Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 432

30 SE VALLEY LIVING Author says into a woman's Men more affected by economic downturn WILLIAM ARNOLD eople are beginning to realize it is becoming Maddy a woman's Dychtwald, world. who recently released her book, "Influence: How Women's Soaring Economic Power Will Transform Our World for the Better," said an example is "an empty nester who has skills and can get involved in the community." "In the United States, 78 million Baby Boomers are just reaching traditional retirement age and will leave the workforce in droves in the coming decade," Dychtwald said. "The intersection of the WILLIAM ARNOLD aging of the population and the growing talent and education of women is creating new pressures to recruit and retain women." To put her premises into perspective, look at conditions in the country. In their report for the Pew Research Center, Richard Fry and D'Vera Cohn address the changing roles of men and women. "The national economic downturn is reinforcing these gender-reversal trends, because it has hurt employment of men more than that of women.

Males accounted for about 75 percent of the 2008 decline in employment among prime-working-age individuals (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009). Women are moving toward a new milestone in which they constitute half of all the employed. Their share increased from 46.5 percent in December 2007 to 47.4 percent in December 2009." Dychtwald looks at education in her book. "Today, women hold 57.5 percent of all U.S.

college bachelor's degrees, 61 percent of all master's degrees, and 49 percent of all doctorate degrees." A title of an article about the Dychtwald book in the June issue of Redbook said, "It is a woman's world." Dychtwald said a woman of influence does not have to be a Melinda Gates of Microsoft. Z15 WEEKEND JULY 31, 2010 it is turning world YOUR FEET HERE. We buy flooring by the TRUCK LOAD to save you money! LAMINATE SPECIALS CARPET SPECIALS TILE SPECIALS Shaw 8MM Installed Mohawk Installed Starting at Material Only. (Compared to (Compared to or Installed 9 Colors In Stock Smartstrand Life Time Warranty 12MM Installed Mohawk Shaw Installed PORCELAIN Material Only (Compared to (Compared to Installed 50 Tweed, Nylon, Fleck, Plush or with beveled edge Gloss Finish LAMINATE INSTALLED Nylon Installed OVER 20 DIFFERENT SILENTSTEP underlayment (Compared to TILES IN STOCK All Carpet INSTALLED WHILE SUPPLIES upgraded pad LAST SPECIALS Carpet Cleaning (includes: preconditioning, 3M Scotchgard sanitizing) Grout Clean Seal Floor Demolition Removal Remnant sale RV's Motorhomes Carpet Repairs Restretch (in-stock) WAREHOUSE PRICING WITH FAMILY OWNED SERVICE. FREE IN HOME ESTIMATES.

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In the know, on the go. azcentral.com STRATEGIC AGING Maria Grazia Swan of Scottsdale started a Facebook project because, as she puts it, "I have a passion for empowering women, especially those who find themselves suddenly single at midlife and beyond. I want to be a voice for real women everywhere." Her project is designed to get women doing things besides sitting on the couch watching television or sitting at the computer. On the "Get off the Couch Tuesdays" Facebook page, women can describe what they did to become more engaged in their community. The page has almost 400 followers.

Swan said this is a way for her to assist mature women who may need help reconnecting. On her own website she offers daily tips for single women to get up, get out and get connected. Telling stories about caregiving is the way Maryglenn Boals, a northern Phoenix Baby Boomer, wants to be influential. The National Alliance for Caregiving reports there are 67.5 million caregivers nationally who make up 29 percent of adult population and 31 percent of the households. Boals is collecting stories from family, friends and anyone who will share what they are going through as a caregiver.

She will share those stories with others who may face a similar plight. She told a'story about her mother, who lives in the Midwest, being alone for two weeks while her dad, the caregiver, went to a family gathering. "I finally had to say to my mom, 'Carry your cellphone so if you ever need help you can get it. Would you rather be dead in 24 hours or call for help in 15 Boals said. "If I can offer guidance to caregivers through the stories of others, then I have made a difference." She is posting the stories on her blog.

Next week: More influential boomer women. William Arnold is professor emeritus at Arizona State University. Reach him at william.arnold@asu.edu and check out his blog at Scottsdale.azcentral.com under "Plugged In Blogs.".