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?

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.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Is the Humble Mirror Responsible for our Vanity and Insecurities?

Glancing at myself in the mirror the other day, it got me thinking, who invented mirrors? This question may seem so trivial – yet think of how significant a role the mirror plays in our daily lives. This invaluable object is strategically placed around the house with the main intent to show us…well…us.  So the conception of the mirror gave birth to us seeing our physical selves, and for the first time, gave us the ability to have feelings about our physical image.

Whoever invented the mirror, then, should be blamed for our insecurities and our vanity.

For some trivial information, Archaeologists in Turkey discovered polished stones, closely resembling mirrors, which date back to 6000 BC. But the actual inventor of the mirror, the one that is placed in our house, was by a German chemist in 1835 named Justus von Liebig.

Mr. Justus von Liebig, you are hereby guilty of creating the insecure and narcissists.

Though you may rest your defence that reflective surfaces, i.e. lakes, existed since the beginning of time, it is unlikely that cavewomen stood out in the open, hours on end, dissecting every bit of themselves as the women of today can do in the comfort of their own home in front of their mirror. The mirror you created.

If mirrors didn’t exist perhaps our idea of beauty would change. Or would there even be an idea of what beauty is? That’s a tough one to answer but it is suffice to say that the world would probably be a happier place without mirrors. No more stressing about the cellulite on our bums because we wouldn’t even know it existed. Our insecurities would simply vanish into obscurity. The relentless time spent fixated on what we are wearing, our bodies, wrinkles, pimples, creases, bumps and lumps would return to us allowing us to focus on the more important things in life.

Flying Back in Time

One airline shocks its employees with its new workplace manual

Now there’s a code of conduct at every workplace which usually revolves around the avoidance of low cut tops, hooker heels or stealing someone else’s gourmet sambo from the fridge – if this applies to you, it’s nothing compared to the rules female flight attendants at Air New Zealand must adhere to.

The latest manual for the airline was recently released – some slightly offended staff members obviously decided to make it public knowledge! Here’s a few of the rules and regulations: too much or too little makeup is a no no, with blue eyeshadow or bright red, pink, purple or orange lipstick, unnatural looking tans, scaly hands and smelly breath also banned. Staff must pluck their monobrows, trim nasal hair and avoid excessive “frosting” in the hair as well as hair bands with a metal joint. Always wear deodorant, and if you’re a sweaty betty, the manual even details where to buy specialised sweat pads to absorb the excess. Physical appearance is obviously important, so staff are advised to stay fit and “may find it helpful to wear a pedometer, which will measure how many steps you are taking each day and hence give you a measure of how active you are and can aim to be.”

Where the instructions got interesting was when it came to cultural behaviour…