23% Indian women OK with displaying sexual content at work

Nearly 23 per cent Indian women find it acceptable to display material of a sexual nature at work -- the most from any country polled, a new survey has revealed.

When it comes to asking a colleague for a date even when they've said no, people in Malaysia (29 per cent) and India (26 per cent) are most likely to think this is OK, according to the survey of over 20,000 people in 27 countries by the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at King's College London in collaboration with market research firm Ipsos MORI.

China has the biggest gender divide in opinion, with 30 per cent of men saying it's acceptable compared with 15 per cent of women.

Of the countries surveyed, Britons feel most confident (78 per cent) in telling off a family member or friend for making a sexist comment.

Women also feel more confident (84 per cent) than men (73 per cent) in doing so, a reversal of the situation at work, the findings showed.

Globally, people predict less of a gender divide in the way such choices or responsibilities might harm a woman's or a man's career.

However, for some issues, there remains a split.

"Nearly 26 per cent say rejecting a colleague who wanted a date or romantic relationship is more likely to damage the career of a woman, compared with 7 per cent who say a man's career is more likely to harmed," the survey revealed.

While 14 per cent think a woman who talks about her family life is more likely to have her career harmed - more than twice as many as those think a man's career is more likely impacted for doing the same (6 per cent).

Nearly 25 per cent think prioritising family over work is more likely to harm a woman's career, while 9 per cent think a man's career is more likely to be harmed.

People are twice as likely to think that women's careers will be harmed (16 per cent) than men's (7 per cent) for being unable or unwilling to socialise with colleagues outside of working hours, said the survey.

Depressed rural moms may face greater health issues

(IANS) Researchers have found that chronic depression is linked with increased health problems for moms and children in poor rural communities.

The findings, published in the Journal of Family Social Work, revealed that mothers who were constantly depressed experienced more health problems, distrusted doctors and had a worse outlook on their lives, compared with moms whose symptoms improved.

The mothers' depression also affected those closest to them, the study said.

"Mothers are one of the main supports of the family. They're raising children, paying bills, and organising events and when they're depressed, the entire family is impacted," said study lead author Yoshie Sano, Associate Professor at Washington State University in the US.

According to the researchers, more than one in five adults deal with depression, a mood disorder that causes persistent sadness, exhaustion and loss of interest, affecting relationships, work, and emotional and physical health.

Women are twice as likely to have depression as men, and people in poverty are three times more likely to experience it, they said.

Using data from the ongoing, multi-state Rural Families Speak project, the research team examined the experiences of 23 mothers with clinical depression across three years.

As part of Sano's research into family relationships through Rural Families Speak, she kept encountering mothers from rural, low-income families who were dealing with depression.

While much prior research has found how depression affects childhood development, she sought to understand the broader context of maternal depression.

Both groups of moms, those who were depressed, but improving as well as those who had chronic depression, had similar struggles in dealing with their children's health.

But chronically depressed moms faced greater challenges in dealing with their children's emotional and behavioural issues, which were often compounded by a lack of childcare options, employment, concerns for delinquent behaviours and day-to-day behavioural management issues.

"We found that children's health -- particularly their emotional and behavioural health -- is one of the most challenging contributors to maternal depression. Depression doesn't happen in isolation. It happens in a family, community, and cultural context," Sano, said.

The study also found that chronically depressed mothers expressed strong distrust of health-care professionals and their prescribed treatments.

Women with heart problems need flexible lifestyle programmes

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Toronto, March 9 (IANS) Women with cardiovascular problems today need flexible options for lifestyle programmes that fit their busy schedules, say researchers.

"Women tend to prioritise others before themselves. The realities of modern life require women to address multiple family, community, social and work-related demands. As a result, many feel they do not have time for cardiac rehabilitation," said study senior author Jennifer Reed from the University of Ottawa in Canada.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide; in 2015 it accounted for one-third of all female deaths.

Following a cardiac event such as a heart attack, patients are advised to attend cardiac rehabilitation for exercise training, lifestyle education, smoking cessation and psychological support.

According to the study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, these programmes improve fitness, quality of life, mental health and survival, and reduce the risk of further events.

However, approximately 10-20 per cent fewer women than men participate in cardiac rehabilitation, and women are more likely to drop out (35 per cent of women quit versus 29 per cent of men), the researchers said.

In contrast, women are high users of local exercise classes: many women attend at least 70 per cent of the sessions on offer.

For the results, the authors reviewed a decade of literature to identify what stops women with heart disease from attending cardiac rehabilitation, and the characteristics of local exercise programmes (not specifically targeting people with heart disease) that could overcome those hurdles.

According to the research team, multiple barriers to participation were identified. Some women view cardiac rehabilitation as a "men's club". Classes are at set times and incompatible with women's daily schedules.

Women do not enjoy the physical activity offered and it does not fit their needs: some find it too physically demanding, while others want it to be more challenging.

Women frequently lack social support and feel guilty for deserting their family, , the study said.

The researchers identified ways to modernise cardiac rehabilitation and make it more attractive to women:

Offer enjoyable physical activity such as Zumba, soccer, group walking, tai chi, qigong, technology-based balance exercises (e.g. Wii Fit), dancing, and Nordic walking, they said.

Older women may benefit from exercises to help them perform daily activities (e.g. dressing, reaching a cupboard, moving in and out of a chair or bed) and reduce their risk of falls, while younger women may prefer more challenging activities such as high-intensity interval training.

The researchers suggested to provide flexible class times that are compatible with women's busy schedules.

"Women's high participation in group exercise classes in their neighbourhood suggests that they enjoy the sense of community. Multi-site cardiac rehabilitation programmes can help to resolve transportation issues and bring a sense of belonging," Reed said.

'Thappad' is the best movie on women's empowerment today

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Mumbai, March 6 (IANS) Ahead of International Women's Day, actress Shama Sikander spoke about the evolution of female roles in Hindi cinema.

"Cinema has played a huge role in getting issues to the mainstream and the women have come and slayed the screen and how -- from 'Mother India' to 'Arth to 'Kahaani' and 'Queen. If we take a movie like 'Sholay', Hema Maliniji had done a great job with the role of Basanti that we won't forget ever. The issues have been paramount for women and no point choosing to have a blind eye to it," said Shama.

She added: "We have to acknowledge the issues and as a society move towards a solution. 'English Vinglish' was such a breakthrough performance from one of my greatest idols, the late Sridevi ji. They have done enormous amount of great work and movies seem to be an apt representation of the modern Indian woman taking on the world. The performances have been fantastic by the girls for the longest times and it's time we acknowledge the fact that nationwide we have to have the same level of empowerment of women in every sector and it will have to be one huge collective effort led by women and men."

She also urged everyone to watch Taapsee Pannu's latest film "Thappad".

"It's the best thing you can do on this Women's Day. It's the best movie made on women's empowerment in today's time and all the ladies will take a stand for themselves after watching it," she added.

Karisma Kapoor: Digital space lets you speak a lot more

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Mumbai, March 8 (IANS) Actress Karisma Kapoor makes her digital debut with the upcoming web series "Mentalhood". Opening up at a special screening of the series, the nineties star, who makes a comeback with "Mentalhood" after nearly eight years, said the digital space allows filmmakers a more creative platform.

"I think it's a very different platform," said Karisma, about OTT as a platform for entertainment, and added: "It's more creative, and you can speak a lot more. It gives you a voice."

On her new assignment, the 45-year-old actress said: "I am sure people will enjoy 'Mentalhood' because it is a relevant and emotional show and yet it has been told in a very lighthearted fashion. So, this show is a tribute to all the mothers out there from us as mothers."

Karisma made her debut opposite Harish in the 1991 release, "Prem Qaidi". She was last seen on the big screen nearly eight years ago, in Vikram Bhatt's 2012 release, "Dangerous Ishhq".

Her comeback venture "Mentalhood" will stream on Zee5 and ALT Balaji from March 11.

-IANS

iv/vnc/rt

Dairy milk intake may up breast cancer risk

Researchers have found that even relatively moderate amounts of dairy milk consumption can increase women's risk of breast cancer -- up to 80 per cent depending on the amount consumed.

"Fairly strong evidence that either dairy milk or some other factor closely related to drinking dairy milk is a cause of breast cancer in women," said study first author Gary E. Fraser from Loma Linda University in the US.

"Consuming as little as 1/4 to 1/3 cup of dairy milk per day was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer of 30 per cent," Fraser said.

By drinking up to one cup per day, the associated risk went up to 50 per cent, and for those drinking two to three cups per day, the risk increased further to 70 per cent to 80 per cent, the researchers said.

For the findings, dietary intakes of nearly 53,000 North American women were evaluated for the study, all of whom were initially free of cancer and were followed for nearly eight years.

Dietary intakes were estimated from food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), also repeated 24 hour recalls, and a baseline questionnaire had questions about demographics, family history of breast cancer, physical activity, alcohol consumption, hormonal and other medication use, breast cancer screening, and reproductive and gynecological history.

By the end of the study period, there were 1,057 new breast cancer cases during follow-up. No clear associations were found between soy products and breast cancer, independent of dairy.

But, when compared to low or no milk consumption, higher intakes of dairy calories and dairy milk were associated with greater risk of breast cancer, independent of soy intake, the study said.

The researchers noted that the results had minimal variation when comparing intake of full fat versus reduced or nonfat milks; there were no important associations noted with cheese and yogurt.

"However," he said, "dairy foods, especially milk, were associated with increased risk, and the data predicted a marked reduction in risk associated with substituting soymilk for dairy milk."

According to the researchers, possible reasons for these associations between breast cancer and dairy milk may be the sex hormone content of dairy milk, as the cows are of course lactating, and often about 75 per cent of the dairy herd is pregnant. Breast cancer in women is a hormone-responsive cancer.

Further, intake of dairy and other animal proteins in some reports is also associated with higher blood levels of a hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which is thought to promote certain cancers.

"Dairy milk does have some positive nutritional qualities, but these need to be balanced against other possible, less helpful effects," Fraser concluded. (IANS)

63% increase in women travelling within India

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Hospitality unicorn OYO Hotels & Homes has witnessed a 63 per cent increase in bookings by women travelling in different corners of the country between the January 2019 - February 2020 time period, the company said on Friday.

According to the company, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai emerged as the top five cities booked by women travellers in the 14 month time period.

Interestingly, of the total bookings made by women travellers, 19.7 per cent were solo and 80.3 per cent constituted more than one guest.

"In the past few years, we have witnessed an increase in the number of women travellers in the country for both leisure as well as professional commitments. It is also interesting to see growth in bookings for Dehradun, Mysore and Lonavala showcasing the growing preference for exploring non-metro locations," said Harshit Vyas, Chief Business Officer, OYO Hotels & Homes - India.

"At OYO, this is an opportunity for us to build offerings that cater to women travellers and their loved ones and offer them quality living spaces at affordable prices, at great locations and above all offer a world-class hospitality experience," Vyas added.

The company also revealed that women preferred booking their accommodation via the OYO app as app bookings were 102 times more than desktop bookings.

According to the report, Delhi, was the most popular during the festive season as it emerged at the most booked city during Diwali and Holi 2019.

Everybody's favourite holiday destination, Goa topped the chart when it came to the most booked beach destination, however, Dehradun closely followed by Mysore and Lonavala were unique hill destinations that women travellers explored in 2019.