Episode 87: Work and Intimacy (part 2)

“Culturally, what we see as really important is productivity, status, position, achievement – women are so achievement focused. And my feeling is you have to decide, how do you want to live your life?”

— Evelyn Resh

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This is the second part of my conversation with Evelyn Resh. In this show we consider why it's important to prioritize your spouse over your children (most of the time), how the work/sex dynamic works in gay relationships, and why Evelyn hasn't been taking her own advice lately - and how she's trying to change that. 

You can also read a transcript of the show.

Episode 86: Work and Intimacy (part 1)

“We are working more and many of us are working for less money, and that takes a toll on people’s self-care practices, including paying attention to their intimate lives.”

— Evelyn Resh

Remember sexuality counselor Evelyn Resh from episode 19, Women, Work, and Sex? She's back. In this show we take another look at what our 24/7 work lives do to our intimate lives, and what we can do about it. 

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evelyn resh

We had so much to talk about I decided to divide the conversation in two. The next one will come out next week. 

You can also read a transcript of the show.

Further reading:

Women, Sex, Power & Pleasure, by Evelyn Resh.

Which Country Has the Most Productive Workers? via Inc.com.

Episode 85: Far From Home - Women in Aid

“I once had to deal with two male staff, one of whom was accusing the other of threatening to kill him using witchcraft...I have to take it seriously and not disregard that person’s feelings and fears. ”

— Jessica, aid worker

Photo by SimplyCreativePhotography/iStock / Getty Images

A lot of us give to causes we care about. But how many of us ever think about the workers at some of these nonprofits - aid organizations like Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, or Oxfam? The aid world is full of women, and in this show we meet one of them. 

Work/life balance? Not easy when you and your partner need a UN helicopter to visit one another. The job can be physically grueling and also dangerous. Sexual harassment is common. But the work is also rewarding and challenging in ways my guest couldn't have imagined.  

You can also read a transcript of the show.

Further reading:  Why gender matters - but not just gender - in aid work by University of Southampton sociology professor Silke Roth (a 4-page paper). She's also the author of The Paradoxes of Aid Work - Passionate Professionals. 

This piece by Megan Norbert is about her sexual assault by another aid worker, and the relative lack of response. 

Reporttheabuse.org contains aid workers' personal accounts of harassment and assault. It was started after Norbert wrote about her experience.