Paid leave for childbirth, family illness, or other essential needs would benefit families and society in innumerable ways. Here are just a few.
A Step in the Right Direction
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Isn't it Quaint? More Nostalgia for Home Economics
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/23/132230490/elegantly-old-school-nostalgia-books-on-the-rise
Isn't it sweet and old fashioned? In this book review on NPR's morning edition, I heard more nostalgia for what we are left to assume is the long dead field of Home Economics. And, of course, Martha Stewart was mentioned yet another time as the modern instantiation of Home Ec. What is most disconcerting to me is that our field has not become irrelevant, but invisible. If Home Economics is seen as old fashioned, Family and Consumer Sciences is not seen at all. As schools continue to make budget cuts, FCS programs remain vulnerable. No one can support programs that they apparently do not know about. Family and Consumer Scientists: let's stop rebranding and start advocating. Strongly.
Isn't it sweet and old fashioned? In this book review on NPR's morning edition, I heard more nostalgia for what we are left to assume is the long dead field of Home Economics. And, of course, Martha Stewart was mentioned yet another time as the modern instantiation of Home Ec. What is most disconcerting to me is that our field has not become irrelevant, but invisible. If Home Economics is seen as old fashioned, Family and Consumer Sciences is not seen at all. As schools continue to make budget cuts, FCS programs remain vulnerable. No one can support programs that they apparently do not know about. Family and Consumer Scientists: let's stop rebranding and start advocating. Strongly.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Consumer Education, Economics, and Resource Management: Lessons from Seinfeld
This could be really useful for teaching any FERM related class--on any level. http://www.yadayadayadaecon.com/
What could be more relevant than sitcom reruns? This is gold, Jerry! Gold!
What could be more relevant than sitcom reruns? This is gold, Jerry! Gold!
Love and Marriage...A Universal?
Contexts magazine describes the Musuo people of Southwest China. This matrilineal cultural community does not practice marriage or monogamy, and apparently functions well without it. An interesting cultural reflection on the place of marriage as a universal bedrock of all societies.
The Society Pages
The Society Pages
Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup
It's not natural, and it's not the same as sugar. It is bad for the environment, and it is clearly associated with obesity. Let's do what Family and Consumer Scientists have long known how to do: make our own snacks out of whole, natural foods. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ygreen/20101220/sc_ygreen/fourreasonstoavoidhighfructosecornsyrup
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Real Science
Reorganization revisited: STEMM (Science Technology Engineering Math and Medicine) has become the new buzz word in higher education. It's where we're told the money is, and of course the name of the game is inevitably attracting new sources of revenue rather than actually educating students. Students of course, are and will remain our #1 source of revenue--never mind that educating the is supposed to be our primary mission.
So now we're in a perverse situation in which all units on campus attempt to fit themselves in the STEMM mold. And if we define "science" and "medicine" broadly, then I think we're talking about a large and diverse collection of programs that could fit under that very broad umbrella. But if we're all STEMM, then it ceases to be special (and specialized).
The question I keep coming to is whether we can truly build the large, diverse, and interconnected group of programs and faculty members needed to really build the kind of STEMM program that reflects the true and inclusive definitions of "science" and "health." Whose programs don't involve science at all? Or math? Or health? If the tent expands as it should, then the "specialities" will no longer feel so special. The "hard sciences" will lose their current place in the university hierarchy. The culture of the university has shown itself time and time again to be resistant to change, and those with status are always hesitant to give it up.
Let us not forget that sexism works into this in insidious ways. Those programs, like Human Ecology/FCS, tend to be viewed as traditionally feminine and are certainly female dominated. It is difficult for the "real scientists" to see themselves as having anything to gain from having us join their exclusive club. But time and time again, we learn how badly our perspective is needed. Healthcare cannot be delivered optimally without a comprehensive view of health that includes physical, mental, and spiritual health. We cannot deliver it only with specialists who do not understand the person as a whole functioning human being, but as a set of physical systems that house a disease. We can't ensure that we have healthy individuals without ensuring families are also functional. Workplaces must be less stressful. Consumers' interests must be understood and served. Nutrition and food safety are essential as well; in order to get the nutrition into people, we need to go shopping, go home, prepare food, serve it, and eat it together (we hope). This "feminine" orientation comes as natural to us as breathing, but comes as a revelation to those who consider themselves real scientists. The reality is that they need us much more than we need them.
So now we're in a perverse situation in which all units on campus attempt to fit themselves in the STEMM mold. And if we define "science" and "medicine" broadly, then I think we're talking about a large and diverse collection of programs that could fit under that very broad umbrella. But if we're all STEMM, then it ceases to be special (and specialized).
The question I keep coming to is whether we can truly build the large, diverse, and interconnected group of programs and faculty members needed to really build the kind of STEMM program that reflects the true and inclusive definitions of "science" and "health." Whose programs don't involve science at all? Or math? Or health? If the tent expands as it should, then the "specialities" will no longer feel so special. The "hard sciences" will lose their current place in the university hierarchy. The culture of the university has shown itself time and time again to be resistant to change, and those with status are always hesitant to give it up.
Let us not forget that sexism works into this in insidious ways. Those programs, like Human Ecology/FCS, tend to be viewed as traditionally feminine and are certainly female dominated. It is difficult for the "real scientists" to see themselves as having anything to gain from having us join their exclusive club. But time and time again, we learn how badly our perspective is needed. Healthcare cannot be delivered optimally without a comprehensive view of health that includes physical, mental, and spiritual health. We cannot deliver it only with specialists who do not understand the person as a whole functioning human being, but as a set of physical systems that house a disease. We can't ensure that we have healthy individuals without ensuring families are also functional. Workplaces must be less stressful. Consumers' interests must be understood and served. Nutrition and food safety are essential as well; in order to get the nutrition into people, we need to go shopping, go home, prepare food, serve it, and eat it together (we hope). This "feminine" orientation comes as natural to us as breathing, but comes as a revelation to those who consider themselves real scientists. The reality is that they need us much more than we need them.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Change, FCS, and Life...Lessons Learned from Mad Men
"Let’s also say that change is neither good or bad. It simply is. It can be greeted with terror or joy. A tantrum that says, ‘I want it the way it was’ or a dance that says, ‘Look, it’s something new.
(Mad Men, "Love Among the Ruins" -- Season 3, Episode 2)
We're all in a process of change, whether we realize it or not. You can fear it, you can embrace it, or you can quietly accept it. The important thing is this: change shouldn't just happen to you, you need to be the change you want to see in the world. Don't resist change, shape it. Progress is never a passive or painless process.
“Real progress is often retarded by trying to make the new fit into the old scheme of things.” -Ellen Richards
Happy holidays and new year to everyone in the blogosphere.
(Mad Men, "Love Among the Ruins" -- Season 3, Episode 2)
We're all in a process of change, whether we realize it or not. You can fear it, you can embrace it, or you can quietly accept it. The important thing is this: change shouldn't just happen to you, you need to be the change you want to see in the world. Don't resist change, shape it. Progress is never a passive or painless process.
“Real progress is often retarded by trying to make the new fit into the old scheme of things.” -Ellen Richards
Happy holidays and new year to everyone in the blogosphere.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Health Care is not just a luxury for a select few.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/12/10/131972595/democrats-ramp-up-war-on-gop-health-benefits
It's about time democrats in Congress grew backbones. Finally they point out the hypocrisy of congresspeople accepting government funded insurance while attempting to repeal healthcare legislation designed to make healthcare accessible for the people they claim to represent. Stick by your principles, dems, please. And make your new freshmen colleagues stick by theirs.
It's about time democrats in Congress grew backbones. Finally they point out the hypocrisy of congresspeople accepting government funded insurance while attempting to repeal healthcare legislation designed to make healthcare accessible for the people they claim to represent. Stick by your principles, dems, please. And make your new freshmen colleagues stick by theirs.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
One student assaulted on campus is one too many
Knowledge is power. Students and faculty need to advocate for better campus policies.
One Student provides students and their allies with programs, resources and opportunities to address sexual violence. .http://onestudent.org/
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Sexual Assaults on College Campuses: Victims Seeking Justice
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/08/131887810/administration-congress-take-steps-to-address-sexual-assaults-on-campus
Kudos to the Obama and administration and congress for addressing this long neglected problem. The problem of sexual assault on college campuses is far more prevalent than anyone would like to admit. Universities' response to allegations of sexual assault have been inadequate at best, leaving the problem to fester (and perpetrators free to assault again). Victims and their families are doubly scarred: first by the assault itself, and secondly by a system that still blames the victim.
Please let your legislators know that you support this legislation to support college students' safey on campus.
Kudos to the Obama and administration and congress for addressing this long neglected problem. The problem of sexual assault on college campuses is far more prevalent than anyone would like to admit. Universities' response to allegations of sexual assault have been inadequate at best, leaving the problem to fester (and perpetrators free to assault again). Victims and their families are doubly scarred: first by the assault itself, and secondly by a system that still blames the victim.
Please let your legislators know that you support this legislation to support college students' safey on campus.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Gender Equality and Fair Pay
One reason that Home Economics (now Family and Consumer Sciences) has been called a femal ghetto is because the professionals, mostly women, who work in these fields are so underpaid. Even within universities, professors teaching in FCS units are among the lowest paid. For me, the Paycheck Fairness Act was a refreshing and welcome acknowledgement of what most women know all too well: women work more cheaply than their male counterparts. The irony is, in these troubling times, our willingness to work cheap, take on the jobs of more than one person, and our increasing majorities among recipients of bachelors and masters degrees have advantaged women in this highly competitive market place. It's a sad irony, to be sure. There are those who do not beleive that gender inequality exists anymore, if it ever existed. In fact, there are those who disagree vehemently with anything resembling civil rights legislation, and those voices seem to get increasingly louder.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
BMJ Careers - Emotional intelligence
Do doctors and other healthcare providers need emotional intelligence? How can we instill/teach/train or otherwise provide a more comprehensive (and sensitive) skill set to healthcare? BMJ Careers - Emotional intelligence
If we define health as physical, social, and emotional wellbeing, and not just the absence of infirmity, then surely we must train our healthcare practitioners in a much more interdisciplinary, comprehensive, and holistic way. We must truly bring a feminine sensibility to the masculine dominated environment of healthcare!
If we define health as physical, social, and emotional wellbeing, and not just the absence of infirmity, then surely we must train our healthcare practitioners in a much more interdisciplinary, comprehensive, and holistic way. We must truly bring a feminine sensibility to the masculine dominated environment of healthcare!
A thoughtless practice with short-term benefits and long-term pitfalls!
http://www.superkidsnutrition.com/nutrition_answers/pr_candy-as-reward.php
For those of you who believe, as I do, that there are much better ways to reward children for good behavior, please share the more positive incentives you've used. Remember: rewards can be either intrinsic or extrinsic.
For those of you who believe, as I do, that there are much better ways to reward children for good behavior, please share the more positive incentives you've used. Remember: rewards can be either intrinsic or extrinsic.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Scientists unlock how trans fats harm arteries
Scientists unlock how trans fats harm arteries: "The method by which dietary trans fats cause hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) may have been identified by a new study on mice fed a high trans fat diet."
Sugar-sweetened drink’s diabetes link ‘clear and consistent’: Meta-analysis
This is a major problem I see with school lunches and preschools: sugar sweetened beverages (including flavored milk--at least make it less available) and foods containing hydrogenated oils should not be served to children. Just because they don't keel over in front of us doesn't mean we're not doing them harm.
Sugar-sweetened drink’s diabetes link ‘clear and consistent’: Meta-analysis: "Regular consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a clear and consistently greater risk of metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes, according to a meta-analysis of 11 published studies."
Sugar-sweetened drink’s diabetes link ‘clear and consistent’: Meta-analysis: "Regular consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a clear and consistently greater risk of metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes, according to a meta-analysis of 11 published studies."
Monday, November 8, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Health
Human Ecology units are often combined or somehow reorganized with Education or Health. Either combination has the potential to work, depending on the cultures of the units involved and the leadership's commitment to making the new configuration work. Often it makes no practical difference at all. Different dean, same programs, life goes on.
As we talk about how we fit into health focused colleges, which I am not in principle opposed to (and which I think is consistent with the overall philosophy of our discipline), we need to be actively engaged in the process. If we are to fit into some new transdisciplinary concept of health, it helps to have a good definition of health to guide our leadership as they determine what fits with what. I suggest WHO's definition:
WHO definition of Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
The correct bibliographic citation for the definition is:
Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.
The Definition has not been amended since 1948.
http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html.
As we talk about how we fit into health focused colleges, which I am not in principle opposed to (and which I think is consistent with the overall philosophy of our discipline), we need to be actively engaged in the process. If we are to fit into some new transdisciplinary concept of health, it helps to have a good definition of health to guide our leadership as they determine what fits with what. I suggest WHO's definition:
WHO definition of Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
The correct bibliographic citation for the definition is:
Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.
The Definition has not been amended since 1948.
http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
La Vita Loca
I'm not sure how I continue to get pulled into the middle of political situations in the workplace. When a colleague seems to be taking some kind of retributive action against a student, I feel an obligation to step in. But should I? Or am I meddling? Getting involved in a situation that's none of my business? Do I have a responsibility to protect students? I think I should help to promote an atmosphere conducive to learning that's free of harassment. But it's hard when some are so good at it--they find ways to cast the student as the villain, weakling, or liar again and again. After a while, I don't know how others don't ask themselves how this individual is so unlucky as to be continually afflicted with students of such low moral calibre. These students are interviewed and scrutinized within an inch of their lives prior to admission, after all.
I feel a responsibility, but I know what I'm getting into. It'll be unpleasant, and some will think my actions have to do with the instructor in question. But I've been on the other side of this. I should help, even if it means some inconvenience for me. I just hope I can help. I have to hope that objective individuals will see reason.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Anonymous donors and political influence
Shall we weigh in on this issue? What are the rights of corporations? Are they just people just like everyone else? Here's a great blog about this issue: http://www.prwatch.org/node/9536. For the record, I'm in whole-hearted agreement.
Bag Lady: 100 words : Growing old
Bag Lady: 100 words : Growing old: "I don’t mind getting old; I remember when forty seemed to be a million miles away. I have wrinkles around my eyes. I’ve have had a lot of l..."
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Promoting the profession
"Home Economics has made a large place for itself in our public school system, the people's college. School boards need no longer be bribed with hot biscuits and well broiled steaks served by the children to show how "practical" Home Economics is." -1911 Isabel Bevier
AAFCS New Tagline
Connecting Professionals, Touching Lives
Do you think this accurately depicts what an FCS professional is? What we are as an association? How do we shake the image that we are obsolete or old fashioned?
Do you think this accurately depicts what an FCS professional is? What we are as an association? How do we shake the image that we are obsolete or old fashioned?
AAFCS Survey Re: Social Media Use
Help AAFCS learn more about your social media experience and professional needs by completing a brief and confidential online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/aafcssocialmediasurvey. It will be open until midnight (11:59pm ET) on October 13.
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