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Here in the SheSociety office, we’ve noticed a certain phrase being used a lot lately, calling out to men to ‘man up.’

We are just as confused as they surely are.

There’s the constant complaint over men being emotionless and not showing their feelings, yet when they do, they are seen as timid and weak and told to ‘man up’.

We saw it on Married at First Sight when Charlene told her husband Patrick to man up after he divulged that he’s scared of being rejected in their final date.

But by Patrick wanting to express his emotions and where he’s head’s at is a healthy way to approach a burgeoning relationship. What he says and how he expresses his feelings shouldn’t be shut down by an outdated phrase. This just makes men more self conscious and unsure of their emotions, and sooner or later the lid on their bottled up feelings will be screwed shut indefinitely.

Men can still be strong whilst displaying emotions, it’s a not an all exclusive offer. Unbeknownst to most, the phrase ‘man up’ can be detrimental and is re-establishing stereotypes that should have been abandoned by now.

Double standards is another issue floating around and what we might not realise is that they can surface on both sides of the gender spectrum.

Just last week, pop singer and American idol judge Katy Perry kissed a contestant, Benjamin Glaze on the lips even after he told the judges that he’d never been in a relationship and that he can’t kiss a girl without being in one.

While Benjamin said that he didn’t feel sexually harassed by Katy Perry, he did say that that he was a “tad bit uncomfortable” because he wanted to save his first kiss for his first relationship.”

If the tables were turned and a male judge decided to kiss a female contestant without their consent then there would be major uproar including dismissal from the show. While Katy Perry may not have realised at the time and thought it was harmless fun, her actions still should be called out.

Double standards are apparent everywhere in each gender and we need to get on the same playing field if we ever want to reach true equality.

The SheSociety team has many wonderful men in their lives; husbands, fathers, sons, brothers and friends and we just want them to know that we have their backs. It seems to be a very confusing time for our male counterparts and to be asked to ‘man up’ is only adding to this confusion. What do you think ‘man up’ means?

Published on March 22, 2018 on She Society

How many times have you had to throw away wilted spinach or brown avocados? We know it’s hard trying to keep track of everything in your fridge, especially when half the time you don’t even know what’s actually in it. You find shrivelled up lemons squashed in behind overripe bananas and you cringe as you tally up how much money you’ve lost by having to throw them away. But here at She Society we know your struggles and have created a handy list of the most common bought fruit and vegetables and how long they actually last both on the shelf in your pantry and in the fridge.

Published on March 26, 2018 on She Society

Harriette Hale can be described as a serial fempreneur, creating her first company when she was only 19 and has continued to set up five more.

Harriette is a certified soul, money and mindset coach, along with teaching and coaching other freelancers and entrepreneurs, she’s also a singer/songwriter.

“I never gave myself an alternative, I never wanted a job, I’ve always been a bit of a rebel, I don’t like to be told what to do, I don’t like to be controlled and I guess that’s why it started.”

“I feel like I can make massive changes in the world and that’s why I’m in business, it’s part of my life purpose and my soul path and that’s what I’m destined to do, that’s why I’m here, to help women step into their power and their light.”

As a Priestess of Light, Harriette explains that she is an energy healer.

“I was a energy healer practitioner and when you get to the point of energy healing where you can impact physical symptoms, it then progresses you on to the next level of spiritually and that can be recognised in many ways.”

“Some women become priestesses, some become shamans. It’s spiritual recognition of a gift, the thing that I channel most for me and that I use for teaching and healing is light.”

As a seasoned entrepreneur Harriette had some golden gems of wisdom to share:

Always Have a Why

“Always have that place you can go back to which will remind you why your doing what you’re doing.”

“Starting out in business can be very frustrating and tiring, we always fall into that question of how, how is this going to work, what is it going to look like? When we go back to our why, that’s what will give us that energy boost and the reinspirination that we need to keep going.”

Look for Help

“I would advise people who are just starting out to get as much help as possible, get a coach, get a mentor, just have someone or a group of people who you can call on anytime for support, for guidance and wisdom.”

“It’s a lonely old world and it’s still a world that many people don’t understand, many people have friends and family around them who aren’t fully supportive of their entrepreneur goals. So it’s always nice to have a tribe of people who are on the same page as you.”

Don’t Be Scared

“Don’t be scared to share your purpose, don’t be scared to get your services out there into the world, sharing why you’re doing what you’re doing.”

As a money mindset coach Harriette also explains that net worth is intrinsically connected to our self worth.

“Even if we have the best made business plan in the world, if the mind behind it isn’t fully aligned and isn’t on the same page then that business plan isn’t going to happen.”

“So whatever your financial goals are, make sure your belief systems are fully supporting that goal and there are no belief gremlins that are waiting in the shadows to trip you up.”

Harriette’s biggest lesson throughout her life and business is to always trust herself and to go with her first thought.

“For me the key to success is being prepared to break the conditioning and do what’s right for you rather than succumbing to limiting beliefs and other people’s ideas of success, be willing to do it your own way.”

Published on April 4, 2018 on She Society

Cate Campbell

Cate Campbell is determined to defend her Australian record. The 25-year-old marks her return to international competition at the Games after taking a break in 2017 following her sixth placing in the Rio Olympic 100m freestyle final.

“It’s so exciting to be back and part of the Australian swim team, I definitely missed being a part of it in 2017 and to be back wearing the green and gold it really makes my heart beat a little bit faster,” she said.

Cate will be competing in the 50m butterfly, the 50m and 100m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Taylah Robertson

The 19 year old boxer from Cooroy, Queensland has already made the medal ranks before the games have even started. By drawing a bye in her division she has already won bronze but she is determined to turn it into gold.

Her coach Mark Evans said that “we’ve got a guaranteed bronze but I’m tipping that colour might change.”

“She’s on fire at the moment. She’s going to be very, very hard to beat.

“She’s probably the fittest I’ve ever seen her. She’s so sharp. I was doing pads with her on Tuesday (and) her hand speed was just amazing so she’s ready to go.”

Taylah will be competing in the women’s 51kg division.

Melissa Wu

At only 25 years of age Melissa Wu will be competing in her fourth Commonwealth Games, debuting in Melbourne 2006 at just 13 years of age. As a diving veteran, Melissa has amassed an impressive medal count including one gold, six silvers and five bronze medals.

Melissa will be competing in the 10m platform, 10m synchro, 10m mixed synchro events.

Kurt Fearnley

The Games ambassador Kurt Fearnley will close out his remarkable career with his participation in the T54 Marathon and 1,500m.

Fearnley was the silver medallist in the T54 1500m at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, following on from his gold medal-winning performance in the same event in Delhi.

“Pulling on the green and gold once is special and if that’s all you get, you’re luckier than most,” he said.

“So, to have the honour of representing Australia at a third Commonwealth Games as well as at a few Paralympics, World Championships and Olympics is something else.”

Kyle Chalmers

After bringing home a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, teenager Kyle Chalmers is out to prove that he isn’t a one-hit wonder. The 19 year old become the first Australian man to claim 100m freestyle gold in 48 years. Kyle will be competing in the 100m and 200m freestyle and relay events.

Published on April 5, 2018 on She Society

Origami-inspired bots that can fold into a number of different shapes have been created, with the miniature bots having the potential to carry out different types of surgery – like patch wounds, remove objects and take samples.

Researchers from MIT, the University of Sheffield and the Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a new kind of origami robot that transforms into a microsurgeon inside your stomach. They squished the robot inside a pill, which the stomach acid dissolves. A magnet embedded in the middle allows you or a medical practitioner to control the microsurgeon from the outside using another magnet. It also picks up the battery or other objects stuck inside your stomach.

The team decided to focus on battery retrieval, because people swallow 3,500 button batteries in the US alone. While they can be digested normally, they sometimes burn people’s stomach and oesophagus linings. This robot can easily fish them out of one’s organs before that happens.

“It’s really exciting to see our small origami robots doing something with potential important applications to health care,” Daniela Rus, who directs MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), said in a press release.

Published on April 6, 2018 on She Society

With the royal wedding now just a few days away, we thought that these selection of books would be perfect as a precursor to the royal event. So sit back with one of these books and with the only beverage that is acceptable in this case, tea and enjoy the fascinating stories.

Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in their own words

Royally suited reveals the true story behind Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s romance through a selection of quotations from the couple. Royal Correspondent Phil Dampier has dug deep into the lovers’ pasts to reveal their shared mischievous sense of humor and how both grew up with divorced parents. The book also reveals the story of how they fell in love and the aftermath that occurred throughout their courtship and engagement.

Elizabeth: The Queen and The Crown

Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most recognised figures in the world, with her reign still continuing with 2018 being her 66th year in power. Elizabeth: The Queen and The Crown covers from Elizabeth’s birth to present day, reveal details about her incredible life. Sarah Gristwood follows the twists and turns and key events in the Queen’s life, including her teenage years during the war, meeting and marrying the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip Mountbatten, and her ascension to the throne in 1952.

Meghan: A Hollywood Princess

Meghan: A Hollywood Princess comes from the same author Andrew Morton who wrote Diana: Her True Story. The biography details her childhood growing up in Los Angeles, her fraught family life and career success. Drawing on exclusive interviews with her family members and closest friends, and including never-before-seen photographs, Morton introduces readers to the real Meghan as he reflects on the impact that she has already had on the rigid traditions of the House of Windsor, as well as what the future might hold.

Harry: A Biography of a Prince

An eye-opening biography on Prince Harry, giving readers a three-dimensional look at what Harry is really like as a person, both on and off royal duty. It is written by distinguished journalist and author Angela Levin, who accompanied Prince Harry on many of his engagements and had exclusive access to him at Kensington Palace.

Published on May 16, 2018 on She Society

It’s no wonder plastic surgery has become so in demand, we see it on our screens and in our feeds every single day. From Keeping Up with the Kardashians to competitions on Facebook that advertise free boob jobs. While reasons vary over why people decide to go under the knife, She Society thought it would be interesting to gain insight into the ever-expanding industry, talking to plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr Dan Kennedy.

According to Dan, there are numerous reasons why people decide to get work done. “We’ve got at one end of the spectrum somebody who has a cleft lip and their nose is crooked because of it, having a rhinoplasty to straighten that. To somebody having a breast reduction for the release of pain or somebody having a breast augmentation because they feel anxious about their body image.”

“It’s very difficult to say that there is one key motivation for people seeking aesthetic surgery, but if I had to try and sum it up in one phrase, it would be to try and feel comfortable in their own skin.”

Reality TV has become a major influence, with stars such as the Kardashian’s and The Housewives of Melbourne setting the trends for cosmetic procedures including injectables and breast implants.

Dan believes that reality TV is trivialising plastic surgery and its complications, “I think reality tv has probably done people quite a disservice because it’s taken some of the seriousness away from plastic surgery procedures and made it somewhat more like going in and having a haircut.”

“It’s not, its serious, it’s having surgery and along with surgery goes the risks of complications, disturbance of tissue and disappointment with the results. It’s not like a haircut that grows out, it’s significant intervention and you don’t get over it as quickly as you get over a bad haircut.”

Dan’s most unusual request came from a patient who asked him to put little bumps in their forehead to make them appear more like a cartoon character. That request was understandably not adhered to.

“We do retain the right to say no, we don’t think that’s suitable for you, or I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s not about providing a service that somebody requests, it’s about providing a service that they request and that’s appropriate for them,” Dan said.

“I think that many people feel a whole lot more comfortable with their appearance after they’ve had their procedure. Whether their breasts were too big, or they wanted them bigger, or their face more youthful, you notice a substantial change in people’s emotional comfort level and people look less anxious and less stressed after they get the procedure done.”

Dan said that he typically discourages people from seeking cosmetic procedures until they are fully developed, both physically and emotionally. “As a rule I would say the youngest I would think is appropriate is around 22 for a cosmetic procedure such as a breast augmentation or liposuction. I wouldn’t go any lower than 18 ever, but I would go as low as 18 in some instances where the particular feature complained of was more severe.”

Commenting on the new trends in the industry, Dan said that there has been a lot of interest and noise around freezing of fat. “It’s become extremely popular and to some extent its reduced the number of people seeking liposuction.There’s also been some enthusiasm around the idea of being able to treat sweating with a new device. It’s relatively difficult to access that, there’s only a few of them around the country.”

Dan Kennedy is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who is apart of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. Find out more information here.

Tell us your opinion on the matter, does reality TV influence your decisions around plastic surgery?

Published on March 2, 2018 on She Society

176 million women worldwide suffer with endometriosis, a debilitating condition that affects all aspects of a woman’s life. With no known cure, more awareness needs to be made, the Australian Government took a step last year creating a national action plan for endometriosis.

She Society had a chat with Meredith East-Powell, a member of Endometriosis Queensland (QENDO)and the creator of The Healing Yogi. A blog that details her own struggles with endometriosis and her approach to living a holistic lifestyle to help combat the disease.

Constantly experiencing pain and crippling fatigue, Meredith said that there were times where she could barely work or go out socially. The Healing Yogi is Meredith’s way to share her knowledge on endometriosis, to help people better understand the condition. Once she’s a qualified nutritionist people will be able to book consultations so she can assist them in achieving their health goals.

She came to the realisation that a holistic approach was best when she found out that her doctor could only do so much. “I could either take pain killers continuously or have surgery. I was desperate to feel better, so I researched and educated myself about the possible treatments for endo and saw a naturopath, I started seeing some results which set the wheels in motion for me to makeover my diet and lifestyle.”

According to Meredith nutrition can help with reducing the symptoms of endometriosis. “Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease, it is also an estrogen dependent disease. By lowering the intake of inflammatory foods such as processed meat (or processed food in general), gluten, sugar and soy, and increasing our intake of whole foods (particularly vegetables and fruit) it will assist in reducing inflammation.”

Taking time to meditate also helps endometriosis sufferers, helping them to manage stress, anxiety and depression. “Meditation allows us to be more in tune with our body and helps switch on the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), this is when our body can recover and heal, it can’t do this when we’re stressed out and in fight or flight mode,” she said.

With many misconceptions floating around, Meredith discussed the idea that pregnancy or a hysterectomy can cure endometriosis. “Even today I still hear that from people (including doctors). That bad period pain is just part of being a woman; pain that prevents you from functioning is not normal and requires treatment. Another one is that people believe a hysterectomy is a cure, it isn’t, in fact there is no cure.”

What’s your advice to other women suffering with endometriosis? Getting a team of health professionals in your corner who really understand and treat endo. Unfortunately there are still health professionals out there who don’t understand the disease. Ask questions and if you’re not comfortable with what is being proposed or the attitude being displayed by your health professional, find someone else, it’s not in your head and you deserve the best treatment available.”

What do you wish people knew about endometriosis? It affects more people than many realise, approximately 1 in 10 women. It is a physiological condition and the cause is not yet known.

What are you most proud of? To change and start living a heart centred life and according to my values, the best move I’ve ever made.

What has been the biggest lesson you have learnt? (in life or business) Not to underestimate yourself and that mistakes are ok; just learn from them, forgive yourself quickly and come back from them.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given? To find three positive things to say (or think) about yourself everyday, it is a wonderful form of self-care.

QENDO is holding an endometriosis Education Series in 3 parts at the University of Queensland, tickets can be found here!

Published on February 28, 2018 on She Society

Do you believe you’re getting what you pay for when you go out to eat at a restaurant? We’ve all had the experience where either yourself or the person you’re with complains about their meal, whether it be over the pricing or portion size. But are your complaints really valid? SheSociety spoke to The Golden Pig’s chef Katrina Ryan and Americo Fernandes from Margo Restaurant and Bar about restaurant food and what we should be expecting when it comes to fine dining.

“I think pricing in a restaurant reflects a lot more than the actual food on the plate and the time it has taken to make it. For example, does the restaurant have fantastic views (high rent!), are they using linen tablecloths and napkins (laundry costs), do they serve complimentary bread – is it or the butter homemade, is the glassware and crockery of high quality?  All these things translate to a higher meal cost,” Katrina said.

Chef Katrina Ryan

For Katrina the difference between quality fine dining and mediocre dining is always the quality of ingredients and taste. “Personally I don’t like food that has been too deconstructed and is too prissy and fussy. Sometimes I would prefer the chefs to spend LESS time on plating the food! Mediocre establishments will try and cut costs by serving cheap ingredients. e.g nasty tasting olives and feta etc.”

Americo said that as diners, we need to stop looking at the size and start looking at the quality. “In terms of pricing, some customers underestimate the cost of luxury ingredients so in moments throughout my career customers have complained about dishes not having enough of X/Y ingredient for the price of the dish.”

Chef Americo Fernandes

In regards to getting their money’s worth Americo said that “the long and short of it, yes customers are getting their money’s worth. Ultimately, people should learn to appreciate the quality of ingredients rather than being consumed by the portion size. Learn to eat more mindfully and you will see how quickly it takes to be full.”

Americo said that he believes the difference between quality fine dining and mediocre dining is simply love and has noticed that customers are often surprised by how much they enjoy more adventurous dishes.

“Customers will often doubt unfamiliar flavour combinations and basically say, “No! That can’t work!” then they try it and they are so wonderfully astounded (most of the time…) haha.”

“Over the years, I have also noticed that some diners are very adaptable to an ever-changing gastronomic space whereas other customers like to stick to what they know. I am happy to meet those customers in the middle and tweak some of the old favourites…” Americo said.

The craziest complaint that Americo has heard? That a customer once commented that the beef tartar was a bit too rare.

Published on February 27, 2018 on She Society