Reuters (2008) reports that a new "roleplay cafe" has opened in Tokyo, this time catering to women. The roleplay cafe idea is not a new one. Author Neil Gaiman (2007) discussed maid cafes (see Wikipedia for cosplay restaurant) in his blog last September. However, the new "Edelstein boarding school" cafe claims to be the first schoolboy cafe, cashing in on the genre of boy-on-boy manga written for a female audience (see yaoi). The manager, Emiko Sakamaki, also opened the first "butler cafe" for women, according to Reuters.
So, my immediate reaction is "that's the kind of equality I'm talking about!" However, I suspect that while I'm not alone in this (they have customers), I get shot down for these suggestions on a regular basis. Women, I'm told, don't want to gawk at and objectify pretty boys. Expecting women to enjoy gender-swapped versions of male entertainment is expecting women to be men. My reactions can not be trusted as typical of any gender: I'm too male, too female, too bisexual, and too kinky for that. So, what do you think? Are cosplay cafes for women feeding into a male-centric paradigm, or are they just kinda hot?
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sports pools: the impact on work
As we've discussed before, women (in general) tend to take more time out of work than men. However, there is at least one reason why men may be more likely to call in sick than women. A new survey by Harris Interactive (2008) found that men were more likely (11% to 5%) to call in sick in order to (or as a result of) watching a sporting event.
The survey found several other gender differences in sports dedication as it relates to the workplace: men were also more likely to have watched a sporting event from the office on their work computers (33% to 19%). Men were more likely to participate in office betting pools (51% to 36%) and less likely to name camaradarie as the top reason for doing so (39% to 53%). Men and women listed the money as their top reason for participating 38% and 33% of the time, respectively.
My office hasn't ever had a sports betting pool. *sulk* My top reason for participating would depend on the sport, honestly. If it was a hockey pool (not likely to happen), I'd be participating in order to show off my hockey knowledge - or at least my ability to read other people's hockey knowledge. The Harris Interactive Survey was timed to coincide with the beginning of March Madness pools, and I'd only participate in one of those out of camaradarie, as I actually have negative interest in college basketball.
The survey found several other gender differences in sports dedication as it relates to the workplace: men were also more likely to have watched a sporting event from the office on their work computers (33% to 19%). Men were more likely to participate in office betting pools (51% to 36%) and less likely to name camaradarie as the top reason for doing so (39% to 53%). Men and women listed the money as their top reason for participating 38% and 33% of the time, respectively.
My office hasn't ever had a sports betting pool. *sulk* My top reason for participating would depend on the sport, honestly. If it was a hockey pool (not likely to happen), I'd be participating in order to show off my hockey knowledge - or at least my ability to read other people's hockey knowledge. The Harris Interactive Survey was timed to coincide with the beginning of March Madness pools, and I'd only participate in one of those out of camaradarie, as I actually have negative interest in college basketball.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Incidence and Prevalence: Schizophrenia
Saha et al, 2005 report that their meta-analysis of studies from 1965-2002 found no significant difference in the prevalence of schizophrenia between men and women. This is especially curious given the same group's reporting of the male/female odds ratio for incidence at 1.40 in the previous year (McGrath et al, 2004). As incidence examines new cases and prevalence examines existing cases, this disparity may indicate some difference in the way men and women are affected by the disorder. In fact, Leung and Chue's 2000 review indicates that the course of schizophrenia is more severe in men. Saha et al predicted that this would lead to fewer recoveries, and therefore a higher prevalence in men. However, it is possible that this leads to higher mortality and a lower prevalence.
I was really sure I remembered sex differences in schizophrenia rates from class, but clearly I was wrong. Both of the intro textbooks I could lay my hands on agreed that men and women are about equally affected by schizophrenia (Davison et al, 2003; Bernstein et al, 1999). Sometimes I really need to check an intro book for the "best guess" because the primary articles are so busy trying to make their work look groundbreaking that I have no idea what the accepted model actually is.
Since most mental illness affects more women than men, it seems like a greater percentage of male patients than female patients would be getting treated for schizophrenia. Maybe I'm remembering that? Sadly, I'm probably just making the association because I've only met men (well, one man) who disclosed their schizophrenia diagnosis. I hate how little I can trust my memory. Stupid brain. *pokes it with a Q-tip*
I was really sure I remembered sex differences in schizophrenia rates from class, but clearly I was wrong. Both of the intro textbooks I could lay my hands on agreed that men and women are about equally affected by schizophrenia (Davison et al, 2003; Bernstein et al, 1999). Sometimes I really need to check an intro book for the "best guess" because the primary articles are so busy trying to make their work look groundbreaking that I have no idea what the accepted model actually is.
Since most mental illness affects more women than men, it seems like a greater percentage of male patients than female patients would be getting treated for schizophrenia. Maybe I'm remembering that? Sadly, I'm probably just making the association because I've only met men (well, one man) who disclosed their schizophrenia diagnosis. I hate how little I can trust my memory. Stupid brain. *pokes it with a Q-tip*
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Speed Dating, again
Eastwick and Finkel (2008) apply a longitudinal approach to speed dating. A Newsweek interview (2008) with the authors sums up their findings:
Don't tell my boyfriend*, but I suspect that I follow Eastwick's adjusted priorities model. Of course the person that I'm enjoying right now seems to have the qualities I admire: I notice myself admiring them in him. When filling out the "how would your ideal mate answer this question" forms on OKCupid, I usually find myself wondering how he would answer. However, I self-centeredly admit that I'd like to think I'm objectively awesome, and not just awesome because we're dating. The "adjusted priorities" model reminds me far too much of the Onion article "You Are The Most Beautiful Woman In The World Who Will Sleep With Me" (Babcock, 2004)
Eastwick and Finkel are apparently both in serious relationships, according to their interview, so I wonder how their partners feel about their research.
*this is a joke, because he reads D-blog
Finkel: "There was a disconnect between what they said they wanted and what they actually wanted."In short, men (more than women) rank attractiveness as more important, and women (more than men) rank earnings as more important. But the people these same men and women chose to date did not correlate with their stated preferences. After mates were found, the attraction One theory, espoused in Newsweek by Eastwick, is that people adjust their priorities to match the mates they find, rather than finding mates who match their priorities.
Eastwick: "People have theories, and those theories guide us, but they might not always be correct."
Don't tell my boyfriend*, but I suspect that I follow Eastwick's adjusted priorities model. Of course the person that I'm enjoying right now seems to have the qualities I admire: I notice myself admiring them in him. When filling out the "how would your ideal mate answer this question" forms on OKCupid, I usually find myself wondering how he would answer. However, I self-centeredly admit that I'd like to think I'm objectively awesome, and not just awesome because we're dating. The "adjusted priorities" model reminds me far too much of the Onion article "You Are The Most Beautiful Woman In The World Who Will Sleep With Me" (Babcock, 2004)
Eastwick and Finkel are apparently both in serious relationships, according to their interview, so I wonder how their partners feel about their research.
*this is a joke, because he reads D-blog
Monday, February 25, 2008
UNICEF: Spotlight on Jamaica
The "Situation Analysis on Gender Disparities in Jamaica"(UNICEF 2007) notes that girl children under five are more likely to be brought to private physicians, whereas boy children are more likely to be brought to government hospitals. The UNICEF report attributes a difference of 3-4% in child mortality by gender to this difference in care. However, Dr Glenda Simms tells the Jamaica Gleaner (2008) that these findings are probably overgeneralized. Simms is the former executive director of the Bureau of Women's Affairs in Jamaica, and still a major figure in women's activism. Simms told the Gleaner: "I doubt whether any family takes one boy to a different doctor than her family doctor and, therefore, I am not convinced."
Other highlights in the UNICEF report include differences in school achievement (girls perform better), in violent crime (boys are much more likely to be shot or stabbed), and participation in national government (women up to 12%). Differences in reported use of birth control were especially stark: 31% of girls versus 17% of boys aged 15-19 reported that they didn't use contraception with their last sexual partner. UNICEF reported that 20% of all births in Jamaica were given by adolescent girls.
Sorry today's post is so late going up; I was stuck in bed with two underaged girls who wanted to give me a tongue-bath. ... Wow, that reaches a new poor-taste low, even for me. Sorry, I had thought of the line before I picked today's topic. Okay, if you don't want to click the link, the "girls" are my kittens. They're about four and a half months old, and very sweet. I slept in because I'm on medical leave to recover from surgery.
Anyway, I suspect Simms' point has some validity: families are not likely to be bringing their sons and daughters to different doctors. So: could UNICEF have missed something as obvious as rich families having more daughters than poor families? What other explanations could explain a difference in attendance to expensive and cheaper doctor's offices? Is this just an extension of a global pattern of women needing more health care?
Other highlights in the UNICEF report include differences in school achievement (girls perform better), in violent crime (boys are much more likely to be shot or stabbed), and participation in national government (women up to 12%). Differences in reported use of birth control were especially stark: 31% of girls versus 17% of boys aged 15-19 reported that they didn't use contraception with their last sexual partner. UNICEF reported that 20% of all births in Jamaica were given by adolescent girls.
Sorry today's post is so late going up; I was stuck in bed with two underaged girls who wanted to give me a tongue-bath. ... Wow, that reaches a new poor-taste low, even for me. Sorry, I had thought of the line before I picked today's topic. Okay, if you don't want to click the link, the "girls" are my kittens. They're about four and a half months old, and very sweet. I slept in because I'm on medical leave to recover from surgery.
Anyway, I suspect Simms' point has some validity: families are not likely to be bringing their sons and daughters to different doctors. So: could UNICEF have missed something as obvious as rich families having more daughters than poor families? What other explanations could explain a difference in attendance to expensive and cheaper doctor's offices? Is this just an extension of a global pattern of women needing more health care?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Grow up! Evolutionary psychology perspectives on the ISDP
Today we continue our series on the "International Sexuality Description Project" (ISDP).
The evolutionary psychology (EP) framework of the ISDP elicited strong reactions from multiple camps. For example, Asendorpf and Penke (2005) express concern over the college-linked sample, pointing out that an extended educational period has homogenizing effects on sociosexual development. However, Asendorpf and Penke do praise Schmitt for research that could help bring EP to the next level. Griet Vandermassen's (2004) "Darwinian feminist perspective" argues that feminism must embrace EP in order to proceed to its next phase. In short, Asendorpf and Penke argue that EP overstates results, and Vandermassen argues that feminists are throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Vandermassen quotes a contemporary critic of Darwin with a passage I found really poignant, although it might just be that I've barely slept:
reminder: I am away from my computer and may not respond to comments starting today at 19:00 UTC (2:00pm EST)
The evolutionary psychology (EP) framework of the ISDP elicited strong reactions from multiple camps. For example, Asendorpf and Penke (2005) express concern over the college-linked sample, pointing out that an extended educational period has homogenizing effects on sociosexual development. However, Asendorpf and Penke do praise Schmitt for research that could help bring EP to the next level. Griet Vandermassen's (2004) "Darwinian feminist perspective" argues that feminism must embrace EP in order to proceed to its next phase. In short, Asendorpf and Penke argue that EP overstates results, and Vandermassen argues that feminists are throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Vandermassen quotes a contemporary critic of Darwin with a passage I found really poignant, although it might just be that I've barely slept:
Only a woman can approach the subject from a feminine standpoint; and there are none but beginners among us in this class of investigations. However great the disadvantages under which we are placed, these will never be lessened by waiting. -- Antoinette Brown Blackwell, The Sexes Throughout NatureActually, Vandermassen does a good job in general of summing up what I like and what I dislike about EP in under 8,000 words. I highly recommend reading it if you have time.
reminder: I am away from my computer and may not respond to comments starting today at 19:00 UTC (2:00pm EST)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Culture and Personality
Last May (5/30/07), we discussed the "International Sexuality Description Project" (ISDP) - a cross-cultural psychological inventory of over 16,000 participants (largely college students). Of course, with a data set that large, it would be surprising if only one paper resulted from it. For the rest of this week, we'll look at other studies published from the ISDP data.
Schmitt et al (2008) examined culture's effect on gender differences on the Big Five personality tests collected in the ISDP. Comparing test scores from 55 cultures, they found that gender differences in personality were higher in more egalitarian cultures, and attenuated in "less fortunate social and economic conditions." As the authors point out, a purely social role explanation of gender differences would predict the opposite effect: that more equality would mean less difference. Two alternative explanations are offered: evolutionary and artifact. The evolutionary explanation suggests that more progressive cultures are actually closer to stone age conditions than less egalitarian ones; the artifact explanation is that there's a problem with the measurement system.
I don't think I can approach this one free of bias. My immediate response upon reading the article title was that there's a problem with the measurement system. Hell, I think there's a problem with the Big Five in general. I don't buy into stable personality theory -- but it's not hard to see why I would be personally invested in the idea that people change.
Speaking of changes. I'm having a hysterectomy on Thursday morning. I'm going to try to set up posts in advance, like I did for vacation last Spring, but there's a distinct possibility that there won't be posts on Thursday and Friday. I don't want to make any promises either way at this point.
Schmitt et al (2008) examined culture's effect on gender differences on the Big Five personality tests collected in the ISDP. Comparing test scores from 55 cultures, they found that gender differences in personality were higher in more egalitarian cultures, and attenuated in "less fortunate social and economic conditions." As the authors point out, a purely social role explanation of gender differences would predict the opposite effect: that more equality would mean less difference. Two alternative explanations are offered: evolutionary and artifact. The evolutionary explanation suggests that more progressive cultures are actually closer to stone age conditions than less egalitarian ones; the artifact explanation is that there's a problem with the measurement system.
I don't think I can approach this one free of bias. My immediate response upon reading the article title was that there's a problem with the measurement system. Hell, I think there's a problem with the Big Five in general. I don't buy into stable personality theory -- but it's not hard to see why I would be personally invested in the idea that people change.
Speaking of changes. I'm having a hysterectomy on Thursday morning. I'm going to try to set up posts in advance, like I did for vacation last Spring, but there's a distinct possibility that there won't be posts on Thursday and Friday. I don't want to make any promises either way at this point.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Holiday filler: Medicalization saves your marriage
Daniel Amen on the View (7:54). The author of multiple self-help books on ADD and relationships (two separate topics, not a book about managing ADD in relationships) talks to the View about differences in the way men's and women's brains are wired. Daniel Amen's Change Your Brain, Change Your Life clinics use SPECT imaging as a method of psychological diagnosis. According to the site, a medical explanation reduces "shame, self-blame, and conflict."
It's the Monday of a three day weekend. This means I slept in, and now I'm lazily posting a video instead of real content. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the "we need a medical explanation so people will stop being mad at us" technique? I see it applied to sexual orientation and gender identity, and I hate it. It really makes me angry. Seeing it applied to gender differences is even more aggravating. It really seems to be letting people off the hook for bad behavior in a way that makes me want to slap them. I wonder if people feel the same way about my "bad behavior" as a queer tranny?
It's the Monday of a three day weekend. This means I slept in, and now I'm lazily posting a video instead of real content. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the "we need a medical explanation so people will stop being mad at us" technique? I see it applied to sexual orientation and gender identity, and I hate it. It really makes me angry. Seeing it applied to gender differences is even more aggravating. It really seems to be letting people off the hook for bad behavior in a way that makes me want to slap them. I wonder if people feel the same way about my "bad behavior" as a queer tranny?
Friday, February 15, 2008
Do you smoke? No? LIAR!
Fisher et al (2008) compared cotinine (a metabolite of nicotine) levels to self-reported smoking status to see which demographic groups were most likely to lie about their smoking status (EurekAlert synopsis). Fisher found that gender effects varied by ethnic group: White men were more likely to deny smoking than White women, but in Black and Mexican-American populations, this effect was reversed. In general, older people were more likely to lie about their smoking status than younger people.
Fisher et al cite Vartianen et al (2002, Finland) as finding that men tended to deny true-smoking status more often. However, Vartianen points out that this finding is non-significant. Wells et al's meta-analysis (1998), however, does agree with Fisher's finding that minority females and white males are more likely to lie about their smoking status.
I'm trying to remember if I ever lied to a doctor: not on purpose, but I certainly fooled myself into thinking that a couple things "didn't count". I have been told that when a doctor asks you how much you drink, they assume you're underreporting a factor of three, but now I'm just spreading rumors. I have no way to back that up. As for my own reports of having "quit smoking": I think I decided last night that one cigarette a week probably does count. It's better than a pack a day, but I can't really call myself a non-smoker.
Fisher et al cite Vartianen et al (2002, Finland) as finding that men tended to deny true-smoking status more often. However, Vartianen points out that this finding is non-significant. Wells et al's meta-analysis (1998), however, does agree with Fisher's finding that minority females and white males are more likely to lie about their smoking status.
I'm trying to remember if I ever lied to a doctor: not on purpose, but I certainly fooled myself into thinking that a couple things "didn't count". I have been told that when a doctor asks you how much you drink, they assume you're underreporting a factor of three, but now I'm just spreading rumors. I have no way to back that up. As for my own reports of having "quit smoking": I think I decided last night that one cigarette a week probably does count. It's better than a pack a day, but I can't really call myself a non-smoker.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Post-partum depression
De Tychey et al (2008) found that chances of post-partum depression are affected by infant gender (EurekAlert synopsis). Culture has a big impact on this. When there is cultural pressure to have male babies, women who give birth to female infants are more likely to suffer depression (e.g. Patel et al, 2002, India). De Tychey's study, performed in France, found that when there isn't pressure to produce boys or girls, mothers of boys are more likely to get depressed.
Thinking about this last night, I tried to figure out why boys would be more likely to cause post-partum depression. The theory I came up with is pretty awful, and I'm more than a little ashamed of it, so clearly I have to share it on the internet. Please smack me down and tell me how it really is, because I know nothing about pregnancy or post-partum-depression-theory. Here's my theory:
When a woman is pregnant, she gets a lot of attention. When she gives birth, the attention goes to the infant, and she understandably feels neglected. If it's a female infant, some of the attention gets directed back at the mother in the form of praise "she's beautiful, just like her mother". Male infants tend to turn praise back at the father. "He's beautiful, just like his mother" is a phrase I don't think I've ever heard.
Thinking about this last night, I tried to figure out why boys would be more likely to cause post-partum depression. The theory I came up with is pretty awful, and I'm more than a little ashamed of it, so clearly I have to share it on the internet. Please smack me down and tell me how it really is, because I know nothing about pregnancy or post-partum-depression-theory. Here's my theory:
When a woman is pregnant, she gets a lot of attention. When she gives birth, the attention goes to the infant, and she understandably feels neglected. If it's a female infant, some of the attention gets directed back at the mother in the form of praise "she's beautiful, just like her mother". Male infants tend to turn praise back at the father. "He's beautiful, just like his mother" is a phrase I don't think I've ever heard.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Video Game Reward
Reiss et al (2008) used fMRI to examine differences in brain activation during video game play. The simplified video game used in the experiment was not explained, but all the participants figured out the object of the game, and seemed motivated to succeed. Greater activation in the "reward systems" of the brain, and areas associated with addiction have led the authors to suggest that: "these gender differences may help explain why males are more attracted to, and more likely to become 'hooked' on video games than females."
The researchers used a couple of behavioral variables to correlate with their imaging results: the number of balls clicked (equal for men and women) and the amount of territory gained (men more successful than women). Lead author Allan Reis espouses an evolutionary psychology explanation for why men excelled at the territory control part of the game: "I think it's fair to say that males tend to be more intrinsically territorial. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who historically are the conquerors and tyrants of our species—they're the males." (Stanford PR, 2008)
Other studies we've looked at (10/9/07) have played up the mental rotation/3-D space angle for video games, but this game was two-dimensional and abstract, the sort of game that video game industry folks say appeal more to women (11/30/07). The authors say that both men and women "got" the game, but it's really not clear to me that they did if there were more points available for some balls than others, and the men figured this out but the women didn't. The main finding that I was able to glean from my reading is that men's success was associated with mesocorticolimbic activation, but that women's success wasn't. If greater reward = greater motivation = greater success in men, which is what the authors seem to be implying, then what does the lack of association of these variables mean about women?
The researchers used a couple of behavioral variables to correlate with their imaging results: the number of balls clicked (equal for men and women) and the amount of territory gained (men more successful than women). Lead author Allan Reis espouses an evolutionary psychology explanation for why men excelled at the territory control part of the game: "I think it's fair to say that males tend to be more intrinsically territorial. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who historically are the conquerors and tyrants of our species—they're the males." (Stanford PR, 2008)
Other studies we've looked at (10/9/07) have played up the mental rotation/3-D space angle for video games, but this game was two-dimensional and abstract, the sort of game that video game industry folks say appeal more to women (11/30/07). The authors say that both men and women "got" the game, but it's really not clear to me that they did if there were more points available for some balls than others, and the men figured this out but the women didn't. The main finding that I was able to glean from my reading is that men's success was associated with mesocorticolimbic activation, but that women's success wasn't. If greater reward = greater motivation = greater success in men, which is what the authors seem to be implying, then what does the lack of association of these variables mean about women?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Physical Punishment: Child Gender
Are parents more likely to use physical punishment on boys or girls? Most studies use spanking as their basis for questioning. Grogan-Kaylor and Otis (2007) found, based on data from a 2000 survey, that child gender did not affect the likelihood of getting spanked. On the other hand, Day et al (1998) found that boys were more likely than girls to be spanked at all ages. Both studies used "how many times within the last week" as their main spanking variable. In both studies, religious beliefs were also found to be a predictor of a parent's decision to spank.
I got spanked once, and as far as I'm concerned, I deserved it. I grew up on a road that ostensibly slowed down to 30 miles an hour in front of my house, but the semi trucks that rattled through rarely dipped below 45. One of the games the kids liked to play was "run out in front of the semi to hear the brakes go". I got caught doing it. But, that was an exceptional circumstance, and my parents didn't spank in general. I think it was my father who did the actual spanking, but I was five, and I barely remember.
Related: physical punishment: parent gender 9/27/2007
I got spanked once, and as far as I'm concerned, I deserved it. I grew up on a road that ostensibly slowed down to 30 miles an hour in front of my house, but the semi trucks that rattled through rarely dipped below 45. One of the games the kids liked to play was "run out in front of the semi to hear the brakes go". I got caught doing it. But, that was an exceptional circumstance, and my parents didn't spank in general. I think it was my father who did the actual spanking, but I was five, and I barely remember.
Related: physical punishment: parent gender 9/27/2007
Monday, February 11, 2008
Male transsexuals versus female transsexuals
The Edmonton Sun (2008) printed an interview with Canadian psychiatrist and transgender specialist Lorne Warneke yesterday. Warneke expresses doubt about the "official" rates of transsexualism in the population. The "generally accepted numbers", according to the article, are 1 in 67,000 for male-to-female transsexuals and 1 in 100,000 for female-to-male. Warneke believes the combined number is closer to 1 in 3,000. Unfortunately, the Alberta Health care system budgets for transsexual operations based on the rarer estimate, and will only fund 16 gender-reassignment surgeries per year, which did not cover all of Warneke's eligible patients in 2007.
Warneke states that recent research in to the prevalence of has yielded figures much closer to his own estimates. However, the source most often cited in recent studies of this population (e.g. Rosser et al (2007) and T'Sjoen et al (2006)) is Landén et al (1996). Landén found the following rates of prevalence: 1 in 11,900 "males" (MTFs) and 1 in 30,400 "females" (FTMs). However, there may actually be changes in the gender ratio. Garrels et al (2000) found a shift in the ratio of MTF/FTM transsexuals in germany; after 1994, there were nearly as many FTMs as MTFs, as opposed to the 2:1 ratio that had existed in the previous two decades.
I had no luck finding the U.S. and British studies that Warneke refers to with rates as high as 1 in 2,000 and 1 in 4,000. Still - the ratio between FTMs and MTFs has always baffled me. Why would there be so many more MTFs? I find Garrels results, that perhaps the numbers are approaching parity, fascinating. Are there really more FTMs in the past decade, or are more of them being medically supervised?s
Warneke states that recent research in to the prevalence of has yielded figures much closer to his own estimates. However, the source most often cited in recent studies of this population (e.g. Rosser et al (2007) and T'Sjoen et al (2006)) is Landén et al (1996). Landén found the following rates of prevalence: 1 in 11,900 "males" (MTFs) and 1 in 30,400 "females" (FTMs). However, there may actually be changes in the gender ratio. Garrels et al (2000) found a shift in the ratio of MTF/FTM transsexuals in germany; after 1994, there were nearly as many FTMs as MTFs, as opposed to the 2:1 ratio that had existed in the previous two decades.
I had no luck finding the U.S. and British studies that Warneke refers to with rates as high as 1 in 2,000 and 1 in 4,000. Still - the ratio between FTMs and MTFs has always baffled me. Why would there be so many more MTFs? I find Garrels results, that perhaps the numbers are approaching parity, fascinating. Are there really more FTMs in the past decade, or are more of them being medically supervised?s
Friday, February 8, 2008
Denim Jeans
Some gender tidbits about my favorite garment:
Oh, how I love my jeans. Honestly, I would have said "comfort" was my #1 concern about jeans. Then again, I don't think about practicality because I buy impractical clothes so rarely. *looks down* I'm wearing black Levi jeans, black denim shirt, and a grey t-shirt. This is basically my "uniform"; I've worn jeans and a black shirt to work every day for about the last four months. Coordinating became too much of a bother. This week, it's been a black shirt and black jeans because I'm at my all-time highest weight ever *grumble* and the black jeans I had left over from 10 years ago are the biggest jeans I own.
Anyone who claims to enjoy shopping for jeans is a liar.
- During WWII, women's jeans had their zippers along the right side, while men's opened in the front. (Wikipedia)
- Some men apparently resent the lack of ultra-low cut jeans for men, and buy women's jeans instead, according to a poll by "LowRiseJeans" (2002) (n = 79 over five years).
- Cotton, Inc claims that the average woman tries on 9 pairs of jeans before finding one that fits.
- Also from Cotton, Inc: 66% of men report that practicality is their main concern when buying jeans, compared to 47% of women. ("looking good" got 50% of the female vote)
Oh, how I love my jeans. Honestly, I would have said "comfort" was my #1 concern about jeans. Then again, I don't think about practicality because I buy impractical clothes so rarely. *looks down* I'm wearing black Levi jeans, black denim shirt, and a grey t-shirt. This is basically my "uniform"; I've worn jeans and a black shirt to work every day for about the last four months. Coordinating became too much of a bother. This week, it's been a black shirt and black jeans because I'm at my all-time highest weight ever *grumble* and the black jeans I had left over from 10 years ago are the biggest jeans I own.
Anyone who claims to enjoy shopping for jeans is a liar.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Sick Leave
Laaksonen et al (2008) studied City of Helsinki employees over a period of 3-5 years to examine differences in illness-related absenteeism. For medical leave over 60 days, there was no gender difference, but women were 46% more likely to take "self-certified" sick leave and 34% more likely to take medically certified sick leave. Laaksonen told ABC News (2008) "we saw no differences in the reactions to illness among men and women". In other words, women weren't just more likely to go to the doctor, they were more likely to need to.
The difference in men's and women's attendance at work is a topic we've covered before. In "Menstruation and Absenteeism" (Dec 2006) we looked at suggestions that the menstrual cycle may account for a major portion of this. "Workplace Depression" (Oct 2007) indicated that women were more likely to take days off from work for depression symptoms. In "Paid Vacation" (Dec 2007) we noted that men and women use the same number of paid vacation days per year - but that women are more likely to use them to take care of a sick family member.
I missed work yesterday, due to a stomach bug. I was unhappy about it. My partner (a cisgendered man) is constantly on my case to take my time off. My employer has a very generous sick and vacation leave policy -- with the result that I feel guilty using it all. Still, I've gotten a warning from HR that if I don't use some vacation time by June, I'm going to start losing it. I've almost banked the limit.
The difference in men's and women's attendance at work is a topic we've covered before. In "Menstruation and Absenteeism" (Dec 2006) we looked at suggestions that the menstrual cycle may account for a major portion of this. "Workplace Depression" (Oct 2007) indicated that women were more likely to take days off from work for depression symptoms. In "Paid Vacation" (Dec 2007) we noted that men and women use the same number of paid vacation days per year - but that women are more likely to use them to take care of a sick family member.
I missed work yesterday, due to a stomach bug. I was unhappy about it. My partner (a cisgendered man) is constantly on my case to take my time off. My employer has a very generous sick and vacation leave policy -- with the result that I feel guilty using it all. Still, I've gotten a warning from HR that if I don't use some vacation time by June, I'm going to start losing it. I've almost banked the limit.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Impostor
Benedict Carey, best known for being J. Michael Bailey's lapdog, wrote a piece on Impostor Syndrome (NYT, 2008) yesterday. Impostor Syndrome is not a recognized mental disorder. Many researchers use the less clinical term "imposter phenomenon" (IP), possibly to avoid the pop psychology stigma of the "syndrome" terminology.
IP was first theorized (in the late 1960's and early 1970's) to be related to fear of success, based on social rejection of ambitious women. However, IP has since been documented in people from all walks of life, male and female, young and old, so this model seems to fall short. IP may affect men and women differently, though. Kumar and Jagacinski (2006) found that women with high "impostor feeling" scores tended to compete harder, while men who scored high on the same measures tended to avoid goals that would test their vulnerabilities.
I have always been drawn to people with teeny-tiny self esteem, and great big giant egos: "I can't possibly do everything that's expected of me -- and the world will end if I fail." People, in short, like me. I had referred to these mental habits as drama queen-like, but I'm told that most people associate the "drama queen" with consciously grabbing attention. That isn't how I've used it, but I've also never really thought about the gender implications of the term "drama queen" before. I've always used it equally on men and women, but it's pretty obviously feminizing. *ponders*
The Columbia Guide to Standard American English: Impostor is the more common spelling, but imposter is also acceptable.
IP was first theorized (in the late 1960's and early 1970's) to be related to fear of success, based on social rejection of ambitious women. However, IP has since been documented in people from all walks of life, male and female, young and old, so this model seems to fall short. IP may affect men and women differently, though. Kumar and Jagacinski (2006) found that women with high "impostor feeling" scores tended to compete harder, while men who scored high on the same measures tended to avoid goals that would test their vulnerabilities.
I have always been drawn to people with teeny-tiny self esteem, and great big giant egos: "I can't possibly do everything that's expected of me -- and the world will end if I fail." People, in short, like me. I had referred to these mental habits as drama queen-like, but I'm told that most people associate the "drama queen" with consciously grabbing attention. That isn't how I've used it, but I've also never really thought about the gender implications of the term "drama queen" before. I've always used it equally on men and women, but it's pretty obviously feminizing. *ponders*
The Columbia Guide to Standard American English: Impostor is the more common spelling, but imposter is also acceptable.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
U.S. voting
In the United States, the earliest record of a woman legally voting goes back to 1756, when Lydia Taft was allowed to vote in three town meetings as a proxy for her deceased husband. Wyoming territory allowed women to vote in 1869, and Utah in 1870. According to Sister-Wives and Suffragists (Van Wagenen 2001), Utah women were disenfranchised by the federal government after voting in favor of polygamy. Amendment XIX (1920) granted women were granted national suffrage, as immortalized in Schoolhouse Rock
The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers has many fact sheets about differences in voting patterns between men and women over the past few decades. The U.S. Census Bureau found that 60.1% of women (vs. 56.3% men) voted in 2004 (CAWP 2005). In fact, a higher percentage of women than men voted in every U.S. presidential election since 1980.
Well, I've voted more often since becoming a man, but that's fairly attributable to other factors influencing voter turnout (Census 2004): my age, income, and education have all increased substantially over the past 5 years. In fact, I'm fairly sure that my age has increased by somewhere in the 7-10 year range. How much is five in tranny years?
Yes, I voted in the primaries today. I realize that not all of my readers are in the U.S., and that those who are may still not have any voting to do today. But if you do: do. The weather in Boston is pretty wretched. I think this means my vote is worth more today than it ever has been before.
The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers has many fact sheets about differences in voting patterns between men and women over the past few decades. The U.S. Census Bureau found that 60.1% of women (vs. 56.3% men) voted in 2004 (CAWP 2005). In fact, a higher percentage of women than men voted in every U.S. presidential election since 1980.
Well, I've voted more often since becoming a man, but that's fairly attributable to other factors influencing voter turnout (Census 2004): my age, income, and education have all increased substantially over the past 5 years. In fact, I'm fairly sure that my age has increased by somewhere in the 7-10 year range. How much is five in tranny years?
Yes, I voted in the primaries today. I realize that not all of my readers are in the U.S., and that those who are may still not have any voting to do today. But if you do: do. The weather in Boston is pretty wretched. I think this means my vote is worth more today than it ever has been before.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Domestic Abuse
The Independent's (UK) Rhiannon Harries asks "Why do men find it so hard to admit they are being abused by their partners?" Harries examines the phenomena of men abused by women through the story of "Johnny Keane", a man who spent 10 months living on friend's couches and park benches to escape his physically abusive girlfriend. "Johnny" says that police laughed at him when he asked for help. A 1997 story in the Detroit News (reprinted on BatteredMen.com) examines the story from the abusive woman's perspective. Karen Gillhespy admitted to battering her husband for 13 years, but she says "they told me I was the victim." In both Karen and Johnny's stories, drug use is implicated as a driving factor.
The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCDSV) provides links to several publications for male victims of violence, but also to Michael Kimmel's 2002 review which points out that domestic violence is not symmetrical. Kimmel suggests that men are actually more likely than women to call the police or press charges, leading to over-estimation of rates of male victims. Kimmel says that while female abusers do exist, their acts are usually less injurious and differently motivated than male abusers.
On one side, I've got the victim, and on the other, Kimmel's review. Do men find it hard to report being abused, or are they more likely to report it? If they do report it, will the police take it seriously? And, the most depressing question of all, are the rates of police brush-off higher for men or women? Domestic violence isn't well-handled for anyone, as far as I know.
Honestly, I hit men far too often when I was a young woman (as discussed before). I still maintain it wasn't okay. On the one hand, I didn't expect it to be taken seriously. I didn't expect people to defend themselves. On the other hand, I was frustrated that I wasn't considered a threat. The last time I really honestly attacked someone was in my freshman year of college, when I tried to hit a guy in the head with a barbell. While knowing that I really was trying to cause him physical harm upsets me, the memory of his laughter at my ineffectual attack still stings, too.
The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCDSV) provides links to several publications for male victims of violence, but also to Michael Kimmel's 2002 review which points out that domestic violence is not symmetrical. Kimmel suggests that men are actually more likely than women to call the police or press charges, leading to over-estimation of rates of male victims. Kimmel says that while female abusers do exist, their acts are usually less injurious and differently motivated than male abusers.
On one side, I've got the victim, and on the other, Kimmel's review. Do men find it hard to report being abused, or are they more likely to report it? If they do report it, will the police take it seriously? And, the most depressing question of all, are the rates of police brush-off higher for men or women? Domestic violence isn't well-handled for anyone, as far as I know.
Honestly, I hit men far too often when I was a young woman (as discussed before). I still maintain it wasn't okay. On the one hand, I didn't expect it to be taken seriously. I didn't expect people to defend themselves. On the other hand, I was frustrated that I wasn't considered a threat. The last time I really honestly attacked someone was in my freshman year of college, when I tried to hit a guy in the head with a barbell. While knowing that I really was trying to cause him physical harm upsets me, the memory of his laughter at my ineffectual attack still stings, too.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Handshakes
What does your handshake say about you? Chaplin et al (2000) had 2 males and 2 females rate the handshakes and first impressions of 112 participants (57% women). These predictions were compared to actual results on several personality inventories. A firmer handshake was related to openness (imagination, creativity) in women, but a less firm handshake was related to openness in men. Chaplin also found that more "open" women made a better first impression, while more open men made a slightly worse one.
Men's handshakes were "firmer" than women's, based on Chaplin's "Firm Handshake Composite", an aggregate score based on "strength, vigor, duration, eye contact, and completeness of grip." Gender was unrelated to a positive first impression based on the "First Impression Composite" (aggregated rater predictions of "extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, emotional stability, openness, emotional expression, outgoingness, and positive affect").
I shake hands. I have freaked out small children by trying to shake their hands. Apparently one doesn't do this with small children. I don't remember when hand-shaking became part of the standard introduction protocol for me, but I remember noticing that it had happened. It happened at some point during college, so I was still a woman at the time. Judith Kleinfeld's (2008) article about Chaplin's research pointed out a gender difference in ettiquette that I'd missed. A man shouldn't initiate a handshake with a woman unless she puts out her hand first, because it's uninvited physical contact. I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if I've been pressing myself on female colleagues inappropriately.
I haven't asked this in a while, but if you're enjoying Difference Blog, I'd really appreciate a link in your LJ.
Men's handshakes were "firmer" than women's, based on Chaplin's "Firm Handshake Composite", an aggregate score based on "strength, vigor, duration, eye contact, and completeness of grip." Gender was unrelated to a positive first impression based on the "First Impression Composite" (aggregated rater predictions of "extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, emotional stability, openness, emotional expression, outgoingness, and positive affect").
I shake hands. I have freaked out small children by trying to shake their hands. Apparently one doesn't do this with small children. I don't remember when hand-shaking became part of the standard introduction protocol for me, but I remember noticing that it had happened. It happened at some point during college, so I was still a woman at the time. Judith Kleinfeld's (2008) article about Chaplin's research pointed out a gender difference in ettiquette that I'd missed. A man shouldn't initiate a handshake with a woman unless she puts out her hand first, because it's uninvited physical contact. I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if I've been pressing myself on female colleagues inappropriately.
I haven't asked this in a while, but if you're enjoying Difference Blog, I'd really appreciate a link in your LJ.
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