Nutrition Behaviour in Attraction to Wellness Programme

Nutrition Behaviour in Attraction to Wellness Programme The Role of Nutrition Behaviours in Employee Attraction to a Workplace Wellness Program Nutrition, Overweight Obesity Between 1980 and 2014, obesity has more than doubled, on a global scale. In 2014 alone, over 1.9 billion adults were overweight, and of those, an alarming 600 million were obese (39% overweight, of those, 13% obese; WHO, 2015). Using overweight and obesity incidence from a Australian longitudinal study from 2000 to 2005, Walls and colleagues (2011) estimated future prevalence of weight gain to result in less than a third of the Australian adult population categorised as healthy weight, with a 65 percent increase in obesity prevalence by the year 2025. Similarly, an American study predicted obesity prevalence and associated costs, based on national survey data (collected from 1970s to 2004). It was estimated that by the year 2030, 86.3 percent of American adults would be classified as overweight or obese, and 51.1 percent would be obese (Wang et al, 2008). Health care costs associated with overweight and obesity were predicted to double every decade by the year 2030, and account for 16 to 18 percent of total health care related costs in the U.S (Wang et al, 2008). Poor nutrition and unhealthy eating behaviours are key contributors to overweight and obesity, with the increase in consumption of energy-dense, high fat content foods observed worldwide. Unhealthy nutrition coupled with sedentary lifestyle, and the resulting imbalance of calories consumed versus calories expended, have been considered the primary driving force behind the ever increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity (WHO, 2015). Serious health implications are associated with overweight and obesity. Elevations in Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or above 25 is considered a major risk factor for non-communicable (chronic) diseases including cardiovascular disease (mostly heart disease and stroke), diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders (particularly osteoarthritis), and some cancers (including endometrial, breast and colon cancer) (WHO, 2015). Furthermore, increases in BMI have been found to be proportionally related to increases in the risk of non-communicable diseases (WHO, 2015). Various health and wellness initiatives have been developed and administered, in response to the obesity epidemic. Workplaces, easy accessible environment for WHPP The workplace presents a practical setting for the delivery of health promotion strategies, by providing pre-existing structure, resources, potential social and organisational support, and access to a large percentage of the adult population (Goetzel Ozminkowski, 2008). Workplace based health promotion programs (WHPPs) have been associated with both health and cost related benefits, including the health and wellbeing of employees, reduced medical costs, reduced absenteeism related costs, and increased productivity, mutually benefiting both the individual employee/s and larger organisation (Goetzel Ozminkowski, 2008). Not surprisingly, the workplace is considered by the World Health Organisation as a priority setting for public health promotion (WHO, 2009). Effectiveness of WHPP in improving nutrition, eating behaviours and cost benefits to organisations Improving nutrition: Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of WHPPs in producing positive health behaviour changes in employees, particularly those targeting nutrition and physical activity, across a diverse range of workplaces, and internationally (e.g., Anderson et al, 2009; Goetzel Ozminkowski, 2008; Mhurchu, Aston Jebb, 2010). A review by Mhurchu, Aston Jebb (2010) assessing 16 studies published between 1995 and 2009, demonstrated the short term benefits of WHPPs targeting employee diets. Findings indicated workplace based health promotion programs were associated with moderate improvements in employee nutrition / dietary intake including fruit, vegetable, and total fat consumption. Of the studies included in the review, eight included employee education, and the remaining targeted changes in the workplace alone or in conjunction with an education component. Reviews by Anderson and colleagues (2009), and Maes and colleagues (2011) demonstrated longer term benefits of WHPP, targeting employee weight related outcomes including body mass, BMI and body fat percentage. Both reviews demonstrated limited to moderate positive effects in employee weight, BMI and body fat percentage. Anderson and colleagues (2009) assessed studies published between 1966 and 2005, with 50 percent of included studies conducted in the U.S, the remaining were conducted in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, India, and Iceland. Only one randomised control trial (RCT) focused on nutrition, reporting weight loss of -1.17 pounds (0.53 kgs; 95% CI= -8.38 [3.80kg], +4.95 [2.25kg]), and five multi-component RCTs targeting both nutrition and physical activity indicated a pooled effect of -3.18 pounds (1.44 kgs; 95% CI= -5.88 [2.67kg], -0.50 [0.23kg]). Overall, the findings indicated moderate improvements in employee body mass between 6 and 12 months post intervention, with the authors concluding that WHPPs targeting nutrition, physical activity, or both, produce modest reductions in weight. The review by Maes and colleagues (2011) assessed the effectiveness of 13 European based studies published between 1990 and 2010, targeting nutrition / health eating, alone, or in combination with physical activity. Effectiveness of WHPPs was assessed by nutrition, physical activity, body composition and behavioural determinants.. Findings indicated a limited to moderate positive effect of WHPPs on employee nutrition and physical activity. Of all the studies reviewed, few looked at the effectiveness of modifying the workplace environment (Anderson et al, 2009; Mhurchu et al, 2010). However, recent research has demonstrated the benefits of an environment modification intervention, finding increases in access and exposure to nutrition information resulted in increased employee consumption of fruits and vegetables (Kushida Murayama, 2014). Improving cost benefit: In addition to improved health outcomes, WHPPs have also been associated with economic benefits including increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and reduced health care costs for both the organisation and individual employee (Anderson et al, 2009; Goetzel Ozminkowski, 2008). Baiker, Cutler and Song (2010) conducted a meta-analysis, demonstrating the capacity of WHPPs to reduce absenteeism and health care related costs, with the majority of interventions targeting smoking, obesity, and multiple risk factors such as nutrition, alcohol consumption, blood pressure. Studies were assessed based on positive return on employer investment in WHPPs, with 36 studies assessing outcomes of absenteeism, health care costs, or both. Overall, findings indicated absenteeism and health care costs were reduced by $2.73 and $3.27 respectively, for every dollar invested in a WHPP. Studies were grouped based on design, and included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), matched comparisons, non-randomised trials (NRTs), non-matched designs and studies reporting only post intervention results. Costs were standardised to the 2009 dollar value. In terms of absenteeism, all studies save one, reduced the number of absentee days and only two studies demonstrated no associated cost ben efit. Cost benefits were higher when absenteeism and health care outcomes were combined. The authors noted that participation was primarily voluntary, thus selection bias may be a confounding factor and should be considered when interpreting results. Potential for publication bias was also acknowledged, due to the higher likelihood of publishing significant findings regarding positive return on employer investment, which may reduce generalisability of results. Generalisability may also be limited to larger organisations, as of the studies included, over 90 percent had a sample size of more than 1000 employees, and 25 percent included samples of over 10,000. Furthermore, conclusions are limited due to the relatively short evaluation periods (studies averaged three year follow up), when considering the cost of implementing WHPPs are higher initially, with cost benefits accruing over time, indicating the need for further investigation into the long term economic savings of WHPPs. A systematic review by van Dongen and colleagues (2011) examined the cost benefits of WHPPs targeting employee nutrition, and or physical activity. A total of 18 studies comprising four randomised, controlled trials, 13 non-randomised studies, and one modelling study were included. Two studies assessed ROI of WHPP targeting physical activity, and 16 multi component WHPP targeting nutrition, physical activity, and other unhealthy lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, and alcohol consumption. Intervention duration ranged from six months to five years (Median 23.7 months; Mean: 21.1 months). WHPPs were assessed using return on investment analyses, comparing program costs after initial implementation to economic savings over time. Outcome measures of benefits associated with WHPP were defined as medical and productivity costs. The findings produced mixed results, with non-randomised studies demonstrating WHPPs linked to reduced absenteeism and medical costs, and RCTs failing to produce any evidence of financial return. Results from the NRTs must be interpreted with caution, due to possible confounding factors previously identified, such as selection bias. Although RCTs are considered ‘gold standard’, interpretation of comparisons between NRTs and RCTs are limited by the fact that NRTs were generally assessed over a longer time period than RCTs, and the higher costs associated at the initial stages of program implementation compared to higher benefits, lower costs over time may confound results. Furthermore, all NRTs except one were conducted in U.S, whereas all RCTs except one were conducted in Europe, and it was noted by authors that in the U.S health care costs per capita are double the costs of health care in Europe. Jensen (2011) conducted a systematic review, analysing the effects of workplace nutrition programs on productivity and absenteeism and presenteeism, 30 studies were included, with 13 assessing productivity and economic outcomes, and the remaining studies assessing health related outcomes as a secondary measure of expected financial savings. The studies addressing economic effects were categorised via study design, and included RCTs, quasi-experimental, and observational cross-sectional studies. All intervention demonstrated reductions in employee absenteeism, and increased productivity. Costs effectiveness of WHPP have also been investigated in smaller businesses and organisations, for example, Allen and colleagues (2012) demonstrated the cost effectiveness of a WHPP within an organisation of 172 employees. Findings demonstrated a $10.17 per percentage –point reduction in LDL cholesterol, $454.23 per point reduction in risk of coronary heart disease. Although WHPP have been demonstrated to provide benefits, both health and cost related, they are not without barriers and challenges, and face a number of limitations reducing program effectiveness. Low participation levels The most notable of limitations reducing effectiveness of health promotion programs delivered within a workplace based setting, is low level employee participation (Robroek et al, 2009). Roebroek and colleagues (2009) conducted a review of 23 studies, published between 1988 and 2007, to determine levels of employee participation in WHPP. Participation levels ranged from 10 to 64 percent, with a median of 33 percent (95% CI 25-42%), emphasising the need for further research investigating determinants of employee participation. The predictive capacity of intention to participate, as a determinant of actual participation has been demonstrated. A meta-analysis by Webb and Sheeran (2006) included 47 studies, experimental in design, testing intention-behaviour phenomenon, found medium to large changes in intention resulted in small to medium changes in behaviour. Similarly, a study by Rongen and colleagues (2014) demonstrated the predictive capacity of intention to participate to actual participation at the 6 month follow up, with 21 percent of participants reporting positive intention to participate were found to be more likely to partake in WHPP when offered. The presented evidence supports intention to participate as a predictive, albeit weak determinant of actual participation, and the need for further research into other determinant factors contributing to higher participation intention is evident. Characteristics / determinants of participation / intention to participate in WHPP (GAP IN LITERATURE – health determinants not thoroughly examined) A study by Middlestadt and colleagues (2011) identified factors associated with intention to participate, in 279 rural service and blue collar employees. Findings from multivariate analyses of variables including demographic, health and occupation, indicated higher intention among younger individuals, employees who had been physically active in the past 30 days, and those who reported higher consumption of fruit and vegetables. Toker, Heaney Ein-Gar (2014) highlighted the need for research into barriers to participation, and characteristics of both participants and particularly non participants. Roebroek, et al (2009) identified a lack of research into determinants of participation, in addition to program user and non-user characteristics, with more than 80% of included studies failing to provide data on determinants of individuals opting not to participate. Systematic review by Robroek and colleagues (2009) evaluated underlying individual, health- and work-related determinants of participation in WHPPS, analysing program characteristics that influence participation levels. Of the studies included in the review by Robroek and colleagues (2009), a number of health-related determinants were addressed; however only one study looked at current nutrition behaviours as a determinant of participation in a WHPP. From the current evidence, research into the capacity of health-related factors to influence employee intention to participate, is clearly lacking. The current study aims to fill this gap, by providing insight into the role of nutrition behaviours in in employee attraction to, interest in, and intention to participate in a nutrition workplace health promotion program. Hypotheses. Employees with healthier nutrition behaviours indicated more interest in improvement, assistance and intention to participate in workplace nutrition program than those employees with less healthy / unhealthy nutrition behaviours Method This study was conducted as part of a larger study by The Wesley Research Institute and received ethical clearance from the UnitingCare Health Human Research Ethics Committee (#2013.03.74).Study Design. The study employed a cross-sectional design, the intervention consisted of a self-report survey. The study / data collection / intervention was conducted between ____ and ____. EXAMPLE = This study was a nonrandomized controlled trial consisting of an intervention and a minimal intervention comparison group. The study was performed for 24 weeks between October, 2009 and March, 2010. This study was part of a project conducted by the Niigata city government in Japan. Participants and Recruitment Employees from a mining company and rail freight company, from several work sites located across rural and remote Queensland, Australia, were invited to participate in a survey. Employees were recruited via convenience sampling. Include power analysis? Did we estimate the number of participants we required? Work sites were selected based on ____? Employee accessibility? Rural remote sites, due to minimal access to health services? A total of ___ employees participated / completed the health risk assessment and survey / study. Of those, ___% were male, ___% female, ranging in age from ___ to ___ (Mean:___ years). Mining sites included _______ (N = ). Employees were provided with a detailed information sheet, explaining / outlining the study, and informed consent was obtained prior to participation / commencement of risk assessment / survey. Procedure Surveys were, both in hard copy and electronically . Self-report data including demographic, health / nutrition behaviours, and desire for improvement, desire for assistance and intention to participate in a work-based health promotion program, were collected. Health behaviour and nutrition items, included salt, milk (fat), and fast food consumption, and meeting national guidelines for daily fruit and vegetable intake ( National Health Survey, ABS 2011-2012). Demographics were measured / obtained using/ with use of survey items from the National Health Survey (ABS, 2011-2012). Nutrition items measuring fat content of milk, salt intake, frequency of takeaway consumption, vegetable servings and fruit servings per day were based on items included / in National Health Survey (ABS 2011-2012) and Queensland Health survey (Overweight and Obesity, 2011). Results Discussion Implications. those individuals least healthy nutrition/ health behaviours, less likely to participate in WHPP, uptake of program – may require health risk assessment and health education prior to WHPP implementation, to raise awareness and increase program reach / uptake for those more at risk of health problems / illness related to / due to poor nutrition and eating behaviours.

Blood Diamond Essay

Africa was known as â€Å"The Dark Continent† during the Victorian Era, believed by Europeans to be a land where even the slightest trace of civilization tends to collapse under madness and savagery. It seems especially common for Europeans to assume that anyone who ventures into Africa would then sink into an irrevocable state of delirium. Such notion was amplified by Joseph Conrad, who, in Heart of Darkness, took Africa as a land so free from moral restraints that no civility could stand from being pulverized by its darkness. Blood Diamond, dating a hundred years after Heart of Darkness, presents a different view. Although the film seems to faithfully support the conventional view of Africa as a place that forces its inhabitants into madness, a closer examination of Blood Diamond shows that, quite the opposite of depicting Africa as The Dark Continent, the film actually rebuts the view by emphasizing the underlying grace of the land. Blood Diamond sends out the message that rather then being the other way around, it is the colonizers of Africa who are forcing the continent into its present state of violence and madness. Through contrasting between parts of Africa with assorted degrees of western influence, director Edward Zwick shows that Africa without colonization would be a land of peace and grace. This contrast is established between the depiction of an RUF (Revolutionary United Front) headquarters and an elusive school that lies within the immutable jungles of Africa. Zwick uses costume to represent western ideals brought to Africa through colonization when portraying the RUF headquarters. When Danny Archer first gets off the plane to do business with Commander Zero, the audience is introduced to a group of African teenagers dressed in shockingly familiar looking attires. Indeed Captain Rambo, a member of the RUF, is dressed in no way different from any North American boy. His clothing without doubt emulates the fashion of North American hip-hop generation. His wide sunglasses, baggy pants, and chain necklace all too well indicate western influence. It is only when he holds up a gun that the audience senses a strong odour of irony. The gangster image that prevails this RUF headquarters contrasts with a peaceful African community in the midst of the jungle, a community in which the effect of colonization is less apparent. In fact, Zwick speaks of this community as an â€Å"island of sanity†. The term â€Å"island† denotes not only a sense of isolation from the atrocity of the surrounding world, but also a sense of isolation from western influence. It is within this community that a group of child soldiers are carefully returned to life. Of these two African communities, the one that displays a crave for western ideals is the one that rears violence and madness, whereas the primitive jungle described as the very medium of suffocation in Heart of Darkness becomes the place where sanity is restored. Through contrasting between a world greatly influenced by colonization and a world that is not yet penetrable to its grasp, Blood Diamond clearly conveys the idea that it is the white people who are jeopardizing Africa’s graceful soul with their intrusion, and it is the colonizers of Africa who are ultimately responsible for any violence seen there today. Zwick also uses various types of shots to establish Africa as a graceful land. Although scenes of RUF troops committing heinous violence are omnipresent in Blood Diamond, Zwick does not forget to show what Africa was like before war and colonization. The use of master shots often precedes any scenes of violence in the film to constantly remind the audience of the majestic panorama of Africa. Shots of grand canyons, peaceful sunset, and misty cities again and again take the audience’ breath away. These shots are images of Africa entirely different from those underscoring problems of poverty and hunger commonly seen in media, thereby are all the more shocking. It is indeed hard for one to find a trace of savagery or madness in this landscape. Without these shots, one would laugh with an air dismissal when Dia says to his father â€Å"teacher says our country (Sierra Leone) was built to be an utopia†. But with these breathtaking images, the audience cannot help but to ruminate over Dia’s belief that â€Å"when the war is over, our country will become a paradise. Apart from using master shots, Blood Diamond also employs wide shots to convey similar ideas. The film opens with a wide shot of fishermen working against sunrise. In the shot, the black silhouettes moving quietly yet arduously against the breaking dawn of the sky effectively convey a sense of peace. By integrating various types of shots into the content of the film in a meaningful manner, Zwick successfully delivers his desire to show what Africa was like before colonization. These shots are key to establishing Africa as a land of peace before its colonizer’s arrival. Zwick also conveys the idea that it is the Europeans who are responsible Africa’s present chaotic state by probing the different meanings of diamond in Africa and in Europe. A character responsible for this layer of the film is a sadistic RUF mine general– General Poison. Following after the priceless diamond like an animal after the smell of carcass, General Poison is depicted as the very heart of distortion and madness throughout the film. In the prison scene, Zwick’s use of lighting and colour effectively turns General Poison into the icon of animosity similar to that described in Heart of Darkness. The prison scene is dominated by a sickly luscious combination of brown, green, and red, creating a canvas that is hunted by greed and fear. Here, Zwick plays around with the employment of fluorescence light to give General Posion the aura of a mad dog as he barks at Solomon Vandy. Yet General Poison reveals something rather astonishing near the end– he craves for that diamond not because of greed, like the diamond dealers in London, but because he wants to escape his own cruelty. â€Å"You think I am a devil, but it is only because I have been in hell. I want to get out, and you will help me†. This is what the general says to Solomon, and the audience learns that he too is a prisoner suffering from the effects of colonization. General Poison craves for that priceless diamond not because of the wealth it shall bring, but because it is his only ticket out. As soon as this is revealed, the audience learns that his devilish behaviour is not the result of his native instinct; rather, it is the result of having to cope with the values of white men. It is white people, the colonizers, who are forcing him into madness. Suffocated by the atrocity of colonization, he must act cruelly to free himself from his own madness. This internal irony shows that Africa is not a continent with the natural tendency to drive its inhabitants into madness; rather, the madness seen in the film is only the result of Africans trying to cope with the values of their colonizers. In Blood Diamond, Zwick effectively combines style and content to show that Africa is not a continent of darkness and savagery; rather, the moral dilapidation seen there today is the result of colonization. Indeed instead of pushing those who venture into its land beyond the boundaries of civilization, Africa is itself a prisoner and a sufferer. It is with productions like Blood Diamond that the images outlined in Heart of Darkness become increasingly relegated from the status of a journal to that of a fiction. It is with productions like Blood Diamond that the truth about Africa is slowly revealed. In a way, Blood Diamond has given Africa a testimony of its grace that is rather long overdue.

Welfare Reform A New Era Of Social And Economic Inequality

The introduction and subsequent implementation of the Welfare Reform act in 2012 by the Coalition government, introduced a new era of increased social and economic inequality in the UK. Through the introduction of welfare reforms, the inequality gap in the UK is at its biggest ever. By focusing on reforms in two areas; housing and benefits, this essay will present the ways in which reforms like the introduction of Universal Credit, the Benefit Cap, Housing reform and finally the reduction and devolvement of many other benefits have severely impacted Somali communities. By focusing extensively on London, specific boroughs where necessary, this essay will argue that the impact of welfare reforms is reducing Somali families to relative and†¦show more content†¦However, while the welfare state flourished in post-war Britain, during times of economic downturn, the welfare state was the first to be targeted. Following the successful post-war years, the government was met with a p eriod of economic recession, major inflation and rising unemployment. As a result of this, the 1970s saw the abandonment of post-war policy and â€Å"the emergence of a period of privatisation and deregulation.† Ultimately, the great welfare post-war period was removed and a new â€Å"post-welfare† phase was introduced. And the socio-economic policies of the 1970s were described as ‘creating a â€Å"crisis† for social policy and the demise of the British welfare state’ This, headed by the then conservative government, was very much a predecessor for the welfare reforms of 2012. The 1970s saw the introduction of ‘means-tested benefits’ to tackle the negative opinions surrounding benefits. In terms of housing, the Conservative government sought to emphasise private ownership, as opposed to local authority housing, which was introduced through the 1980 Housing Act and the ‘right to buy’. This arguably led to a further d ivide in inequality, as the increase in housing ownership led to the increase in rent. Because of this, the government was left with shortage of housing, which â€Å"impacted adversely on housing costs and standards, including overcrowding† . This also meant local authorities had â€Å"difficulties in raising capital† which led to the introduction ofShow MoreRelatedTaking Sides : Clashing Views Of United States History By Madaras, Larry And James Sorelle973 Words   |  4 Pagesthe paper will focus on issue 10, which debates on whether the new deal prolonged the great depression. The great depression refers to an era in US history, which happened from 1929 to 1941 during president Franklin Delano Roosevelt era, and it made the US citizens face economic hard times. The great depression era had much overproduction, inequality in wealth distribution and over borrowing. 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Women From The Medieval Times - 1500 Words

Women from the medieval times had clear roles. The women had strict rules to follow by. When it came to marriage, the wives had to submit to their husbands and follow their lead. Women were supposed to be cleaning, stay at home with the kids, cook, make clothes, etc. The women who steered away from these â€Å"typical† roles, made very interesting characters. The majority of gender expectations came from the church and biblical history. Since Eve was the cause for the fall of man, there were a lot of anti-feminist feelings. Women were held accountable for the majority of man’s suffering, and were consequently inferior and to be dominated by men. Purity, holiness, and chastity, were all presumptions of women from outstanding role models like the Virgin Mary. The Wife of Bath contains three issues that were pretty extreme for the women of the time period. The negative connotation linked with the women and sex is the first one, the second is the position of husband and wife in marriages that leave the women submissive and the men in control, and third is the violence done by men to women. The seriousness of these issues were not discussed at all by men and most certainly not by women. The fact that the Wife of Bath brought up such issues and promoted the ideas of women in these situations was profound. The wife is smart in her delivery in both the Prologue and Tale. The Tale restates all of the subjects of marriage, violence, and sex that she first brings up in the Prologue, andShow MoreRelatedEssay Life for Medieval Women1331 Words   |  6 PagesMedieval society was completely dominated by men, making a women’s life at the time difficult. 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In â€Å"Woman In Catholic Tradition† by Edgar Schmiedeler, St. Jerome quoted â€Å"There are people, O Paula and EstochiumRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath s Prologue And Tale1338 Words   |  6 PagesDuring medieval times, women were not placed on a high pedestal; in fact, some religious institutions at the time felt women were in almost every instance the weaker sex. Misogyny abounded during these times. Quite often than not, women played a very minimized role in medieval literature. The pattern was the same: either they were a helpless damsel in need of a knight in shining armor with his trusty stead or they were portrayed as being sexually promiscuous with multiple men which stoked the fireRead MoreThe Role of Women in Medieval Literature1344 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿The assumption of anti-feminism Ã¥ ¤Å¡as become something of an article of faith when interpreting medieval English literature like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Canterbury Tales (Morgan 265). Heng concurs that there are textual assumptions that we now recognize, with the unfair ju dgment of hindsight, as implicated in a fantasy of textual closure and command, (500). The privilege of hindsight, does, however, offer the opportunity to explore the connections between historical social codesRead MoreEssay on Jewish Women in Medieval Ashkenaz1547 Words   |  7 Pages Medieval Jewish society, like all traditional Jewish culture, was run by patriarchal hierarchy â€Å"Philosophical, medical, and religious views of the time all supported the view that men were superior to women both in nature and in deed† . Women’s position in society was secondary in comparison to that of men. They were characterized as lightheaded, weak, easily seduced, and linked to sorcery. This essay will focus on the Jewish women living in the medieval society of Ashkenaz, a region of northernRead MoreImpossible to Generalize about Medieval Women1342 Words   |  5 PagesMedieval British History 1189-1485 Is it possible to generalise about the lives of medieval women? Within this essay I am going to look at a range of sources to discuss and evaluate whether it is possible for us today to generalise about the lives of medieval women. At this point in time most people tended to live in small rural communities, making their living form the land. If you were a female peasant living in medieval society you would have a large amount of domestic duties. Not onlyRead MoreLife in the Feudal System During Medievel Times811 Words   |  4 PagesFacts: †¢ Disease common of most peasants, most not living past the age of 40 †¢ Meat was rarely available, and when it was, families often hung it in front of their homes to show off. This is where the term â€Å"bringing home the bacon† comes from—wifes bragging about their husbands going on a successful hunt and bringing home meat for their family. To get the field in good growing condition, the farmers used oxen to plough the land. Though most farmers did not own an ox, so they turned