Eyes on the Prize!

Swimming Lessons

When I was six my mom enrolled me in swimming lessons. Every weekend, we went to Sangley Point which is a naval base in Cavite City and I wore my hot pink Spandex bathing suit with purple stars and frills at the side. I’d pay attention to the instructor when we’re at three feet. I learned how to make a lot of bubbles by splashing my legs around. I’d stay underwater for (what I fancied was) a considerable amount of time for my age, loving every minute of it.

At eight feet though, I’d hide from the swimming instructor. He’d make us dive and float, which I thought was too much for Spandexed me. I’d hover slightly underwater pretending I’m not there so he’d forget to call me. This is why, if you throw me overboard to the ocean, I’d probably float and paddle around for ten minutes then give up. Or I can just take my pants off and use them as salbabida.

An Unnecessary and Long-Winded Explanation

I am trying to find a way on how to broach this properly, without sounding pathetic and too revealing. So, I have decided that I will say this in a long-winded, but straighforward way, in a manner that will hopefully make sense to only both of us. I’m not sure if you’re reading this or if you will, but I am not doing this for you. It always feels a little better to say it out loud, that’s all. 

(more…)

Babies and Poverty

I was doing some research at JSTOR for some papers when I saw this beautiful, concise and decisive summary on why poor people bear more babies:

The Poverty-Demography Trap

 The link between extreme poverty and high fertility is strong for several interconnected reasons: * Infant mortality rates are high when there are inadequate health services, so high fertility provides “insurance” for a surviving child.

* Children are often perceived as economic assets who provide supplementary labor for the household, especially in rural areas.

* Poor and illiterate women have few job opportunities away from the farm, and so place a low value on the opportunity (time) costs of raising children.

* Poor families in poor communities are less likely to be aware of changes in mortality and in employment opportunities for the educated and thus miss signals of the benefits of investing in child quality rather than quantity.

* Women are frequently unaware of their reproductive rights (including the right to plan their families) and lack access to reproductive health information, services, and facilities, leading to high rates of unmet demand for contraception in low-income countries and among poorer members of all developing countries.

* Poor households lack the income to purchase contraceptives and family planning services. Governments lack the resources to provide extensive access to reproductive health services and counseling.

(more…)

Tags: reproductive health

Posted by lizette at 12:14 am | permalink | View this entry

Axe Commercials Are Chauvinist

There is something insulting about all the Axe commercials I have ever seen. The message of each advertisement is simple: all males should use Axe so as to have droves of women throw themselves at their feet. The 30-second spot shows a guy spraying Axe on his armpits, after which a women or women would smell him and cling to him like there’s no tomorrow.

This is my problem with it. Axe commercials portray women as dumb, hormone-driven animals who are not capable of thought after one sniff of that iffy cologne. The alpha male is extremely pleased with himself in the knowledge of the affirmation of his, what else, alpa maleness, like he’s gotten a one-up on all womankind with just a stupid bottle of Axe (the smell of which I personally find revolting). Sure, I know they say never to take TV seriously, but Axe has been doing this commercial with the same concept and execution for years that I would hate to think the message have stuck not only in men’s heads but women’s as well. What a horrible thing, indeed.

So, you know, analyze what you watch.

The New CAS ID Policy Sucks Because the Guards Suck

I was fumbling with my ID at the gate of my college when the guard stopped me and pointed to a piece of paper. It was the new policy of the College of Arts and Sciences which basically prescribes stricter rules on wearing our IDs to get into and while staying on campus. Here’s the complete text:

 1. Students whose IDs are still being processed may present their form-5 as proof of enrollment. Otherwise their enrollment status will be verified from the OCS. Once verified, they will sign in the logbook and allowed entry.  

2. Students who forgot their IDs and Form 5 on the third instance within the week, month, or semester will no longer be allowed to enter the CAS premises. The student will be referred to the Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) for appropriate action.
 
3. Students are reminded to wear their ID at all times when inside the campus.
 
4. Erring students, or those who refuse to cooperate with the gate guards on the implementation of these rules, will be reported to the office of the Special Assistant to the Dean for Community Welfare (OSADCW) and the OSA for appropriate action.
 
5. All Visitors will be asked to surrender identification cards to the guards, sign the logbook, and issued a ‘Visitor’s Pass’ which must be worn at all times while at CAS.
 
6. The members of the faculty and staff are also enjoined to wear their IDs at all times.
 
7. Security guards are strongly advised to report irregular incidents to the Office of the Associate Dean for Planning and Development. Security guards have no disciplining authority over the students. The most they can do is to file an incident report and submit it to either OADPD or OSADCW.

 
(more…)