The Femme Files

Why is Age so Important?

When was the last time your age came up in conversation? Interestingly, people disclose their age to others on average 3 times a week. And 1 out of every 5 will lie about their age.  Take my neighbour for example – she has been 52 for the last 8 years.

So, why is the number of years we have been on earth so important to us? And more interestingly, why does it shape us and our choices so significantly?

The D*ckhead Pandemic in Perth

If you think you’ve got a lot on your brain, you may reconsider when you hear about the lady sea snails in Perth.  Marine researchers have found a shockingly high percentage of female snails off the coast growing pen*ses from their heads! (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/pointed-dilemma-for-female-sea-snails/story-e6frg6nf-1225917685278)

Resist the urge to call these little critters “d*ckheads” – because it’s not their fault!

Known as Thais Orbita, this snail specie is common to the shores of Perth.  What is highly uncommon is the fact that almost 98% of the these lady snails now have a “male appendage” on their shells. They are being affected by the disorder called “imposex” which is caused by chemicals from the boating industry, in particular TBT, being left in the sediment they inhabit.

Just to note, the male snails are not affected by this disease as they already have their ding dongs on the brain – and that is the anatomical truth!

This disorder probably presents some confusion to these snails, but more seriously, it can cause infertility and potentially devastate the ecosystem if their population were to be wiped out. But there is hope for these creatures as environmental cleanup has seen a decline in this headache of a disorder.

After learning of this strange phenomenon, it got us thinking of a strange idea…

What if females had the chance to grow a male appendage.…

Now, before you take this in the literal sense, what we really mean is, what would you do if you were a man for a day?

At the femmefiles desk, we’ve made a list:

1. Finally play a fair match at sports
2. Eat everything we want at the afternoon BBQ
3. Beat up our older brother
4. Get ready to go out in 5 minutes
5. Earn more money
6. Have control of the TV remote
7. Not cry when watching sad movies
8. Stare at our cellulite free legs  
9. Take long lunches at work
10. Never do laundry

Femmefile readers, please elaborate on our list and let us know what you would do?

Brianna Raich at the FF

Mums Mean Business

As if bearing a child wasn’t enough, Femme Files salute those women who have started successful businesses with a baby on their hip!

Flipping through a pregnancy magazine yesterday (goodbye, Vogue) I came across a great story – women with children who’d started a successful business since becoming a mum. Contrary to taking time off work, these women combined motherhood with working from home in their own time, on a product they loved. Here are a couple of my faves:

Ally Schulz, founder and CEO of Minimink (www.minimink.com.au) and mum of three was unable to find a suitable cuddly winter blanket to warm her baby, so she created her own range which is now stocked across Australia and internationally. She tells Cosmo Pregnancy “I wanted a really thick, multipurpose rug that could be used to wrap my baby, and make him comfortable on hard floors, so I sourced some high quality, extremely soft, faux fur. When we were out and about, I was astounded by the number of people who stopped me to ask where I got my rug. The rest is history!”

Narelle Chenery, founder and creative director of Miessence (www.miessence.com) and mum of three was sick of buying skincare products with false claims, so she created her own selection of certified organic products for mothers and their babies. She tells Cosmo Pregnancy “I’ve always been interested in natural living, but when I discovered that the ‘natural’ cosmetics I was using weren’t what they claimed to be, I looked into making my own. I started selling the range at local markets… the company saw massive growth when I adopted a network marketing structure, which pays customers for recommendations that result in a sale.” Narelle’s isn’t a small cottage business either – her annual turnover has skyrocketed from $60,000 in the first year to an annual turnover of $12 million! Rather than waiting for someone else to invent the product they were after, these women took matters into their own hands and created their own companies, filling gaps in the market and allowing other women to benefit from their foresight.

Motherhood is a challenging role which requires 24/7 dedication.  So these women must have superhuman time management skills to establish a business in between feeds.  We’ve been racking our brains for a baby-related idea – a glow-in-the-dark dummy? Diapers with inbuilt nappy-rash lotion? Any thoughts Femmes?

Harmless Attention or Sexual Harassment, that is the question

In lieu of the sexual harassment scandals facing the former CEO of David Jones, Mark McInnes, the ladies at Femme Files have been pondering – Where is the line drawn between harmless attention and sexual harassment?

There are many definitions of what constitutes sexual harassment. The most common states “it is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favour.” 

The above definition suggests that harassment is quite clear cut – obviously threats, coercion or demanding sex in exchange for a higher wage or promotion is a blatant offence. However, “unwanted looks”, “inappropriate gestures”, and “suggestive comments” have also been deemed in the past to be sexual harassment. So, here lies the problem – the concept is entirely subjective and comes down to how the recipient interprets the conduct. Actions which might repulse some and be considered “sexual harassment” may not offend, but even be flattering to others.

C’mon ladies, is it really offensive if a colleague cheekily checks you out? Aren’t we constantly subjected to honks and looks when we’re walking down the street? Do we bring sexual harassment claims against these guys? No, because if you ask us, that would be a waste of time, energy and money.

Speaking of money, one can’t help but notice how the big guys in the big companies are often the ones who are the subject of a sexual harassment legal action. Once a person comes forward and the possible payout amount is disclosed, it seems that more plaintiffs jump on the sexually harassed bandwagon. It begs the question – if these guys weren’t rolling in it, would there be so many claimants? It seems that by simply making allegations against an executive in a Top500 company, the possibility of never having to work presents itself – and this is a temptation that some employees may find hard to resist.

We don’t want our readers out there to think that we are discrediting anyone who has been sexually harassed. To the women who have been sexually harassed and have come forward, we commend your bravery. To the women who are using sexual harassment allegations for monetary gains, we do not applaud you. Sexual harassment is serious and if the aim of taking legal action is to prevent it from happening to others, forcing the company that once employed the offender to pay out millions of dollars is not the solution.  Surely the key is to find directly against the offender and give the civil courts the ability to make orders for rehabilitation and community service, amongst other financial penalties.