Showing all posts in Women’s Interest

In Books & Reading, Funny, General, Reading, Women's Interest

How Cultured Are You?

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

According to Google the above definition of being cultured basically backs up the findings of some rather amusing research commissioned on behalf of MSC Cruise. Basically, we Brits apparently fib a little in order to appear more cultured, for example saying we’ve read books, seen plays and similar. Talk about keeping up with the Jones’. Do we really do that? A survey of 1500 people indicated that yes, some of us do.

To me reading books, making time to watch films, visit places and enjoy new experiences is all about enjoyment and broadening my horizons as opposed to having something clever sounding to put on Facebook. Perhaps social media has had a hand in this one-upmanship, the need to appear more cultured when really, being cultured is not something that can be measured, nor should it be.

 For me, indeed for us as a family the thirst for new experiences and knowledge is something that is part of us, the way we are forms part of our family dynamic. To me travelling, for example with Caribbean Cruises who offer a unique way to experience difference cultures in an easy away, being able to visit a number of place on short trips off the ship before moving on is a great way to experience something new. This enables you to plan ahead and visit what is really important to you (and to research the real best places to visit rather than just the tourist spots).

For me joining the local library is a great way to learn more, through fiction and non-fiction. We are big readers and enjoy discussing what we’ve learned. Last week I went with my Mum and sister to a talk on the local area hosted by the local museum. It was fascinating and I was buzzing when we left, eager to come home and share what I’d learned. THAT is what “being cultured” is, experiencing the experiences because you want to, because they excite you and because you want to share them with your nearest and dearest. I can’t see any benefit to pretending to have seen something, done something or been somewhere to look good.

Perhaps it’s just me? What do you think?

In Business & Blogging, General, Parenting, Women's Interest

International Women’s Day: Working Life Challenges

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

 

It’s 2017 and thankfully (!) women are now allowed to continue working outside of the home after they are married. We are also allowed to vote, choose our own clothes and more. I’m not being flip, only a few decades ago women had far fewer choices, particular regarding their careers after they were married or had children.

While there is still evidence of gender inequality (the gender pay gap being one issue often seen in the media at the moment) the overall gap career-wise between men and women has become less pronounced. That said, content marketing agency Axonn Media recently completed a survey involving parents and how they felt about the professional challenges they faced.

Given that today (8th March 2017) is International Women’s Day it seems as good a time as any to look at the pressure of parents in work post-parenthood and in particular the difference between mothers and fathers.

Axonn Media surveyed 108 parents on their working life and it seems that being a mum still presents greater professional challenges than being a Dad, even in 2017. The Gender in Marketing 2017 report found that of the parents surveyed, 62% of mums felt that becoming a parent had hindered in some way they career/career progression, as opposed to 24% of the fathers surveyed who felt the same way.

Despite this survey being relatively small, it gives an indication of how parents may feel overall in the UK. Despite it being 2017 and both legislation and the proven effectiveness of flexible working being well known, mothers seem to feel that overall there are more obstacles at work for a working mother than a working father.

What concerns me is that there are any obstacles at all! People become parents every minute and yet some employers are still not capitalising on flexible working. Of the many factors which parents felt made career maintenance and progression difficult the following came out as the top three:

  • Work-related travel and meeting (55%)
  • Working hours (48%)
  • Lack of employer flexibility (34%)

Have a look at the handy infographic below for a breakdown of Axonn’s findings.

Do these statistics and this research align itself with what you’ve experienced personally? That men and women in 2017 are finding parenthood to have a detrimental effect on their careers, regardless of the male/female ratio, is outstanding (in my eyes). 

I struggle to comment on this from a personal point of view as I gave up my previous thriving career when my eldest son was born to become self-employed and work from home, mainly for the flexibility benefits that going freelance offers but also because I felt my focus had altered and I was ready to move in another direction.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

All original content on these pages is fingerprinted and certified by Digiprove