Could the Recession be a Blessing?

Having seized on to the fact that anything with the word "recession" in it will receive many a click and Google hit, the big trend in blogging and journalism is to write about any bit of American life that the "Big R" is affecting.

Here's a list of my favorites, to cheer you up about these silly unemployment numbers and Debbie Downer economists.

Healthier Eating Habits! [Jezebel]

As for considering how a random sect of the population has been affected by the Recession, we are now zeroing in on Women Who Snack: 41% snack less, or more healthfully, now that the economy's in the pits. You know you're broke when you can't even afford Dollar Menu fries.

Less Babies! More Rubbers! [The Daily Beast]

The bad news is, people aren't as lovey dovey now that they're all depressed and unemployed and can't treat their baby to a night on the town. The upside, however, is that more couples are practing safe and baby-proof sex, meaning less children, meaning less overpopulation! On the same note, condom sales are on the up, unlike practically everything else. So the next time someone asks to take you home, remind yourself that they are simply being economically savvy.

Feminine Takeover! [Salon]

Watch out, menfolk. The "he-cession" is leading to the Death of Macho. Reihan Salam, a writer for Foreign Policy magazine, wrote an article with the thesis that as unemployment pushes men out of the workforce worldwide, women will rush in to fill the vacuum, leading more woment to be elected to office and "female-dominated" fields such as education and healthcare to take precedence over "male-dominated" fields such as construction and manufacturing. The theory is based on the statistic that 80% of Americans who have lost jobs are men, but more than that, on Salam's tie between the institutions whose failure led to Recession- the financial sector and the government- and machismo. Hmmm. I smell false cause. I'm dubious, but Salon does an interesting analysis of his article that anyone with an interest in gender would find interesting.

Harvard Kids Get To Feel Good About Themselves! [Business Insider]

This could be my favorite. Apparently Harvard kids are breathing a sigh of relief that they are no longer can lead the life of  greedy, capitalist asshole like their degrees used to condemn them to. Since Wall Street is no longer paying, these Ivy Leaguers get to join the Peace Corps and Teach for America, opportunities that were never available to them before the massive economic meltdown. How heartwarming!

More to come as I find them! Let me throw out this question: how has the Recesh affected you in a positive way, or has it not affected you at all?