Women In Politics 2010
It is "The Year of Women In Politics," at least as far as California voters are concerned. Do women wield power differently than men? Women's management style tends to be more collaborative than men's, according to sources quoted in BNET.
Edward M. Moldt, managing director of the Snider Entrepreneurial Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, says that the women's approach is "one that is right for the times." Women are often more "capable of hearing the ideas of others and really empowering them to use some of those ideas." Women, he adds, are "very comfortable with having to persuade people, to encourage, to motivate," while men are "used to giving orders and having them followed."
Until recently, the general perception of management was a structure dominated by males whose leadership style was hierarchical, action-oriented, and even quasi-military. The ideal leader was seen as an independent, tough, individualistic hero—like a John Wayne character.
Women in power tend to encourage more dialog, to reach out to engage rivals, to seek out consensus. Overall, women tend to show a bit less swagger, although there are notable exceptions, such as the "mavericky" Sarah Palin.
Indeed, women on the political campaign trail seem to be as fiercely competitive as men. Carly Fiorina, Republican challenger for Barbara Boxer's senate seat, recently drew flak for making fun of Boxer's hair style.
In the post-feminist 21st century, women's political values tend to be as varied as men's. Whereas Republican senate challenger Carly Fiorina has declared herself pro-life, Meg Whitman, the Republican challenger for governor, tends to be pro-choice. Although Whitman is not overtly identified with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a center-right Republican, it is not clear that her politics differ significantly from his own. Ironically, the Democratic candidate for governor, Jerry Brown, with his long pro-labor and pro-education track record, is arguably more of a traditional "feminist" than his female Republican opponent.
Yet there are progressive alternatives, too. To combat California's huge deficits and near insolvency, Green Party gubernatorial candidate Laura Wells would impose additional taxes on the superrich to fund social services and public education. She has also called for revising portions of Proposition 13 in order to raise property taxes on corporations, although she says that she would not raise taxes on seniors and pensioners who own their own homes.
Outside the San Francisco Bay Area, progressive candidates have not fared as well as moderates in statewide elections. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a moderate Democrat, generally polls better than Senator Boxer, also a Democrat but more identified with liberal Bay Area issues. In California, as many as 20% of the voters call themselves independents, and they frequently swing elections to one party or the other, often preferring moderate candidates.
California's budget woes cannot be cured without cutting services or raising taxes. Yet State Democrats and Republicans are often at a stalemate, refusing to do either. Would adding more women to the political mix, whether left or right politically, improve the chances of creative compromise? Or simply be new faces with the same old partisan politics? The 2010 race may provide some answers.
POLITICS
Population & Women's Rights
"The magic of family planning," according to Suzanne Ehlers, is to encourage smaller and more prosperous families. Ehlers is the new president of Population Action International, a Washington, D.C.-based research and advocacy group, focuses on a "voluntary and rights-based" approach to family planning. Women with access to family planning "tend to have smaller families... want to see all of their children go through school, they do absolutely put a priority on girls' education, and the woman in the family does often return to work and engage in the professional sphere."
Ehlers believes her message can gain wide support, even among traditional conservatives. "If conservatives' core mission is to prevent abortion or reduce the need for abortion, the way to do that is to reduce unintended pregnancies, and the way to do that is by offering access to reproductive-health services and family planning. The core message of prevention and education — that's a mainstream issue right there."
EDUCATION
Overcoming Girls' Math Anxiety
Globally, girls are no worse than boys at mathematics. But stereotypes, some coming from teachers themselves, keep alive the myth that women and numbers don't mix.
"Having a highly math-anxious female teacher may push girls to confirm the stereotype that they're not as good as boys in math," said Sian Beilock, an expert on anxiety and stress related to learning and performance. Beilock teaches psychology at the University of Chicago.
Actress and mathematician Danica McKellar (who's appeared in the TV shows "The West Wing," "The Wonder Years" and "The Big Bang Theory") is working to undo that unintentional lesson. In two recent best-sellers, McKellar has pushed self-confidence and intriguing math study tips for middle school girls. "I'm here to tell you from personal experience that you can be a glamour girl and a smart young woman who can certainly do math." Her third math book, "Hot X: Algebra Exposed," is due out in August.
SOURCE: WOMENSENEWS, 6/6/2010.
HEALTH
Dangers of Calcium Supplements
Should you be limiting your calcium intake? Negative health effects linked to taking too much supplemental calcium include high blood pressure and even kidney failure. The incidence of "milk-alkali" or "calcium-alkali syndrome" is growing in large part because of widespread use of over-the-counter calcium and vitamin D supplements.
The milk-alkali syndrome arose in the early 1900s when patients ingested abundant amounts of milk and antacids to control their ulcers. The incidence of the milk-alkali syndrome declined when newer ulcer medications became available, but it appears to be on the rise again thanks to increased use of over-the-counter calcium and vitamin D supplements used mainly as preventive and treatment measures for osteoporosis. In many cases, patients with the syndrome require hospitalization.
According to Stanley Goldfarb, MD, "Even at the recommended dose... yearly determinations of blood calcium levels for those patients taking calcium supplements or vitamin D is a wise approach."
SOURCE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100601162318.htm
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