[Imagination Club] Challenge: How might we solve the girl-lessboyproblem?

[Ernst, Barbara]

I'm with you on this one...global travel has become so easy that I
question the assumption........Barb. 

-----Original Message-----
From: imagine-bounces at lists.supertrade.com
[mailto:imagine-bounces at lists.supertrade.com] On Behalf Of Merrick
Brewer
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 6:12 AM
To: 'Imagination Club'
Subject: RE: [Imagination Club] Challenge: How might we solve the
girl-lessboyproblem?

The only problem with this problem is assuming that there is a problem
with more boys than girls. They all still grow up. 

-----Original Message-----
From: imagine-bounces at lists.supertrade.com
[mailto:imagine-bounces at lists.supertrade.com] On Behalf Of Jeffrey
Baumgartner
Sent: Tuesday, 10 July 2007 7:27 PM
To: imagination Club
Subject: [Imagination Club] Challenge: How might we solve the girl-less
boyproblem?

Now here's a challenge that requires some creative
thinking:

How might we solve problems in societies where there are far more boys
than girls?

Background..

As you may know, in Eastern Germany and parts of rural China (and
probably elsewhere) there are many more young men than young woman. In
Eastern Germany, the problem seems to be that girls are getting better
educations than boys and then seek better job opportunities in Western
Germany or elsewhere in Europe. Thus, when couples typically become
couples, there are not nearly enough girls for the boys. 

In China, the cause is less clear, but is assumed to be a result of the
one child per family laws. Since Chinese culture values sons more than
daughters, many couples preferred boys. As a result, some daughters were
aborted, and some were not cared for as well as boys - hence they were
less likely to survive childhood. 

In addition, Chinese girls are getting better educations than boys and
educated girls are likely to leave their villages for big cities with
more career and opportunities and a better choice of prospective
partners.

As a result, in both cultures, there are fewer girls than boys.
Moreover, girls tend to choose partners based on things like education,
income, income potential and so on (ie. boys who are likely to have the
wherewithal to care and provide for their families). Thus, the girl-less
boys tend to be low income, poorly educated boys. 

Those boys without girls have problems of sexual frustration, lack the
calming influence of a partner and lack a family to provide and care
for. 

The result is poor, ill-educated young men are more likely to turn to
crime and violence than better educated married (or at least involved in
a relationship) young men. 

Admittedly, there is a huge amount of simplification and conjecture in
my summary. But the problem of girl-less boys is a real problem in some
societies (doubtless there are areas where the reverse is true, boy-less
girls - but that will be another challenge for another day).

So: the problem is a broad one and solutions should likewise be broad.
Indeed, don't be afraid to review the problem and suggest an idea that
does not respond to the actual challenge. 

I am looking forward to your ideas!

Jeffrey Baumgartner
Your Fearless Moderator
--
--
jpb.com
Think more creatively ~ innovate more profitably http://www.jpb.com |
Tel: +32 2 251 7725


_______________________________________________
Imagination Club is an e-mail based discussion forum for playing with
ideas.

You can read the Imagination Club archives at
http://davie.textdrive.com/pipermail/imagine/

To unsubscribe,  send an e-mail to imagine-request at lists.supertrade.com
with unsubscribe in the message subject; or go to
http://lists.supertrade.com/mailman/listinfo/imagine

For more information, visit http://www.jpb.com/imagination/

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.2/894 - Release Date:
10/07/2007
5:44 PM
 

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.2/894 - Release Date:
10/07/2007
5:44 PM
 

_______________________________________________
Imagination Club is an e-mail based discussion forum for playing with
ideas.

You can read the Imagination Club archives at
http://davie.textdrive.com/pipermail/imagine/

To unsubscribe,  send an e-mail to imagine-request at lists.supertrade.com
with unsubscribe in the message subject; or go to
http://lists.supertrade.com/mailman/listinfo/imagine

For more information, visit http://www.jpb.com/imagination/

****************************************************************************************

Note:  If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. Thank you. 

****************************************************************************************