“Just six years after the enactment of Title IX (the law mandating that schools that receive federal money are required to have athletic programs for girls), the percentage of girls playing team sports had jumped sixfold, to 25 percent from about 4 percent.” One of the researchers, economist Betsey Stevenson “found that the changes set in motion by Title IX explained about 20 percent of the increase in women’s education and about 40 percent of the rise in employment for 25-to-34-year-old women.”

Why would this be the case?

I suspect it has to do with women’s persistent socialization toward being sensitive to other’s feelings and needs. In the past, women who stepped outside of that boundary were viewed as being tomboyish, aggressive, or “not very ladylike.” This appears to be changing. These days, women who are still heavily influenced by this belief system are hampered later down the line when they have to compete for educational or career advancement.  Young women who are able to see that competition, aggressiveness, and leadership are not only tolerable, but experiences to be enjoyed are better equipped to advocate for themselves not only in athletics, but in other important parts of their lives as well.

Shifting Roles During the Economic Downturn

Discusses Dr. Coleman’s book “The Lazy Husband: How to Get Men to Do More Parenting and Housework.” Also shows Dr. Coleman’s work with 2 couples.

Marian Robinson moved to the White House.

Listen to Grandma in the House

Guests Dr. Joshua Coleman and historian Stephanie Coontz author of Marriage: A History and The Way We Never Were.

In more and more American homes, grandparents are helping parents raise kids – often under one roof. This hour, On Point: when the in-laws, the grandparents, move in.

-Tom Ashbrook

1
Decide What You Want Before You Talk to Your Partner
Your ability to get what you want from your partner will be directly related to how much clarity you have about what you want him or her to change. Watch out for guilt here because guilt may prevent you from getting clear about what you want.

2
Approach Your Partner When You’re Feeling Calm
Research shows that conversations typically end the way that they begin. If you start out angry, it will likely end up with little resolved.

3
Ask Your Partner If This Is a Good Time to Talk
Just because you want to talk doesn’t mean that your partner is obligated to listen in that moment. However, if your partner doesn’t want to listen to you now, then he or she IS obligated to suggest a better time to talk.

4
Let Your Partner Know Whether the Topic is Serious or Not
Telling your partner the degree of seriousness of your topic allows him or her to get in the right frame of mind. I recommend that couples assign a number to the level of seriousness from 1-10. An example of a 1 is a request to put a coffee cup in the dishwasher before going to work. A 10 might be a talk about a desire to separate.

5
Begin the Conversation with Praise
Remember that your goal is to have a productive interaction. Part of having a productive interaction is letting your partner know that you’re raising your complaints to have a better relationship, not to hurt his or her feelings. An example might be, “I really appreciate how hard you’re working and how exhausted you are but I’m wondering if we could brainstorm how to get our sex life back on track? I really miss how close we used to be.”