Desperate Feminist Wives - Why wanting equality makes women unhappy. By Meghan O'Rourke
From the above Slate article on a recent sociological study:
Stay-at-home wives, according to the authors, are more content than their working counterparts. And happiness, they found, has less to do with division of labor than with the level of commitment and "emotional work" men contribute (or are perceived to contribute). But the most interesting data may be that the women who strongly identify as progressive - —the 15 percent who agree most with feminist ideals - —have a harder time being happy than their peers, according to an analysis that has been provided exclusively to Slate. Feminist ideals, not domestic duties, seem to be what make wives morose.
Before any feminist reader (in the unlikely event I have any) throws their latte at the screen, the article goes on to give the figures and qualify this conclusion in such a way that it makes it hardly worth either side trying to get much ideological mileage out of the study. Still, if I have briefly annoyed some Labor voting feminist out there, it was worth it.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
No trade
Jerusalem Post | Breaking News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World
From the above story:
Despite a promise made to Washington last November to drop its economic boycott of Israel, Saudi Arabia plans to host a major international conference next week aimed at promoting a continued trade embargo on the Jewish state, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
The Post also found that the kingdom continues to prohibit entry to products made in Israel or to foreign-made goods containing Israeli components, in violation of pledges made by senior Saudi officials to the Bush administration last year.
"Next week, we will hold the ninth annual meeting for the boycott of Israel here in Jidda," Ambassador Salem el-Honi, high commissioner of the Organization for the Islamic Conference's (OIC) Islamic Office for the Boycott of Israel, said in a telephone interview.
"All 57 OIC member states will attend, and we will discuss coordination among the various offices to strengthen the boycott," he said, noting that the meeting is held every March.
One would think that those urging the West to keep funding Palestine should show more good will than this. What a terrible accident of history it is that the Middle East has so much oil.
From the above story:
Despite a promise made to Washington last November to drop its economic boycott of Israel, Saudi Arabia plans to host a major international conference next week aimed at promoting a continued trade embargo on the Jewish state, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
The Post also found that the kingdom continues to prohibit entry to products made in Israel or to foreign-made goods containing Israeli components, in violation of pledges made by senior Saudi officials to the Bush administration last year.
"Next week, we will hold the ninth annual meeting for the boycott of Israel here in Jidda," Ambassador Salem el-Honi, high commissioner of the Organization for the Islamic Conference's (OIC) Islamic Office for the Boycott of Israel, said in a telephone interview.
"All 57 OIC member states will attend, and we will discuss coordination among the various offices to strengthen the boycott," he said, noting that the meeting is held every March.
One would think that those urging the West to keep funding Palestine should show more good will than this. What a terrible accident of history it is that the Middle East has so much oil.
Israel's bad timing?
Jerusalem Post | Breaking News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World
How does Israel track the terrorists that they target from jets? I have never heard an explanation of this.
The media images of kids hurt in this latest attack were not good, and it does seem to me to be particularly ill timed given the uncertainties and uproar over Hamas forming government and whether it should be funded etc. Such an attack, unless justfied by a relatively recent fatal rocket attack on Israel, would seem to be counterproductive at this time to Israel's bigger interests.
How does Israel track the terrorists that they target from jets? I have never heard an explanation of this.
The media images of kids hurt in this latest attack were not good, and it does seem to me to be particularly ill timed given the uncertainties and uproar over Hamas forming government and whether it should be funded etc. Such an attack, unless justfied by a relatively recent fatal rocket attack on Israel, would seem to be counterproductive at this time to Israel's bigger interests.
Mad Democrat
WorldNetDaily: Democrat for Senate: Kill practicing 'gays'
From the above funny story:
A Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Ohio wants to make homosexual behavior a capital crime punishable by the death penalty.
Merrill Keiser Jr. is a trucker with no political experience, but he hopes to beat fellow Democrat Rep. Sherrod Brown in the May primary....
Liberal blogger Deborah White was less than thrilled with Keiser's candidacy and the media's response to it...
White speculated Keiser was planted by the GOP.
"He must be a Republican plant," she wrote. "Please ... someone tell me I'm correct."
From the above funny story:
A Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Ohio wants to make homosexual behavior a capital crime punishable by the death penalty.
Merrill Keiser Jr. is a trucker with no political experience, but he hopes to beat fellow Democrat Rep. Sherrod Brown in the May primary....
Liberal blogger Deborah White was less than thrilled with Keiser's candidacy and the media's response to it...
White speculated Keiser was planted by the GOP.
"He must be a Republican plant," she wrote. "Please ... someone tell me I'm correct."
Is parenthood held in contempt?
Guardian Unlimited | Columnists | Madeline Bunting: Our culture of contempt for parenthood
Madeline Bunting's column above is interesting, and the reasons she gives for low birthrates in Britain (essentially, that having children now goes against the cultural "values" of independence and consumerism) sounds somewhat plausible in the context of, say, the US and Australia as well as Britain.
However, as I noted in an earlier post, birth rates across all of Europe vary wildly, with Italy, Spain, Greece and Germany having substantially lower rates than Britain (which has about Australia's rate of 1.75 children per women.) The arguments that Bunting makes would, to my mind, make less sense in the more "macho" European countries, where one imagines that the independence of women is not emphasised quite so much. (I am just guessing here, remember.) Yet their rates are even lower than Britains.
Also, what accounts for the relatively high rates in France and Ireland? Both of these countries would seem to be as consumer orientated as Britain, but their birth rates are at 1.9 and 1.99 respectively. Maybe Muslims account for Frances high rate, but surely that can't apply to Ireland?
I guess each country can have their own particular reasons for their rates, but it is curious phenomena that there is such a variation across Europe. Discussions of cultural factors affecting the rate seem to me to usually be speculation without subtantial evidence behind them.
Madeline Bunting's column above is interesting, and the reasons she gives for low birthrates in Britain (essentially, that having children now goes against the cultural "values" of independence and consumerism) sounds somewhat plausible in the context of, say, the US and Australia as well as Britain.
However, as I noted in an earlier post, birth rates across all of Europe vary wildly, with Italy, Spain, Greece and Germany having substantially lower rates than Britain (which has about Australia's rate of 1.75 children per women.) The arguments that Bunting makes would, to my mind, make less sense in the more "macho" European countries, where one imagines that the independence of women is not emphasised quite so much. (I am just guessing here, remember.) Yet their rates are even lower than Britains.
Also, what accounts for the relatively high rates in France and Ireland? Both of these countries would seem to be as consumer orientated as Britain, but their birth rates are at 1.9 and 1.99 respectively. Maybe Muslims account for Frances high rate, but surely that can't apply to Ireland?
I guess each country can have their own particular reasons for their rates, but it is curious phenomena that there is such a variation across Europe. Discussions of cultural factors affecting the rate seem to me to usually be speculation without subtantial evidence behind them.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
On the Oscars
I was tired and didn't even see it all last night, but I have the following observations to make:
* Jon Stewart: not too bad as a host. Vast improvement on Chris Rock, whose failure was even worse than David Letterman's ill fated outing. (And I generally like Letterman, although his recent defence of Cindy Sheehan makes you wonder about how sensible he really is.)
* Ben Stiller is always prepared to look stupid, and of what I saw he had the funniest scripted bit last night. (Particularly funny was the line "this is blowing Spielberg's mind", with a cutaway shot of Spielberg in the audience mouthing "no it's not".)
* So Brokeback Mountain lost best picture. Seems fair enough; while not seeing it, I strongly suspect there was a "bandwagon" effect going on in the body of reviews. (When the praise is too universal and too similar in its terms, one often suspects the critics are not bringing an independent mind to their work.) But I like this line:
Larry McMurtry, 69, who won Best Adapted Screenplay for Brokeback Mountain, said afterwards: "“Perhaps the truth really is Americans don'’t want cowboys to be gay."”
Did something give him the impression that there was a significant body of Americans just hanging out for cowboy sexual revisionism?
* The current crop of Hollywood stars are generally a pretty uncharismatic lot. It is not that they are bad actors; it's just that there are so few that are personally appealing enough that it makes you want to see their next project. Contrast this with, say, even the 1980's. (As I age, I am increasingly nostalgic for that period.) You had the likes of Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford, Meg Ryan, (for some) Julia Roberts (I am afraid that all I can notice when she is on screen is her enormous mouth,) Tom Hanks, John Hughes films with their generally appealing young casts, etc. I never took to Meryl Streep, but I can see she how she had star appeal to some.
Now, many of these actors are still working, but it seems that their most appealing and successful work is well behind them. The current crop of 20's to 30-ish stars just don't seem to have the same pulling power.
And their personal lives seem screwed up in ways that detract from their screen appeal. Although Hollywood has always been full of divorce and remarriage, the weird or scandalous behaviour or comments of some stars now - think Angelina Jolie, Anne Heche or Robert Downey Jr - would have been kept from the public in past years.) Now we know too much about the star's private lives, and it does affect the way you feel about the roles they are playing on screen.
The psychology of watching gay playing straight and straight playing gay is particularly interesting. I don't know that it is just prejudice that makes it easier for audiences to accept straight playing gay rather than vice versa; I think it is something deeper. But in any event, everyone was better off when the sexual preferences of the stars was not so openly discussed, and their drug habits kept quiet too.
Enough of that for now.
Update: I have corrected some mistakes from my first rushed version.
* Jon Stewart: not too bad as a host. Vast improvement on Chris Rock, whose failure was even worse than David Letterman's ill fated outing. (And I generally like Letterman, although his recent defence of Cindy Sheehan makes you wonder about how sensible he really is.)
* Ben Stiller is always prepared to look stupid, and of what I saw he had the funniest scripted bit last night. (Particularly funny was the line "this is blowing Spielberg's mind", with a cutaway shot of Spielberg in the audience mouthing "no it's not".)
* So Brokeback Mountain lost best picture. Seems fair enough; while not seeing it, I strongly suspect there was a "bandwagon" effect going on in the body of reviews. (When the praise is too universal and too similar in its terms, one often suspects the critics are not bringing an independent mind to their work.) But I like this line:
Larry McMurtry, 69, who won Best Adapted Screenplay for Brokeback Mountain, said afterwards: "“Perhaps the truth really is Americans don'’t want cowboys to be gay."”
Did something give him the impression that there was a significant body of Americans just hanging out for cowboy sexual revisionism?
* The current crop of Hollywood stars are generally a pretty uncharismatic lot. It is not that they are bad actors; it's just that there are so few that are personally appealing enough that it makes you want to see their next project. Contrast this with, say, even the 1980's. (As I age, I am increasingly nostalgic for that period.) You had the likes of Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford, Meg Ryan, (for some) Julia Roberts (I am afraid that all I can notice when she is on screen is her enormous mouth,) Tom Hanks, John Hughes films with their generally appealing young casts, etc. I never took to Meryl Streep, but I can see she how she had star appeal to some.
Now, many of these actors are still working, but it seems that their most appealing and successful work is well behind them. The current crop of 20's to 30-ish stars just don't seem to have the same pulling power.
And their personal lives seem screwed up in ways that detract from their screen appeal. Although Hollywood has always been full of divorce and remarriage, the weird or scandalous behaviour or comments of some stars now - think Angelina Jolie, Anne Heche or Robert Downey Jr - would have been kept from the public in past years.) Now we know too much about the star's private lives, and it does affect the way you feel about the roles they are playing on screen.
The psychology of watching gay playing straight and straight playing gay is particularly interesting. I don't know that it is just prejudice that makes it easier for audiences to accept straight playing gay rather than vice versa; I think it is something deeper. But in any event, everyone was better off when the sexual preferences of the stars was not so openly discussed, and their drug habits kept quiet too.
Enough of that for now.
Update: I have corrected some mistakes from my first rushed version.
The Kiss of Death
The Australian: Mothball this tired Bomber [March 07, 2006]
Phillip Adams nominates Kevin Rudd as his preferred Labor leader. This won't last. Surely Rudd is too far right for Adams?
Phillip Adams nominates Kevin Rudd as his preferred Labor leader. This won't last. Surely Rudd is too far right for Adams?
Gerard Henderson on hating Howard
Haters are their own worst enemy - Gerard Henderson - Opinion - smh.com.au
Gerard's article today is amusing and accurate - particularly his account of how Howard haters can get through the day only hearing their opinions being echoed back to them.
Gerard's article today is amusing and accurate - particularly his account of how Howard haters can get through the day only hearing their opinions being echoed back to them.
Things get off to a flying start in the Palestinian Parliament
Wrangle marks start of control by Hamas - Africa & Middle East - International Herald Tribune
From the above article:
The first working session of the new Palestinian Parliament on Monday swiftly degenerated into shouting matches between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions, with Fatah legislators ultimately storming out.
Interestingly, many of the legislators were not there in person:
At the session Monday, 20 of the 132 Palestinian lawmakers were absent. Some are wanted by Israel and are in hiding, and others are in Israeli jails. Large portraits of a dozen imprisoned lawmakers were placed in their vacant seats.
Actually, wouldn't life size inflateable versions look better? Would be a good look in our Parliament too.
From the above article:
The first working session of the new Palestinian Parliament on Monday swiftly degenerated into shouting matches between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions, with Fatah legislators ultimately storming out.
Interestingly, many of the legislators were not there in person:
At the session Monday, 20 of the 132 Palestinian lawmakers were absent. Some are wanted by Israel and are in hiding, and others are in Israeli jails. Large portraits of a dozen imprisoned lawmakers were placed in their vacant seats.
Actually, wouldn't life size inflateable versions look better? Would be a good look in our Parliament too.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Sunnis change of heart
Iraq's Besieged Sunnis Now Looking to U.S. - Los Angeles Times
The article suggests the Sunnis now want the US forces to stay to protect them in Iraq. Interesting...
The article suggests the Sunnis now want the US forces to stay to protect them in Iraq. Interesting...
Maybe that's why India is low on my preferred tourist destination list
The Observer | World | Indian cult kills children for goddess
Interesting article on sacrifices to Kali still taking place in remote, rural India.
Where is Indiana Jones when you need him?
Interesting article on sacrifices to Kali still taking place in remote, rural India.
Where is Indiana Jones when you need him?
Creepy robot action
If you haven't seen it already, have a look at this video of a prototype 4 legged walking "mule". The first impression is that you are looking at two people doing a pantomime horse act, but you can quickly see that it is indeed a robot, and the effect is rather creepy.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
On Antartica melting
TCS Daily - Antarctic Ice: The Cold Truth
While most media reports I have looked at, once you get past the headline, do give some indication of the uncertainties in how this latest study reached its conclusion (that Antartica is losing ice mass), I recommend the above link for a more detailed account.
Basically, this type of mass measurement (based on gravitation effects on 2 satellites) sounds rather complicated and potentially imprecise, given that it has to take into account rises in the crust beneath the Antartic ice too.
As always, the problem is getting the public past the headlines for stories like this.
While most media reports I have looked at, once you get past the headline, do give some indication of the uncertainties in how this latest study reached its conclusion (that Antartica is losing ice mass), I recommend the above link for a more detailed account.
Basically, this type of mass measurement (based on gravitation effects on 2 satellites) sounds rather complicated and potentially imprecise, given that it has to take into account rises in the crust beneath the Antartic ice too.
As always, the problem is getting the public past the headlines for stories like this.
Holland continues its peculiar ways
Holland to allow ‘baby euthanasia’ - Sunday Times - Times Online
Seems that Holland, for some obscure reason, always wants to be on the cutting edge of legalised euthanasia.
While this is surely a topic that is fraught with difficulty (the suffering of new born babies having the added sadness of the child never having enjoyed any part of life,) the moral reasoning about it is still often sloppy, I think. For example, from the above story, a pre euthanasia doctor says:
“At some point,” said Verhagen, observing this battle for life, “we will have to decide whether it is pointless from a medical point of view and whether we should not prolong treatment.”
This, he agreed, was a form of “passive euthanasia” practised in countries all over the world. But from a moral point of view, he argued, it was no different from administering a lethal dose of morphine, since the result of withdrawing treatment would also eventually be death.
“Is there any difference between watching someone drowning without doing anything and pushing them into the lake?” he asked.
Well, I would have thought the common sense answer is "yes". Both are bad, but initiating the drowning is worse than not initiating it, surely? And it seems a somewhat flawed analogy anyway.
The doctor also causes me a little bit of concern when he talks as follows:
“It is in some ways beautiful,” said Verhagen, describing the moment when severely pain-racked children relax for the first time since birth. “But it is also extremely emotional and very difficult,” he added.
The main issue I suppose is the question of when is appropriate for the State to sanction not just the withdrawal of treatment and the provision of pain relief regardless of its shortening of life, but also the administration of drugs with the intent of causing immediate death.
The non-religious do not readily accept that the different intention makes the acts morally different. I suppose that seems too "metaphysical" for them. But if intentions are to be ignored here, are they to also be irrelevant to criminal law generally, and our common sense feelings of what is right and wrong?
Seems that Holland, for some obscure reason, always wants to be on the cutting edge of legalised euthanasia.
While this is surely a topic that is fraught with difficulty (the suffering of new born babies having the added sadness of the child never having enjoyed any part of life,) the moral reasoning about it is still often sloppy, I think. For example, from the above story, a pre euthanasia doctor says:
“At some point,” said Verhagen, observing this battle for life, “we will have to decide whether it is pointless from a medical point of view and whether we should not prolong treatment.”
This, he agreed, was a form of “passive euthanasia” practised in countries all over the world. But from a moral point of view, he argued, it was no different from administering a lethal dose of morphine, since the result of withdrawing treatment would also eventually be death.
“Is there any difference between watching someone drowning without doing anything and pushing them into the lake?” he asked.
Well, I would have thought the common sense answer is "yes". Both are bad, but initiating the drowning is worse than not initiating it, surely? And it seems a somewhat flawed analogy anyway.
The doctor also causes me a little bit of concern when he talks as follows:
“It is in some ways beautiful,” said Verhagen, describing the moment when severely pain-racked children relax for the first time since birth. “But it is also extremely emotional and very difficult,” he added.
The main issue I suppose is the question of when is appropriate for the State to sanction not just the withdrawal of treatment and the provision of pain relief regardless of its shortening of life, but also the administration of drugs with the intent of causing immediate death.
The non-religious do not readily accept that the different intention makes the acts morally different. I suppose that seems too "metaphysical" for them. But if intentions are to be ignored here, are they to also be irrelevant to criminal law generally, and our common sense feelings of what is right and wrong?
Robyn Williams slums it in New York
It seems not to be on the web, but Robyn Williams, the long time host of the ABC's Science Show, has a diary piece in this weekend's Sydney Morning Herald. Apparently, travel expenses are so tight at the ABC that he has to travel economy class, even on international trips. Oh dear. I guess the fact that the interviews can all be done by phone might be the reason the ABC doesn't want to spring for business class.
He also seemed to admit to catching an international flight in sandals. (I don't have the paper with me right now, I am going by memory.) This struck me as odd. Not only do sandals sometimes become quite smelly, I would have thought that from a flight safety point of view that they are not to be recommended if you are avoiding red hot metal during an emergency evacuation.
What's worse, he says that he always forgets something on international flights. This time (on his recent trip to the United States for the annual Association for the Advancement of Science conference) he travelled in Australian summer clothes -including sandals - even though he was destined for New York in winter! This does not strike me as something someone who runs a science show should readily admit to. How can anyone forget to take into account the season that will be there on the other side of the world when leaving on international travel?
Also, he talks about the pathetic accomodation he had in New York (booked by the ABC because of its low cost) described as being little more than a bag lady's doss house.
What I want to know is this: how much salary do you earn Robyn? Is it beyond you to spring for extra money to get a decent room in New York city. I know it is expensive, but really, you would have to know that low cost digs anywhere in that city would be of dubious quality.
I have not liked Robyn Williams for some time. He is adequate as a broadcaster, but only just. Thrity years running a show like that has inevitably mad it stale.
Fresh blood please, ABC.
He also seemed to admit to catching an international flight in sandals. (I don't have the paper with me right now, I am going by memory.) This struck me as odd. Not only do sandals sometimes become quite smelly, I would have thought that from a flight safety point of view that they are not to be recommended if you are avoiding red hot metal during an emergency evacuation.
What's worse, he says that he always forgets something on international flights. This time (on his recent trip to the United States for the annual Association for the Advancement of Science conference) he travelled in Australian summer clothes -including sandals - even though he was destined for New York in winter! This does not strike me as something someone who runs a science show should readily admit to. How can anyone forget to take into account the season that will be there on the other side of the world when leaving on international travel?
Also, he talks about the pathetic accomodation he had in New York (booked by the ABC because of its low cost) described as being little more than a bag lady's doss house.
What I want to know is this: how much salary do you earn Robyn? Is it beyond you to spring for extra money to get a decent room in New York city. I know it is expensive, but really, you would have to know that low cost digs anywhere in that city would be of dubious quality.
I have not liked Robyn Williams for some time. He is adequate as a broadcaster, but only just. Thrity years running a show like that has inevitably mad it stale.
Fresh blood please, ABC.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)