Women of Rubies
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JANE UDOKA: THE IDEAL WOMAN: THE IDEAL SERIES

All over the world, there are diverse ways an ideal woman is looked upon. Some countries or tribes judge this based on the ethnicity, the looks, the moral disposition, social nature of a woman. Some however even judge this idealism based on trivial things such as her body size, her feminine curves, her sensuality, her height, accent or even the way she walks.  It’s funny and inconsequential but the world has placed insanely high standards on women that some find it quite hard to come to terms and be happy with whom they are.

To us however, these are the standards by which an ideal woman should be measured :

An Ideal woman is an independent woman, she is a woman who is capable of taking care of her emotions, her duties, herself and people who depend on her. She is someone who does not manipulate people around her to do her wishes but instead takes the bull heads on and achieves the task needed. She is a goal getter, a trend setter and one who does not shy away from duties no matter the sexual barriers that are attached to it. She is one that’s able to put sentiments aside and forge ahead with the right things.

An Ideal woman is a purposeful and creative lady, she is a lady with a purpose. She is a career oriented woman with set goals. She is one who sleeps at night and wakes up with a refreshed and energized spirit to fight for her dreams. She is one who does not conform to the world’s standards for good, but seeks to become better with each passing day.

The Ideal woman is a motivator and helper to people around her. She is one who motivates and encourages people around her. If she is in a relationship, or married, she is one who’s not just there in favorable times but even in the gloomy days. She is one who understands and is ready to help whenever and however she can. She is a loyal woman.

Our ideal woman is one who understands that her worth isn’t just defined by her sex. If she is married she is one who knows that motherhood isn’t her totality but also an added role she plays. She is one who focuses on being the best mother and also the career woman she is. She is one who does not accept the people’s definition of a good woman but goes ahead to create her own version of it.

Our Ideal woman is the confident lady.  She is one who is extremely comfortable in her own skin. She is one who is not intimidated by what the world throws at her but takes it and makes the best out of it. She  is one who is not deterred by her failures but rather sees it as a chance to becoming better. She is one who revels in her capabilities and pulls up those all around her . She  is the hard working woman.

 

Photocredit: Google

About Jane

21 year old Udoka Jane O is a trained  Engineer, She is  a professional freelance writer on Relationship and healthy lifestyles. Jane has written a number of mind engaging articles….
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FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, HARVARD HAS FOUR BLACK WOMEN FACULTY DEANS

Beginning August 15 2018, Harvard University now have four  its schools led by Black women, which is the first time in the Ivy League institution’s history, reports The Harvard Crimson.

Last year,  Professor Claudine Gay became the latest string of Black women to be appointed to dean positions at the university. Her role as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences will make her the first woman and first African American to hold that position. In an interview following the announcement, Gay said she hopes her new promotion will inspire other women and people of color, similar to how former University President Drew G. Faust inspired her as Harvard’s first female president.

“If my presence in this role affirms someone’s sense of belonging and ownership, the same way Drew’s appointment affirmed my sense of belonging, then I think that’s great,” said Gay. “And for people who are sort of beyond our gates, if this prompts them to look again and look anew at Harvard and imagine new possibilities for themselves, I think that’s great as well.”

In 2016, Michelle Williams became the first Black person to head a faculty at Harvard, and the first Black woman to lead the Longwood-based School of Public Health. In May and April, Tomiko Brown-Nagin and Bridget Terry-Long became the first African American women deans at the Radcliffe Institute for Advance Study and the Graduate School of Education, respectively.

Before their appointments, Evelynn Hammonds served as the first female and African American dean for the History of Science school for five years until 2013.

John S. Wilson, a senior advisor and strategist on Harvard University’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, calls these recent dean appointments “significant” considering Harvard has long been known as a predominately white institution.

“To now be moving into a phase of Harvard’s life where people who don’t meet that profile are now empowered to advance Harvard, it just signals that Harvard is getting ready for a new future for itself and for the country and for the world,” he said.

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NEW RESEARCH SAYS SEMEN MAY ACTUALLY TREAT DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

In a recent study conducted at the University of Albany, a psychology professor and his team found that the absorption of semen by the female body correlates with fewer symptoms of depression.

The team conducted anonymous surveys of 300 female students.

Each participant completed a survey about her intimate activities including frequency of intercourse, last intercourse, and how regularly the participant uses condoms. Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory.

The Beck Depression Inventory, or BDI, presents a person with 21 questions that gauge their level of depressive symptoms including:

mood

negative outlook

feelings of guilt

self-dislike

social withdrawal

difficulty functioning

Responders rate each question as it applies to them. The rating scale per question ranges from zero to three, three being the most intense experience of the symptom.

The total score can be as high as 63, higher scores again correlating to more severe depression. When the team compared participants’ BDI scores to their intimacy habits, answers about condom use stood out.

According to lead author Gordon Gallup, women who never used condoms in penetration scenarios showed significantly lower scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) than their peers who always or usually had their partners wear protection.

In developing this conclusion, the team made a point of adjusting for potentially relevant variables such as: relationship status use of other contraceptive strategies frequency of partner intimacy.

Among all variables, condom use correlated with the most clinically significant difference in participants’ BDI scores.

ALSO READ: Why Nigerians are the most depressed in Africa

The research team believes that the correlation between condom use and depressive symptoms may result from the interaction of biological material.

Gallup theorizes that upon penetration, the female partner’s internal tissues absorb some of the fluids that the male partner produces.

It is possible, the team suggests, that a woman’s mood and feeling state may change in response to this absorption.

The study’s sample size is relatively small and there are a number of unanswered questions surrounding the results.

Still, Gallup and his colleagues believe that the connection between improved mood non-use of condoms warrants further investigation.

The team cautions women and their partners not to take these findings as a motivation or an excuse not to use condoms.

Gallup has issued a statement to remind the public that protection from infectious diseases and the prevention of pregnancy should take precedence over an attempt to make use of these findings.

If you found this article interesting or surprising, please remember to SHARE it with your family and friends on Facebook!

Source: Higher Perspective

 

 

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OLUFUNKE ADEBAYO: FERMENTED FOODS

I actually did not know that foods that have gone through fermentation are powerhouses of nutrients until my father shared a research done on locust beans (Irú) with me. He said  that locust beans was spread on some cancer tissues and the locust beans killed all the cancer cells!  Apart from killing cancer cells, locust beans also promotes good eyesight, aids digestion, the water and alcoholic extracts of fermented locust beans are used to reduce blood sugar. Locust bean does more  but it’s so unfortunate that most of us hate this wonder food.
Fermented foods are foods that have been through a process of lactofermentation  in which natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in the food creating lactic acid. This process preserves the food and creates beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics.
Some foods are not safe for human consumption; it is only through fermentation that the plant toxins in them are removed  and it is this process that brings out the best in such foods. A good example of this is soyabeans . It is less harmful when fermented. The Japanese  eat Miso, Tempeh, Natto and Tofu which are all made by  fermenting soyabeans. Now, guess what? When it comes to living healthy and long lives, the Japanese are good in that department!  If you still take soya milk, I advise that you try to be fermenting it before drinking or, better still, use your soyabeans to make soya locust beans .
Fermentation has also been shown to preserve nutrients in foods and break the food down to a more digestible form. This, along with the bevy of probiotics created during the fermentation process, could explain the link between consumption of fermented foods and improved digestion.
Apple cider vinegar is  also a good example. It is made from fermented apple. It is loaded with a lot of health benefits.  Women who have  met me for their menses to be induced naturally would  testify  to the fact that this wonder drink is  part of the treatment.
Yogurt is  another fermented food. It is made by adding bacterial cultures to milk, transforming the milk sugar, lactose, into lactic acid. Here is why yogurt is better than milk.  As a matter of fact, it is healthier to take yogurt than milk because, like I have discussed before, the cows that produce the milk we drink are given hormonal injections so that they can produce more milk and also become fleshy on time. While we take milk, we ingest all those hormones too!  Fermentation reduces all these. However, not all brands of yogurt are healthy; some have preservatives and that is why they have a long shelf life. This is why I advise people to make their yogurt at home. I know a particular brand that has a shelf life of three weeks  because it doesn’t have any preservatives.  It is made here in Nigeria. I can be consulted to give the name.
Besides the fact that they taste great , there are several great reasons to start making and eating fermented foods:
 1. Eating fermented foods will introduce beneficial bacteria into your digestive system and help the balance of bacteria in the system. Probiotics have also been shown to help slow or reverse some diseases, improve bowel health, aid digestion, and improve immunity!
2. Having the proper balance of gut bacteria and enough digestive enzymes helps you absorb more of the nutrients in the foods you eat. Pair this with your healthy food diet, and you will absorb many more nutrients from the foods you eat. You won’t need as many supplements and vitamins, and you’ll be absorbing more of the live nutrients in your foods.
3. Incorporating healthy foods into your diet can get expensive, but not so with fermented foods. You can make them at home. Adding these things to your diet can also cut down on the number of supplements you need, helping the budget further.
4 Fermentation allows you to store these foods for longer periods of time without losing the nutrients like you would with traditional canning.
5. Fermentation brings out some amazing health benefits in foods.
6. Fermentation removes anti-nutrients from foods .
So, when next locust bean is added to your soup, I want you all to eat with so much relish. In fact, you can eat it raw without adding to soups!
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TARAJI P. HENSON TO BE HONOURED WITH A STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

Taraji P. Henson will be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year.

According to Ana Martinez, Hollywood Walk of Fame Producer, the ‘Empire’ star will be honoured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a star on Monday, January 28, 2019.

Martinez made the announcement on Friday, January 18, 2019 in a tweet from her official Twitter handle.

Henson played the lead character, Melinda Gayle, in Tyler Perry’s 2018 release, ‘Acrimony.’

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SUDAN WOMEN TAKES TO THE STREET TO PROTEST FOR THEIR RIGHTS

“I will continue to protest, even if it takes years to bring down this regime,” said the 26-year-old, who has marched along with hundreds of people in the anti-government demonstrations in Khartoum.

Deadly protests have rocked Sudan since December 19 when angry crowds first took to the streets after the government tripled the price of bread.

Women have joined in even as the protests turned against the government and escalated into bloody confrontations in which officials said at least 24 people have been killed.

Dressed in headscarves, they can be seen in nearly all of the footage of the protests shared on social media, which in turn has helped to convince even more women to take to the streets.

Clapping, ululating and whistling, women have been seen encouraging fellow demonstrators to press on with the rallies even when clashes have erupted between police and protesters.

Many who live in areas where the demonstrations are staged have been seen offering tea and juice to protesters as they pass by, witnesses said.

For Abdo, it was a strong desire to fight for women’s rights that made her want to take part in the demonstrations.

“This regime has some of the worst laws against women,” Abdo told AFP, speaking over WhatsApp for safety reasons.

“You could be arrested for wearing trousers or if your scarf is not covering your hair properly.”

Abdo, who carries a first aid box to protests to help those who are injured, said she has been changing her residence every few days to avoid arrest.

‘End to discrimination’

Hundreds of women have been sentenced to flogging under a controversial public order law in Sudan, activists said.

The decades-old law, they add, also imposes punishments including hefty fines and jail terms, and targets mainly women, including those selling tea on the streets of Khartoum.

A Sudanese court sparked outrage last year when it sentenced teenager Noura Hussein to death for the “murder” of her husband, who she accused of raping her after a forced marriage.

An appeals court later commuted the death sentence to a five-year jail term, after the case drew international condemnation.

Hussein’s plight put the spotlight on issues facing women in Sudan such as marital rape, child marriage, forced marriage and the arbitrary application of Islamic law, along with tribal traditions that often target them.

The protests have given a new voice in the fight for women’s rights, said Emad Badwai, a mother of two and a regular at the anti-government rallies.

“When I chant ‘Freedom, peace and justice,’ I’m hoping to see an end to discrimination against women,” she said.

Hope for change

For Abdo there is also a deep-rooted grievance that motivates her to protest.

“Bashir’s regime has committed the worst crimes against the people of Darfur,” said Abdo, who hails from the western region torn by a devastating conflict.

The war in Darfur erupted in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Khartoum’s Arab-dominated government, accusing it of economic and political marginalisation.

The United Nations said about 300,000 people were killed and another 2.5 million displaced, most of them still living in sprawling camps.

Bashir has been charged by The Hague-based International Criminal Court with genocide and war crimes allegedly committed in Darfur.

Abdo said she had started a non-governmental organisation to oppose child marriage in Darfur, but authorities immediately shut it down.

“They told me that my place was in the kitchen and I should wash dishes,” said Abdo.

Observers said the protests have managed to unite people from different tribes and ethnicities.

“In these protests, I have seen my fellow Sudanese transcend above the embedded racism in our society,” said Babiker Mohamed, a Washington-based humanitarian aid official.

“Protesters chanting ‘We are all Darfur’ while marching in the streets gives us all hope that change is inevitable.”

For Badawi it was indeed time for a change in Sudan.

“Even my 11-year-old son is surprised to know that President Bashir has been ruling for 30 years,” she said.

 

Credit: AFP,  Pulse News

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QUEEN ESOHE IGBINOBA: WHY YOU NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES

I had an amazing experience recently I’ll like to share with you.

I was feeling a bit restless and overwhelmed with all I had to do in my job and business and I felt like there was a lot of clutter around me.

Then I did something a bit strange.

I started clearing my physical environment, my room to be more specific.

I cleaned up the whole place, rearranged the beds and wardrobe and even made preparations for a painter to come paint and set up a mini office/studio in all the new space I had just created.

It was an exciting experience for me!

From where my bed was now positioned, I could see my vision board more clearly and I was more inspired to achieve my goals.

You need to be very intentional about the experiences you create for yourself because what you see, feel and experience affects your worldviews, belief systems, the stories you tell and your ability to take massive action.

If you want to be able to make accelerated progress in your life, change your life experiences.

Another way you can change your life experiences is by traveling and going out for events in inspirational places. These experiences influence your worldviews, quality of life and the life stories you live and share.

This encourages you to be more confident in yourself and your ability to produce results.

 

About Esohe

Esohe Igbinoba is the Founder, The Global Brand Network. GBN is a brand management organization with a focus on teaching entrepreneurs the art of influential storytelling for attracting visibility and building an engaged audience so they can build profitable businesses. She helps them to achieve this through her unique system: The Influential Storytelling Formula. She has helped over 150 people in 10 countries. She helps them through her online school, GBN Business School where she offers one on one coaching programs, online courses and training programs.

You can connect with her on

Social media @queenesohe

Or send an email to esohe@queenesohe.com

Or on her website queenesohe.com

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RIHANNA SUES HER DAD AND HIS BUSINESS PARTNER OVER THE ‘FENTY’ BRAND

Rihanna has filed a lawsuit against her father Ronald Fenty for using her “Fenty” brand and his relationship to her to launch a business for himself, according to TMZ

TMZ reports that Rihanna, in court documents, claims her father started a talent development company in 2017 and named it Fenty Entertainment, adding that he’s profiting off the reputation she’s created with Fenty.

She also claims that Ronald and a business partner who The Blast claims to be Moses Perkins, falsely claimed to be her reps to solicit millions of dollars and even booked on a $15million tour in Latin America, and two concerts at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for $400,000.

Ronald has unsuccessfully tried to trademark “Fenty” to use with boutique hotels, the pop star claims, adding that he ignored the cease and desist letters she has been sending.

She wants damages, TMZ says, and wants an injunction against Ronald using the name “Fenty”.

Ronald and Rihanna’s mother Monica divorced when the singer was 14, but he has remained in contact with her.

Rihanna and Ronald were last seen publicly together in November 2018 at her maternal grandfather’s 90th birthday in Barbados.

 

 

 

Credit: Bella Naija 

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TV HOST, VIMBAI MUTINHIRI LAUNCHES EMPOWERMENT PORTAL FOR YOUNG AFRICAN WOMEN

TV Host & Producer, Vimbai, has launched the ultimate digital empowerment portal for young African women who are looking to bloom into their full potential.

According to her team, TheVimbai.com is every African girl’s big sister and a movement of inspired thinkers, dreamers and game-changers. Specifically created for African women by African women, the website is home to cutting edge editorial content as well as original video series that speak to the real-life issues we are all talking about behind closed doors.

Speaking on what inspired her to embark on this project,

Vimbai says:

“I became known as the ‘table-shaker’ last year when I posted a truth in passing. After receiving thousands of emails from across Africa as a result of this post, I realized that not only are people hungry to start having so-called taboo conversations in public, we are also ready to have a platform to learn, analyze and dissect unpopular truths in our society. My platform is an enlightened place for women to do so.”

 

Credit: Bella Naija

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