LIFESTYLE – Page 57

Vibrators had a long history as medical quackery before feminists rebranded them as sex toys

13Dec

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

SEX-CAPADES

Vibrators had a long history as medical quackery before feminists rebranded them as sex toys

In the contemporary moment of sex-positive feminism, praises for the orgasmic capacity of the vibrator abound. “They’re all-encompassing, a blanket of electricity, that’ll course through your veins, producing orgasms you didn’t know you were physically capable of having,” wrote Erica Moen in her web comic “Oh Joy Sex Toy.” Vibrators today go hand in hand with masturbation and female sexuality. Yet for American housewives in the 1930s, the vibrator looked like any other household appliance: a nonsexual new electric technology that could run on the same universal motor as their kitchen mixers and vacuum cleaners. Before small motors became cheap to produce, manufacturers sold a single motor base with separate attachments for a range of household activities, from sanding wood to drying hair,...

Graduation Day More Than Just A Regular Day

9Dec

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

PARENTING

Graduation Day More Than Just A Regular Day

To some, graduation day is just a regular day, walking across a stage dressed in crazy attire only to be handed “a piece of paper” in front of a bunch of people. In my view, those rites of passages are so much more than that, especially for Black and Brown kids. We learned early and often that opportunities to be celebrated or positively acknowledged publicly are often fleeting at best for us in American society—especially when sports or entertainment are not involved. Unfortunately, because of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, May and June will be filled with prom and commencement cancellations instead of ceremonies, including my son’s kindergarten graduation. My heart aches for all class of 2020 graduates—from pre-K to graduate school and beyond, very few could honestly say t...

Sex talk: Common misunderstandings doctors confront about preventing pregnancy

13Dec

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

SEX-CAPADES

Sex talk: Common misunderstandings doctors confront about preventing pregnancy

Sex is one of the most natural things in the world – none of us would be here without it. Yet there are many things about sex that need to be learned. Even today, 60 years after the introduction of oral contraceptives, almost half of pregnancies worldwide are unintended. Avoiding pregnancy takes planning, and health professionals can do a lot to help patients better understand contraception. As an academic physician, I teach an annual course at the Indiana University School of Medicine called “Sexuality for the Clinician,” an important topic often not well covered in medical schools. In my classes, medical students report misunderstandings they encounter among patients about various topics, including contraception. Some of these wrong ideas are mentioned year after year, and correcting t...

For parents of color, schooling at home can be an act of resistance

9Dec

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

PARENTING

For parents of color, schooling at home can be an act of resistance

My 6-year-old hates the British. To be more specific, the British Empire that ruled over up to a quarter of the world’s land by the early 1900s. Hates that one of the biggest diamonds in the world, found in India over 1,000 years ago, now sits in the queen’s set of crown jewels. Hates that they drew up borders quickly and exited South Asia in the 1940s, resulting in the death of millions, and making his grandfather and great-grandparents refugees in the newly formed nation of India. How does my 6-year-old know all about this? Well, because we talk about it and have a lot of books at home. We have always read books about South Asian culture and history. And now that we have more flexible schedules since we have to work at home – and the kiddo has to do school at home – we have even more ti...

Working From Home? 5 Things You Need in Your Home Office

12Dec

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HOME

Working From Home? 5 Things You Need in Your Home Office

When you work at home, even part time, you discover that a makeshift desk area on a kitchen counter or the dining table isn’t the best setup. Having a dedicated home office, even if it’s compact, makes a big difference in comfort and productivity. Once you’ve chosen a room or area for your home office, here are five must-haves to include in it. Janiczek Homes 1. Comfortable Chair If sitting at a desk is a big part of your workday, make sure you have the right chair for the job. This is especially important if you work at a computer. Look for an overall fit that supports your back and encourages good seated posture. Features to look for include adjustable seat, arms and back, as well as legs on rollers and a seat that swivels so you can easily get in and out of the chair and reach for ...

14Dec

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

RELATIONSHIPS

Why people post ‘couple photos’ as their social media profile pictures

As you scroll through your Facebook news feed, you see it: Your friend has posted a new profile picture. But instead of a picture of just your friend, it’s a couple photo – a picture of your friend and their romantic partner. “Why would someone choose that as their profile picture?” you wonder. We are social psychology researchers interested in understanding people’s behavior in close relationships and on social media. Our research and that of other scholars provides insight into why people use these types of “I’m part of a couple!” displays on social media. Choosing profile photos that include their romantic partner, posting their relationship status and mentioning their partner in their updates can all be signs of how people feel in their relationship – and may send an important messag...

Helping Pregnant Parents To Be With Addictions Navigate Aspects Of Life

11Dec

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PARENTING

Helping Pregnant Parents To Be With Addictions Navigate Aspects Of Life

Coaches help pregnant people with addictions navigate all aspects of life, from doctor visits to finding housing. “Look at that little bald head,” Jewel Adams said. Moving toward Adams in the arms of her mother, and wearing a ruffled, magenta onesie, is 3-week-old Safiyah James. “Hi Sophia,” Adams said. “It’s Sah-fiyah,” said Kia Nassik, 27, as she allows Adams to hold her daughter in her apartment just south of Madison, Wisconsin. Safiyah sticks out her lower lip, squints her eyes and lets out a small cry. “She saying, ‘these ain’t my mama’s hands.’ I know, I know,” Adams said, rocking Safiyah for a few moments before handing her back to her mother. Though this is Nassik’s second child—she has a 5-year-old daughter as well—she feels like a first-time mom. During her first pregnancy, ...

The Kids Are All Right, But the Adults Are Struggling

9Dec

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PARENTING

The Kids Are All Right, But the Adults Are Struggling

While much attention on the rising suicide rate focuses on youth, data shows that it's actually working-age adults who are being hit hardest. The rise of suicide and other self-destructive behavior in the U.S. raises questions both tragic and curious. Suicide rates are up for every age group over the past few years, and they tend to get attention when someone—usually a young person—takes their own life. What’s causing this upswing? The truth is complicated. But the short version is this: It’s not youth who are creating the crisis. It’s their parents’ generation. Americans have the worst levels of addiction, suicide, and self-destruction in the Western world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a record 120,000 Americans died from suicides and rela...

9Dec

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FINANCIAL HEALTH

What Low-Wage Work Does to Us

A huge share of U.S. employment is in low-wage jobs where workers are pushed to their limits to maximize profits for massive corporations. “Cyborg jobs” is the term Emily Guendelsberger uses in her new book, On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane to describe the low-wage, high-stress jobs that make up a large portion—something like 47%—of employment in the United States. You could say they’re jobs determined by algorithms. Cyborg jobs are designed through data analysis to boost profits by getting the maximum out of workers. Staff scheduling is tight to avoid slow periods, so workers spend much of the day rushing to where they’re needed. Bathroom breaks are limited and timed. Workers’ movements and performance are monitored throughout t...

10Dec

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HOME

Backyard hacks you can try this spring

Whether you’re already stocking up on new flowers to plant or you’re just now dusting off the lawn mower, it’s about time to start getting that yard in tip-top shape for the season. And if you’re looking for some tips and tricks, we’ve got you covered — here are some seven hacks you can try in your yard this spring, whether you’re gardening, grilling or getting some sun. 1. Nature’s own table and chairs: Have some fallen trees in your backyard that you’re looking to get rid of? If they’re not too rotten, cut out some of the heftier parts of the trunk to make some rugged seating. If you’re feeling really crafty, make a table, too. Treat the wood to smooth and seal it. 2. Poolside movie: Here’s a fun one, even if you don’t have a pool: run a rope or wire between two poles, trees, or someth...