Category: Trending on the Web

Prof. Jeffrey Flory, “Do Competitive Workplaces Deter Female Workers?”

As a Robert Day School Professor, Jeffrey Flory specializes in development economics and has received grants from the World Bank and the Lowe Institute of Political Economy.

This week, I had the honor of attending his Athenaeum talk on the effect of competitive workplaces on female employees.

It is common understanding that there are prominent gender differences in our labor market. In the US, women’s wages are approximately 20% lower than men’s; women only account for 2.5% of the 5 highest paid executives in large firms; and, compared to their male counterparts, are more likely to be unemployed. Various explanations have been offered as to why these disparities still exist: differences in human capital skills, the effect of traditional family roles, and stereotype threats against women.

Prof. Flory’s research expands on a novel approach to explain the gender gap in the workplace: competition. Laboratory experiments have found that work performance of men is substantially more responsive to competition incentives than that of women. This, in turn, may prevent female workers from performing their best when they know they are competing with other employees for promotions or raises. Further lab experiments show a gender difference in preferences for performing in competitive settings. On average, men have a taste for competition, while women tend to exhibit a distaste for it. This results in men embracing competition and women shying away from it.

It is essential that we become aware of the implications of these findings. For the social realm, these conclusions indicate that if women have an aversion to competition, they are less likely to seek promotions and raises, perhaps even removing themselves from the picture. Moreover, if women dislike performing under competitive circumstances, they are more likely to shy away from fields that are perceived as highly competitive. Findings also indicate that highly competent women select out of competitive workplaces while incompetent men select into them. The economic implications of these observations are of great importance. This poor allocation of employee capacity affects firms’ productivity and efficiency, indicating that perhaps firms are not attracting the best possible talent, thus failing to maximize economic performance and prosperity.

Prof. Flory aims to develop this field of study, taking research outside of the lab into natural economic environments. His real labor market experiment involved 9,000 job-seekers interested in a real employment position. By manipulating compensation treatments, he found that having a team-based work environment as well as lowering the amount of wage that is based on competition can help eliminate the gender gap.

This research can provide invaluable insight into a prominent issue in our society. I am looking forward to seeing how this field advances, and observing its positive impact on our changing workplace.

It’s Possible…

Berger Institute Blogger Brittany Woods ’17 is graduating early and currently juggling multiple jobs in addition to being a full-time student at CMC. Also: she’s married! Check out the video – our third installment – to hear about how she makes it all work.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrKA6Jb-niU&w=560&h=315]

Marriage as a Relationship

As one of the few married students on campus, a lot of my friends ask me what marriage is like. My generic, and honest, response is usually this: it’s like living with your best friend: 90% of the time it’s super cool, and 10% of the time it’s either trying not to kill them because they did something that made you unreasonably mad or just needing a second to yourself. After a year of explaining it this way, I’ve given it a bit more thought and the result is the following proposition: marriage is first and foremost just a relationship.

I know what you’re thinking… of course marriage is a relationship. And yes, I know. But what I mean is that the mechanisms of maintaining a marriage are the same as maintaining a friendship with a family member or loved one.

It takes effort, it’s not always fun, there will be disagreements, and there will be bad days.

It takes compromise, trust, communication, and a mutual desire to maintain the relationship.

It is the most beautiful part of your life, and the most painful.

Relationships are multifaceted, tenuous structures predicated on history, emotions, and external factors like distance, stressors on individuals, and circumstance. Most simply put, they are the result of two individuals’ consistent decisions to make room and time for each other. And if you love each other, the effort it worth it.

The point is this: romantic relationships take on dimensions and depth that most relationships don’t. The nuances of having a significant other come from trying to maintain different types of relationships with one person. They are your friend, your family, your lover, your team mate, and everything in between. That’s a lot of dynamics and trying to balance them all makes the relationship more dynamic than others. So much so that it’s easy to forget that marriage (and other forms of dating) is in the simplest explanation just a relationship. And remembering that makes it a lot easier to manage, refine, and sustain.

The Paradox of Terrorism

After 9/11, the American public lived in constant fear of another attack. Many believed that future terrorism was imminent, and that threats to American soil were going to be severe and frequent. I imagine the people of France felt similarly following the attacks in November of last year. For Western countries, whose military dominance, institutionally secured influence, and alliance largely provide safety, attacks by small pockets of international extremists are destabilizing and debilitating. Right?

Wrong. After 9/11, the deadliest attack on U.S. soil, one attack was used to start multiple wars that have caused more deaths to innocent civilians in multiple Middle Eastern countries than were lost in the attacks. The deadliest attack on U.S. soil, with over three thousand dead and wounded, incited reactionary, rash policy that haunts us fifteen years later. And that’s why terrorism is an effective weapon against Western countries: because we respond. It sounds harsh, and I am in no way discrediting those who lost their lives on that day of great loss for our nation. But on paper, the loss of life does not justify the massive response. Significantly more people died in 2001 from Alzheimer’s, suicide, or HIV.

Terrorism is used against large countries whose conventional forces cannot be challenged because these are the countries whose reputation in the community will be questioned if they fail to respond to an attack on their homeland. This is why ISIS, whose threat to the United States is limited and whose resources and recruiting are exaggerated by the media, keeps coming up in the news and in election coverage. These groups want to send a message to large Western countries whose values they perceive as imperialist, superficial, and corrupt. And because even small attacks promote national outcry and international recognition, these groups use terrorism as a tool to foster support, build their reputation, and challenge the “big players” at a relatively low cost to themselves.

Divisive Rhetoric and Unprecedented Conflict: The 2016 Presidential Race

Disappointment awaited all who tuned in to watch the first two presidential debates. Both candidates dodged questions, instead using their two-minute segments to attack each other and bring up clearly practiced talking points. Instead of digging into policy positions, Clinton and Trump presented shallow, soundbite-adaptable comments about their plans. They attacked each other on the basis of character, temperament, and career history, all while maintaining the divisive, aggressive posturing this election has characterized this election cycle.

Beyond who voters will choose to elect next month, the nature of this election brings up serious questions about the media, democracy, and the nation.

The Media

Since RNC and DNC nominated Trump and Clinton, there have been scandals, missteps, and lies from both presidential candidates. Although the distribution of these events has not been even, it has allowed the media to control voters’ access to information about candidates. News networks do not provide comprehensive overviews of policy platforms. They do not provide untainted records of Hillary’s career, or of Trump’s business transactions. They grab on to the nastiest rumors and the simplest of missteps, painting each candidate as a veritable ally of Satan himself. And while the candidates consistently inspire revelations that lend themselves to sensationalization, the bias from both sides of the ideological spectrum serves to further polarize people’s preexisting ideologies with quasi-truths posted on social media, online newspapers, and on television. The lack of integrity and objectivity has done nothing to inform voters struggling with an important decision and less than ideal options, or initiate informed conversations about policy.

Democracy

Democracy in America has always been grounded in the idea of participation. While the early eras of America barred access to political participation for many groups, including women and minorities, , equal rights have been expanded over time, allowing most citizens the opportunity to vote and engage in other civic duties. Yet those versed in civics, government, elections, and policy consistently provide evidence that the American public struggles with understanding issues, fails to vote consistently, and lacks a basic understanding of how the U.S. government works. When the media presents superficial criticisms or endorsements, voters adopt and internalize these overly biased perspectives, participation becomes arbitrary. When people are not informed, but vote based on Facebook articles, memes, comedy TV shows, and skewed broadcasting, voters can validate their own biases and point to sources like CNN and Fox that used to be credible. Instead of checking multiple sources, international news outlets, and academic writing, people share a questionably cited article posted on a shady website. Without looking into the issues, people go to vote on superficial understandings of policy platforms and propaganda based opinions.

The Nation

Many look at Trump and Clinton and fail to understand how either ended up as a presidential nominee. Trump’s problem is a lack of qualifications, consistently bigoted/racist rhetoric and generally poor presentation of policy. Clinton comes off to many as a cold, corrupt career politician with a cheating husband and a campaign characterized by defending two concepts: emails and Benghazi. With two candidates so aggressively opposed by the public, many have started questioning the state of our nation. Religious zealots claim that the end time must be near, foreign policy experts fear how the instability of the election will affect our international relationships. If half of the country is willing to support a seemingly xenophobic demagogue and the other half supports an alleged liar in regards to potential felony offenses, what does that say about our government and our citizens? Instead of ideological discourse and intellectually based disagreements, we see character attacks and grandstanding. This is concerning.

When Donald Trump claims he will “make America great again” and Hillary Clinton says “we are great because we are good,” it falls flat. This election cycle indicates that we need to reevaluate how Americans get their information, what students are taught about civil discourse, and what kind of people we want in charge of representing our nation.

This election has been more spectacle than substance, and neither candidate will suffer greatly – in terms of status, finances, or opportunity – in the event of a loss. Yet the outcome of the election will affect the American people and the status of the United States as an international actor for years to come. And that’s a concerning proposition.

Family Meals: Small inititative, Big Benefits

At the breakfast table, my father launches into trivia concerning Indian Classical Music, American politics, and World News. My sister and I fumble for answers, my mother holds herself back from revealing them, my grandma reminiscences of life 30 years ago, and my 11-year-old dog searches for scraps of food under the table. Missing breakfast or dinner is a cardinal sin. Even on weekends, my sister and I are hauled out of bed to the breakfast table at 8:00 a.m.

Eating family meals is more than just a tradition. It’s something that I had assumed commonplace for most families . But upon closer inspection and many sleepovers with friends, I realized that not all families place as much of an emphasis on family meals as my parents did.

I was obliviously lucky.

A recent article in the Washing Post strongly advocates the need for family meals, for a variety of reasons:

  1. Building vocabulary: Through conversation and dialogue with adults, children are exposed to unfamiliar words and concepts. Many an SAT words was learned at the dinner table in my house
  2. Physical health: A sit down dinner with parents means more fruits and vegetables.
  3. Mental health: Studies have demonstrated strong association betwen family dinners and a reduction in depression, suicidal thoughts, and high-risk behaviors.

My favorite memories have been made on the dining table, whether they involved distressing about impending exams, solving crosswords, or discussing the decline in pop music with my father. It has always provided warmth, support, bonding, and intellectual stimulation for me.

For most families, eating all three meals together is unrealistic, given work and school commitments. But creating a schedule that incorporates one meal together- to sit down, de-stress, and engage with one another – is not an impossible feat, and certainly worth it. 

Puppy Love

The phrase “man’s best friend” brings up dozens of fond memories, from my first dog, a Dalmatian named Kayla, to my current pup, a little Maltese-Poodle, Loki. Although Loki is not an emotional support animal, whose services to their owners are immense and incredible, he has served as a wonderful companion and brings me immeasurable joy. It turns out, science has proven that friendly, familiar dogs can reduce stress by lowering blood pressure, slowing heart rates, regularizing breathing patterns, and relaxing muscles. Interaction with a furry friend can have measurable changes to blood chemistry, actively combatting the creation of stress related hormones (AND these beneficial effects work faster than medication). Further, the bond created between a dog and its owner(s) can serve as social support, decreasing the risk for depression and anxiety as well as physical illnesses. The affection provided by a pet can also alleviate loneliness – which I can speak to personally, as my husband is often away due to his military service – and increase life satisfaction.

CMC brings dogs and puppies to campus during finals – but with the scientifically proven benefits of interacting friendly four legged pals, the administration might want to consider implementing additional programs. Since many of the finals week dogs are brought by local families, and many professors have dogs, creating a program where people bring their dogs to campus for a walk, a game of fetch, or a play in the fountains would only require organization. The benefit to students could be substantial, and many dogs would welcome the chance for extra play time!

#walkmewednesday #throwtheballthursday #fountainfetchfriday

Coping with Homesickness

I took a plane from Chennai, India armed with two carry-on suitcases and a VISA that confirmed my attendance to Claremont McKenna College. I landed in a country where the culture was foreign, interactions were different, and accents were alien.

I was fortunate to have my parents to ease my transition but that safety net was lost on day two of orientation, when they headed back to India. Orientation week was a blur of new faces, activities, and discussions where I had little time to breathe. But, as soon as it ended, I was lost.

In other words, I was homesick.

“Homesickness is not merely missing a house; rather, it encapsulates a wide variety of emotions, feelings, and warmth that one associates with a place,” says clinical psychologist Josh Kaplow [and make his name a link to the article]

I agree. I missed the humidity, sounds of traffic, my native language, my extended family, and the warmth of people that I grew up with. As an incoming international freshman, this was heightened. I experienced anxiety, difficulty with communication, and even a loss in appetite – all common symptoms of homesickness.

As a sophomore,  I no longer experience homesickness. I do miss my parents; however, I am lucky to have found my own niche at CMC . For those who continue to struggle with homesickness, here are a few helpful tips that helped me get through it:

  1. It is important to call your parents but not too often. It’s always good to touch base with them but you need to establish your independence, too
  2. Don’ot be afraid of seeking help.Talk to a counselor or a friend if you are unable to cope or are experiencing any kind of physical or psychological difficulties
  3. Try to get involved on campus. This will allow you to immerse yourself into the campus culture while also getting to meet new people
  4. Put yourself out there, talk to people, and always try to maintain a positive attitude.

There is no easy fix to homesickness. A tendency to miss home is natural feeling. But, by being patient, positive, and being willing to seek help, you might find yourself slowly adapting to a new environment.

It’s hard to completely replace a home, but it’s not impossible to find your space in a new city, country, college, or continent.

 

#DearTeenageMe

There’s a hashtag trending right now: #DearTeenageMe … here’s the advice I’d give myself.

Dear Teenage Me,

You can do it. Your hard work pays off. Everything turns out okay. I’d like you to know that things will never get easier – in fact, they will get harder, and more complicated, and will at times seem overwhelming. But life will also get more wonderful, satisfying, and interesting. Things will not go as planned, not even close. They will be better. Trust your instincts, and make choices that reflect who you are and what you want (NOT what you think other people think is the best choice for you).

Be prepared. You will make friends, only to grow apart from them. You will gain some weight, but that will not make you less beautiful, less important, or less worthy of respect and love. You will struggle with classes, and you will struggle with sports. Please remember that you are more than a dress size, more than a test score, and more than your athletic successes or failures. You are more than the sum of your parts, and there are people who will be there along the way to cheer you on, support you, and love you unconditionally. Cherish those relationships. Show that kind of love and support to everyone you can, because you will learn that even small acts of kindness can make a difference.

Be open to ideas that challenge your view on the world. You will meet people and take classes that will challenge how you think. Embrace these opportunities to grow. Learn about different people, countries, ideas, and cultures. Actively combat your own biases, and continue questioning the world around you. You will find that the world is a complex, messy, terrifying, beautiful, difficult place. You will realize that others have not had the same opportunities as you have. Be sensitive to difference. Acknowledge obstacles others face and do not disregard the experiences of others. Never forget that you are not better, or worse, than anyone. Try to show others this as well.

Above all, do not hold onto bitterness. Learn to forgive others, and yourself, for hurtful words and regrettable actions. There are few things in life that cannot be fixed with a sincere apology and a change in behavior. This is especially true regarding your thoughts and behaviors towards yourself. Fill your mind and heart with love, humility, ambition, and acceptance. Expel doubt, self-hate, disapproval, and comparisons to others.

Remember that there is always room for improvement, but that does not mean who you are today is not good enough.