The History of the Bob Haircut

There are many hairstyles that go in and out of fashion, often being called the 'cut of the decade' but then disappearing into obscurity for years and years. However, there is one haircut that seems to have stuck around more than most - the bob. Immediately identifiable, always evolving and always looking like a classic style, the bob has been sported by some of the most famous style icons of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Like with any hairstyle, it's almost impossible to pinpoint the exact time at which it came to be. For example, some fashionable ladies were said to sport the style before World War I when it was considered strange to wear anything other than long hair. There are several instances of notable women wearing the style after this, but it is often said that the famous dancer Irene Castle brought it into popularity during the 1910s and 1920s.

This caused a rather seismic shift in the hair industry, with the previous long, elegant styles quickly making way for shorter styles and catching many by surprise, hairdressers included. And it didn't take long for the style to evolve, with the long bob coming into existence in the 1930s.

The bob is a hairstyle that women have sported in every decade but, like everything, it has had periods where it hasn't necessarily been in fashion. However, Vidal Sassoon, the famous British hairdresser, is credited with bringing it back into mainstream fashion during the 1960s and since then there have been a series of famous actors, musicians and people of note that have continued to help the style evolve and remain relevant.

There are perhaps two instances over the last 30 years or so that can be really credited with making the bob a must-have style. Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue magazine, is the most famous person to sport the bob, having done so since the 1980s; there is not one person that is more synonymous with the style than her. The style was also given a boost when it was worn by Uma Therman's character in Pulp Fiction.

Since then there have been a huge number of stars that have worn the bob, often changing their style dramatically to garner more attention. Everyone from Rihanna to Victoria Beckham and Keira Knightley to Jennifer Aniston has decided to choose a bob haircut to keep up with latest fashion trends.

How to Be an Empowered Woman

Empower means to 'give the authority or power to do something.' A person can empower others, giving them the authority or power to do something or an individual can give himself or herself this same authority or power.

Empowerment fulfills not just a physical task that can be done by giving the empowered person the ability to perform but also the undeniably psychological or spiritual uplifting that is achieved through empowerment. In a world that can appear to demean women, empowering them can have many benefits in securing women to be healthy participants in society. However, it is more important for women to empower themselves against some of the tough challenges they may face.

How To Be An Empowered Woman:

The first thing to being an empowered woman is to give you the power to empower you. When you give you the permission to act, the Universe will rearrange itself providing you with the tools to get the job done. When you give you the authority to act, then you shift the paradigms mentally and psychologically to achieve. Therefore, it is very important that you empower you to empower you.

· Say to you "I give myself the authority to act in accordance to what is right for me.' This will ensure that your mind, body and soul lay congruent as this combination is integral to change and achievement.

· Say to you 'By giving myself this authority, I consider myself worthy of achievement, I am able to act appropriately, independently or with the support of others." Some people think that independence is the highest achievement indicating true abilities. Yet, it is the acquisition of inter-dependence that is truly necessary for empowerment. Inter-dependence is the realisation that whilst you can act independently, we are all inter-connected to others and will need others to get some of our task completed. It is a foolish person that thinks that they do not need anybody else. True empowerment recognises the need for others.

· Say to you 'I believe that I am capable, that the task at hand is attainable.' It is important that you believe that you can do something even if you do not truly believe that it is 'doable.' Allow yourself to dream that you are doing an actual task or living that actual life and then you start the process of believing.

· Say to you 'I am aware of all opportunities presenting themselves for my benefit.' Sometimes we have a fixed vision of what we think we need to complete a task that we miss an opportunity to achieve because we do not recognise the help that is presenting itself. Be aware of all things that may be an opportunity, question everything to see whether this is your gift to use. Be flexible.

· Say to you 'I forgive myself for all the mistakes that I made. I have learnt much from these choices and I am clear with my ongoing journey.' It is all too easy to ruminate over past experiences that may not have ended up productive. All this does is keep you stagnant. Permit you to let go and move on. Discontinue the resulting negative self-talk and say that 'I learnt what does not work for me.'

· Say to you 'I am love, I am of love.' This statement is very important to sink into your sub-conscious. This statement will act as the driving force to all your achievements. This statement secures self-worthiness ensuring that you can overcome any challenges that may present itself whilst striving for achievement.

Many times when we have a task at hand to do, we sabotage the achievement by talking ourselves out of our achievement. We do not think that we are worthy of attainment and do everything within our power to make sure that we prophesize our thoughts. When the inevitable un-achievement happens, we comfort ourselves with the notion that we were right not to believe. This also happens when we secretly dream of a goal but we minimise our ability to achieve by playing small in fear of achievement. To empower you will increase your chances of living you as you.

Every woman is born with the requisites to achieve. Every woman is born with an internal support system that invariably they have been taught to disconnect from. They do not believe in their own power and seek consciously derived solutions to their problems. When this method does not work, they ignore the 'little voice' informing them of what they need to do to get back on track. As a result, the woman becomes disillusioned as she struggles to cope with what she knows to be right for her with what she is actually doing. Get to know your 'intuition' and trust her to know what is right for you.

How to Be an Empowered Woman

Empower means to 'give the authority or power to do something.' A person can empower others, giving them the authority or power to do something or an individual can give himself or herself this same authority or power.

Empowerment fulfills not just a physical task that can be done by giving the empowered person the ability to perform but also the undeniably psychological or spiritual uplifting that is achieved through empowerment. In a world that can appear to demean women, empowering them can have many benefits in securing women to be healthy participants in society. However, it is more important for women to empower themselves against some of the tough challenges they may face.

How To Be An Empowered Woman:

The first thing to being an empowered woman is to give you the power to empower you. When you give you the permission to act, the Universe will rearrange itself providing you with the tools to get the job done. When you give you the authority to act, then you shift the paradigms mentally and psychologically to achieve. Therefore, it is very important that you empower you to empower you.

· Say to you "I give myself the authority to act in accordance to what is right for me.' This will ensure that your mind, body and soul lay congruent as this combination is integral to change and achievement.

· Say to you 'By giving myself this authority, I consider myself worthy of achievement, I am able to act appropriately, independently or with the support of others." Some people think that independence is the highest achievement indicating true abilities. Yet, it is the acquisition of inter-dependence that is truly necessary for empowerment. Inter-dependence is the realisation that whilst you can act independently, we are all inter-connected to others and will need others to get some of our task completed. It is a foolish person that thinks that they do not need anybody else. True empowerment recognises the need for others.

· Say to you 'I believe that I am capable, that the task at hand is attainable.' It is important that you believe that you can do something even if you do not truly believe that it is 'doable.' Allow yourself to dream that you are doing an actual task or living that actual life and then you start the process of believing.

· Say to you 'I am aware of all opportunities presenting themselves for my benefit.' Sometimes we have a fixed vision of what we think we need to complete a task that we miss an opportunity to achieve because we do not recognise the help that is presenting itself. Be aware of all things that may be an opportunity, question everything to see whether this is your gift to use. Be flexible.

· Say to you 'I forgive myself for all the mistakes that I made. I have learnt much from these choices and I am clear with my ongoing journey.' It is all too easy to ruminate over past experiences that may not have ended up productive. All this does is keep you stagnant. Permit you to let go and move on. Discontinue the resulting negative self-talk and say that 'I learnt what does not work for me.'

· Say to you 'I am love, I am of love.' This statement is very important to sink into your sub-conscious. This statement will act as the driving force to all your achievements. This statement secures self-worthiness ensuring that you can overcome any challenges that may present itself whilst striving for achievement.

Many times when we have a task at hand to do, we sabotage the achievement by talking ourselves out of our achievement. We do not think that we are worthy of attainment and do everything within our power to make sure that we prophesize our thoughts. When the inevitable un-achievement happens, we comfort ourselves with the notion that we were right not to believe. This also happens when we secretly dream of a goal but we minimise our ability to achieve by playing small in fear of achievement. To empower you will increase your chances of living you as you.

Every woman is born with the requisites to achieve. Every woman is born with an internal support system that invariably they have been taught to disconnect from. They do not believe in their own power and seek consciously derived solutions to their problems. When this method does not work, they ignore the 'little voice' informing them of what they need to do to get back on track. As a result, the woman becomes disillusioned as she struggles to cope with what she knows to be right for her with what she is actually doing. Get to know your 'intuition' and trust her to know what is right for you.

Be you, Do you.

My name is Marcea Hibbert-Roye, qualified Social Worker and Life Coach. I work as a Strategic Lead Developer for Women. My specialism is developing emotional awareness in females as I am passionate about improving women's lives. I have devised a 6 Step Program that promotes good emotional health by accessing information held in the subconscious mind to the conscious mind. The result is having more control over thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

We have a range of cards that can be used to initiate and stimulate conversations for females especially supporting them through challenging experiences. There are cards that also reminds the female that she is worth it!

Help to improve your life by better understanding you and why life is experienced in the way this it is. It is only when you have the tools for change, will change happen.

The Beauty Myth - How Do Women Really Feel About Their Looks?

In 1991, Naomi Wolf published The Beauty Myth detailing her understanding on how women continue to be oppressed throughout society for the benefit of men.

Wolf argued that the instigation and use of the myth of beauty would be men's ultimate weapon against women and their perceived rising power.

Women continue to face blockades in the workplace due to the political and systemic use of beauty to define worth. Although men define the ideology of beauty, the demarcation of beauty is not defined thereby leaving the female confused about her own feelings of self.

This allows big corporations to levy unfairly the work that women do increasing their revenue whilst enriching both female expenditure and manageability. This has in turn reduced the female's self-esteem, a powerful tool for control.

Naomi Wolf wrote this book in 1991 following both the first and second wave of feminisms. Are we embarking upon a third wave of feminism? Many skeptics of feminism report that the previously overwhelming injustice towards women and their cries that created and sustained Women's Rights movements have now been diluted to a mere whimper. Is there any truth to this statement?

I want to use this article to examine what if any changes have happened since 1991 and how women's lives may or may not have changed.

Women have always been necessary to the workplace even if not respected for their contribution. Latent history informs us that due to the First World War (WW1) in 1914 -18, women were necessary to move out of the home where they worked to fulfill the employment gap due to men being at war. When the war ended, women did not naturally want to give up this level of financial independence and return to the home. Cross-referencing historical information, the fight for Women's Rights began much earlier therefore women were already aware of the injustices towards them thereby informing of the reluctance to 'return to the home.' In 1848, 68 women and 32 men outlined grievances towards women including women having the right to vote and signed a Declaration of Sentiments in New York. It was in 1872 that saw the national movement begin in the UK in the form of the National Society for Women's Suffrage and later the more influential National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. Without this cross-referencing, one would be forgiven for mistaking that up until WW1 in 1914, women were not knowledgeable about their unjust treatment towards them.

With the knowledge that women did indeed know that they were being treated unfairly and that they actually felt strong enough to take action in different forms showed both tenacity and strength; words that were not used to describe women at all. Since 1991, what has changed to strengthen Women's Rights to being more equal to men?

Not much in my opinion from the viewpoint of entry-level top careers for women although according to a recent research carried out by Astbury Marsden, they found that this year has seen an increase of 100% of women in management positions. This equates to 12% overall from 6% overall last year. We should be grateful! What about the significant pay gaps between men and women for equal jobs? Well, according to Dr. Carla Harris from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), the gap is widening, currently for every dollar a man makes, his female counterpart earns 82 cents. I doubt very much that you will find a noticeable difference in the UK. In fact, upon research, women earned 15% less than men. Is this gap made worse in poor economic times?

So not much has changed in terms of respect for females and the contribution they make in society and for society. Not much in terms of how females are viewed, mostly negatively and for sexual pleasures. However what is more startling (perhaps an over-exaggeration) is that although there have always been women 'night-workers' (prostitutes), women appear to be engaging in their own war against themselves. Let me put this into perspective about this internal war going on with women. Notwithstanding the 'glamour' needed for night workers to attract for work, women are now using this same concept for approval from men and in the meantime waging an unsubstantiated war on their self-esteem. Not that those women did not care for their looks previously, as their grooming ritual is natural in attracting a mate. However, because of the Beauty Myth, the natural birthing process of grooming for a mate has become blurred, confusing and instills a lack of confidence in a female. The precocious instigation of the Beauty Myth undertaken by men but calculatingly not clearly defined (Naomi Wolf) has left women attempting to attain not just the indescribable but the unattainable as beauty is left open for interpretation by the beholder (men).

What has been the result?

Financial contributions to cosmetic, diet and surgery have all seen a surge in willing captors, all seeking this beauty myth and all rather quite despondent when they realise that the goalposts keeps shifting. Cosmetic companies revel in ascribing what their latest product is and how wonderfully powerful some ingredient is, now contained in their product. I mean, who on earth really heard of Pentapeptide, let alone researched what it did before buying the product?

Companies such as those in the cosmetic industry rely on the poor self-esteem of women to direct their products to. Women in return respond in an impassioned grab for the 'miracle' product that will stave off or at least slow down the ageing process. Women are made to feel that they no longer visually please and according to Wolf, companies can take steps in removing the female from her role in the workplace in favour of a younger model. Remember Miriam O'Reilly winning her claim against the BBC for what she alleges being dismissed on ageism and victimisation grounds? A second rate victory because she did not win on the grounds of sexism. What this tells me is what Wolf already identified in her book, that it is very difficult for a woman to claim against sex discrimination as the law fully supports what it calls a BFOQ (bone fide occupational qualification- USA) or the UK's version of GOQ (genuine occupational qualification- Wolf). What this means is that a company may dismiss a woman if they feel that she does not measure up to their ideology of beauty. Now remember, this level of beauty is not defined and what would this really say? As beauty is in the eye of the beholder (self) is it not?

The tribunal for Miriam O'Reilly was held on the 4-19th November 2010, 19 years after Wolf's publication therefore women are still demonstrably being targeted and treated according to how they look and not what talents they may have in the workplace. So no real progress here then!

Next time you go shopping, look out for the number of different beauty products. Be aware of the amount of time and energy that commercials use to sell you their copious amounts of products and the images they use. The use of anti-wrinkle creams on models probably not even yet 20 years old yet. Why on earth they need anti-wrinkle cream is beyond me. Next, these kinds of adverts will be shown using a 13 year old!

Now look at grounded products such as lipsticks. Now you can get ones that last all day. In fact, you need another product to get the lipstick off because normal cleanser and water does not always work. Companies have to keep re-inventing the wheel to keep their profits up so their imagination runs riot and comes up with all sorts of products all doing the same thing but differently. Women fall for this; just take a look at her make up bag, products of the same but different thing, hardly used due to the copious amounts.

What about products containing a certain ingredient that will 'benefit' perceived 'bags' under the eyes. Do you really think that by buying this product will alleviate 'baggy eyes'? Why should it, because if it did then you would have to stop buying the product once you have been cured? So companies use only enough to make a slight difference and you have to keep re-buying to secure better results. I imagine companies laughing at women as they stand far at the side of the room throwing in the magic ingredient (that is to say how offensively low the ingredient is in terms of weight and productivity). Now, I am not saying that a particular ingredient does not work, for example caffeine. However, following your lovely cup of tea, you could quite easily reconstitute the teabag and put this on your eyes. Probably has more caffeine in the teabag than in the expensive product you buy.

Let us look at how other companies have cashed in on the creation of poor self-esteem in women. An ostentatious amount of money is spent by females on diet products in the hope that the 'extra' pounds they think they are carrying will disappear leaving the female with a sense of acceptance and perceived beauty. The sugars used in many foods are replaced with a substitute that is less calorific. To me, this is just a lot of useless chemicals being pumped in the body and for no real gain. Processed sugars are not good for anyone in huge amounts and a wise thing for health purposes would be to reduce your intake not substitute this with something that requires the body to work harder to break it down if it is able to use at all.

For research purposes, I typed in 'what effect does artificial sugars have on the body?' and I did not have to look far to clearly see the dangers of artificial sweeteners. According to author Marcelle Pick, (Obstetrician and Gynecologist) she speaks openly about being properly informed of possible side effects of sweeteners. I will not mention the company as I do not wish to give them any form of exposure but you can do your own research. This particular name brand is the trade name for Sucralose; a synthetic compound stumbled upon in 1976 by scientists in Britain seeking a new pesticide formation. (Marcelle Pick) What this company did was twist the sugar component of their product by citing the 'natural sugar' aspect. Yet more importantly, did you catch the word 'pesticide?'

Now we go onto cosmetic surgery. This phenomenon has increased tenfold since the 1970's. Now you can book a botox in your lunch hour and be back to work. The lackadaisical procedure should be seen as worrying and not that companies are seeking to make life easier for women to attain this face stiffening procedure. Remember the poor actress infamously known for her 'trout pout?' I will leave this here to save her blushes! The point I am making is some of these procedures are downright dangerous yet women are still clambering to risk life or limb.

We do not have to search our brains too hard to recall some other poor soul who underwent breast surgery to enlarge her already natural assets and perceptually ended up looking misplaced. The female body is perfect as it stands and whilst some females may have to undergo a surgical procedure on medical grounds, this should not be confused with the female body, being nature at its finest.

Women are undergoing all sorts of procedures in an attempt to gain the unattainable body. Bum enhancements, face lifts, eye lifts, neck lifts (anything that is deemed lift-up-able), nose adjustments, liposuction on any part of the body and do not get me started with lace fronted weaves or extensions. The woman spends a great deal of time and money on products and services to achieve the ideology of beauty and remember this perceived beauty is undefined. So what this means, is they end up chasing a mirage that disintegrates the moment they think that they are now acceptable. This results in a cyclical pattern in women dabbling in metamorphosis, re-inventing something else to feed that ever-growing pit in lost souls leading to other behavioural and emotional difficulties.

If you look at the objective of The Beauty Myth, the power is monumental and the devastation that this myth leaves behind is great news for those instigating this concept for nothing more than mind-control over women.

Competition Between Women - Does Beauty Cause Jealousy?

Women can be so beastly to one another. Women can also be the perpetrators of hate towards other women. Women can instigate and continue a trail of destruction towards another woman.

It can be very uncomfortable to acknowledge that women can act just as aggressively as men and cause the emotional breakdown in others especially towards other women.

There are many diverse and oddly strange reasons for women behaving badly and jealousy is one of those reasons.

When the green eye of envy glares from the pulpit of internal vision in a woman, the results can range from mild verbal contact to being downright unbelievably heinous. Due to jealousy, a woman could temporarily appear insane. Some behaviours include verbal rages appearing irrational and incessant; her stiffened body taut from the venom squeezing from every pore. Jealousy is potent and can destroy both the holder and the receiver.

I covered my perspective on the Beauty Myth in another article but wanted to pay particular attention to jealousy in a woman because of beauty noting the Beauty Myth.

The Beauty Myth looks at the overall impact on women and I will be examining the psychological impact on women. To surmise the concept and explain the Beauty Myth, here is a quick précis.

The Beauty Myth is an allegorical ideology about what a woman should look like to be readily accepted in society. Men, for control over women construct this ideology. The ideology of beauty as in the Beauty Myth is not defined, therefore there are no clear guidelines or demarcation.

There are many ways in which a woman gravitates towards making herself appealing and to appease men and the resulting language, spoken or not, determines how women view themselves. Women then systematically enshrine the essence of the Beauty Myth by plundering themselves to a regime of incessant grooming including the use of surgery, cosmetics and diets. A woman does not have to be aware of the Beauty Myth to be complicit in its language. The control over women by men renders women out of control in mind and body as she strives for attainment of acceptance. Remember, what the actual concept of beauty should look like is not defined! Whilst this is happening locally for women, the woman then sees other women as potential rivals. Women compete with other women vying for the attention from men creating a war on each other that may appear comical to some but is in no doubt very debilitating for women reciprocally.

Women readily accept striving to achieve the 'ideal' weight and maintain this notion even at the risk of their own health. In some contexts, this ideal is nothing short of experimenting with their life. In an attempt to mask over her own lack of self-esteem, a woman may originate a furtive competition with her colleagues, peers and even friends to appear to be the better looking therefore more acceptable to men. Is the archetypal jealous woman real or fictitious? Just take a look around you.

Women eyeing up other women whilst measuring their own selves and sometimes leaving others feeling as though they are below standard. If a particular woman measures against another woman and feels she is more attractive than she perceives her 'rival' to be, just watch her physiology prolifically change in an instant. If she perceives this same 'rival' to be featuring an attribute she is keen to personally gain this same change in her physiology is evident but this time, she retreats within herself. The Omni-presence of the Beauty Myth is indeed powerful even if not understood by its participants. The concept of the Beauty Myth makes women jealous towards other women a certainty.

Throughout my working experiences in some companies, I have sometimes felt it was better to have a man as a manager than a woman. I work passionately to improve women's lives so how can I possibly justify the previous statement? Well, if your female manager is managing her own set of negative self-perceptions and gracelessly views you as having something that she does not, well, put it this way, your working day can be hell. This information should not be taken out of context. Women are able to manage effectively managerial roles, I am speaking about the female manager who may allow her position to denigrate another female based on the idea of perceived threat. I am also admitting, however uncomfortable that women in 'powerful' positions can use this to feather their own pride by reducing another women's intent. The inception of jealousy not just in thought but put into practice has some very untenable traits for the recipient, the acts done against her is nothing short of bullying. Even in an informal group of friends, there is always some kind of rivalry going on, some form of argument stemming from the lack of something, the underbelly being self-esteem. Yet, if we took a look back into the lives of much younger females (ages 4 - 8 years old), you can see a characteristic in them that might explain the neuroticism that follows later on.

Young girls are tenacious; they are determined and self-assured. They can appear bossy and knows how to get their wishes completed. They can manipulate others for their gains without blinking. The young female knows who she is and will fight for control in her circle. (This description is architypically of young females before society teaches them that their voices are not to be heard, another discussion!) Many times, the young female who views herself as mentally and emotionally strong will seek friends who appear to her to be the opposite of her traits. This way, she will continue to reign. When she does befriend another young female who then goes on to outwardly presenting with the same strong traits, they may remain friends but will experience bouts of rivalry towards each other. However, why they would remain as friends needs further explaining. The need to reign is secondary in spiritual terms to the more important aspect of having, nurturing and maintaining friends. This means that whilst the need to reign is strong, this is borne from the pressures put on them from their outside world. The need for friends is borne from their inner world (subconscious) and is much stronger than the need to reign. Young females, growing females and grown females will find a comfortable place with each other that accommodates their rivalry as long as they are friends. So does this mean that the Beauty Myth perpetuates the traits already found in females and uses it against them? In my opinion, most definitely a YES.

The competition between women to beautify self to surpass their 'rival' is not done explicitly. There are no words that are used that determine such acts of rivalry; the competition is clandestine. There are times when a female will depict her sense of being at war when she negatively calls on the 'flaw' of her rival, teasing her about her perceived 'afflictions.' Or when a female has been perceived to have 'achieved' the mythological beauty, the backlash from her peers is all too evident. The sniping, the backbiting or even the silent treatments towards to the poor female are tools that are used to demonstrate the discomfort women feel towards their 'rival' but borne from their own lack of a positive self identity. The need to reign (starting in early age) is ever-present but made more complex when they become older and now also vying for acceptance from men.

Young girls in the playground demonstrably sending some other poor girl 'out to Coventry' merely for having a super pair of shiny shoes that the reigning girl does not. The teenage female who turns on her friend because that boy she likes is not reciprocal with her attention-seeking activities. The new woman at work who makes the standardised corporate uniform look incredibly perceptively sexy even without trying. Supermodels are dicing with their health in an attempt to be the thinnest therefore prettiest amongst her peers. She has learnt that this ensures continuous work for her. Media depict background scenes of the clichéd females behaving beastly towards each other in the same attempt to reign and be accepted. Movie celebrities all seeking the reduced weight as the camera 'puts on pounds' and media shouts out any imperfections on a woman in a public way. Not all publicity is good publicity! Feuds are started by women with other women just because of perceptions based on looks. Especially worsened if the female celebrity is newsworthy and over-exposed. So all women are somehow affected by beauty and can become, coupled with a typically feminine trait, extend into jealousy. The levels to which jealously can extend to, is dependent upon what the attacking female feels she has to gain to extinguish her rival or equally how she much she has to lose.

Here are a few explanations of jealousy:

Fearful or wary of being supplanted; apprehensive of losing affection or position; resentment or bitter in rivalry; having to do with or arising from feelings of envy, apprehension or bitterness; vigilant in guarding something; intolerant of disloyalty or infidelity, autocratic.

The need to feel beautiful therefore accepted by self and others is inextricably linked to having better self-esteem. This increases the competition in and for women. The 'rewards' are both self-serving to women and for men. However, with the Omni-presence of the Beauty Myth makes jealously a sure fire win for men, whoever wins the competition, they cannot lose. Until women build their self-esteem on feelings on individualism, compassion for other women and acceptance of other women and their equally beautiful features, the war with jealousy will continue. The Beauty Myth continues to reign over the female who thinks she reigns. Until women understand that they are men's half-witted sense of delusions and will never aspire to true equality, they remain incarcerated spiritually. The creation of 'the woman' needs to happen and how this is done is by understanding who they are and remove self from men's expectation. Women then need to build up spiritually by becoming aware of their inner resources to begin the trade off with men for equality because at the moment, men do not have to trade with women on equal grounds.

The Role of the Woman: A Biblical View

The Role of Women in the Church

Mary, a devoted Christian, wants to be involved in ministry at her church. Before she commits, she has a few questions about the role of women in the church. In light of the debate between egalitarianism and complementarianism, she and others like her need answers.

First, it is necessary to define the opposing positions. Egalitarianism is a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs. It asserts that there should be no gender-based role distinctions or limitations placed on women in the home, church, or society. [1] According to this view, women can serve as pastors in light of passages like Galatians 3:28 which says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus".

Complementarianism "is the theological view that although men and women are created equal in their being and personhood, they are created to complement each other via different roles and responsibilities as manifested in marriage, family life, religious leadership and elsewhere. It is rooted in more literal interpretations of the creation account and the roles of men and women presented in Scripture". [2] Bible passages like I Timothy 2:11-15 are used by many to support this view. It says, "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man, but to learn in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety".

Now, attention will be given to two more passages of Scripture. I Corinthians 14:34-35 says, "Let your women keep silence in the churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home for it is a shame for women to speak in the church". I Timothy 3:2 says, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach". In light of these two passages, it is understandable that complementarians believe themselves to be correct in their position. These passages clearly distinguish gender and seem to impose restrictions based on such.

To properly interpret these passages, careful exegesis must be done in order to understand what the Bible writers really meant. It is unsafe and unwise to isolate a passage of Scripture concerning any given subject. All passages related to the subject must be thoroughly studied to avoid taking any passage out of its originally intended context. It is important that readers refrain from assigning their own cultural biases. It is equally important that readers recognize how, in some cases, their own lack of education can hinder their ability to accurately interpret Scripture. A certain foundation of knowledge upon which to build understanding is essential.

For example, one must know the meaning of words in order to understand the thoughts expressed by those words. Similarly, one cannot follow the instruction to walk two blocks and turn left if he does not know how many blocks equal two or the difference between left and right. Reading comprehension skills and the illumination of the Holy Spirit are imperative.

In three of the aforementioned passages of Scripture, there appears to be a gender-based restriction placed on women in the church. However, Paul wrote these passages during a time of great Hellenistic influence. Many of the surrounding pagan religions featured priestesses who made loud, seemingly meaningless utterances. The church wanted to distinguish itself from such. Christian leaders worked to show an affinity to Greek social and philosophical life due to the constant threat of persecution and scandal, but at the same time similarities to fertility cults and Gnostic groups was downplayed. [3]

This accounts for Paul's apparent contradiction to Galatians 3:28, Romans 16:1,7 which support egalitarianism. Acts 10:34 says, "God is no respecter of persons". The Bible is inspired and inerrant and, therefore, cannot contradict itself.

"The contradictory nature of Paul's statements is explored and distinction made between those that are universally normative and those that are culturally relative. Just as certain statements regarding slavery are no longer applicable today so certain statement regarding women better served another age". [4]

God has and will always use women as He sees fit to advance the gospel and unite the Body of Christ. The giftedness of women in ministry and their fruitful effectiveness even as elders and deacons testify of His blessing. The whole of Scripture clearly reveals God's egalitarian attitude toward women.

Home Remedies to Untie Tubes

Each year all over the world many couples decide that their family is complete. This is when they will make the decision as to what type of birth control will work the best for them. Many will decide on what is the best permanent sterilization for their particular situation. The two most known forms are vasectomy in which the male undergoes the sterilization procedure. The other is tubal ligation which is the female form of sterilization. Many women choose to have the tubal ligation immediately following the birth of their child. The tubal ligation procedure is performed right after a c-section in most cases. Couples figure that if the woman is already in the procedure the ligation can be performed and have everything taken care of at the same time.

For some women there comes a time following the sterilization that they wish to have another child. Although IVF is usually given as the first option, many couples do not like the idea of this procedure. Other couples just cannot afford the expense of the IVF treatments. IVF is expensive and many couples have had to take large loans and are now repaying them back. Unfortunately, these couples were not informed about tubal reversal surgery and are now searching for the best way to have a child.

Those who do not have the money for the infertility treatment of IVF or tubal ligation reversal surgery will look for another way. A determined couple will keep searching and trying to look for something that will help them have a child. Searching the Internet will often give them the idea that a home remedy may be available to help untie the tubes.

There are home remedies to untie tubes posted on certain websites. Some promise to have fertility restored in a few weeks while others promise pregnancy almost right away. The sad thing is that these home remedies do not work. Two choices for pregnancy is IVF where the damaged fallopian tubes are bypassed or surgical correction used in reversal surgery. There is nothing 'natural' that is going to help repair the fallopian tubes that have been surgically damaged or severed. The problem is many couples will spend thousands of dollars only to learn it was in vain. The money spent could have been used towards tubal reversal surgery.

Home remedies have not been medically proven to work. No scientific studies are yet available. Although the human body is a remarkable creation and does heal itself it has not yet been proven successful using home remedies to heal damaged fallopian tubes. The two ways medically and scientifically proven to have a baby following tubal ligation is tubal reversal surgery and in vitro fertilization.

Hormonal Harmony for Men and Women: Three Natural Remedies for Treating Hormonal Imbalance

Hormones are a big topic in the health field and a lot of women and men are in the "volatile zone" of hormonal imbalance. You may be a pregnant woman, a new mother, a woman in some phase of menopause or a woman having difficulty with what should be a relatively easy and normal passing phase of the month or a man in some phase of andropause.

A good place to start with hormones is by defining what they are.

"Hormones have many functions as the body's messengers. In scientific language, they are referred to as signalers. They are so strong that all other signals within the cells are ignored when a hormonal signal is sent." Allen & Lutz, Life Without Bread, (2000), p.22.

This is exactly what is happening to many people are doing everything right to lose weight, but they stay stuck or plateau in their weight loss efforts. It is likely because they have an underlying severe hormonal imbalance in their body and hormones are a stronger influence in the cells than any amount of diet or exercise and some hormones block the effect of other hormones within the cell.

So, besides weight loss, fat burning and building lean muscle mass (regulation of metabolism), what else do hormones do? Hormones play a role in the:

• stimulation or inhibition of growth,
• emotions,
• induction or suppression of cell apoptosis (cell suicide),
• activation or inhibition of the immune system,
• preparation of the body for fight, flight or freeze syndrome,
• preparation of the body for a new phase of life, such as puberty, parenting or menopause,
• controls the reporductive system,
• appetite,
• libido.

When a person has balanced hormones there is a smooth transition in both the monthly and the life cycles of a woman, including puberty and menopause and for men, their transition into andropause. They should experience an overall sense of well-being no matter what the circumstances are going on around them. They have healthy libidinal drives, healthy skin, hair and nails and healthy blood sugar regulation and immune function.

A person with imbalanced hormones may experience some of the following symptoms, for women:

• low energy,
• low sex drive,
• menstrual disorders,
• irregular cycles,
• splitting headaches or headaches on the side of the head,
• craving chocolate,
• tired,
• sleeping too much or too little,
• increase in weight,
• low abdominal pufiness,
• mood swings,
• breasts tender around cycle,
• acne around cycle,
• hot flashes,
• skin crawling,
• breast discharge,
• breasts shrinking,
• vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.

For men, hormonal balance can include:

• flat or low sex drive,
• decreased morning erections, inability to concentrate,
• episodes of depression,
• decreased physical stamina,
• sweating attacks,
• more emotional than in the past,
• weight gain,
• changes in hair, skin or nails.

While there are natural supplements and herbs for specific hormonal symptoms, there are also things each individual can do to promote balanced hormones because lifestyle issues are what drives hormones. Someone who is complaining about hormonal issues has to first look at how they are living and what they are eating. The following three components make up a holistic approach to balancing hormones.

1. Diet lays the foundation for healthy hormones; digestion, detoxification and immune function are linked together as one. In a lot of people, the digestive and immune systems are very confused because they are not eating real food, they are eating a lot of non-food and that is going to create hormonal confusion in the body. Also, many people have undiagnosed food allergies and that creates significant inflammation in the body and elevates the hormone cortisol adding to the hormonal confusion.


2. Lifestyle factors are the next step to consider in hormonal imbalance and these include sleep and exercise. If a person complains of hormonal imbalance and it is found they are only sleeping five hours a night, it may be a smarter move for the healthcare practitioner to work on helping the person sleep better rather than giving them a supplement for their hormonal complaints. If their sleep is improved, that is going to improve their hormones, without intervening with the hormones, with just working with the body's wisdom. Again the holistic approach to health is not to suppress the symptom, but to find the root cause of the symptom and allow the body to heal and re-balance itself. So a sleep impaired person with hormonal complaints might be suggested to take some minerals at bedtime along with Valerian Complex to improve their sleep and the body may then re-balance the hormones on its own.


3. Once the diet and lifestyle factors are considered, the third step is to strategically use herbs or supplements specific to particular hormonal imblances. After foundational support such as a whole food multi-vitamin, trace minerals and an essential fatty acid is suggested, then specific endocrine/hormonal support is looked at. The next step is adding customized nutritional and herbal support for specific complaints. Of course

Trapped in a Fashion Rut? Here's the Secret to Getting Out!

You want to get out of your fashion rut and feel good about how you look, but every time you go shopping you leave discouraged or overwhelmed. The reason has as much to do with your mind as it does with your body and by incorporating two very important changes to your shopping experience, you can find new success every time you shop.

Think about it. You have been in a fashion rut for years (or maybe it just feels that way!). Nothing you buy ever feels right any more. You've resorted to reading fashion magazines with titles like "99 Little Ways to Your Best Body" or "200 Secrets to Looking Great Now" with less than flattering results, and you even allowed your two best friends to take you shopping. Yes, they helped you choose new clothes, so why don't you feel any better? Even after that intervention, you are still in a rut (you can't remember what you are supposed to do with that long flowy plaid vest anyway?). You feel like an imposter every time you look in the mirror where a poor imitation of your friend stares back at you. You're $500 lighter and no closer to finding a wardrobe that makes you happy. A cloud of hopelessness is descending so now what, you wonder!

The key here is that you don't feel confident choosing clothes that you feel good wearing because you don't love your body and you think nothing looks good on you. You feel like your body parts are shifting nearly daily or you've gained weight (or both) and somehow clothes just don't fit the way they used to. You hyper focus on the parts of your body you don't like and when you do go shopping all you see are things that don't look good. You walk into a store and walk out again empty handed or you take those two well-meaning friends with you and walk out with clothes, but you don't really feel any better when you get dressed than you did before you went shopping. Fashion magazines aren't helping -- they are all written for svelte twenty year olds who could be your daughters -- and you don't know where to turn. All you can think is that nothing works and that you're doomed to look frumpy and boring for the rest of your life.

You're left wondering that if magazines and makeover TV shows (where all the style gurus are handing down valuable fashion advice) and even your stylish friends can't help, what hope is there for you? Wow... with that kind of attitude I can see where shopping would not be fun and it certainly wouldn't be productive.

I promise, however, there is plenty of hope. First of all, when you look out into the real world, do you see women (be they female friends, family or strangers you've seen at the mall, work or grocery store) whose image you admire -- women who look like they are well put together whether it's for work or leisure? Of course you do. Get a picture in your mind's eye of two or three of them and ask yourself this one important question: Are they all built like a super model? No, of course they are not and this is good news! Chances are good you are not shaped like a super model (I know I'm not!) and you just confirmed that you do not have to be super model tall, thin and very young to look great. You can look great no matter what size you wear, how tall you are or how young or old you are. These women prove it -- they are just like you with things they like and don't like about their bodies.

What these women do have that you don't is two things:

1. Fashion guidelines to help you identify garments/outfits that have potential, and
2. The belief that you CAN create a look you love.

These two things lead to increased self-confidence and the well put-together look you want for yourself.

Is this learnable? Yes.

Did they learn all of this in one day? No.

So, give yourself a break, use the information I'm about to share with you to move you step-by-step closer to having that put-together look you long for and the self-confidence will grow with each positive step.

So, where do you start?

Begin with your mindset. Otherwise, the fashion tools will be ineffective. Why? Because you get what you expect and if you expect not to find anything you love or you find something you love but they don't make it in your size or you approach the shopping experience as if you were going into a losing battle, guess what you'll get: nothing you like (everything will seem ugly, shapeless and too trendy) and things that don't fit. You will prove yourself right.

Even if this has been true in the past, you must find a glimmer of hope in your shopping experience because if your expectations are based on the past and the past wasn't good, then guess what you'll get now? That's right... more of the same.

Or, if your past shopping experiences were terrific, but now your body has changed (and not in a way that makes you happy) and you can no longer wear what you used to, but you wish you could and berate your body for not staying the way it was (you can see where this is going... ), then you will go in with frustrated energy and all you will see are things that were created for your former body. Your mindset is crucial to a successful shopping experience.

Okay, you say, but how do I do that when I can feel my anxiety rising when I simply think about shopping, never mind step into a store!

Create a positive affirmation and visualize success. You have to train your mind to approach the shopping experience from a different place. Here's a great one for starters: "More and more I find clothes I love and that look great on me." Notice I didn't say, "Everything looks good on me." Or "I look great in everything I try on." Even I (who knows what I am doing when it comes to shopping for clothes) do not look great in everything I try on and I won't even think about shopping when I'm crabby or don't think I'll find anything I like. My results will be the same as yours would be -- my mind will say, "You think you'll only find things you don't like or that don't fit you well or are too young or badly made? Great... let me go find those things for you so you won't be disappointed!" I've had this happen and I now know to laugh at myself and realize I went in with a bad attitude!

Create a positive affirmation that you can relate to. Then, don't just say the affirmation once and wait for fairy dust to sprinkle down on your head and the perfect new store to open next door (although, hey, wouldn't that be nice if it happened!). Say it over and over. Say it with as much joy and positive expectation as you can muster. Your mind/body believes what you tell it, so tell it something good and positive. Give your mind the assignment of finding things that will make you happy rather than prove you right that there's nothing out there that looks good on you.

Then, as you are heading out to shop, visualize yourself having a great experience finding things you love in your size and color. Picture yourself trying something on and feel amazing. (It's less about the specific item -- so you don't have to visualize exactly what that amazing piece is -- and more about the feeling attached to it.) If you start to get overwhelmed and some of that old history comes flooding back (which it will from time to time), take a deep breath and repeat the affirmation and visualization.

Getting your mindset heading in a positive uplifting direction first is critical. Once that is flowing we can add in a few fashion tools to get you started.

Most of us, myself included, need to have guidelines when we shop. Understanding how to create a look you love takes more than just walking into a store and grabbing something random off the rack hoping it will work because it looks good on the mannequin or you saw it in a magazine. It is important to make your selections with intention. Knowing what to look for helps you ignore the parts of the store that don't work for you and concentrate on the parts that do. Follow these rules for more success when you shop:

• Search for colors that look great on you. If you don't have a personalized color palette here are some basic guidelines. Do not buy light gray, yellow, army green or beige unless you are absolutely sure it is your perfect color. When in doubt (which should be most of the time with those colors), choose one of these colors: emerald to forest green, deep periwinkle, medium to deep teal, or watermelon. These colors all look good on a lot of people.
• Make sure it fits. While this is not the only criteria for choosing a garment, it is very important. For instance, be sure the fabric skims your body and doesn't cling too tightly or look too big and messy (lift your arms and if there is a lot of excess fabric there that creates buckling at the bustline, then the top is too big). And, if it doesn't fit consider whether it can be altered by a tailor. Yes, if you love the garment it is ALWAYS worth having it tailored. A word of caution: a current trend is for oversized, shapeless tops. I generally recommend avoiding these, but if you love them, try wearing one with a pair of skinny jeans or leggings.
• Make sure you love it. There is no substitution for loving something you are wearing. Look for patterns that make you smile, textures that feel good and fabrics that feel nice on. Never buy something because you think you should (remember how that worked out when your friends took you shopping). You will never feel happy wearing it unless you are excited about it.

When you combine these tools with positive affirmations and visualizations, you are setting yourself up for success -- one step at a time.

Remember, keep these ideas in mind when you shop:

• Look for color, good fit and things that make you smile when you look at them.
• Don't go shopping until you have done your affirmations and visualizations. Don't just say them rotely -- they won't work. Say them with passion, desire, as much positive belief as you can muster and say them often!

You WILL make progress if you do this.

You have to start somewhere or you'll stay mired in doubt and frustration for the rest of your life -- never feeling good about how you look and envying the women who do. That is no way to live and, better yet, it's absolutely unnecessary. You CAN look great. I have just shared several steps you can take in your journey towards feeling like one of those women whose image you admire. Just take it one step at a time and celebrate each success no matter how small. You will get there!

Ginger Burr believes that your image represents the best of you, not some ideal that makes designers happy. As an expert personal image consultant working with women from all walks of life, she has crafted a remarkable process of nurturing your inner beauty and discovering your personal style. Whether it's the "dynasty" shoulder pad era, the never-ending confusion of business casual, or the low-rise pant controversy, she has helped women navigate through (and sometimes completely ignore!) the styles of the season and feel good about how they look.

A notable speaker and leader in the field of fashion and style, Ginger's adroit understanding of beauty trends and fashion has been celebrated by Fox TV News, The Boston Globe, and CNN.com. In addition, Ginger recently launched her body image, self-esteem, and style virtual coaching program "Who Taught You How to Dress?" This innovative program allows women to overcome internal obstacles and learn the practical (as well as soft) skills they need to create a wardrobe they love -- all in the comfort of their own home!

Ginger has distinguished herself in several untapped niches, including her image work with the transgender community and was recently recognized by VegNews Magazine as one of the "25 Most Fascinating Vegetarians" in the world for her innovative and groundbreaking work as a vegan image consultant.

Breast Reduction Surgery - A Smart Choice

A breast reduction procedure is an ideal option for women who have large, oversized breasts. The surgery involves removing excess breast fat, skin and glandular tissue from the breasts to improve shape and minimize the difficulties caused by oversized breasts. With breast reduction surgery performed in a reputable surgical center, women can expect well-shaped breasts that are more proportionate to their body and an attractive bustline.

Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery in a Reliable Practice

• Top plastic surgery practices have a good reputation in providing effective and natural looking results for breast surgery procedures.

• Plastic surgeons employed in reputable practices are quite experienced in providing advanced reduction surgery techniques for women. They have extensive training and surgical experience in handling different breast reduction/ breast lift surgery to provide patients with breasts of the desired shape and size.

• Reputable plastic surgery centers are AAAASF-accredited and focused on providing optimal results and patient safety. The surgeons use advanced technologies and proven techniques to help patients achieve their cosmetic goals.

Breast Reduction Surgery Techniques Available

Reputable surgery practices offer the latest surgery techniques to help to address issues such as heavy, pendulous breasts and enlarged areolas.

• Vertical only Reduction Mammoplasty: This surgery technique involves making 'lollipop' shaped incisions - one around the around the areola and other mainly in the inframammary fold. This breast surgery technique is appropriate for patients who want to remove approximately 1.7 pounds (800 grams) from each breast. This technique can result in a projecting, attractive breast shape with limited scarring. Considerable sensory innervation to the nipple-areola complex is also maintained in this procedure. Another important aspect of vertical reduction mammoplasty is related to the body's ability to shrink skin and thereby reshape the breasts. In certain cases, a revision procedure may be needed based on the amount of skin that was unable to shrink.

• Liposuction only Breast Reduction: This surgical technique is a safe procedure which removes extra fat stored in the breasts. Scarring is minimal major cuts or incisions are not required. The liposuction cannula is inserted through a small incision which heals soon without leaving any major marks. There are also no sensory changes in the nipple-areola complex. This technique is ideal for younger patients with adequate skin tone. Moreover, this technique is best for those patients who are looking for a complete solution for heavy, oversized breasts. The surgical procedure helps to lift the breasts by a significant degree, thereby reducing breast size by more than fifty percent.

Locate a Reliable Surgery Practice

Before considering a breast reduction surgery, it is important to thoroughly research the surgical centers in the area, learn about the plastic surgeons and the different procedures they offer. Choose to have your procedure performed by a reputable plastic surgeon in an AAAASF-accredited plastic surgery center. With a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, you can expect a safe, comfortable surgical experience and satisfactory results.

Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery, a plastic surgery center in Houston, Texas provides you the latest cosmetic and reconstructive surgery procedures. Our plastic surgeons are renowned for their expertise in breast reduction, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, DIEP flap breast reduction, microtia/ear reconstruction, and more. Here you will receive personalized and comfortable care from our plastic surgeons.

Tips on Maintaining a Wrinkle Free Skin

Wrinkle free skin has become one of the most sought after and needed beauty assets by many women in today's world. Wrinkles are usually associated with aging but with current trends where women stress too much due to the demands at work and home; young women have also been spotted with wrinkled skin. This is because these women put too much stress on their bodies and rarely get enough time to treat their skin in the proper way.

Your skin is a reflection of your health. Healthy looking skin indicates a healthy individual while pale and wrinkly skin can indicate poor body health. The skin is also what meets the eye when you look at someone. It is therefore important to have healthy looking wrinkle free skin.

Getting rid of wrinkles is almost impossible in most cases. Wrinkles can however be delayed and prevented through some time tested methods that will leave your skin soft glowing and wrinkle free; making you feel young and confident.

What you eat will determine the heath of not only your inner body but your skin too. Higher intakes of vitamin C and a lower intake of fats and carbohydrates are associated with better appearance as your skin ages; enabling you to maintain a wrinkle free face. This should also be coupled with a lot of water intake to moisturize your skin and help flush out toxins from your body.

Regular exercise is also very important if you want to keep healthy and benefit your skin which plays a big role in guarding your whole body. The activity helps your blood circulation improve, flushing out toxins from your body. Better blood flow also brings more oxygen and nutrients and may help your skin produce collagen, which staves off wrinkles.

As you grow older, all your body parts; skin included age too. Your body doesn't produce as much collagen, and the elastin that allows skin to spring back into place gets weaker. The rate at which you lose and recreate skin and other body cells also drops. To boost aging skin, exfoliate to remove dead skin, use a nondrying soap, and moisturize often. Most of all stay out of the sun as its effects might not be favorable to your skin.

You can also choose to use anti-aging cream but it's available to use that which may contain vitamin C or E. Put these antioxidants to work from the inside, too. Eating foods rich in these vitamins, plus the mineral selenium, can help protect your skin against sun damage. They may even help reverse signs of aging, like wrinkles and skin discoloration.

Some people have also resorted to surgery to get their skin wrinkle free but hey! Why pay so much for surgery when you can get wrinkle free skin in a cheaper way?