Imperfect Modernism

Sex differences in animal ornamentation are thought largely genetically fixed due to stronger sexual selection on males of species with conventional sex roles. But, other types of sex differences are not genetically fixed. For example, several differences in human social behavior result instead from sociocultural or economic constraints on women. Since gregarious animals use ornamentation for various social functions, perhaps some of their sex differences are, similarly to human behavior, due to social coercion or ecological constraint (their closest equivalents to human social and economic constraints, respectively). We found sex differences in ornamentation that disappear plastically in a social species with conventional sex roles. The red bill of common waxbills (Estrilda astrild) is on average more saturated in males, but in our experiment female bill color correlated with night temperature, an important energetic stressor, suggesting that sexual dichromatism disappears when ecological conditions are favorable to females. Female ornamentation may be more adversely affected by ecology because of their life history that requires balancing investment in ornamentation with maintaining reproductive condition. Manipulation of stress-related physiology (ACTH challenge) suggests that this effect was not mediated by stress mechanisms. Social coercion appears to not explain sexual dichromatism: males were not more aggressive than females, aggressiveness was not related to bill color, and manipulation of reproductive axis’ physiology (GnRH challenge, which in many species mediates aggressiveness) did not increase bill color. Our results show parallels to the plastic sex differences of humans in social animals and suggest that studying their ecological vs. social causes provides a biological backdrop for understanding the human case as well. Many sex differences in human social behavior result from economic or sociocultural constraints on women, while sex differences in the ornamentation of animals with conventional sex roles are thought largely genetically fixed. We show that a sex difference in ornamentation—the redder bills of male than female common waxbills—disappears plastically in an animal with conventional sex roles due to, in part, changes in female ornamentation. Social coercion did not explain reduced female ornamentation: aggressiveness did not predict bill color, and males were not dominant over females. Instead, female bill color was reduced during colder weather, perhaps because females under energetic stress need to balance investment in social ornamentation vs. maintaining reproductive condition. Similarly to humans, some sex differences of gregarious animals may be due to females requiring appropriate conditions to express their full social potential.

The patient-centered hospital is still far away: improving research on patient centered medicine in healthcare organizations is a priority It is widely acknowledged that patient centeredness is a key element of healthcare service quality. Despite the numerous theories describing patient centered care, the research outcomes in this field seem still unable to fully describe patients’ overall experiences in the hospital. Studies that focus on the doctor-patient relationship often provide ideal and abstract descriptions of the relationship between patients and care providers, and fail to consider local contingencies and socio-cultural constraints. Organization-oriented studies succeed in identifying the main organizational levers for moving towards patient centered hospitals, but do not explain how health professionals can translate them into their daily activities. Drawing on social research methodology, we offer six proposals that could assist the research on patient centered medicine to approach the complexity of patients’ and practitioners’ experiences: consider the specificities of local contexts; use ethnographic methods; shadow patients and practitioners; engage healthcare organizations in designing the research; use research data to strengthen practitioners’ reflective capacity; and prepare for the organizational change and power shifts that a patient centered approach involves. The proposals provide general guidance for both engaging in collaborative action-learning processes and for supporting organizational innovation that will lead to patient centered hospitals.

In a qualitative study recently carried out by the author amongst ministers in a Circuit of Dutch Reformed Congregations in a suburban context in the Western Cape, South Africa, respondents were asked whether they sensed a ‘shift of view’ concerning the role of leadership during the past 20 years in their respective congregations. The research results paint a picture of ‘the end of leadership’ at least in some form. One can also sense a ‘shift of power’ over the past two decades in these local congregations, indicating the changing dynamics of leadership. There seems to be a shift of power from the individual leader to the team, the group and the network. The aim of this paper is, firstly, to present some of the empirical results and then to reflect on the underlying reasons for this shift of power by giving a description of some broader philosophical and sociological perspectives influencing this state of affairs. This will be followed by a description of, and reflection on, theological developments on the Trinity and power that might help to understand the ‘end of leadership’ in some ways. The paper concludes with some thoughts on the role of power and leadership processes at work in local faith communities.

This study aims to examine the implementation of the concepts of balance and justice in Islamic financial institutions in Aceh, focusing on their role in promoting not only economic benefits but also fairness and social welfare. Using a qualitative descriptive approach supported by field data and document analysis, the research explores the opportunities and challenges encountered in operationalizing these values. The findings reveal several opportunities, including enhanced public trust, local economic development, and increased financial system stability and resilience. However, the study also identifies significant challenges such as limited public understanding and education, inadequate infrastructure and technology use, shortage of qualified human resources, suboptimal regulatory oversight, competition with conventional financial institutions, socio-cultural constraints, and difficulties in product implementation. To address these issues, the study proposes several strategies: adherence to sharia principles in operations and transactions, comprehensive sharia-based supervision, community outreach and education, collaborative initiatives with governmental bodies, innovation in sharia-compliant financial products, robust risk management, and a firm commitment to social responsibility. Contribution: This study contributes to the discourse on Islamic finance by emphasizing the practical integration of maqashid al-shariah in institutional governance. It also provides insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to strengthen the role of Islamic financial institutions in achieving socio-economic justice in regional contexts.

Education has long been regarded as a transformative tool for achieving gender equity and social justice, particularly among marginalized communities. In Sikkim, tribal women face unique challenges in accessing and benefitting from education due to socio-cultural norms, geographical isolation, and economic constraints. Recognizing these barriers, the government has introduced multiple policy interventions and educational schemes such as scholarships, free education initiatives, digital learning programs, and residential schools designed to empower tribal women and enhance their participation in the educational system. This study critically analyzes the effectiveness of these interventions in addressing the educational needs of tribal women in Sikkim, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative data collected from 412 respondents across urban and rural areas. Statistical tools such as correlation, regression, ANOVA, and t-tests were employed to test hypotheses concerning awareness, empowerment, socio-cultural practices, digital access, and literacy outcomes. The findings reveal that awareness of government schemes, participation in educational programs, and access to digital tools significantly contribute to enhancing educational empowerment and literacy levels. At the same time, socio-cultural constraints such as early marriage, domestic responsibilities, and community norms continue to hinder participation. The study concludes that while government schemes have created substantial opportunities, effective implementation, cultural sensitivity, and equitable digital access remain critical to achieving long-term empowerment of tribal women in Sikkim.

Computing in the home: Implications for the provision of government services

The number of retired migrants has vastly increased in Western societies and is projected to grow further in the decades ahead. Many of those migrants are more likely than nonmigrants to encounter severe financial hardships during their retirement years, raising the following question: What explains this “migrant pension penalty?” Based on a systematic literature review of 86 articles, this article presents a comprehensive model for understanding the migrant pension penalty. This model is inspired by the life-course framework and shows the most important explanations clustered into four “life course constraints and opportunities.” First, there are institutional constraints and opportunities such as pension policies. Second, the economic constraints and opportunities such as incomes throughout the life-trajectory play a role. Third, sociocultural constraints and opportunities such as language skills and cultural norms for saving are an important explanation for the migrant pension penalty. The connections with others such as families and neighbors—known as linked lives—constitute the fourth life-course constraint and opportunity. Based on this comprehensive model, we summarize the scientific knowledge on the migrant pension penalty, identify knowledge gaps, formulate a research agenda, and provide policy implications for reducing the migrant pension penalty.

The research investigates how educational attainment influences women's self-efficacy, economic independence, and social status across diverse environments. It contrasts urban areas, characterized by greater access to educational resources, with rural areas, where educational opportunities are often limited and socio-cultural constraints can be more pronounced. Data was collected through surveys, interviews, and case studies involving women from both settings to assess their educational experiences and perceived autonomy. Key findings reveal that while education significantly empowers women in both rural and urban contexts, the extent and nature of this empowerment vary. In urban areas, women with higher educational levels experience greater economic and social autonomy, facilitated by better access to resources, employment opportunities, and supportive networks. Conversely, rural women often face educational barriers due to limited infrastructure, traditional gender roles, and economic constraints, which impede their autonomy despite educational advancements. The study underscores the need for targeted policies that address these disparities, emphasizing the importance of improving educational access and quality in rural areas while continuing to support and expand opportunities inurban settings. Recommendations include enhancing educational infrastructure, promoting gender-sensitive curricula, and fostering community-based initiatives to support women's education and autonomy in both environments. This research highlights the integral role of education in shaping women's autonomy and advocates for a nuanced approach to educational policy and practice that considers the diverse needs of women in varying geographic and socioeconomic contexts. Keywords: educational attainment, women’s autonomy, rural-urban disparities, economic empowerment, social participation, gender equality

Integrating Motivational Interviewing and Traditional Practices to Address Alcohol and Drug Use Among Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Youth

Equipping the Australian Public Service for Australia's Future Challenges

Child mortality continues to pose a major public health challenge in South Asia, where under-five and neonatal mortality remain high, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of India. Here, we synthesised evidence from 38 studies published between 2012 and 2024, examining predictors of mortality, barriers to effective nursing and midwifery interventions, and strategies to strengthen these roles. We identified four barrier domains: inadequate education and professional development, socio-cultural and gender constraints, infrastructure and resource shortages, and systemic policy challenges. Across several countries, over half of midwives lacked adequate pre-service training, more than 60% of facilities reported critical equipment shortages, and restrictive policies limited midwives’ autonomy. Despite these challenges, community-based interventions and targeted policy reforms demonstrated measurable improvements, including up to 49% increases in institutional deliveries and reductions in neonatal mortality by 2–3 per 1000 live births. Strengthening midwifery and nursing capacity through competency-based education, investment in rural health systems, and culturally sensitive community engagement – guided by World Health Organization and International Confederation of Midwives frameworks – represents a feasible pathway for reducing preventable child deaths and advancing progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 in South Asia.

This study focuses on the socio-cultural constraints in women’s access to the practice of competitive sport. Through a sociological approach, we explore the field of lived experiences from a population of twenty young Tunisian women practicing competitive sports. We have chosen this work for the qualitative method through semi-structured interview. The main objective of the research is to determine the socio-cultural constraints to women’s access to sports based on their past lived experiences in the field of sports. It comes to understand the challenges related to the issue of gender as to the sportsmanship of women in the Tunisian society. The patriarchal ideology deeply internalized by ancient traditions, is an indirect constraint that prevents access to sports by Tunisian women because it is a male issue. Stereo-types and prejudices are a source of social resistance that leads to the exclusion of women from the sporting scene indirectly and implicitly. The education received by the Tunisian girl justifies the social hierarchy between the sexes. They are under enormous pressure to respect the family traditions that are conflicting with the nature of sports. The female body is dependent to constraints imposed by the social environment. Its image is a constraint to the sportsmanship of women. The results show that gender allows us to analyze the social and cultural barriers to women’s sports.

This article addresses practices of constructive journalism in the local, postcolonial context of St. Maarten, an autonomous Dutch Caribbean island. Building on extensive fieldwork at print and online news media outlets on the island and 14 in-depth interviews with reporters, editors, and news bloggers, this article shows that constructive journalism practices are widespread in St. Maarten. These are based on ideals of contributing to economic development, engagement and belonging, and social stability. The fieldwork, however, also revealed skepticism toward constructive journalism practices because of local political, economic, and socio-cultural constraints. This skepticism parallels broader critiques on active and involved forms of journalism, throwing up questions about the meaning and feasibility of a ‘constructive’ role of journalists in young, postcolonial democracies. This article argues that local constraints on St. Maarten journalism undermine the normative underpinnings of constructive journalism and calls for more disruptive journalism to serve the local community.

This study examined the impact of community participation on water and sanitation services in the Mantsopa Municipality. Qualitative methods, including interviews with community representatives and municipal officials, were used to gather and analyze data thematically. The results indicated that community involvement can enhance service delivery and improve resident satisfaction. However, the quality of water and sanitation facilities remains a concern due to long-standing maintenance and population growth issues. Barriers to decision-making were identified, including limited funding, public awareness and education, socio-cultural, political and economic constraints which discouraged participation. Collaboration among government agencies, civil society organizations, and local communities is necessary to overcome these systemic barriers. Municipal authorities should consider the cultural, social, political, and economic factors and drivers at play in redesigning the water supply and sanitation systems to accommodate population growth.

Constraints and limits to adaptation are critical to understanding the extent to which human and natural systems can successfully adapt to climate change. We conduct a systematic review of 1,682 academic studies on human adaptation responses to identify patterns in constraints and limits to adaptation for different regions, sectors, hazards, adaptation response types, and actors. Using definitions of constraints and limits provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we find that most literature identifies constraints to adaptation but that there is limited literature focused on limits to adaptation. Central and South America and Small Islands generally report greater constraints and both hard and soft limits to adaptation. Technological, infrastructural, and ecosystem-based adaptation suggest more evidence of constraints and hard limits than other types of responses. Individuals and households face economic and socio-cultural constraints which also inhibit behavioral adaptation responses and may lead to limits. Finance, governance, institutional, and policy constraints are most prevalent globally. These findings provide early signposts for boundaries of human adaptation and are of high relevance for guiding proactive adaptation financing and governance from local to global scales.