Yahoo! Shine for Women

Should you be in the need for advice or discussion of the daily life, head on to Shine. Not physically, virtually.

Shine is a new Yahoo! website for women to get together, connect and be informed.

The site features original blogs from its staff along with contents from major publishing partners including Conde Nast, Hearst and Time.

If you have the flair for writing, readers can also start their own blog that may end up featured on the site.

Shine promises to be different than other already abundant women-focused websites. Go ahead and take a look for yourself.

• Shine [Yahoo!]
  

Saudi Arabia's First Women-only Hotel

Most people who do not understand the Muslim-Arab world often accuse Saudi Arabia as being harshly discriminating against women.

Partly, this is true. But, some people, especially those in the western world might find it hard to believe that most Muslim-Arab women like or choose to be segregated from men on certain occasions.

This is why I am not surprised that the country has opened its first women-only hotel to meet a big demand.

The Luthan Hotel & Spa offers plush lodgings and a full-range of health and beauty facilities away from the prying eyes of men. It is run and managed by women; from its bell-woman, to IT engineer, to electrical engineer.

The exclusive hotel is owned by a group of 20 Saudi princesses and businesswomen.

Even though all other women-only hotels have been targeting lesbians, this hotel is looking to cater to the Saudi woman's need for a place to stay as she moves around the country, which often made difficult by bureaucracy and conservative family values.

Women who wish to stay at this hotel will find prices ranging from 350 riyals ($93) per night to 979 riyals, with weekend "spa break" rates for around 2,000 riyals.

• Saudi Arabia opens its first women-only hotel [Reuters]

Do Women Benefit from Polygamy?

I stumbled upon an interesting article about polygamy written by Satoshi Kanazawa from Psychology Today Blogs, entitled "The paradox of polygamy II: Why most women benefit from polygamy and most men benefit from monogamy". In reference to this, he cites two interesting points.

One benefit to women, he claims, polygynous society allows some women to share a resourceful man of high status, thus (I assume) spreading the wealth.

And as to why most men benefit from monogamous society, he says, given a 50-50 sex ratio, it basically guarantees every man a wife. He explains, under polygyny (the practice of one man married to several women) more desirable women would have become the second, third, or tenth wife of more desirable men thus depriving less desirable men of having a wife.

I can see his points but he is merely pointing out tangible benefits without taking into account the intangible factors, for example emotional happiness as most women would when talking about polygamy.

Whether the desirable man is Matt Damon or Bill Gates, I doubt, in reality women are prepared to happily give up her sole claim of her man when the time comes, without some indignation.

I come from a society where it is not illegal to practise polygamy. When practised properly and fairly, polygamy can seemingly prove blissful. But it is a very fine line to tread.

Under certain circumstances, I can see some women benefit from polygamy and some, with reasons only known to them are willing to give in and allow their husbands to take a second or third wife, or more.

• The paradox of polygamy II: Why most women benefit from polygamy and most men benefit from monogamy [Psychology Today Blogs]