Identity Challenges Research Articles

“Going beyond the call of duty”: academic agency and promoting transformation for sustainability in higher education

Purpose In the past decade, against increasing global inequality, higher education has grappled with increased demands for social justice, transformation and decolonisation. While a lot of research in South Africa has focused on the (im)possibilities of fostering racial, gendered, socio-economic and cultural change, the connection of such change to questions of sustainability has been less explored. The purpose of this paper is to specifically explore the agency of academics to foster transformative initiatives for sustainability within the context of institutions historically serving under-represented populations. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative methodology, this paper highlights the importance of considering sustainability in processes of transformation. This paper is specifically interested in how academic faculty and those in assigned leadership positions view their agency in relation to promoting transformation for sustainability at the institutional level. Drawing on data generated from semi-structured interviews with 13 participants at an historically Black university in South Africa, this paper details academics' and leaders’ experiences and perceptions of their agency. Findings This study reveals the adverse interactional dynamics within higher education institutions, which negatively impact academics’ participation as key agents in change processes. Positional and identity challenges faced reveal the persistence of colonial and apartheid legacies of racism, sexism, Afrophobia and xenophobia – which casts a shadow on possible trajectories of transformation and sustainability. This has serious implications for the common good, given South Africa's regional import for knowledge production and decolonisation within universities; its key role in the African 2063 Agenda; and the wider global Sustainable Development agenda. Originality/value This study highlights insufficient engagement with the sustainability of transformation efforts within the context of South Africa. This study also emphasises the relation between transformation imperatives and racial, socio-economic, gender and epistemic justice imperatives of sustainable development.

Afghan immigrants' perceptions of integration policies in Iran

AbstractIn the contemporary global context, the challenge of integrating immigrants into host societies has gained prominence. This paper delves into the perceptions and experiences of Afghan immigrants in Iran regarding immigration policies and laws. Employing a constructivist grounded theory methodology, the study aims to uncover participants' interpretations and the meanings attributed to immigration policies and laws. Grounded theory analysis, involving initial, focused, and theoretical coding, was employed to collect data. The results reveal that current immigration laws and policies in Iran have led to economic disparities, limited educational opportunities, social isolation, and identity challenges for Afghan immigrants. Iran's integration policies lean towards exclusion. Consequently, Afghan immigrants experience a weakened sense of belonging in the country. Therefore, our study suggests the importance of implementing integration theories and policies instead of those promoting disintegration. Such policies not only hinder immigrants' assimilation but also impede the overall progress of the host nation, thus undermining social cohesion.

Adolescent Girls in Transitional Iranian Society from the Perspective of Counselors and Socio-Cultural Activists: A Thematic Analysis

ABSTRACT Adolescence is known as a sensitive and vulnerable period of human development. Given the sensitivity of this period for girls as future mothers and the importance of mental health in fulfilling the femininity and motherhood roles, it is required to attend to the psychological status of adolescent girls. Therefore, a thematic analysis-based study was conducted to explore the harms incurred to Iranian adolescent girls. The aim of this study was to discover the factors and themes that create and reveal social harm in adolescent girls. In so doing, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 counselors and socio-cultural activists. Findings revealed that seven themes play a key role in the vulnerability of adolescent girls to social harm. Because of the interaction of six causal-contextual-intervening themes with the damaged self-esteem theme, adolescent girls are more exposed to social harms. These six themes include unresolved identity challenges, emotional challenges, lack of healthy satisfaction of natural needs, adolescent age incidences, family hits, and social misalignments. Therefore, we hope that specialists closely attend to enhancing the self-esteem of Iranian adolescent girls, besides improving their social, cultural, and family environment.

Illness and narrative identity: examining past and future life story chapters in individuals with bipolar disorder, diabetes mellitus or no chronic illness

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate whether narrative identity challenges are specific to Bipolar Disorder (BD) as a mental illness or a reflection of living with chronic illness. Nineteen individuals diagnosed with BD, 29 individuals diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) and 25 controls without chronic mental or somatic illness identified past and future life story chapters which were self-rated on emotional tone and self-event connections and content-coded for agency and communion themes. Individuals with BD self-rated their past chapters as more negative and less positive, and their chapters were lower on content-coded agency and communion themes compared to T1DM and controls. There were fewer group differences for future chapters, but BD was associated with lower self-rated positive emotional tone and self-stability connections as well as lower content-coded agency and communion themes. The results indicate that narrative identity is affected in individuals with BD above and beyond the consequences of living with chronic illness. This may reflect distinct effects of mental versus somatic illness on narrative identity.

Navigating Both Roles: A Photovoice Exploration of the Young Adult Balancing Daughterhood and Caregiving for a Mother With Young-Onset Dementia.

Young adults thrust into the role of caregiving for parents with young-onset dementia (YOD) face unique challenges during their formative years. While existing research acknowledges the crucial role of young adult caregivers, a gap persists in understanding how this group experiences and redefines their identity amidst these circumstances, along with the psychological and societal challenges encountered. This knowledge deficit hinders the identification of suitable social support, adversely affecting the personal growth and well-being of these young adult caregivers. In this single-case study, we used a combination of a semi-structured interview and photovoice to explore the journey of a 19-year-old caregiver, Alice, whose mother had been diagnosed with dementia in the preceding 3 years. Through this unique perspective, we aimed to illuminate how caregiving for a mother with YOD may profoundly redefine familial roles and relationships. Over 3 months, Alice captured significant life moments through photography, selecting meaningful images for bi-weekly meetings. These images served as pivotal themes, triggering in-depth conversations during subsequent interviews to provide nuanced insights into her life experiences. Findings reveal four major themes faced by a young caregiver: (1) challenges adapting to an unexpected role, (2) navigating the complex emotional terrain of losing a loved one to YOD, (3) prioritizing the well-being of the healthy parent, and (4) expressing a profound desire for both informal and formal support. These results underscore the intricate identity and emotional challenges faced by young adult caregivers, emphasizing the urgency of addressing their unique needs through family-centered systemic support services.

Content and Sentiment Analysis of Autobiographical Narratives of Experienced and Well-Evaluated Teachers in Spain

Analysing the content and feelings of teachers’ autobiographical narratives provides relevant information about teaching processes, challenges in professional development, performance, and identity. In this work, we analysed the narratives of five well-evaluated Spanish teachers with more than 10 years of experience. We used Iramuteq, RStudio, and TextRazor to describe the main themes, analyse the emotions, and check whether evidence-based teaching practices were mentioned. The results showed that emotional aspects were central, with positive feelings dominating. In the content analysis, themes such as mental health, inclusion, immigration, war, empathy, critical pedagogy, and autonomous and emancipatory education stand out. The analyses are relevant for teacher educators, policy makers, researchers, and teachers in training or in active service.

The things students don’t say: theorising Narrative Identity to understand non-traditional students’ experiences in higher education

AbstractA persistent challenge for Australian higher education policymakers and researchers has been to understand why policies and practices have met with limited success in widening the participation and attainment of non-traditional students. This paper explores theorising Narrative Identity as a constructive methodological framework for understanding non-traditional students’ experiences in higher education. Using this approach, I critically analyse the contrasting experiences of three non-traditional students who successfully transitioned to university via an enabling program but who had significantly different (and unanticipated) levels of engagement and success in their studies. ‘Transformation’ emerged as a recurring theme in students’ perceptions of becoming academically capable students. Applying a social constructionist lens, I explore the intersections and interactions between discourses of disadvantage and transformation within the context of neoliberal higher education structural discourses. Interview data conveys students’ changing values and behaviours, revealed in their rejection of prior ‘not capable’ identities and performance of their new ‘capable student’ identity. Students’ understandings of self provide insights relevant to the sustainability of their ‘capable student’ identity and, therefore, the quality of their engagement and success. The paper concludes with a consideration of Australian higher education policy and urges greater consideration of identity challenges faced by non-traditional HE students.

Helping Mongolia out of Poverty: Analyzing Social Challenges and Public Policy

Mongolia's challenging geography and historical development obstacles position it on the fringes of economic advancement. This paper presents a thorough analysis of its unique social, cultural, and economic hurdles, proposing visionary strategies for poverty alleviation and sustainable growth. The first section advocates a shift towards value-added industrialization, addressing the sparse population by exploring rural-to-urban migration and urging the dismantling of gender-based divisions while fostering rural entrepreneurship. The second part highlights leveraging indigenous cultural attributes and uplifting rural assembly industries to achieve balanced regional development. However, it cautions against unintended consequences like protectionism and urban-rural disparities. The third segment uncovers fundamental impediments rooted in Mongolia's self-sufficient, myopic nomadic culture, underscoring the need for education to reshape outdated mindsets. Moreover, the abrupt transition from nomadism to socialism and Western ideals has left a fragmented cultural identity, posing an identity challenge. This paper emphasizes the enduring influence of culture on socio-economic progress and underscores the significance of cultural preservation to steer Mongolia towards prosperity and global equity.

Cultural Revival Among Kikuyu Christians: Impact and Implications in the 21st Century

The Kikuyu people were exposed to Christianity in the year 1900 following the arrival of Reverend McGregor. Subsequently, an overwhelming majority of individuals have adopted Christianity, with more than 90% identifying themselves as Christians. Nevertheless, the amalgamation of Western and Christian cultures throughout history has posed difficulties for the revival of Kikuyu traditional rituals. However, Anglican Christians have observed a revival of Kikuyu cultural traditions in Murang'a County, Kenya, during the twenty-first century. This return signifies a deliberate embrace of traditions that were previously forsaken. The objective of this study is to discover and examine the revived cultural traditions within the Anglican community, such as the reverence of ancestors, the categorization of individuals by age, the act of sacrificing animals, traditional marriage ceremonies, and the use of traditional brew. The study investigates the impact of cultural revival on Kikuyu Christianity through qualitative methodologies, including observation and interviews. The primary findings indicate that cultural revitalization entails both benefits and drawbacks. On one side, it assists in resolving identity challenges and enhances relationships with the community and family. Nevertheless, it also cultivates duplicity, undermines the Christian belief system, and engenders discord within the Christian community. These findings emphasize the necessity for dialogue among Kikuyu Christians to reconcile traditional behaviors with Christian principles. This will promote an authentic African Christianity that embraces Christian values while recognizing and integrating indigenous heritage. This study adds to the current discussion on the relationship between culture and religion in modern African settings by examining the intricacies and impacts of cultural resurgence in Christian communities.

Scientific identity and epistemology of movement, exercise, and sport sciences through the analysis of scientific production of Italian full professors

This study addresses the epistemological and identity challenges encountered by Movement, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (MEaSS) in Italy, particularly concerning the organization of scientific knowledge within academic contexts. MEaSS struggles to define its scientific identity and address epistemological concerns due to the concurrent operation of its academic scientific disciplines (ASD) within both biomedical and pedagogical domains. This situation raises questions about the classification of knowledge within MEaSS and its distinctiveness within the Italian academic community. The study aims to analyze the scientific production of Italian full professors in two ASDs of MEaSS and determine its relevance to biomedical, pedagogical, psychological, or sports domains. It also intends to investigate the alignment of Italian academic structures with international standards, particularly the European Research Council (ERC) model. Each full professor’s top 20 scientific products, ranked by the highest number of citations within the Google Scholar database, were analyzed. The analysis of scientific production among Italian full professors in the two ASDs of Movement, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (MEaSS) revealed significant findings. In the ASD of M-EDF/01, 58.5% of publications were attributed to the biomedical domain, followed by 32.7% in the sports domain, 6.9% in the pedagogical domain, and 1.9% in the psychological domain. For the ASD of M-EDF/02, 47.5% of publications were in the biomedical domain, 25% in the sports domain, 18.1% in the pedagogical domain, and 9.4% in the psychological domain. The prevalence of biomedical-focused research within both ASDs of MEaSS highlights a notable deviation from the intended disciplinary boundaries, raising concerns regarding the loss of scientific identity and epistemological coherence. These results emphasize the urgent need for alignment with international standards to ensure clarity of scientific identity and promote interdisciplinary research in MEaSS.

Language and Identity: The Challenges of Language Adaptation and Cultural Identity for East Asian Immigrant Students in Western Educational Systems

This paper explores the challenges of language adaptation and cultural identity faced by East Asian immigrant students in Western educational systems. Through an analysis of relevant literature and case studies, the paper seeks to uncover how language adaptation impacts the academic performance, social interactions, and cultural identity of these students. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methods, the study examines the language learning obstacles encountered by East Asian immigrant students and their effects on academic achievement, while also revealing the profound influence of language adaptation on cultural identity. The findings indicate that language barriers significantly affect students' academic performance and may also lead to social isolation and identity conflicts. To better support East Asian immigrant students in adapting to Western educational systems, the paper offers several strategic recommendations, including comprehensive language support, cultural sensitivity training, and enhanced mental health services. These measures aim to foster the holistic development of East Asian immigrant students, helping them to find self-identity in a new cultural environment. In conclusion, the paper calls on educational policymakers and schools to implement more inclusive and supportive measures to facilitate the successful integration of East Asian immigrant students into their new cultural contexts.

56 Metabolic status of respiratory disease challenged beef steers altered by intranasal Zn and vitamin A treatments

Abstract Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the cattle industry. Increasing the ability of a calf to respond to disease is of interest due to the loss of production during disease. Zinc and vitamin A (VA) are key micronutrients involved in many immunologic processes such as cell signaling and mucosal immunity. Angus crossbred steers [n = 48; body weight (BW) = 333 ± 4.2 kg] were utilized in this 14-d BRD challenge investigating intranasal (IN) treatments of Zn and VA. Steers were split into two groups (n = 24) with identical disease challenge and sample collection schedules. Before disease challenge, steers were housed at the Iowa State University Beef Nutrition farm (BNF). Steers were weighed on d -2 and -1 of viral challenge and trucked for 6 h before delivery to the Iowa State University Animal Resource Station. On d 0, steers were challenged with an aerosol inoculation with 104 TCID50 BRSV followed by 5x108 CFU of Mannheimia haemolytica on d 5. On d 4, steers received IN treatments of Zn (ZN; ZnO nanoparticles), VA (VA), Zn and VA (VA+ZN), or control with no IN treatment (CON). For trace mineral and VA analysis, liver biopsies were collected on d -9 and 20 and plasma collected on d 0, 4 (trace mineral only), 5, 7 and 14. Steers were tested for viral shedding on d 0, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 14. RNA was isolated from bronchioalveolar lavage (BAL) cells (d 0 and 7) for gene expression related to inflammation, VA and trace mineral metabolism. Statistical analysis was completed using the GLIMMIX and MIXED procedures in SAS 9.4. Throughout the study, viral shedding was not affected by intranasal treatment (P ≥ 0.59). There were no group × TRT × day effects for plasma trace minerals (Cu, Zn, Fe) or VA concentrations (P ≥ 0.18). Intranasal VA prevented a decrease in plasma VA on d 5, after which all treatments were similar (P < 0.01). There were no TRT × day effects for plasma Zn and Cu (P ≥ 0.50). Post challenge, liver VA was increased in VA treated steers compared with steers not treated with VA (P = 0.04). Liver Mn tended to be increased post challenge in IN ZN treated steers (P = 0.08). IN Zn treated steers tended to have lesser expression of IL-10 in BAL cells on d 7 post infection (P = 0.07). Local IN supplementation of Zn and VA can have systemic and local affects on respiratory disease challenged steers and may support increased response to disease.

Revenge of criminals, Mask, Challenge to women's identity

The presented research paper is based on the changing nature of the cases registered in the Juvenile Justice Board, Farrukhabad from 2005 to 2023. The title of the research paper has been named based on the trend of the data obtained in the study, in which the objective of the research paper is to understand the changing trend of criminals. And along with the study of the challenges of women's identity, an attempt has been made to assess both the positive and negative aspects of the impact of women's education and the mobile world on crime.

Heritage and the challenge of Jordanian national identity in Nayef Abu Obeid’s poetry

ABSTRACT This article aims to explore the influence of heritage on Jordanian national identities, a topic that has received limited attention in research. Specifically, it examines the poetry of Nayef Abu Obeid to investigate how his work addresses the challenges of upholding heritage in the modern era. Furthermore, it assesses how his poetry contributes to the preservation and portrayal of Jordanian culture and identity. By delving into these aspects, this article offers valuable insights into the intricate connections between heritage, national identity, and the current global landscape. Such insights are crucial for advancing the promotion of Jordanian cultural heritage and fostering nation-building efforts.

Anti-stigmatizing: a collaborative autoethnography on recovery from depression.

Despite extensive research on clinical treatments for depression, there remains a significant gap in understanding of the lived experiences and recovery journeys of those with depression. This study sought to explore the recovery process through an "anti-stigmatizing" lens, emphasizing the cultural-psychological mechanisms at play and the importance of personal narratives in shaping the recovery trajectory. Using a collaborative autoethnographic approach, this report focuses on the first author's journey of depression recovery. This research methodology allows for an in-depth exploration of subjective experiences, with a specific emphasis on the interaction between societal stigma, personal identity, and mental-health challenges. It is found that the depression-recovery experience can be divided into four stages from an anti-stigma perspective: (1) encountering the public stigma of emotions; (2) internalizing the stigma to a self-stigma; (3) "decriminalizing" the expected stigma of a "depressed" identity through diagnosis; and (4) being able to cope with and understanding the public stigma relating to depression when facing it again. Key factors that were found to contribute to recovery were self-awareness, community empowerment, and recognition and acceptance by close friends and family. We propose a reconceptualization of depression that incorporates a societal perspective on internalized stigma. Recovery from depression is not merely a medical process; it also pertains to how the patient frees themselves from public stigma. The results strongly indicate the need for a paradigm shift toward a more inclusive and empathetic approach to mental-health care, and we emphasize the importance of personal narratives in depression recovery.

The Subject of Human Rights: From the Unencumbered Self to the Relational Self

ABSTRACT The divisive character of a large part of identity politics creates enormous challenges which have yet to be satisfactorily engaged with from within human rights circles. This article addresses an area of human rights theory and practice that is in urgent need of critical attention: the prevailing human-rights-based response to identity politics, namely recognition rights that eschew social class. I shall argue that human rights has vitally important contributions to make to protecting those who are vulnerable because of their self-affirmed or imposed identities. However, I shall also argue that human rights’ engagement with identity politics is significantly limited in key areas. Human rights remains deeply influenced by an overly individualist ideal of the individual rights holder, which limits its ability to effectively engage with what I see as a key challenge of our age: identity politics wielded in divisive ways. I shall argue that what is largely missing from human rights’ engagement with identity politics is an understanding of the subject of rights as relational. I will consider specific aspects of this failure to engage with the constitutive relationality of human agency and identity, before proceeding to outline three areas in which an acknowledgement of relationality can contribute to human rights incorporating identity politics in a more effective way. My article asks the human rights community to radically rethink and begin to reshape its efforts to engage with the challenge of identity.

"You're Someone Different Now": An Autoethnography on Identity and Occupational Identity Disruption After Traumatic Brain Injury.

Identity disruption and occupational identity disruption are common after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the relationship between these two phenomena is underexplored. Occupational therapy practitioners should be knowledgeable about identity challenges after TBI and ways to reconstruct a sense of self. To sensitize readers to the experience of identity disruption and occupational identity disruption and describe how those two experiences are interrelated and transactional in nature. We completed an autoethnography, because this method privileges the insider perspective of participants as members of the research team. We interviewed Andi's family and friends, with textual and nontextual data being reviewed during team meetings that occurred 3 times per month over 3 yr. Data were analyzed by hand-coding transcripts to organize findings until we identified themes and salient text for constructing a narrative. Setting: Community. TBI survivor. Identity disruption after TBI occurs because of physiological difficulties, psychological changes, and cognitive deficits. Additionally, survivors face interruptions in occupational participation that affect their identity as doers. Andi experienced identity disruption that was exacerbated by being unable to engage in written expression. When he was able to resume writing and regain his occupational identity, Andi was able to reconstruct his sense of self. Identity is created by occupational engagement. Occupational therapy practitioners can better serve their clients by exploring identity disruption and occupational identity disruption after TBI. Plain-Language Summary: This article describes the lived experience of identity disruption and occupational identity disruption with an emphasis on the transformative nature of occupation. Occupational therapists should work collaboratively with clients to identify key occupations that support their sense of identity.

Coping with Identity Crisis: Group Dynamics in Response to Self-Identity Challenges

This paper explores the intricate dynamics of identity crisis and group responses within the Canadian context over the past decade. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, our study amalgamates quantitative data from structured surveys with qualitative insights derived from in-depth interviews to unravel the nuanced landscape of self-identity challenges. The interplay of cultural heritage, political influences, and economic disparities emerges as central themes shaping group dynamics in response to identity challenges. Our findings not only contribute to the existing literature on identity but also provide a holistic perspective that informs policies and interventions fostering inclusivity and resilience. As we navigate the complexities of identity within the Canadian socio-cultural milieu, this research serves as a foundation for future exploration into the evolving dynamics of identity crisis and group responses.

Epigenetic variation impacts individual differences in the transcriptional response to influenza infection.

Humans display remarkable interindividual variation in their immune response to identical challenges. Yet, our understanding of the genetic and epigenetic factors contributing to such variation remains limited. Here we performed in-depth genetic, epigenetic and transcriptional profiling on primary macrophages derived from individuals of European and African ancestry before and after infection with influenza A virus. We show that baseline epigenetic profiles are strongly predictive of the transcriptional response to influenza A virus across individuals. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping revealed highly coordinated genetic effects on gene regulation, with many cis-acting genetic variants impacting concomitantly gene expression and multiple epigenetic marks. These data reveal that ancestry-associated differences in the epigenetic landscape can be genetically controlled, even more than gene expression. Lastly, among QTL variants that colocalized with immune-disease loci, only 7% were gene expression QTL, while the remaining genetic variants impact epigenetic marks, stressing the importance of considering molecular phenotypes beyond gene expression in disease-focused studies.

Discretionary policing: following religious beliefs or operational guidelines, decision-making, and citizen engagement

In an Australian context, there is little research which examines whether officers following a religion will place religious ideologies beyond professional guidelines and whether there are differences between religious and non-religious officers regarding decision-making and use of discretion. This raises questions about how religious and non-religious officers will engage with citizens whose identities may be similar to, or different from the responding officer, and, whether the citizen’s identity challenges an officer’s religious ideologies; thereby shaping police-citizen interaction. Whether religious or non-religious police officers are more likely to police equitably is an area of research that needs systematic enquiry; especially given that officers who are religious could apply discretional policing when adhering to religious beliefs or practices during decision-making, and, conversely, officers who are non-religious, could apply discretional adherence to organizational rules, regulations, and police training. As such, this preliminary, exploratory study sought to address this gap in knowledge. Analyzing data collected from a sample of officers (N = 1425) working in one Australian police organization, this study provides insight into how religious or non-religious beliefs shapes officers’ discretional decision-making, and citizen engagement.