WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

I was thinking of how to express myself and be heard by men and women, then i thought to myself, why do some companies deny women the opportunity to be heard? Is gender inequality still in existence in Nigeria? The answer is YES.

Nigeria has the largest population of any African country, 162.5 million people with 49% are female; some 80.2 million girls and women. Women are Nigeria’s hidden resources. Investing in women now will increase productivity in this generation and will promote sustainable growth, peace and better health for the next generation. Women are underrepresented in all political decision-making bodies and their representation has not increased since the inception of democratic rule.

I have heard some male and female bosses complain about inefficiency of some female workers due to family issues like children, pregnancy, maternity leave etc. Yes, these could be a problem but women cannot be blamed because they do a thousand and one things at a time and still succeed at it, my mum is an example, being a single mother, she was good at it and I never missed the dad figure for one day of which men will fail a zillion times if they try. so why don’t we give women a chance to prove their strength in the workplace? Create an office creche/play house, so that the mothers can concentrate and give 110 percent to their jobs.

Meggie and Angels have written to some companies to establish a creche/play house in their offices so as to accommodate and boost the efficiency of these hardworking mothers who want to give all to the success and growth of their organisation but cannot because they have children.

• A survey of 5,000 employees in 5 major companies, 57% of women and 33% of men with children under 6 years old reported that they spend unproductive time at work because of childcare concerns. 77% of women and 73% of men with children under 18 dealt with family issues during work hours.
• One‐third of parents with children under the age of 6 have childcare arrangements that fall apart within 3 months.
• Employed mothers with children under 13 miss an average of 6.4% days per year because of family‐related issues, such as sick children; employed fathers with children under 13 miss an average of 3.9% days per year.

“At Intel, we believe that employer-sponsored child care is a win-win-win. It’s good for our employees and their children, who benefit from easily accessible, high-quality care. It’s good for our bottom line, since every dollar we spend on child care saves us at least three dollars in reduced absenteeism, turnover, and work disruption caused by child-care problems. And it’s good for our communities, since our programs are designed to benefit both Intel employees and members of the communities where we operate. Providing child care is one way to make Intel a great place to work for our employees while giving something back to our communities.” 
Adam Sorensen, Global Work/Life Manager, Intel Corporation said.

The establishment of a creche/play house will be beneficial to both the employer and employees because it will increase loyalty to the organisation, lessen absenteeism and tardiness, provide tax credit, retain and recruit key talents and encourage productivity and boost morale. You would notice that some hardworking women resign to take care of their children because they cannot cope with the stress and pressure, but with the establishment of this office creche, life will be much simpler and easier for these young mothers. There are a lot of talking and less implementation and I wish women can stand up for their rights. It is heard that some women that have tried for their voices to be heard have either been silenced, trampled or discriminated. Most times, it is the same women that should have our backs and fight for this same cause, fall victim to these discrimination.

Some companies have started recognizing the need for a creche in the office example Mediareach OMD, Lagos Business School. I was so impressed when I was told to drop my daughter at the Lagos Business School's creche. You can also have visitors drop their children there while they have their meetings or visit someone at a fee.

WE DO NOT WANT - AND/OR 

WE WANT - 

We want every Human Resources Department of all Nigerian Organisations to find a space for a creche in their offices. I just finished attending an African women conference that so inspired me, so You can do it, I can do it, We can do it, but WHO has the ability to create this environment for children? MEGGIE AND ANGELS.

Drop me a line.

THAT COLOR, PINK........

PINK! WHY PINK AND WHAT IT REPRESENT

In almost every culture, one stereotype emerges: pink is associated with girls, blue with boys. Unfortunately, there is no consensus of opinion on its origin.

The color pink represents romance and charm. It may also convey playfulness or tenderness. This color is commonly preferred by young girls to show that they are tender and soft while its use among men has been for fashion only.

Pink represents femininity. We also often connect it with romance, love, friendship harmony, compassion, relaxation and companionship. Pink is symbolic of gentle emotions and of emotional unions. Pink is considered a color of good health and life. The archetypal representation means innocence and youth. Lovers of beauty favor pink. A pink carnation means "I will never forget you." Western society often links pink with very young female children and has recently been used in the pink ribbon breast cancer campaign. In the Catholic Faith the color pink is used during the Seasons of Advent (Gaudate Sunday - 3d Sunday of Advent) and Lent (Laterae Sunday - 4th Sunday). The color is not as severe as the purple, and indicates the joy of the approaching feast at the end of the season [Christmas/Easter].

The color pink represents compassion, nurturing and love. It relates to unconditional love and understanding, and the giving and receiving of nurturing.

A combination of red and white, pink contains the need for action of red, helping it to achieve the potential for success and insight offered by white. It is the passion and power of red softened with the purity, openness and completeness of white. The deeper the pink, the more passion and energy it exhibits.

Pink is feminine and romantic, affectionate and intimate, thoughtful and caring. It tones down the physical passion of red replacing it with a gentle loving energy.

Pink is intuitive and insightful, showing tenderness and kindness with its empathy and sensitivity.

In color psychology, pink is a sign of hope. It is a positive color inspiring warm and comforting feelings, a sense that everything will be okay.

Pink calms and reassures our emotional energies, alleviating feelings of anger, aggression, resentment, abandonment and neglect. Studies have confirmed that exposure to large amounts of pink can have a calming effect on the nerves and create physical weakness in people. Violent and aggressive prisoners have been successfully calmed by placing them in a pink room for a specified amount of time. Exposure for too long can have the opposite effect.

The color pink puts people in touch with the nurturing side of themselves, through either the need to receive or the need to give, nurturing and TLC (tender loving care!). Be aware of this if you have a friend who constantly wears pink as it may indicate a need for acceptance, support and unconditional love!

Pink is a non-threatening color seeking appreciation, respect and admiration. It doesn't like to be taken for granted and just loves to hear the words 'thank you'.

Pink can signify good health, being 'in the pink', and success as in 'everything's rosy'.

The color pink represents the sweetness and innocence of the child in all of us. It is the color of uncomplicated emotions, inexperience and naiveté. A constant and exclusive use of pink can often lead you to become immature, silly and girlish, abandoning your adult responsibilities.

Pink can also remind you of earlier childhood memories, associated with nurturing and comfort from your mother or a mother figure.

Pink, from a negative color meaning, can represent a lack of will power, a lack of self-reliance and a lack of self-worth. It can indicate an overly emotional and overly cautious nature.

Combining pink with other darker colors such as dark blue, dark green, black or gray, adds strength and sophistication to pink.

If your favorite color is pink, it will reflect in your personality.

If you are thinking of using pink in a business application, read up anywhere to help direct your action.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE TRAITS

Positive keywords include: unconditional and romantic love, compassion and understanding, nurturing, romance, warmth, hope, calming, sweetness, naiveté, feminine and intuitive energy.

Negative keywords include: being over-emotional and over-cautious, having emotional neediness or unrealistic expectations, being immature and girlish, lack of will power and lack of self worth.

THE COLOR PINK REPRESENTS

Unconditional love: Pink relates to both unconditional love and romantic love.

Compassion: Empathy and understanding are the fuel for pink's nurturing.

Nurturing: Pink is both the giving and the receiving of love, understanding and respect.

Hope: Pink inspires the possibility of a positive outcome.

EFFECTS OF THE COLOR PINK

Calming: Pink calms our emotional energies.

Non-threatening: Pink lacks any aggression or anger, although the deeper pinks can be more assertive and confident.

Affectionate: Pink offers warmth and tenderness to friends and family.

Caring: Sensitivity and tender loving care relate to pink's feminine and intuitive energies.

Immature: Pink is the color of the sweet young girl, before life's experiences take over.

VARIATIONS OF THE COLOR PINK

Blush: Similar to skin color, this very pale pink has sensual and sexual connotations. It is non-threatening but lacks passion and energy.

Rose Pink: This is the pink of universal love and unity. It is mature, feminine and intuitive.

Salmon Pink: There is a touch of orange in salmon pink. It encourages the flirt, and can be a sign of the timid lover, all talk and no play.

Orchid: This is an unusual lavender-pink and relates to the unconventional and the individual doing his or her own thing. It is the non conformist.

Fuchsia: A blend of deep pink and blue, fuchsia inspires confidence, assurance and maturity, a more responsible and controlled nurturing and love.

Hot Pink: Hot pink inspires a more passionate, playful and sensual love. It exudes warmth and happiness and a love of life.

Give your daughter's room that touch of pink to bring out her girlish and confident nature. ONLY at Meggie and Angels.

LOVE, THE KEY TO A HEALTHY FAMILY

LOVE, THE ESSENCE OF FAMILY

What is love ― real, lasting love?

Love is the attachment that results from deeply appreciating another's goodness.

Love is the result of appreciating another's goodness.

The word "goodness" may surprise you. To the Jewish mind, it isn't unexpected at all. What we value most in ourselves, we value most in others. God created us to see ourselves as good (hence our need to either rationalize or regret our wrongdoings). So, too, we seek goodness in others. Nice looks, an engaging personality, intelligence, and talent (all of which count for something) may attract you, but goodness is what moves you to love.

LOVE IS A CHOICE

If love comes from appreciating goodness, it needn't just happen ― you can make it happen. Love is active. You can create it. Just focus on the good in another person (and everyone has some). If you can do this easily, you'll love easily.

Obviously, there's a huge distance from here to the far more profound, personal love developed over the years, especially in marriage. But seeing goodness is the beginning.

By focusing on the good, you can love almost anyone.

ACTIONS AFFECT FEELINGS

Now that you're feeling so warmly toward the entire human race, how can you deepen your love for someone? The way God created us, actions affect our feelings most. For example, if you want to become more compassionate, thinking compassionate thoughts may be a start, but giving charity will get you there. Likewise, the best way to feel loving is to be loving ― and that means giving.

While most people believe love leads to giving, the truth is exactly the opposite: Giving leads to love.

What is giving? When an enthusiastic handyman happily announces to his non- mechanically inclined wife, "Honey, wait till you see what I got you for your birthday ― a triple-decker toolbox!" that's not giving. Neither is a father's forcing football lessons on his son because he himself always dreamed of being a footballer.

True giving, as Erich Fromm points out, is other-oriented, and requires four elements.

1. Care, demonstrating active concern for the recipient's life and growth.

2. Responsibility, responding to his or her expressed and unexpressed needs (particularly, in an adult relationship, emotional needs).

3. Respect, "the ability to see a person as he [or she] is, to be aware of his [or her] unique individuality," and, consequently, wanting that person to "grow and unfold as he [or she] is."

4. These three components all depend upon the fourth, Knowledge. You can care for, respond to, and respect another only as deeply as you know him or her.

OPENING YOURSELF TO OTHERS

The effect of genuine, other-oriented giving is profound. It allows you into another person's world and opens you up to perceiving his or her goodness. At the same time, it means investing part of yourself in the other, enabling you to love this person as you love yourself.

The more you give, the more you love.

Because deep, intimate love emanates from knowledge and giving, it comes not overnight but over time ― which nearly always means after marriage. The intensity many couples feel before marrying is usually great affection boosted by commonality, chemistry, and anticipation. These may be the seeds of love, but they have yet to sprout. On the wedding day, emotions run high, but true love should be at its lowest, because it will hopefully always be growing, as husband and wife give more and more to each other.

A woman I know once explained why she's been happily married for 25 years. "A relationship has its ups and downs," she told me. "The downs can be really low ― and when you're in one, you have three choices: Leave, stay in a loveless marriage, or choose to love your spouse."

Dr. Jill Murray (author of But I Love Him: "Love is a behavior." A relationship thrives when partners are committed to behaving lovingly through continual, unconditional giving ― not only saying, "I love you," but showing it.

LOVE IS FAMILY

Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent, friend, colleague or a child is a rich blessing.

Affection and love in the family is quite natural and must to have elements to promote the harmony and positive growth of the family. It is the deep affection that makes parents inclined to the sacrifices of growing up kids, perform household activities and meet the financial requirements. If the affection factor is absent no one would have lived dedicatedly for the family.

The affection obligates parents to take pain of looking after the kids and similarly, kids to love and obey the parents. Constantly nurturing the affection in the family is essential to keep the bond of love between the members of the family strong. It is the unmatched affection that creates the belongingness in the family life.

The affection expressed within the family is not benevolence but a commitment. Verbal expressions of affection, quality time spent with the family, gifts, mutual services, affectionate touch etc... are the most advised modes of nurturing the affection in the family between the family members.

NECESSITY:

1. Expression of Affection.

2. Spending Time Together: We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In any relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities.

3. Mutual Services

4. Affectionate Touch: Experts say that an affectionate touch nurtures love and attachment among the family members. Physical touch is always positive and it helps in transferring the emotion and feelings between the family members. Physical touch, here, doesn't refer to a sexual overtone. When it comes to the aspect of touch between the spouses, sexual touch is essential, but between parents and kids or between siblings the physical touch means a hug, kiss, or just a patting.

Actions like hug, kiss, patting, shake hand etc., directly convey how you feel for them and care them. They are well appreciated ways of expressing affection, especially in the family. Kids get great encouragement and confidence from a proper physical touch of affection. It also conveys a nearness of the dear ones and always being there for them.

Since we are a product of the family we come from, it would be a lot easier on our children if we start teaching them how to love and forgive amidst quarrel, hatred, rancor, malice and choose to forgive and make the world a better place.