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.
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