Tag: Matter

Categories
Health

How to Get Out of Debt—No Matter the Situation That Got You Into It


While most Americans (yes, most) have some amount of debt, it’s women who are stuck with the largest share. New research finds that women owe more than men when it comes to credit cards, medical bills, and student loans—almost $400 billion more in student loans, to be exact.

And because we’re also paid less than men, more frequently denied raises, and have, oh, children and dependents to support—it can be difficult to get out of the debt trap.

But it’s not impossible. We spoke to experts about how to deal with debt in some of the areas that can hurt women most. From divorce, to loans, to job loss—here’s how to face the bills and devise a plan to get your finances back on track.

If you’ve had a medical emergency

On average, women owe 10 percent more in medical bills than men do. The reasons are complicated, but from endometriosis complications to a broken bone, hospital bills or ER visit fees can add up and lead to debt. But Carolyn McClanahan, M.D., CFP—who started her career as a physician and now runs the financial planning group, Life Planning Partners Inc.—wants people to know that those bills shouldn’t be taken at face value. “The first step to fixing medical debt is to ask for an itemized bill and make certain the bill is correct,” she says. “Medical bills are riddled with errors and you may be charged for services you did not receive. The next step is to negotiate. One leveraging tool can be offering to pay in cash. The provider will often charge you less than what they will charge the insurance company—if you have the cash to pony up.”

Also make sure you look into all payment plans and financial system options. “Many hospitals have programs to provide help to those with limited financial resources. The hospital will require detailed financial information, but the cost reduction can be significant if your request for help is approved,” says McClanahan.

If you’ve gone through a divorce

After a divorce, the average woman’s income decreases by more than a fifth and can take a while to bounce back. One factor that can contribute: debt. It’s common knowledge that assets are divided during a divorce, fewer people know that debt gets split up too. So if your spouse racked up debt while you were married, you could be stuck with some of it even after your split.

But whether or not you’ll have to shoulder that particular financial burden, it’s important to think about what new expenses you might now have—before you agree to a divorce settlement. Avani Ramnani, Director of Financial Planning and Wealth Management at Francis Financial, Inc., emphasizes that a settlement is a negotiation, and women should consider what they’ll need in both the immediate and more distant future to feel secure.

“If you need a few years to polish up your job skills, or kickstart a new business, make sure you’re planning for it,” Ramnani says. “Ask for supplemental spousal support in the first few years—which typically means getting less later on—so you can meet any additional expenses for getting your career back on track, without going into debt.” Or, if you’re planning to stay at home with your children, or have opted not return to the workforce for other reasons, “fight to get a larger share of the assets, instead of more alimony. This gives you a more dependable cushion, and thus more control of your finances,” she says. And remember to pay attention to legal fees. As Glamour has reported, some attorneys will take a flat fee to handle your divorce, while others charge per hour. Make sure you find the right lawyer for you and your budget.

If you’ve maxed out your credit card

Credit card debt hit a record high in the United States in 2017, with the Federal Reserve reporting it surpassed over $1 trillion. To put a finer point on it, a recent report from Experian found that the average household owes almost $17,000 in credit card debt. If those numbers look too daunting to tackle, experts recommend those with credit card debt start with a simple budget; the exercise will determine what kind of expenses you can handle, while paying down your debt as quickly as possible. You can go the traditional route and parse your spending to look for places to save or download a budgeting app that will do some of the hard work for you. After you’ve outlined your monthly expenses, Priya Malani, a partner at Stash Wealth, recommends a little bit of math.



Source link

Categories
Health

Millennial Razor Brands Now Embrace Body Hair—But Does It Matter?


One of the best things about fall—besides the sweaters and the PSLs—is that we can give our collective razors a well-deserved break, since we’ll now be bundled up until spring. And though it might seem counterintuitive, that’s a-okay with the newest crop of razor brands to hit the market. From Dollar Shave Club to Billie to Flamingo (which launches today), these Millennial-minded brands are taking a more holistic, inclusive approach to both body hair and self-care.

Dollar Shave Club was one of the first to take a more down-to-earth approach to razors. “We use our humor and no-nonsense attitude to convey our value to women,” says Sam Kang, the brand’s vice president of acquisition. (That explains why, despite its core marketing being geared toward men, women make up nearly 30 percent of the subscription service’s members). Billie then doubled down on these efforts, first by paying women back for the pink tax—the higher cost of personal care products marketed for women—and more recently by launching #ProjectBodyHair, the first-ever ad campaign by a razor company that even shows body hair.

It was the natural evolution of the pro-body hair trend, which saw Rihanna’s leg hair and raised it Janelle Monae’s pubes. All of the above has contributed to the declassification of body hair as something gross, unhygienic, or even taboo, as had been the case for years.

PHOTO: Ashley Armitage

Now, men’s razor brand Harry’s is following suit in a big way. Flamingo, its new female-focused line, aims to celebrate “women’s natural bodies (bumps, dry skin, body hair, and all), dispelling the myth of ‘feminine perfection.'” It’s smart move to capitalize on the momentum, seeing as sales of Harry’s razors grew a whopping 943 percent in 2017, while some traditional razors like Gillette’s Venus Embrace saw negative sales growth. Plus, 59 percent of women between 18 and 34 are interested in trying subscription services (such as Harry’s, Flamingo, and Dollar Shave Club), per findings from market-research firm Mintel.

Now, all of the women who’ve been using Harry’s for years will now get to enjoy razors made for them and by them—in this case, literally. Allie Melnick and Brittania Boey, who helped launch the brand and used the men’s razors themselves, were closely involved in the development of Flamingo, and they took this new attitude toward body hair—and body positivity in general—into consideration.

There’s the obvious: Unlike Harry’s, Flamingo razors are designed to fit the curved areas women tend to shave most, such as our legs, toes, and bikini lines. But the two wanted to go the extra mile. “While building Flamingo, we talked to over a thousand women about body hair, body care and everything in between,” says Melnick, now the general manager of Flamingo. “As a part of this journey, we saw how personal and private everyone’s body care routines are so we wanted to bring these conversations out of the shadows and embrace the realities.”

Those realities involve not shaving every single day—or even at all, depending on your personal preferences. “We’ve created products that address these realities and the in-between shave or wax stubble moments,” says Boey, Flamingo’s senior vice president of Research & Development and Design. Not only does an innovative soft-gel wax strip for face and body, the first of its kind in the US, no longer require that you grow your hair out first (as was typically the case, since hair had to be long enough for the wax to adhere), but ancillary products in the line are also designed to care for skin before, during, and long after you shave. That’s strategic thinking: Ever since a report from Mintel found that women now face less pressure to remove body hair (and less stigma associated with it), brands have been offering formulas that maintain and even nourish female body hair for those who choose to keep it. Flamingo, which spans everything from post-wax clothes to body lotion, takes that seriously.

Each time a brand has made a step in the right direction—that is, the one of more inclusivity—advocates of both body hair and the not-so-smooth realities of shaving voice their support. Fans have also embraced pink tax-free men’s razors, like Harry’s.

And this advocacy can mean big things for brands. “We doubled sales the week of the campaign launch and we ended up completely selling out of product,” says Billie cofounder Georgina Cooley. She also notes that since the campaign, the brand has received an investment from Serena Williams. “I think women are appreciative of brands that are celebrating diversity and breaking the mold of what is considered ‘normal’ in mainstream media,” adds Cooley. “We’re all tired of seeing the same glossy, airbrushed models.”

But it’s still a hard sell, since the core audience seems to be stuck in their habits. “I appreciate the gesture of body hair and all body types, but honestly, I don’t spend that much time or attention on shaving—and having a more inclusive brand image isn’t going to make me start,” says Pei, 28, a student in San Francisco. The same goes for Allison, 30, a publicist in New York City. “I like the thought of what they’re doing and stand for, but I buy the same razors I grew up buying out of habit,” she says. “But I feel like it’s good that girls who are making their first razor purchases see brands like that.”

And even though body hair has gained more acceptance, it’s still polarizing for some. “I’m not a fan of body hair,” says Bebe, 29, a computer scientist in Chicago. “I feel like our generation is a mix of ‘who cares, be free’ and people who literally shave everything.” Alex, 29, a producer also in Chicago, agrees. “I don’t care what anyone else does, but [removing body hair] makes me feel cleaner.”

The good news is that even so, everyone across the board thinks the pink tax is bullshit.





Source link

Categories
Health

10 Best Self-Tanners That Won't Look Orange—No Matter How Pale You Are


I left my tanning addiction where it belongs—in 2011, along with sunscreens less than SPF 30 and the phrase GTL. In 2018, we now all know the importance of practicing safe sun and wouldn’t dream of passing around baby oil by the pool like its a bottle of rosé. Still, it’s around this time of year, when the weather finally decides to get its act together, that I realize a long winter of tights and a lack of vitamin D has done my pasty skin no favors. I know I’m not alone in this. And yet, finding enough Glamour staffers willing to test self-tanners was shockingly difficult. Chalk it up to the fact that—even after years of innovation—sunless tanners have maintained a bad rap for looking streaky, splotchy, and orange. The good news is that the latest batch of self-tanning foams, towelettes, and creams are anything but—and these testimonies from some former skeptics are proof. Jersey Shore might be back, but the days of looking fake-baked are long gone.



Source link

Categories
Health

Size Doesn't Really Matter, and Other Things to Know About Buying Condoms


Hi Emily—

I’m a 30-year-old from Wyoming and also a recent widow. I never thought that I would have to worry about having to start dating at this stage in my life. I was with my husband for over 10 years and it was so nice not to have to worry about STDs.

I happened to be in a local store and wandered over to where they keep condoms. I had no idea there are so many different kinds! Where does a beginner start? Are women responsible for buying condoms? What about latex allergies? And lastly, what should I keep in my nightstand? Do I have to buy various types and sizes since I’ll have no idea what my date may be into?

Help! I’m so lost.

—Karen

Dear Karen,

It’s true, there are so many different types, sizes, materials, and brands of condoms out there. Especially if you’re just returning to the game, it’s overwhelming, to say the least. Not to worry: I’m here to be your guide back into the condom world.

1. Everyone who is sexually active is responsible for carrying protection.
No matter what gender or sexuality you identify as, everyone’s responsible for buying protection. Unfortunately, not everyone does, so, it’s better to be safe than sorry and have a stash of your own condoms.

2. Size barely matters.
Condoms are tested to withstand incredible lengths of stretching and durability, so having various sizes doesn’t necessarily need to be at the top of your list when looking for the perfect penile wrapping. While some guys swear they need an XL, most will be just fine with whatever condom you have on hand.

3. Lubed and studded and ribbed—oh my!
While size may not matter much, material can. Latex allergies are common, and it can cause irritation or dryness—neither of which is a recipe for a good time. I like SKYN condoms as an alternative—they’re non-latex, so they won’t dry you out, and they’re ultrathin but durable, so it feels like you’re wearing nothing. Condoms can also be lubed, studded, ribbed, warming, cooling—all to create unique sensations. If you’re having trouble deciding what kind you or your partners like, get a variety pack and have fun testing them all!

You’ll go from beginner to prophylactic pro in no time.

XX,
Emily

More from Glamour:
—How Do I Convert Our Flirty Texts Into an Actual Date?

—How Do I Talk Dirty Without Sounding Like a Porn Star?

—Is It OK That I Can Only Orgasm With Running Water?



Source link

Categories
Health

Free Porn Is Probably Not Feminist Porn—No Matter What It Looks Like


The concept of feminist porn—that is, adult entertainment that’s ethical and non-exploitative while still being hot—has been gaining traction. Because more women are willing to spend money on porn they like, more porn for women can be made, and as a result, a crop of great, feminist sites are popping up and enjoying newfound popularity. Which is why we were excited when, on February 15 of this year, a new website called Bellesa was launched. The site’s account tweeted: “We’re turning one of the most misogynistic industries in the world on its head,” and in a YouTube video created for the occasion, the site’s founder, Michelle Shnaidman, hypothesized, “If we could change the type of sex that people are watching, maybe we can change a whole lot more.” Bellesa called itself, “A platform on which women are empowered to celebrate their sexuality,” and began allowing its primarily-female users to upload content that turned them on—articles, sexy stories, hot photos, and pornographic videos—and share it in a supportive community of like-minded individuals.

Which all sounded great! But apparently, the key to this empowerment-studded shakeup of the status quo involved working around what Bustle called the “pesky paywall” problem. Bellessa “found a way to bring women porn they’ll actually enjoy without draining their bank accounts.” Unfortunately, what’s being described sounds a whole lot like piracy.

Schnaidman said that after finding lots of sexist and male-oriented porn online, Bellesa’s goal was to “help improve on the gender disparity in the industry.” A noble cause, except for one important detail: Bellesa didn’t actually connect itself to the industry. In fact, despite claims that the Bellesa team did “extensive research” on the industry, very few actual content creators were even aware of the site until last week, when they read an effusive article about it.

And they were not happy.

These videos cost money to make, but were pirated and posted online without paying the people who made them.

Bellesa had concerned itself exclusively with providing a female-friendly porn viewing experience for its users. In so doing, it had ignored the people who made the porn videos that were the backbone of the site. These videos cost money to make, but were pirated and posted online without paying—or even acknowledging—the people who made them.

Porn performers, directors, and fans were quick to point out this hole in the site’s feminist reasoning on Twitter, as well as in a number of articles scattered around all over the internet.
Genderqueer performer and industry stalwart Jiz Lee tweeted, “Stealing porn empowers no one. And to pirate specifically from female producers in the branding of ‘porn for women’…Shame on @BellesaCo.”

By September 21, Bellesa had taken down the video and pictures segments of the website and issued a somewhat confused-sounding apology:

What everyone has written on Twitter and sent to our inbox was
heard—loud and clear. I am sorry. I am sorry to those who feel like
Belessa [sic] disempowered them, disrespected them, or placed our
interests above theirs…I am making a firm commitment, right now, to
transition the entirety of the video section of Bellesa to feature
exclusively videos that are in direct partnership with studios, and
that compensate all fairly for their contribution.

Industry insiders were glad to see the pirated content taken down, particularly after such a rare show of solidarity from industry ranks. “I think they underestimated the power of our community, and I think that this is a great teachable moment for not only companies that try to do this to us but also for content producers and performers,” says jessica drake, a contracted star for Wicked Pictures who has performed, written, directed, and produced dozens of adult films. “I’d love to see greater efforts in the future from our industry coming together to let the public know that theft is not acceptable.”

“Porn is entertainment. It is a product, a commodity. It is not free to produce, it is not free to consume.”

Some in the porn industry have offered to work with Bellesa—as long as they’re being fairly compensated for their work. The truth is, free porn is a sad but nearly unavoidable fact for today’s porn-makers, and Bellesa was just one of thousands of websites that allow users to upload pirated porn (Pornhub, YouPorn, xHamster, and Spankbang are a few examples). Partnerships, ad shares, and other arrangements have become a common way for both free streaming tube sites and porn makers to turn a buck. But it’s important to note that many feminist and other ethical porn makers who produce content with non-male audiences in mind choose not to partner with free porn streaming sites, since many allow stolen content. The fact that Bellesa sold itself as a feminist entity while blatantly stealing the fruits of female labor and profiting from them made this free porn site a particularly gross offender.

Kim Cums, an Australian porn performer and producer, who was one of the first to call Bellesa out on Twitter, says, “What Shnaidman did was create a feminist-looking website, but the supporting structure had no ethical foundation.”

But the controversy around Bellesa embodies an ideological misstep that goes beyond porn—one that plenty of companies of all kinds have attempted to capitalize on by declaring themselves “feminist” and then failing to show receipts. One of feminism’s fundamental tenets is that women should be paid fairly for their labor. Sex-positive feminism posits that women (and others) be compensated just as fairly for their sexual labor as anyone else. That’s why watching that content for free, without permission, is actually explicitly un-feminist.

“Paying for porn means you’re supporting the performers.”

Kayden Kross, an adult performer and the co-founder of ethical porn company TRENCHCOATx, said that Bellesa’s acceptance of piracy was “[the] most unethical thing you can do to a content creator while throwing around the buzzwords that appeal to the very consumers looking for businesses that factor ethics into the equation.” By stealing work that Kross poured months of work and a lot of money into, Shnaidman “picked up something she has no right to and asked other people to give her the money for it instead of me. She has decided, effectively, that I will work for her for free and against my consent.”

It’s behavior that also plays into the insidious and widespread idea that sex work doesn’t deserve fair compensation. “We have been so conditioned to see porn as a boogeyman threatening our public health and relationships that people forget to see porn as a neutral media entity: as content that is produced by humans, that involves human labor,” says Tina Horn, host and producer of the sexuality podcast Why Are People Into That?! and two-time Feminist Porn Award–winning adult filmmaker and producer.

“The progression and widespread acceptance of piracy is due in large part to society’s collective opinion that adult entertainment is not a ‘legitimate’ business, regardless of the same society’s rampant consumption of adult content,” says jessica drake. “Porn is entertainment. It is a product, a commodity. It is not free to produce, it is not free to consume.”

Meanwhile, “Paying for porn means you’re supporting the performers,” says Ms. Naughty, an Australian feminist porn producer. “You’re contributing to a model that ensures they’re paid properly for their work—because sex work is work.”
The takeaway here is simple: You can’t call yourself a feminist if you’re stealing porn from the women (and others) who make it. Porn workers—from performers to producers to marketers to camera operators to editors—have lost a lot because of free sites. “These are real people who work real jobs to support their families, and pay taxes,” says jessica drake. “In my years in the business, I have watched as very popular companies have fallen by the wayside, not having the means to combat piracy fast enough.”

Angie Rowntree, the founder of one of the oldest porn sites for women, Sssh.com, continues drake’s thought: “Every time one of our movies is compromised it hurts all of us,” she says. “Nothing in life occurs without cost. By not paying for porn, the public is contributing to the decimation of ethical standards in our industry and in wider society overall.”

So buy your porn! If you’re interested in watching amazing feminist adult entertainment—and contributing to its continued production—here are 17 great pay sites you can check out right now:

  1. BrightDesire.com

  2. PornforWomen.tv

  3. PinkLabel.tv

  4. CrashPadSeries.com

  5. Sssh.com

  6. TRENCHCOATx.com

  7. AORTA Films

  8. A Four-Chambered Heart

  9. MakeLoveNotPorn.tv

  10. Blue Artichoke Films

  11. Lust Cinema

  12. xConfessions

  13. Permission4Pleasure

  14. JoyBear Pictures

  15. Sweet Sinner

  16. PetraJoyVOD.com

  17. Foxhouse Films



Source link

Categories
Health

It Was Only a Matter of Time Before Melania Trump Got FLOTUS Merch


Hot off the heels (sorry) of a controversial travel get-up, Melania Trump landed in Houston this afternoon—and though she ditched the Manolo Blahnik stilettos on Air Force 1, FLOTUS was spotted wearing another item that had the Internet scratching its head.

The Trumps are in Texas to visit those affected by Hurricane Harvey—though, so far, the purpose for their trip has been eclipsed by the First Lady’s wardrobing choices for the photo opportunities. As The Cut pointed out, the First Lady deplaned in Houston wearing an accessory that might signal she’s finally succumbed to her husband’s affinity for merchandise: a hat that spells out “FLOTUS,” in case there were any questions surrounding her current title.

PHOTO: JIM WATSON

Though Melania skipped the signature “Make American Great Again” red, her black-and-white “FLOTUS” cap is right in line with her husband’s headgear. (President Trump has recently been spotted wearing a new “USA” style himself.) And while a FLOTUS-branded hat isn’t quite as questionable as stilettos to visit a city recovering from a Category 3 hurricane, we’re nonetheless curious as to why Melania decided now was the time to partake in the Trump family merch tradition.

Luckily, all it took was a quick scroll through Twitter to realize that we weren’t alone in this line of thought.

FLOTUS’ office has released a statement about the inordinate amount of attention Melania’s wardrobing choices have received during this official visit. But this outfit change does beg more questions—such as: Will these hats be popping up on Donald J. Trump’s official online store in the near future? Will other members of the administration also be getting the merch treatment? Only time will tell… but this might be an example of how being #onbrand can go a tad too far.

Related Stories:

Melania Trump Thanks Chelsea Clinton for Defending 11-Year-Old Barron

There’s a Reason Why You Might’ve Noticed More Ivanka Trump Clothing at Goodwill Than Ever Before

New Report Reveals the Overwhelming Hypocrisy Behind Ivanka Trump’s Clothing Brand



Source link