Can Women Artists Have It All?

Why Can’t Female Artists Have it All?

Many tv storyboard are hand-drawn, but some creators or animators choose to use storyboarding software to speed up the work. Some thoughts on Anne-Marie Slaughter’s article in the June 2012 of The Atlantic, “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All”. The article has struck a chord in our society and has attracted the attention of talk-shows and, I am sure, many female readers. I hope, though, that this article gets male readers, employers, Human Resources officials to contemplate solutions to this problem of biology-driven inequality in the workplace.

The article deals with the difficulties women still face in balancing home and workplace. She addresses these difficulties in various demographics: women in positions of power, single mothers, very educated women, less educated women, etc. Flexible schedules and a more extensive use of technology are two of the solutions she offers, which would allow women to care for their families (children, parents, etc.) while still ethically and professionally discharging their obligations towards their employers.

This article struck a chord with me, too. Apart from being a dedicated, hard-working, ambitious Artist, I just need to BE an Artist. If I don’t paint, my inner colors fade. And although I do not have children (two-legged, that is), I do have a husband, pets, a house to care for and the myriad details that these entail.

It would probably be easy for anyone to assume that being an Artist involves keeping my own hours, having a very flexible schedule, hopping between the house and the studio while humming a song. The best of both worlds, right?

Well, not quite. Let’s talk about Creativity, for example. Creativity is a complex subject and as such it works differently for everyone. I assume it works differently for women as it does for men and I am sure it is different among women artists themselves. One thing, though, can be stated and it applies to all creative people: a great deal of the time creativity requires time-off from the left side of the brain activities such as doing your taxes, having the faucet repaired or cleaning up after a pet. Creativity requires stretches of “time out”, dream-time, disconnect-time.

Of course, artists’ processes and type of work differ widely. Some aspects of creating a piece of art are less demanding on the right side of the brain and, in fact, benefit from an active, on-its-toes left side. But I am talking about coming up with ideas, often ex-nihilo; how to develop them; composition, design, etc., based on a thin thread of inspiration or none at all. And the “competition” is always breathing down our necks, those of women artists, that is: the train of thought often goes like this: what color should I use on this shape, something that brightens the painting up and still does not obscure the shape on the lower left I wonder if my dog is feeling better today hmmm this color seems to be good here, I think I will try it but I haven’t yet planned what’s for dinner, what am I going to do? I like the results here, I think I’m on the right track; I wonder if so and so will call back, we do need to solve this problem. Etc., etc. Do men artists go through this process, too? Perhaps they replace the domestic digressions with another. We cannot possibly assume that men artists are 100% focused on the work at hand all the time. Perhaps the stereotypical view that men are unable to multitask does work in their favor; at the very least it would be interesting to conduct a study to learn how men’s focus on the task at hand works and if that biological trait is sharp enough to break all glass ceilings.

I propose, therefore, that women in the workplace, be they powerful or not, as well as women artists, do face the issue of balancing careers and homes. Women in the workplace need to focus on their jobs, their careers (power-driven or not), while keeping domestic/emotional concerns at bay. Instead of looking within, where their children require her attention and the husband is upset with their lack of personal time, they must look up and keep their eyes on the ceiling that is still made of glass despite societal progress in so many areas.

Having to balance home and careers may affect the quality of their work if women in any field do not learn to disconnect from the different demands placed upon them by both home and work. The lucky ones, such as Ms. Slaughter, can count on help either from husbands or others. How does this dichotomy affect women’s careers and the dream of having it all? Is this a biological constraint that will never be overcome as long as women place any importance at all in home-making, child-rearing, or is this a society-imposed constraint that should be abolished to accommodate a natural need of society itself (and not necessarily of women only) to have family structures with all that this implies?

Women artists also face a kind of glass ceiling in the marketplace. What’s the percentage of male artists who are granted more and easier access to the “limelight” as compared to that of women artists? I don’t have this information but all I have to do to get a feel for the answer is go through galleries, institutional websites, and other sources of information on and exposure of artists to see the discrepancy between the genders represented. Is this due to the fact that men are able to disconnect from the demands of home (should they have a family) and have laser-beam focus on their work that bears no distraction? I often think of Picasso who had his every need fulfilled by a series of women who dedicated themselves to his every whim and wish while he created without any concern for anything at all around him.

Would it, therefore, be fair to say that Anne Marie Slaughter’s point of view and personal experience spills over into the Art territory? Can women artists have it all?

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Understanding the Special Education Process

Taking up a management courses Sydney is not just for banking jobs but you can also be employed in a private school. Whether you choose private or public education you need to be assured that your child is receiving maximum support in school. Often procedures and programs are overwhelming. In order to make informed decisions, it is important to understand the special education process and to know your rights. Although schools differ slightly when identifying children who qualify for special education services the process is fairly consistent between states. If your child is experiencing difficulties in any area of learning, your involvement benefits your child in many ways. The better informed you are as a parent the more effective the interventions become. The types of concerns addressed may include academics, behavior, social/emotional, and health issues. You may be the first to express a concern, or the school might notify you. Before your child can be identified as having special education needs, however, schools must follow certain guidelines. Pre-referral is an important part of the special education process.

Pre-referral helps to make certain that your child is provided with appropriate modifications and accommodations before being referred for special education testing. These strategies may include, but are not limited to, physical placement in the classroom, presentation and modification of materials, as well as individualized behavior plans. Often the modifications and strategies that are recommended provide your child with enough support that academic performance is improved and special education services are not required.

Different states refer to the child study team by different names. In some states the team is a function of general education, in others, the team is a part of the special education program. In any case, it is a school site committee whose primary function is to ensure that each child receives the most appropriate classroom support. The meetings are usually held in your child’s classroom or in an office at the school site, before or after school, allowing your child’s teacher to participate. By providing early identification and intervention for students who are experiencing difficulty in school, the child study team serves as a problem solving forum. The team works together in order to determine your child’s strengths and areas of difficulty. Your participation is very important. This is your opportunity to ask questions and provide critical information about your child. Members of the team will brainstorm in order to develop strategies and an action plan. Later the members will monitor, assess, and discuss the effectiveness of the implementation of the plan that was developed by the team. You have the right to ask questions and call additional meetings, if necessary. Team meeting notes will be taken and copies should be distributed to all members of the team. This documentation demonstrates that the school is providing your child with the legally required general education interventions. Team members vary depending on numerous factors. Often the general education teacher will be involved, as will a counselor, school psychologist, and/or an administrator. Teams may also include special education and related service providers. As the parent, you are an integral part of the team. While the school has the responsibility to invite you at a convenient time it is not absolutely required that you attend. It is however highly recommended as you have a wealth of information regarding your child’s preferred learning styles, health and educational history, behavior, personality traits, areas of difficulty, and strengths.

Typically a meeting is scheduled when there is a concern regarding behavior or academic performance. Anyone who works with a child may make this referral, frequently in written form. Often it is the classroom teacher who requests the meeting. As a parent you also have the right to request a meeting by contacting your child’s teacher or the school principal. Each team member may provide information and make suggestions. The team begins by discussing your child’s strengths and interests, information is shared, and specific concerns will be addressed. The team will review interventions that have already been implemented and how successful they have been. The team will then brainstorm possible additional interventions and will determine which strategies will be put into action. Team members will then be assigned tasks that they will help implement or research. A time-line will be determined by the team. There will be a follow up meeting in order to assess the successfulness of the strategies. The team may determine that sufficient progress has been noted and that testing for special education is not needed at this time. It may be determined that the team will reconvene in order to implement new strategies and monitor progress. If insufficient progress has been noted, a referral for special education assessment may be recommended in order to evaluate whether or not your child may have some type of learning disability.

The pre-referral process is one step in the special education process. It provides an excellent opportunity for you to collaborate with a team in order to insure that your child receive the most effective instruction designed to meet his or her unique needs. The process is most successful when it identifies and utilizes all available resources in order to appropriately support your child.

The administrator or designee supports the team by presenting the agenda, directing the meeting, answering questions, providing information, and offering support to you and other team members. The general education teacher provides up to date information regarding your child. They will listen to information, help to clarify concerns, and participate in the development of behavioral and academic interventions.

As the parent, you are a vital member of the team. Your presence at the meeting is invaluable as you will be asked to provide information pertaining to your child. These areas may include academic history, health and development, family matters, and social/emotional concerns. The information that you provide is confidential.

Having your child attend depends on the appropriateness and relevance to the meeting. Your child may share his/her own perspective regarding areas of difficulty and specific needs.

Special Education (SPED) support staff members may participate in both pre-referral and IEP meetings. During the pre-referral meetings, SPED and support staff members often participate due to their training and experience. Team members may include a school counselor, psychologist, nurse, speech pathologist, occupational and/or physical therapist, adapted physical education teacher, behavior specialists, and members from outside agencies. The team members may differ depending on the school but are available to provide information, answer questions, and gather resources that are designed to support your child. The gathering of information may include obtaining and reviewing records, consultations with you or staff members who work with your child, other teachers, and outside agencies. They may also observe your child in the classroom or outside on the playground. School support staff members make recommendations regarding strategies for designing and implementing interventions and modifications. SPED team members may also share information about eligibility, referrals, and documentation.

While the special education process differs from state to state, the procedures are designed to help you and your child receive the maximum benefit from the educational system. Please check with your school and district to find out more about the specific procedures followed in your state and remember that you are your child’s best advocate.

Note: There is a great deal of information available regarding special education resources and special needs education on the internet and in local bookstores.

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Make Career Flourishing With Adult Education Diploma

After high school, you need to take your career ahead with the help of an early childhood education courses Sydney you can elevate yourself to other teachers. This doesn’t mean that your study stops here. If you have the zeal to learn, you can always go back to your learning phase anytime with the help of adult education diploma. Many dreams of having a better designation along with a hefty salary package. For that you need to upskill yourself and only continuing education can help you.

Continuing education courses are quite popular globally and in the same way Singapore has also accepted the same. There are a number of training institutes which will give you the right kind of training, keeping the timing flexible. You can seek for a diploma course in your domain or you can shift to a completely different field with a help of a certificate within a short span of time.

Here are a few things you must keep in mind while choosing a course.

Make sure you enrol for a course that meets your requirements. You must assess yourself so that you can stick to a particular course and get the most out of it. Remember that nothing comes free of cost, so you will be investing money for the training and you must be serious with the decision. A good institution has counsellors who can help you the choice.

Singapore Government always tries to upskill their employees. In order to make it easy, the government allows a certain amount as credit in order to make the learning easy. If you are a citizen of Singapore, you can apply for SkillsFuture Programme and accelerate your career ahead.

In case of continuing education courses, you are free to choose anything. It can be full-time or part-time. Since, the courses stay flexible in nature, you don’t have to worry about the time management. The courses that come from a reputed institution can be accessed online. You can return home from office and learn your course, with the help of internet. The presentations and webinars are no way lesser than classroom lessons. You can interact with your mentors and training stays industry centric.

If you are willing to take up a course, you must attend the seminars and workshops. These are the places where you get hands-on-training according to the domain. Look for the eligibility before you enlist yourself for an advance course. The pre-requisites are important in order to know the subject in deep. From a degree to diploma course, you can expect the most. You must be wondering what are the things you learn in a simple programme? The answer to this is everything that you require to make the next leap. The teachers make you learn the things that the industry is looking for their future work. If you take the most out of these courses, you can surely prosper in the selected domain.

Try to go through reviews because make it easy for you while selecting an institute. You get access to state-of-the-art infrastructure if you are learning from the right place.

Drive More Traffic to Your Site by SEO Services

Instigating traffic influx is something that every newly launched website struggles with. After all, this traffic influx never comes easy as the website in its nascent stages remains an anonymous entity and struggles to launch something that might trigger the traffic inflow. SEO consultant Sydney are dedicated to this cause and ensure that through their influence, traffic invariably starts flowing into the website without any further fretting. Every SEO Firm providing Outsourcing SEO Sydney services ensures that this happens well and through the best of methods and practices.

SEO has a very unique way of working. It works on all those forums where the reader and viewer base is high and goes about doing some belligerent and hard hitting promotional tactics. These tactics include diverse link building, content rewriting, website redesigning, social bookmarking and meta-tagging. All of them get done well by the SEO firm that Provides Outsourcing SEO Services Sydney.

These are certain very powerful features through which traffic influx gets triggered. They are organic tactics employed by service providers as people over the web identify with them and the way they are disbursed. The message they convey is understood well and the credit for this goes solely to SEO. The process makes people aware about the way things happen and creates a window for web users to come and visit the website so that an impact is made well.

The website takes the surge towards the higher echelons of the search rankings. The momentum in that surge is continued well through all the latest novel features that are brought into the barrack and disbursed. This shift in strategy adds a lot of shock value to the campaign and viewers get to see something different all the time.

Hence, it becomes evident that the user is able to empathize with the website and relate with it, which further prompts a decision of it going to the next level. The newness in the website is a big reason as to why the traffic keeps flowing in and also a reason behind it doing exceptionally well.

SEO is a concoction of many features. These features work all over the web and are a great playmaker. Since Google has started using its latest indexing feature, the Caffeine, it has become even more important for website promoters to ensure that the website is optimized well. These are certain ways of driving the traffic and ensuring that traffic keeps pouring in large numbers and makes the effect that it should.

SEO Sydney has a very strong influence over the search engine. Organic SEO methods are a great way of pulling in traffic and have that effect over the web. It comes down strongly to the way in which the methods get implemented and the places where they get deployed. These services have a very mystical and enigmatic quality about them which makes their case very strong. This strength takes the website places and makes it a strong contender over the web.

Complications During Pregnancy

For as long as you clean and disinfect things that people touch a lot, like phones, doorknobs, and counters pregnancy and covid-19 has no issues in it. Any woman who has ever had a baby will tell you that her worst nightmare while she was expecting was pregnancy complications. Fortunately, for most women the nine months from conception to birth pass by fairly smoothly, but in some cases difficulties or issues will arise. But before you start panicking, remember that most of these problems are easily solved, while others may make this time a little more inconvenient or unpleasant, but there will still be a healthy baby at the end. And yes, there are those times when these complications can result in a still-birth or a miscarriage, but this does not have to be the inevitable outcome or a constant source of worry throughout.

Monitoring the Stages of Pregnancy

One of the best ways to head off complications during pregnancy is to follow the old adage, “Prevention is better than cure” Register with a good prenatal clinic near your home, and go for regular checkups.

Many places have free or subsidised prenatal testing, provided by their public health service. Find out the rules and procedures where you live and where to get the best access to competent health professionals.

Once you have registered at the clinic or with the healthcare provider of your choice, you will take regular blood tests, urine tests, and do ultrasounds at various points. Your weight gain will also be monitored, as well as changes in the shape of the uterus as your baby develops. Additionally, you will be offered the choice of taking various prenatal genetic tests, depending on your age and other individual factors. At various points, the doctor will do a sonogram, listening to your baby’s heartbeat.

By doing all of these tests, you are most likely to head off any potential trouble at the earliest stages. At the same time, you will feel reassured whenever the doctor tells you that everything is developing nicely and that you are having a healthy pregnancy. You will also have a reliable place to ask all of your pregnancy questions.

Below are some of the complications that you are being tested for and are seeking to avoid:

  • Anaemia – This is insufficient iron in the blood to deal with the growing number of red blood cells that appear in the body while you are expecting. If you are anaemic, you will feel weak and constantly exhausted. You may also lose far more blood during the birth and can become less resistant to infection.
  • Gestational Diabetes – Some women find that they develop diabetes in pregnancy. If they have never had diabetes before, chances are that it will go away after the baby is born. Nonetheless, this is a condition that must be watched because it can make the baby grow too large, possibly necessitating a Caesarean section, or it can put the baby at higher risk of jaundice. Most clinics will test your glucose and sugar levels at various points to find out if you are developing gestational diabetes. The good news is that this condition can be controlled with the help and vigilance of your healthcare provider.
  • Preeclampsia – Preeclampsia is an unusual condition due to which the mother develops high blood pressure, water retention, and protein in the urine. Very occasionally, preeclampsia leads to seizures and can even have fatal consequences for both mother and child. For this reason, you will be tested several times over the coming months for protein levels in your urine. It most usually develops towards the end, from about 20 weeks on, and is more common in the first pregnancy than in later ones.

There are various types of preeclampsia, and in some cases the baby has to be induced, even if this means a preterm birth. However, treatment does not always have to be this radical, and if caught early enough preeclampsia can be treated through bed rest, changing the diet, avoiding stress, or having to go into hospital for a while. If you experience high blood pressure, dizziness, sudden swelling in the wrists or ankles, headaches, and disturbances in your vision, do not hesitate to contact your healthcare professional.

Constantly monitoring your blood pressure and protein testing will go a long way to helping you catch this condition before it spirals out of hand. Do not stress about it. Just do the relevant tests and don’t worry about it unless there is a reason to do so.

Unforeseen Problems – Pregnancy Bleeding

Apart from the complications that you are screened for, sometimes certain things may arise unexpectedly. For example, as you are well aware, one of the first pregnancy symptoms is missing a period. In theory, you will not see any blood from then on until you actually give birth. So what do you do if you find that you are bleeding during pregnancy? What does this mean?

In very early pregnancy, you might have a tiny bit of spotting due to a partially repressed period. At that stage, your hormones might not have caught up with your new state and you will still have a very scanty period. This, however, is quite rare. Sometimes, bleeding is caused by a cervical erosion, which when the cervix is inflamed and sore. This can be for a variety of reasons, from venereal disease to a reaction to the previous use of an IUD.

On the other hand, bleeding can also be the first sign of a miscarriage. Is the blood heavy? Is it red, indicating that it is fresh, or brown, showing that it is old and possibly from another source? Do you feel cramps or pain with it? When and how did it start?

Sometimes, bleeding can be a sign of placenta previa, when the placenta moves to cover all or part of the cervix. Depending on the extent and type of previa, it can also be diagnosed before any bleeding occurs. In this case, the woman is often put on bed rest and told to refrain from sexual intercourse until the situation resolves itself. If there is bleeding, the situation is more complex and sometimes, depending on various factors, the baby is delivered with an emergency Caesarean section, or the woman may have to remain on bed rest until the end of the pregnancy. In this situation, constant blood transfusions and certain injections may be given until the mother can deliver. Placenta previa is even more serious if it occurs at term, as it can cause various complications for the baby.

In light of everything written above, it is important to remember that you should never ignore pregnancy bleeding and just assume that everything will be all right. If there is even just a little bit of blood, you should contact your healthcare provider as soon as you can. And if the clinic is closed, or you are experiencing heavy bleeding and cramps, don’t wait around. Get to the nearest emergency room and find out exactly what is going on. Only a medical professional is really qualified to tell you what is going on and what can be done.

Expecting the Unexpected – Twin Pregnancy Complications

Carrying twins does not exactly fall into the same category as bleeding or preeclampsia. There is actually nothing more delightful than the birth of an extra, healthy baby. However, a twin pregnancy definitely has more risks associated with it than a regular singleton birth. First of all, you will feel far more uncomfortable and heavy while you are expecting. All the hormones are more in evidence, so you may experience stronger pregnancy signs, as well as more intense varicose veins and back pain, both of which can feel a lot worse especially towards the end because you will also be carrying extra weight. Obviously, you will feel more tired for the same reason and will need more rest.

But discomfort is not the only problem here. Multiples are higher risk pregnancies. For example, the risk of miscarriage is higher. There is even the phenomenon of “vanishing twin syndrome,” when one twin is lost and reabsorbed into the mother’s body without any outward signs of loss beyond an empty sac or a disappearing foetus on an ultrasound image.

Due to overcrowding in the womb, you are also far more at risk of preterm labour. The babies effectively almost push each other out. Around 70% of twins are delivered before the 38th week, though usually after the 28th week.

Another syndrome to watch out for is preeclampsia (see above), which has a higher incidence among women carrying twins or multiples. For this reason, such women are monitored more closely and are constantly tested for high blood pressure and protein levels in the urine.

If you are expecting twins, don’t allow these potential complications to worry you. All you need to do is do the necessary tests, pay close attention to your diet and general health and make sure that you never get dehydrated. It is also vitally important that you rest enough and do not allow yourself to get too stressed. Obviously, if you see or feel anything that is worrying you or seems unusual, you must not wait around. Consult with your healthcare professional immediately.

Preterm Labour – What is It and What Do You Do?

One of the complications in pregnancy that many women dread is preterm labour, which refers to going into labour before the 38th week. There are various reasons why a woman may go into labour too early. For example, she may have an incompetent cervix, which means that her cervix will not support the baby till the very end of the pregnancy. This kind of complication can be foreseen and may mean that the mother has to go on bed rest either at home or in hospital until it is safe enough for her to deliver the baby, or her cervix may be given a stitch that is only removed during labour.

Other reasons for preterm labour are various types of infections, placenta problems, too much physical work, various structural problems with the uterus and/or cervix, and more. Some of these reasons are unforeseen, so you should be alert for any possible signs of early labour.

If you feel certain symptoms, like steady contractions before they are supposed to happen, vaginal bleeding, severe cramping in the pelvic area that is different from anything you have felt until now, intense pelvic pressure, severe pain when you urinate, or a sudden, unexpected gush of clear water, get medical assistance right away.

A Word of Reassurance

While it is important to know about various complications with pregnancy, it is also vital to be relaxed while you are expecting. For some reason, people often like to share their horror stories with you almost as soon as they find out that you have conceived. But while it may be fun to spread the word about the “miracle birth” and “how I nearly died,” this can be terrible source of worry for an expectant mother.

The most important thing to do is make sure that you are as healthy as possible before conception and during the months afterwards. Always do the necessary testing and never miss checkups, as they are a vital part of monitoring a healthy pregnancy and your preparation for birth. The rest is not in your hands. Therefore, you should always be alert, but not obsessed. Think how many women around the world conceive and deliver babies without any pregnancy complications at all.

If you would like to find out more information on early pregnancy complications visit Newborn Baby. We offer help and advise to parents on ectopic pregnancy symptoms as well as free help from our expert panel.

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