What every woman should be aware of if you are of a certain age and sexually active: STDs Sexually Transmitted Diseases are a very real and horrifying reality that sexually active woman in the NEast, as well as across the country, face.  In today’s society there are more chances of contracting an STD than ever before.  Regular checkups with your doctor and proper contraceptives can help reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of contracting an STD.  continue reading »

Inarguably the hardest thing to mend is a broken heart. It is something that can happen to even the hardest of hearts and can bring tears upon the first tear. Anyone who has ever had a broken heart always remembers how it feels when you think you will never be able to feel again. If you are one of the few fortunate people to never experience the anguish behind this tragedy, it may be hard to understand how it could ever overtake your life or forever leave a scar. continue reading »

Go Green!  You may see the signs, you may hear the concepts and you may even be doing your part to help.  But just how big is the real issue and how does it affect us?  Take the quiz offered on My Footprint and see how you and your family rate in terms of being ecologically conscience. continue reading »

Swine flu is the latest pandemic scare in the world today. Before swine flu, there was small pox, tuberculosis, measles and many other harmful contagious diseases. Suffice to say that illnesses of all kinds will affect our lives no matter what kind or what era we may live in. continue reading »

Happy Birthday, America!  As the city of Independence and brotherly love, Philadelphia is preparing for another spectacular celebration.  Despite the financial crisis, Philadelphia won’t be skimping on its budget for welcoming another festive July 4th.  Whether you are choosing to have a block party, picnic or venture to Penn’s Landing for the remarkable fireworks display, this year is sure to hold some memorable events for all ages and styles. continue reading »

It is speculated that more than half the work force population will have an attraction to a coworker while interacting with that person on a daily basis. When working 40, or even more, hours a week at a particular job, it is easy to get caught up in the “work family” life and neglect your own. continue reading »

A job that is thankless, never ending, offers bad pay (usually none) that is completely under credited and taken for granted: the Homemaker. This type of profession, women who sacrifice just about everything to provide a home and upkeep for their families, is rarely seen anymore these days. Most females – for many reasons, including necessity – work just as many hours, if not more, than their husbands. continue reading »

Today, women are far more independent and self sufficient than ever before. Careers and college goals flood the minds of single women all over the NEast.  Rather than get married right out of college, women today are looking for careers and residences of their own before entering into a partnership.  It is never easy being single, but those who manage to keep themselves willingly unattached usually enjoy the life’s opportunities. continue reading »

The last column I wrote on marriage, which sparked interest on both sides, stemmed from the equal rights conversations with many women from the NEast.  While the last column was geared toward equal rights in home life, this week’s column is presented to discuss equal rights in the work place.  Ever since the women’s movement, females have been fighting for equal rights – not just in the work place, but also in society as, is evident by the previous column.

There is some debate over which country first allowed women the right to vote, but of the currently existing independent countries, some say New Zealand, in 1893, could be marked as the first county to grant women the right to vote.  Many countries followed after that date, but not all allow this practice and some still demote a woman’s point of view.

When the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, voting rights for women were introduced. During the 20th century in the United States, women’s suffrage gained popularity and had even taken to violence.  Protesters could be arrested and jailed for forming a crowd with picket lines.  President Woodrow Wilson urged congress in 1920 to pass the19th amendment, which prohibited both federal and state agencies from placing gender restrictions on voting.  In 1934, the Supreme Court ruled that separate hours/rates for men and women was unconstitutional.  Since that date, women have still been fighting for equality in the work place, as not all employers adhere to this testament. continue reading »

“I recently was married this past year for the first time and while I find there are some good things about it, I also feel like I am raising a toddler,” said an anonymous NEast resident. “It’s not that I don’t love my husband, it’s just that I feel more like a mom than a wife sometimes having to always clean up or take care of my hubby, which I didn’t sign on for.”

In today’s world, women are less likely to become doting wives than in the era of our parents or grandparents. The reasons behind this movement suggest liberation and that more women are independent with a “take care of myself” attitude. The marriage rate has dropped over the past decades, and the increase in divorce has soared. In 2008, the divorce rate jumped to 45 percent.

Marriage has many positive aspects and can be a wonderful joint partnership when there is mutual understanding and consideration from both sides. The antiquated theory of “women’s work,” which involves all house duties after work hours has dwindled over the past years. Women are working, many times, more than forty-hour workweeks and suggest a shared amount of housework, which seldom gets acknowledged.

“I come home at 7 in the night after working from 7 in the morning, and you think dinner is even started? No, my husband is sitting on the couch with his feet and asks ‘what ya making?’ as soon as I walk in,” said NEast resident Sally McCarthy. “I mean how hard is it to run a washer – the washer does the work for you, but still I have to hear, ‘oh I don’t know how to work it.’ He’s a mechanic for crying out loud.”
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