All you need is a husband?
Posted on: June 17, 2010
Any Dutch readers out there? So I came across article called “Unemployed? All You Need Is a Husband, Dutch program Tells Jobless Women” and it kind of upset me based on the title. The article can also be found here under the title “All you need is love, Dutch council tells jobless women”. In the Netherlands, a program was started in which will pay for single unemployed women to have a beauty makeover as well as give them membership to a dating agency.
When I first read this I thought “What the fuck? A woman doesn’t need a man, they can have a job of their own if they want to.” but I kept reading. In addition to the matchmaking service, they will be given instruction in social and presentation skills, okay, now that’s more useful for someone unemployed. They explain that their thinking behind the matchmaking service and makeover is that finding love helps get unemployed people off state benefits. They argue that by finding a partner it improves confidence, ambition, and motivation, which I believe is true. I know when I’ve been single I’ve been very unmotivated to do well… anything. National statistics in the Netherlands show that people in a relationship are healthier, happier, make more money, and live longer. This means they use less money from the government for medical and social security.
In addition, this program is not just for women, but most clients are expected to be female (like a man would ever admit he needs help attracting a mate heh). The director of the matchmaking service also says there is little difference in the process in finding a partner to that of interviewing for a job. Very true, I mean aren’t all first dates basically an interview? Just it’s a little more meaningful as it can be harder to ‘quit’ a relationship than a job.
Overall, the title of the the article was misleading, and the program could actually be a good idea. The reasoning behind it seems sound to me at least. The success of it will be determined by people’s willingness to enter it. Either way, good step by the Netherlands, who already have national health care… but I’m going to leave that one alone for now.
So a bit about me…
Posted on: May 30, 2010
Hi and welcome to my blog, however you may have stumbled here. Not really sure what I’m going to be doing with this one just yet, probably just a place to rant, but for now I’ll tell you about myself.
So a little bit about me. I’m Jen, I grew up in a dinky ass town in Virginia, only child. I just graduated from with a B.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics and I’m the first person on either my Mom or Dad’s side to graduate from college, which is quite a big achievement. I’m going back this Fall to start working on my Ph.D in Engineering Mechanics.
I love animals, just about anything with fur. Always grew up having dogs and cats, but I started learning to ride horses about two years ago and I love it. I haven’t gotten to ride much in a long time and I really miss it and I really hope to have a horse or two of my own some day. I also really like lizards and hopefully will be able to get one with my boyfriend soon, since I will be out of the dorms finally and have my OWN room (which you have no idea how excited I am about it). It’s an awesome house too that I’ll be sharing with two vet students and one of their boyfriends, I will probably put up lots of pictures once I move in.
On a side note, I’m a pretty big geek, if you haven’t guessed from the username… or that I’m an engineer. I do play World of Warcraft (yes, I know, but hey I graduated with a decent GPA mind you, time management FTW!). I have a 80 Tauren Warrior, and yes, I tank. Very rare thing for a girl to tank, I know. I also have a Wii and a DS (bit of a Nintendo fangirl) and will hopefully be getting an Xbox 360 too.
Well I suppose that’s it for right now. Take it easy!
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