Hey! I miss you!

Dear Context and Variation readers,I miss you. A lot. I used to love all our fun conversations in the comments, and what cool ideas and questions you had. I know I moved, and I know there is a gated entrance, but really, it takes just a minute of your time to register so you make it through the gate automatically. And those of us who work behind the...

Aug 2011

Off to bloggier pastures: bringing ladybusiness to the SciAm Network

If you're on Twitter or read any other science blogs, by now you know that the Scientific American Blog Network has launched. And, I'm pleased to say that I am a part of it! Context and Variation has moved to new digs, surrounded by a network full of bright, interesting people with great communities and great things to say.But of course, while I encourage...

Jul 2011

Summer of the pill: Will the pill mess up my ability to detect my One True Love?

Should I advise recently single ScarJo to stayoff the pill to find her next beau? From here.Imagine you are a single, heterosexual woman. You meet a nice man at the driving range, or on a blind date. You like him and he likes you. You date, you get engaged, you get married. You decide to have a child together, so you go off the pill. One morning you...

Jul 2011

Summer of the Pill: The latest fashion accessory to hit your uterus: the IUD!

Found here. IUDs are back in style.Neon sunglasses? Not so much.What is used by 20-26% of European, 30% of Israeli, 34% of Chinese, 34% of Egyptian, and 49% of Korean women… but only 1-2% of US women (Harper et al. 2008)? The intrauterine device, or IUD! The IUD is found in two forms: the copper IUD, and the hormone-releasing IUD that releases a tiny...

Jun 2011

C&V Shorts: Make the most of your time and energy

This is the first in a new series at Context and Variation where I will attempt to be more concise. As I continue along the Summer of the Pill series I want to make sure I still put some attention on other topics within biological anthropology. C&V shorts allows me to share something I find cool, in half the words I usually do.What would you do if you...

Jun 2011

Summer of the Pill: Why do we menstruate?

This is part of my Summer of the Pill series, where I will answer a question about the birth control pill every week for the summer. I will try and make them shorter than my usual posts. Please remember that I am not a medical doctor, so do not use this material to diagnose or treat any condition. I still hope you find these posts informative and useful.One...

Jun 2011

Summer of the Pill

It’s summertime, and as we shed our winter layers thoughts turn not only to love and sex, but also regulating menstrual cycles, understanding premenstrual syndrome, and potential population variation in the pharmacokinetics of hormonal contraception. Or is that just me, as a ladybusiness anthropologist?If my inbox is a clue I am not the only person...

Jun 2011

Why it's cool to be a scientist (especially an anthropologist)

From here.This month, I am taking part in I'm a Scientist, Get Me Out of Here! which is a program that links up teenage students with scientists all over the world. We put together bios, answer questions, and do live chats with them. I am looking forward to the chance to share my vast knowledge of ladybusiness anthropology -- and biological anthropology...

Jun 2011

Around the web: belated mother's day edition

Apologies for the re-post, it was the only way to save the post and comments with the correct tags after the Blogger meltdown the other day! I've been accumulating a lot of mother-y links lately, thought I would share. First two Mother's Day columns that remind us that we shouldn't just put Mom on a pedestal and give her some chocolate one day a year,...

Jun 2011

Around the web: belated mother's day edition

Apologies for the re-post, it was the only way to save the post and comments with the correct tags after the Blogger meltdown the other day! I've been accumulating a lot of mother-y links lately, thought I would share. First two Mother's Day columns that remind us that we shouldn't just put Mom on a pedestal and give her some chocolate one day a year,...

Jun 2011