Sexual Harassment Is Never Ok

 by Linda Franklin

This is a mind blower. According to a new study, employees who are at higher risk of sexual harassment are getting paid higher salaries. salaries. The pay-off for putting up with possible harassment was an extra 50 cents an hour for men and an additional 25 cents for women.  Really – that much!!

The report published in the American Economic Review, highlights one female mining engineer who preferred to put up with the inappropriate behaviour of male colleagues than take a lower paid job where she would have been treated with more respect.

Companies have traditionally shelled out more to employees who were at risk of being injured or killed.  Now, it’s for sexual harassment.

The economy is not helping this horrible situation I suppose.  With employment over 9 per cent for the last four years, people will endure almost anything to bring home a paycheck..

The study used claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission to compare the risks of sexual harassment by sex, age group and industry.

I didn’t have to tell you this but they  found that women were six times more likely to be harassed than their male counterparts. And, the worst offenders were industries that are male dominated. 

I worked on Wall Street, which is totally male dominated, for over 20 years, and didn’t experience sexual harassment. I think it’s because  I let the guys know I had boundaries that could not be crossed.  Working with all men is challenging.  To earn their respect, I had to be good at my job, take criticism well, be supportive, a good listener and always maintain my femininity.  Having accomplished all those things, they knew not to cross the line I had drawn in the sand.

Women should never have to put up with any kind of harassment or discrimination in the workplace.  But, having said that, we are responsible for how we act and learn not to go looking for trouble.

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,” there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system and a dream.  All things are possible”.  Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

Sex Drive & Career Choices – What’s The Connection?

Real Cougars, here's a question for you to think about.  Is a successful and career driven woman more likely to have a higher sex drive than her lesser-achieving sisters?

Apparently they do. Women with high levels of testosterone are more likely to be risk-takers – and have stronger sexual appetites. Or so research says.

If you are a woman working in a competitive environment, like banking or business, you may well become more assertive, competitive and aggressive, which will cause your testosterone levels to rise. But then the questions becomes - did you go into a male dominated career because you had high testosterone levels, or did you develop high testosterone levels because you chose that particular career path? The sexperts are still trying to figure that one out.

The root of a woman's sexual desire is still pretty much a mystery. Does it start in our bodies or in our brains? A landmark research project by Dr Rosemary Basson from the University of British Columbia found that while men feel desire and then want to have sex, many women have sex as a way to kick-start desire.

Research into female sexuality is still controversial, contradictory and incomplete. The researchers may not agree with each other, but they do agree about this.  Understanding female desire may turn out to be as tough as understanding anything about what makes a woman tick.  Amen to that one! 

Pretty Women Have Their Own Set Of Rules

by Linda Franklin

It’s no shock that the portrayal of women in the media – young, sexy, skinny, tall – makes the rest of us feel flawed. When we look at the 40,000 or so ads that the average American is exposed to each year, it’s no wonder women are feeling inadequate. The average female model weighs up to 25% less than the typical woman and maintains a weight at about 15 to 20% below what is considered healthy for her age and height. It leaves us wondering how much importance is placed on pretty in this mixed up world we live in.

Well, as it turns out, pretty counts for a lot. As much as we want to believe we are not judged on how we look, that’s the very thing that opens so many doors for us. A pretty woman gets more opportunities and lots more help when she needs it. Just try getting any kind of assistance on a day when you are looking particularly frumpy – no makeup, stringy hair, sweatsuit and sneakers. If you don’t believe me get all dolled and see if you are treated any differently. The more attractive version of you will always win out – it’s just the way it is.

Actually, there are a whole set of different rules for the pretty woman. She can slip past velvet ropes, get preferential seating in restaurants, and even smile their way out of traffic tickets…and that’s just for starters.

People assume that if a woman is attractive, she possesses other positive traits, such as kindness and intelligence,” says behavioral psychologist Stephen Josephson, Ph.D., of Weill Cornell Medical College. So it’s not surprising that a study conducted by Daniel Hamermesh, Ph.D., and Jeff Biddle, Ph.D., economics professors at the University of Texas and Michigan State University, respectively, revealed that “plain” people earn 1 to 15 percent less than people with average looks, who in turn earn 1 to 13 percent less than those deemed good-looking.

Job recruiters have come to learn that sending out attractive women will get a much better reaction from their clients. Whether they admit it or not, many employers feel that having pretty female employees will reflect well on their firm. And, let’s face it, men want to be surrounded by pretty women.

Here’s the rub.  “Occasionally being pretty can backfire”, says Stephen Josephson. “It’s the bimbo effect. “If a beautiful woman succeeds, she often finds herself fielding insinuations that her accomplishments are based solely on her looks.” And although a 2009 Journal of Applied Psychology report found that handsome people do have an edge over their less comely counterparts with regard to salaries, it turns out that intelligence trumps all.

So ladies, all is not lost – intelligence is still our most important asset. Nevertheless, I’m not ready to give up my highlights or lip gloss anytime soon.

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,” there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system and a dream.  All things are possible”.  Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest