of my more soft "feminine" qualities it was taken advantage of. It is without a doubt that we live in a world where more masculine traits are favored because they imply a sense of control, leaving feminine traits in the dust. In the past, when I’ve stood up for kindness and truth and did It with respect to communicate to others when their behavior was unjust or immoral my voice was never heard. I began to feel discouraged and as if my opinion didn't matter, but maybe I didn't know the difference between when to retreat and when to fight harder. At some point I gave up on sharing some of my opinions which truly are worth being heard, and the world won't give me validation until I've validated myself. "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."- Arthur Schopenhauer.


When you don't trust yourself  and your own intuition it's like walking on a tight-rope and it feels like you could fall to your death any second .

 I realize now how deep down I truly am a feminist, it’s something I can no longer hide, because it’s a part of who I am. Part of my inability to be vocal about that is the denial of that part of who I really am. There was always this temptation to blame it on myself, when really it was a lesson that I had not yet learned, you haven't truly learned something until you learn how to walk it out.  And maybe part of me was still selfish too, because I was more concerned about who would walk away when I showed my feminist fangs , then sharing the truth. But I've learned to stand up for truth even when it hurts and you get beat up for it ( in both a literal and non-literal sense), but its worth it because in the end it makes the world a better place and because it has the power to change people. I am gentle woman, but I am also strong. I learned that power is in the eye of the beholder. Never give up and keep fighting for what you believe in.  We will win!

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 

How Weight-Loss Surgery Can Trigger Eating disorders

When traditional diets fail sometimes people will consider weight loss surgery. Gastric by-pass or the lap-band are the most common types of surgery. It is important to be cognizant of whether or not an individual has an eating disorder before their surgery. The detection of an eating disorder in this situation is more difficult because surgery symptoms such as indigestion, acid reflux, and weight-loss which are the same as an ED. Although after the surgery, individuals have a smaller stomach, and therefore eat less, if there was habits such as overeating, binging and purging or starvation before surgery, then it is likely an individual will struggle with eating habits.  When an individual uses food as a form of control to cope with emotions, healthy coping mechanisms need to be adopted in order to have a postive relationship with food. A person's relationship with food needs to change with the weight-loss, it's not just about the scale. Support groups are a necessary help to ease the transitions and struggles which come post surgery.  There is a limited diet that individuals can have post surgery, as the stomach is healing and can become easily aggrivated by harsh foods. For example soups are a good option during this time. In addition, certain foods are easier on the stomach barley compared to rice  which is important to consider while preparing meals.Dietitians and doctors can help prescribe a diet which is appropriate after surgery.

Healthy ways to cope with emotions:

·         Take a yoga class,

·         get a massage

·         Let yourself cry

·         confront the person who is triggering your feelings,

·         breathe deeply 

·         take a creative arts class

·         Talk to a friend

·         Talk to a therapist

Intuitive Eating

Intuitive eating is a philosophy which developed out the crash and burn of the dieting frenzy which is arose in attempt to rectify the high rate of obesity in America. The most notable proponents are Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch “ Intuitive Eating – A Revolutionary program that works”. When chronic dieters or those recovering with some form of eating disorder find out of. When once failed dieting leads to self-blame and guilt, intuitive eating sets people free to be able to .  To start, it is important to know what kind of eating-syle one is such as a careful eater, professional dieter, or unconscious eater, chaotic unconscious eater, emotional unconscious eater to name a few.  

The reason dieting does not work is because as individuals oscillate between different eating styles based on eating triggers there are several damaging effects as a result:

·        * Increased binge eating,

·        * Decreased metabolic rate

·        * Increased feelings of food deprivation

·         *Decreased sense of willpower

·         *Increased sense of failure

To begin to intuitively eat requires an awakening, but one must first reject the dieting mentality in order to move toward freedom. Tuning in to hunger and satiety cues can be a challenge because dieters will ignore these cues in attempts to lose weight, and eventually lose sensitivity to the body’s natural cues to start and stop eating. 

Another important part of Intuitive eating requires one to monitoring and develop non-judgmental self-talk , while honoring hunger and food preferences.

Ø  Food police – Summaries your dieting habits as “good” or “bad” while keeping your food and body at war

Ø  Nutrition Informant – obsession with nutrition information. Ex. Every gram of fat counted, completely cutting out certain kinds of food. Operates under the mask of health-conscious, but really create food pre-occupation

Ø  Diet Rebel- resists health habits due to the criticisms or judgments of others. The diet rebel is angry and determined

In order to learn intuitive eating one must learn how to cope with their emotions without using food. Although food can be sensorily pleasurable such as in taste, texture, aroma, temperature, visual appeal it should be savored.

What is Beauty?

What is beauty? Although man attempts to define it, it cannot be captured, and its standards are seemingly intangibly high. Society believes that in order to be successful or beautiful you must be thin. What is thin? The ultimate idea of thin is not anymore satisfying then the attainment of it. Like a phantom, the feeling of achievement and worth fades. Although pop-culture, media, and the dieting industry has played a huge role on societal belief, it is important for individuals to become self-educated on the obsessive culture of beauty and thinness that America has fostered. As individuals we cannot slip into the hole that says "reach this goal or else you are a failure". Nobody looks perfect when they roll out of bed in the morning, and everyone has a bad eating day, even the Nutritionist! Fake and imaginary are not beautiful, it's impossible to remain plastic forever, when you are made to be human. Contrary to popular belief, approaching food, body, and weight with a non-diet approach actually increases self-esteem and helps individuals achieve a natural weight which can be maintained. Focusing on weight and size only increases the likelihood of failed dieting and overeating, but moderation in eating tends to be more beneficial toward achieving and enjoyable and balanced life. People who are happy from the inside out are beautiful!




Here's a look at a clilp of great video that will make you laugh and think about how culture shapes our view of what is "beautiful"

The Religion of Thin - Via the Film America The Beautiful    

                                               Directed by Darryl Roberts