Equal Balance Research Articles

‘ALERT’, a machine learning predictive model to identify six-month mortality in patients with advanced cancer: Perception of the utility and acceptability among patients.

189 Background: Machine learning (ML) models can predict mortality and guide end-of-life (EOL) care for patients with advanced solid cancers. Early advanced care planning (ACP) leads to more goal-concordant care, yet many patients, especially from minoritized groups, do not engage in serious illness conversations (SIC). Reasons for delay include inability of oncologists to identify patients at high short-term mortality risk, and uncertainties about prognosis. While ML may improve prognosis accuracy, research on its use and impact on racial biases affecting SIC is limited. This study aims to evaluate the acceptability of deploying a ML model to predict 6-month mortality among patients with advanced solid cancers. Methods: In order to inform the implementation of ‘ALERT,’ a predictive mortality model into a clinical alert system, we conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews with patients with advanced solid cancer receiving care at a single institution (N=26). Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded, and themes were reviewed by a team of interdisciplinary investigators. Results: Benefits and challenges to guide the future implementation of ALERT were identified. Patient-perceived benefits were: 1) EOL Planning: preparing family members (e.g., financial, emotional); 2) Emotional Freedom: knowledge would give freedom to live out life more carefree due to limited time left; 3) Medical Autonomy: the treatment could be worse than the actual disease, if at any point it was not helping, knowing allows individuals to make the decision to stop. Challenges identified were: 1) Loss of Control: “when you don’t know [the outcome], you just keep moving, you just keep pushing”- knowing can result in a loss of control patients may desire for their course of treatment 2) Emotional Impact: knowledge of mortality could lead to grief among patients and families leading to distress around acceptability; 3) Faith: mortality prediction can be seen “playing God,” many patients believed when their time comes, it will happen and a ML tool cannot accurately predict when that time will be. Conclusions: Patients expressed equal balance of acceptability and resistance of ALERT for themselves and their families. This resulted in the difference of preferences regarding whether or not the knowledge this tool could provide would be helpful. This could lead to clinicians taking a patient-centered approach where the delivery of results using ALERT can be based on patient preference. The findings underscore the complexity of implementing ALERT, balancing significant benefits with notable challenges. These insights will guide the refinement of ALERT, ensuring it supports patient care while ensuring ALERT’s benefits are maximized and challenges are overcome.

Non-Mendelian transmission of X chromosomes: mechanisms and impact on sex ratios and population dynamics in different breeding systems.

The non-Mendelian transmission of sex chromosomes during gametogenesis carries significant implications, influencing sex ratios and shaping evolutionary dynamics. Here we focus on known mechanisms that drive non-Mendelian inheritance of X chromosomes during spermatogenesis and their impact on population dynamics in species with different breeding systems. In Drosophila and mice, X-linked drivers targeting Y-bearing sperm for elimination or limiting their fitness, tend to confer unfavourable effects, prompting the evolution of suppressors to mitigate their impact. This leads to a complex ongoing evolutionary arms race to maintain an equal balance of males and females. However, in certain insects and nematodes with XX/X0 sex determination, the preferential production of X-bearing sperm through atypical meiosis yields wild-type populations with highly skewed sex ratios, suggesting non-Mendelian transmission of the X may offer selective advantages in these species. Indeed, models suggest X-meiotic drivers could bolster population size and persistence under certain conditions, challenging the conventional view of their detrimental effects. Furthering our understanding of the diverse mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of non-Mendelian transmission of X chromosomes will provide insights into genetic inheritance, sex determination, and population dynamics, with implications for fundamental research and practical applications.

A Local Gender Equality Plan - A Modern Human Resources Development Tool

The implementation of equal opportunities is a challenge for the staff of an anaesthesia department. At the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at Hannover Medical School, a local Gender Equality plan has been implemented to create a secure and transparent framework for reconciling scientific and clinical careers with family responsibilities. Today, family and career should be equally compatible for men and women. Unfortunately, in medical professions it is often still an either/or decision. At the same time, it is important to offer an attractive workplace in view of the increasing shortage of qualified staff. In order to provide equal opportunities for all employees and to increase satisfaction, it is necessary for employers to address the issues of equality and work-life balance, to identify challenges and to create structures for improvement.

Social Capital and Gender Inequality in Contemporary China: A Quantitative Analysis from Structure-Cognition Paradigm

The dilemma of gender inequality is embodied not only in the potential confrontation under patriarchal disciplines in both household and workplace, but also the pursuit of work-family balance. This paper argues how social capital contributes to or constrains gender equality from a structural-cognitive paradigm. Three sub-concepts of social capital, namely social trust, network strength, and social exchange are included. Gender inequality is categorized as gender inequality in the family, gender inequality in the workplace, and female work-family balance. The findings suggest that social trust significantly contributes to individual support for household gender equality and female work-family balance. Besides, higher levels of network strength will lead to perception of indiscrimination between male and female in terms of working capacities. However, the practice of social exchange brings patriarchal regularities back to all three dimensions of gender inequalities, coming from the compromise and practice of gender subordination, objectification, or discrimination in exchanging favors. The article's conclusions demonstrate the necessity of bringing a typological argument of gender inequality and a structural-cognitive paradigm of social capital altogether.

Exploring Work-Life Balance: Challenges and Strategies for Women in the Modern Professional Landscape

The current professional landscape poses distinct difficulties and possibilities for women seeking work-life balance. This research investigates the many hurdles that women experience while managing job expectations with personal life duties, as well as successful techniques for overcoming these obstacles. Gender prejudices, uneven family obligations, and the impact of distant work on personal time are among the most significant difficulties. This study identifies strategies for improving work-life balance for women through a comprehensive literature review and qualitative analysis of women's experiences across various industries. These strategies include flexible working arrangements, organizational support, and personal time management techniques. The findings emphasize the necessity of policy changes, workplace culture adjustments, and individual resilience in creating an egalitarian professional environment. By addressing these issues, the research hopes to add to the ongoing discussion on gender equality and work-life integration, providing practical insights for employers, legislators, and female professionals. KEYWORD: Flexible Working Arrangement, Women professionals, Gender equality, Professional landscape, Gender biases, Career and family balance

Re-gendering Art: A Study of Ravi Varma’s Shakuntala Writing a Love Letter on a Lotus Leaf

As a reflection of social patterns, culture is bound to change and the representations from the past distorted in the present need to be decoded to remove the staleness and fixation on various notions passed as absolute truths. This dichotomy inspires an investigation into an iconic representation of womanhood from the stature of an episode from mythological epic Mahabharata and the paintings of Shakuntala by the painter Prince Ravi Varma of erstwhile Travancore in the state of Kerala in colonial India to unravel the stories that characterized popular imagination of women in history. The theoretical framework of aesthetics in the depiction of human forms that define perceptions of gender directs this study to avail a close reading to evaluate the growth of empowerment of women within the dialectics of history and culture. ‘Ekphrasis’ studies mainly how visual arts are represented in literature and here interestingly visual art becomes the ekphrasis of the written text. A proposal of the theory of ‘elimination’, the study intends to debunk the societal gaze of the feminine form as fragile hindering the strength of character by analyzing the hidden details in art. The relevance becomes manifold in the twenty-first century as the new generation is ardently trying to break stereotypes. The limitations of binary ideas of masculine and feminine are interwoven mainly with physical characteristics. The pressure to mimic these attributes leads to the exclusion of anything beyond that idea which disturbs the balance of gender equality and justice.

Structures, aims and needs of early career scientists at the German Center for Mental Health

Early career scientists (ECS) are agents of change and driving forces in the promotion of mental health. The German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) is apowerful initiative to guide and support careers in the field of mental health. The DZPG aims to make investments to educate, engage, excite, and empower ECS in an interdisciplinary and interinstitutional scientific community. To achieve this, the ECS Board at the DZPG plays acentral role and consists of 18elected ECS representatives. The ECS culture gives members the right of voice and embraces bottom-to-top ideas and acknowledges autonomy and co-determination. The DZPG academy was developed to facilitate communication and networking and encourage collaboration among ECS members. The DZPG also navigates several key issues, such as equality, diversity, inclusion, family friendliness and work-life balance, which are essential for afunctioning research landscape. The DZPG also extends opportunities to ECS to develop skills and competencies that are essential for contemporary ECS. It complements nationwide support for ECS with funding opportunities, mental health support at work, careers advice and guidance activities. Importantly, the ECS Board is committed to patient and public involvement and engagement, scientific communication and knowledge transfer to multiple settings. The DZPG will contribute to fostering ECS training programs for student and academic exchanges, collaborative research, and pooling of resources to acquire grants and scholarships. It will also support the establishment of hubs for ECS networks and promote the expansion of international competence of ECS in Germany.

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION: A THREAT TO FEMALE SPORTS PARTICIPATION IN EKITI STATE

Female Genital Mutilation is widespread among the various ethnic groups and socio-economic groups and classes and it is usually practice for cultural, religious, and ritual purposes, often as part of initiation rite into womanhood. Noting that the health of a girl-child is paramount to effective sport participation among elites. Without an optimal healthy living among female or girl-child, sports participation will be male gender focused, leading to gender inequality in sports. Hence, the researcher seek to examine female genital mutilation as impediment to sports participation amongst girl-child in Ekiti State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study and two hundred (200) respondents were selected using multi-staged sampling techniques. A self-constructed questionnaire was developed by the researcher to collect data for the study. The instrument was validated by experts and a reliability coefficient of 0.86 was obtained using split half method of reliability. All data collected was analysed using inferential statistics of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Regression to test the hypotheses set for the study at 0.05 level of significance. From the results of the study, that female Genital Mutilation had significant impact on health of a girl-child/women in the society and thereby affecting female sport participation in Ekiti State. Majorly, psychological trauma and health implications of FGM tends to have significant impact on sport participation of females in sport. The researcher therefore recommended that planned health education campaigns are mandatory to elude the drawbacks of female genital mutilation and hazards of continuation of the practice so as to promote the healthy living of female in order to facilitate their participation in sport as well as maintain a balance of gender equality in sport.

Parity of learning tasks in New Total English coursebooks

Coursebooks have an essential function in language instruction since they function as not only the guidance for both educators and learners in conducting learning programs but also the primary source of learning materials and learning tasks. Nevertheless, language learning program provides an imbalanced opportunity to develop students’ language skills equally. This study sought to analyze the balance of the learning tasks in New Total English Coursebooks in terms of the four strands. The research question in this study was “From the perspective of the Four Strands, what is the frequency distribution of learning tasks in New Total English Coursebooks?” In order to answer the research question in this study, the researchers used content analysis. The total of 637 learning tasks were analyzed in this study from three coursebooks. In selecting the samples of learning tasks, the researchers applied stratified random sampling. The findings showed that the highest frequency of strand found was meaning-focused input with 28.08%. The fluency development strand occupies 25.79% and language-focused learning occupies 23.57% of the whole learning tasks. Lastly, the meaning-focused output had the lowest frequency with 22.54%. In conclusion, the coursebooks are proven to provide balanced distributions of the four strands. The findings of this study suggest that English instructors use the coursebooks in classrooms as they provide equal balance of the four strands.

Sourcebook update: RBC hemolysis studies using a simple modified blood film technique.

Water movement across the cell membrane is crucial, with red blood cells (RBCs) experiencing the flow of water in both directions at a rate of approximately 100 times their volume per second. This process typically results in no net water flow due to an equal balance of water movement in opposite directions, a phenomenon known as osmosis, driven by water potential or impermeant solute concentration. Understanding osmosis is essential for both physiology and medical practice, yet its complexity may not be effectively conveyed to the students through traditional teaching methods. This study presents a novel approach to observing the osmotic effect on RBCs using a simple, modified blood film technique. Aimed at enhancing educational understanding of cellular behavior in different osmotic environments, this method provides a practical hands-on learning experience. By applying various osmotic solutions to prepared blood films and observing the resultant morphological changes in RBCs under a microscope, this technique allows for direct visualization of osmosis in action.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study presents an innovative teaching approach for understanding osmosis and its effects on red blood cells. Using a simple, modified blood film technique, students can visually observe and engage with the dynamic process of osmosis. This hands-on method enhances learning, making complex physiological concepts accessible and practical. Ideal for resource-limited settings, it bridges theoretical knowledge and practical application, transforming physiology education.

Gender Equality and Work-life Balance in the Digital Era: A Bibliometric Analysis

The impact of digitalisation on work-life balance stemming from flexible working arrangements, which have blurred the boundaries between one’s profession and personal space, has heightened in the face of modern technological advancements. Unlike males, females are the most disadvantaged when it comes to gender norms and formulation of institutional policies as most of the existing policies have been clearly oriented on men as compared to women. The study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the relationship among evidence regarding gender equality and work-life balance in the era of digitalisation. VOSviewer is used to present data obtained from the Scopus database. Articles retrieved were critically appraised and presented in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart. The study finds that the number of publications on the topic of gender equality, work-life balance, and digitalisation has seen a steady increase (47 in 2023 from 4 in 2017). The West and Europe dominate when it comes to contributions made to publications on digitalisation, gender equality, and work-life balance, only one paper is from South Africa and there are no publications contributed from Ghana. The study further reveals that though Germany has the highest number of publications, the United Kingdom and the United States have the highest collaboration and impact (citations). This indicates the gap in literature requiring empirical research on the effect of digitalisation on gender equality and work-life balance in the Ghanaian and developing countries context.

Poor lumbar spine coordination in acute low back pain predicts persistent long-term pain and disability

PurposeSitting balance on an unstable surface requires coordinated out-of-phase lumbar spine and provides sufficient challenge to expose quality of spine control. We investigated whether the quality of spine coordination to maintain balance in acute low back pain (LBP) predicts recovery at 6 months.MethodsParticipants in an acute LBP episode (n = 94) underwent assessment of sitting balance on an unstable surface. Seat, hip and spine (lower lumbar, lumbar, upper lumbar, thoracic) angular motion and force plate data were recorded. Coordination between the seat and hip/spine segments to maintain balance was quantified in the frequency domain to evaluate coordination (coherence) and relative timing (phase angle: in-phase [segments move together]; out-of-phase [segments move opposite]). Center of pressure (CoP) and upper thorax motion assessed overall balance performance. Hip and spine coordination with the seat were compared between those who did not recover (increased/unchanged pain/disability), partially recovered (reduced pain/disability) or recovered (no pain and disability) at 6 months.ResultsIn both planes, coherence between the seat and lower lumbar spine was lower (and in-phase—unhelpful for balance) at baseline in those who did not recover than those who recovered. Coherence between the seat and hip was higher in partially recovered in both planes, suggesting compensation by the hip. LBP groups had equal overall balance performance (CoP, upper thorax motion), but non-recovery groups used a less optimal strategy that might have consequences for long-term spine health.ConclusionThese longitudinal data revealed that individuals with compromised contribution of the lumbar spine to the balance during unstable sitting during acute LBP are less likely to recover.

Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetists’ and Critical Care Registered Nurses’ perception of knowledge/power in teamwork with Anaesthesiologists in Sweden: a mixed-method study

Efficient teamwork is crucial to provide optimal health care. This paper focuses on teamwork between Anaesthesiologists (ANES), Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetists’ (CRNA) and Critical Care Registered Nurses (CCRN) working in challenging environments such as the intensive care unit (ICU) and the operating room (OR). Conflicts are common between physicians and nurses, negatively impacting teamwork. Social hierarchies based on professional status and power inequalities between nurses and physicians plays a vital role in influencing teamwork. Foucault was a famous thinker especially known for his reasoning regarding power/knowledge. A Foucauldian perspective was therefore incorporated into this paper and the overall aim was to explore CCRN/CRNA perception of knowledge/power in teamwork with ANES.Methods A mixed-method approach was applied in this study. Data was collected using a web-based questionnaire containing both closed-end and open-ended questions. A total of 289 CCRNs and CRNAs completed the questionnaire. Data analysis was then conducted through five stages as outlined by Onwuebugzie and Teddlie; analysing quantitative data in SPSS 27.0 and qualitative data with a directed content analysis, finally merging data together in ATLAS.ti v.23.Results The result reveals a dissonance between quantitative and qualitative data; quantitative data indicates a well-functioning interdisciplinary teamwork between CCRN/CRNA and ANES - qualitative data highlights that there are several barriers and inequalities between the two groups. Medicine was perceived as superior to nursing, which was reinforced by both social and organisational structures at the ICU and OR.Conclusion Unconscious rules underlying current power structures in the ICU and OR works in favour of the ANES and biomedical paradigm, supporting medical knowledge. To achieve a more equal power distribution between CCRN/CRNAs and ANES, the structural hierarchies between nursing and medicine needs to be addressed. A more equal power balance between the two disciplines can improve teamwork and thereby reduce patient mortality and improve patient outcomes.

Evidence of mutual non-verbal synchrony in learners with severe learning disability and autism, and their support workers: a motion energy analysis study.

Some research indicates that neurodivergent people are less likely than "neurotypical" people to adapt their movements to a partner's movements to facilitate interpersonal motor synchrony. Researchers therefore suggest synchrony deficits underlie the social differences associated with autism and other neurodivergences. Intensive Interaction (II) is a client-led approach, where Learning Support Workers (LSW) follow the lead of learners to create balanced and reciprocal interactions. We aimed to examine the balance of synchrony in learners with autism and Severe Learning Disabilities and their LSWs in a special education college where learners had prior experience with II. Using Motion Energy Analysis, we assessed the degree to which each partner acted as a leader, and hence which partner acted as a follower, during moments of close synchrony. Overall, learners and LSWs showed higher than chance synchrony. There were no differences in the degree to which each partner led the moments of synchrony, or the amount pairs synchronized with zero-lag, where there was no delay between each partners' movements. The equal balance of leading and following in the learner and LSW pairs demonstrates that both partners consistently adapted their movements to their partner's movements to facilitate synchrony. The findings tentatively challenge the notion of a synchrony deficit in autism and suggest synchrony can be present in cross-neurotype pairs in comfortable and engaging conditions. We discuss the potential for client-led, movement-based approaches to support smooth interactions across neurotypes.

Azimuth calibration based on equal angle balance correction algorithm for measurement-while-drilling system

The precision of azimuth calculation in measurement-while-drilling systems is heavily reliant on the triaxial magnetometer, necessitating proper calibration to minimize azimuth errors. To address the need for high-precision calibration of systematic errors such as sensor scale factors, bias, and non-orthogonality, a relationship between the error model and the correction matrix is derived and a novel equal angle balance correction method to calibrate azimuth is proposed. Experimental results demonstrate that the mean azimuth error generated by this algorithm is less than 0.00624°, which is at least 28 times lower than that of the ellipsoid fitting correction method. The algorithm effectively eliminates systematic errors and meets the practical engineering requirements for azimuth calibration in measurement-while-drilling systems.

Abstract 15090: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome After COVID-19 Vaccination

Background: COVID-19 vaccination may be associated with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) incidence, but little is known of who is at risk, their autonomic state, or how they respond to therapy. Methods: This prospective cohort study analyzed clinical data of 10 POTS clinic patients with new-onset or worsening POTS after COVID-19 vaccination. We also compared heart rate variability (HRV, via spot and ambulatory electrocardiograms (ECGs)) and skin sympathetic nerve activation (SKNA) with 24 healthy controls. Results: Patient mean age was 41.5±7.9 years with equal gender balance. Ambulatory ECG showed no major arrhythmias. Mean standing norepinephrine level was 638.2±395.3 pg/mL, with 4 patients >600 pg/mL. All patients had conditions that could raise POTS risk: prior COVID-19 infection (N=4); hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (N=6); mast cell activation syndrome (N=3 found pre-POTS, N=3 post-POTS); and autoimmune (N=7), cardiac (N=7), neurologic (N=6), or gastrointestinal conditions (4). HRV analysis indicated lower spot (36.09 ms±49.2) and ambulatory root mean square of successive differences (46.19 ms±24, p=0.042) vs control (72.49 ms±40.8). SKNA showed a reduced mean amplitude (0.97uV±0.052, p=0.011) vs control (1.2 uV±0.31) and burst amplitude (1.67 uV±0.16, p=0.018) vs control (4.3 uV±4.3). All patients received guideline-based POTS care. After 417.2±131.4 days of follow-up, 3 patients were on ivabradine, 2 on beta blockers, 2 on midodrine, 5 on antihistamines, 4 on mast cell stabilizers, and 1 on prednisone. All patients reported improvement, although 2 with COVID-19 reinfection and 1 with small fiber neuropathy did have relapses of POTS symptoms. Conclusion: POTS patients with post-vaccine onset or exacerbation had histories of potential predisposing conditions. These suggest a potential screening approach, though referral bias is possible. Elevated standing norepinephrine levels, decreased HRV, and decreased pRR50 support a sympathetic-dominant state. Though only 2/10 patients stayed on beta blockers, 8/10 did at least transiently use them. Reduced average SKNA and burst-to-mean amplitude ratio suggest the presence of peripheral autonomic neuropathy. Patients responded to standard POTS therapy.

The Effects of Dose, Practice Habits, and Objects of Focus on Digital Meditation Effectiveness and Adherence: Longitudinal Study of 280,000 Digital Meditation Sessions Across 103 Countries.

The efficacy of digital meditation is well established. However, the extent to which the benefits remain after 12 weeks in real-world settings remains unknown. Additionally, findings related to dosage and practice habits have been mixed, and the studies were conducted on small and homogeneous samples and used a limited range of analytical procedures and meditation techniques. Findings related to the predictors of adherence are also lacking and may help inform future meditators and meditation programs on how to best structure healthy sustainable practices. This study aimed to measure outcome change across a large and globally diverse population of meditators and meditations in their naturalistic practice environments, assess the dose-response relationships between practice habits and outcome change, and identify predictors of adherence. We used ecological momentary assessment to assess participants' well-being over a 14-month period. We engineered outcomes related to the variability of change over time (equanimity) and recovery following a drop in mood (resilience) and established the convergent and divergent validity of these outcomes using a validated scale. Using linear mixed-effects and generalized additive mixed-effects models, we modeled outcome changes and patterns of dose-response across outcomes. We then used logistic regression to study the practice habits of participants in their first 30 sessions to derive odds ratios of long-term adherence. Significant improvements were observed in all outcomes (P<.001). Generalized additive mixed models revealed rapid improvements over the first 50-100 sessions, with further improvements observed until the end of the study period. Outcome change corresponded to 1 extra day of improved mood for every 5 days meditated and half-a-day-faster mood recovery compared with baseline. Overall, consistency of practice was associated with the largest outcome change (4-7 d/wk). No significant differences were observed across session lengths in linear models (mood: P=.19; equanimity: P=.10; resilience: P=.29); however, generalized additive models revealed significant differences over time (P<.001). Longer sessions (21-30 min) were associated with the largest magnitude of change in mood from the 20th session onward and fewer sessions to recovery (increased resilience); midlength sessions (11-20 min) were associated with the largest decreases in recovery; and mood stability was similar across session lengths (equanimity). Completing a greater variety of practice types was associated with significantly greater improvements across all outcomes. Adhering to a long-term practice was best predicted by practice consistency (4-7 d/wk), a morning routine, and maintaining an equal balance between interoceptive and exteroceptive meditations. Long-term real-world digital meditation practice is effective and associated with improvements in mood, equanimity, and resilience. Practice consistency and variety rather than length best predict improvement. Long-term sustainable practices are best predicted by consistency, a morning routine, and a practice balanced across objects of focus that are internal and external to the body.

In Memoriam: Judith Anderson (1940–2022)

Previous articleNext article FreeIn Memoriam: Judith Anderson (1940–2022)PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmailPrint SectionsMoreJudith Anderson’s death is a great loss for this journal as it is for the entire Spenserian community. She was an exceptional member of the editorial board, opinionated, passionate, generous and endlessly curious, serving for thirty-five years. The second woman on the board, she advocated strongly for a more equal gender balance. Deeply learned, she read submissions in many areas, providing helpful reports with her characteristic directness and precision. She cared deeply for Renaissance literature, for her students, and for her many friends. We mourn her loss; her scholarship remains a resource for future generations of Spenserians. Previous articleNext article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Spenser Studies Volume 372023Companionable Thinking: Spenser with… Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/723778 © 2023 The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Developing and Sustaining a Gender-Balanced Early Childhood Teaching Profession

There is a need for gender representation, equality, inclusion, and professional balance in the Early Childhood Education teaching profession just the way it is done in other professions. A mixed team in the provisions for young children has the potential to contribute to a new culture in childcare, with men and women dividing the tasks evenly between them. This is an important step towards equal opportunities for men and women, in which the future generation will also be involved. This study examined developing and sustaining a genderbalanced early childhood teaching profession. The explanatory sequential design of a mixedmethod approach was adopted for this study which involves the integration of quantitative and qualitative research approaches where the qualitative method is designed to further explain the quantitative results. In this study, the quantitative approach was explored more extensively than the qualitative one. The qualitative data was used in the subsequent interpretation for clarification of the results from the quantitative data analysis. In light of the findings from the study, it is recommended that the education workforce must challenge stereotypes and demonstrates gender equality opportunities for young children, and provides them with a more accurate reflection or example of the gender mix of their community. Training programmes, conferences, and school-toschool workshops will be organized by the researcher and other experts in the field of early childhood education to sensitize schools, educational recruiting firms, and institutions about the importance of developing and sustaining a gender-balanced early childhood teaching profession. Also, schools should encourage more participation of fathers in academic and non-academic activities so they can be more involved, and the children will in turn gain and experience substantial support.

GENDER (IN)EQUALITY AND WORK-LIFE (IM)BALANCE IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY LABOUR: PERSPECTIVES OF TOURISM ORGANISATIONS IN PORTUGAL

Purpose – This research note explores the perceptions of key stakeholders in tourism organisations regarding gender equality and work-life balance in the Portuguese tourism and hospitality industry. Methodology/Design/Approach – Eleven key stakeholders representing tourism organisations in Portugal were interviewed to obtain qualitative data. A content analysis was then conducted to uncover themes and sub-themes. Findings – The results show two main themes, including sub-themes: Gender inequality (partial gender equality, lack of gender salary equality, lack of women in higher positions, and gender inequality in career advancement) and work-life balance (the difficulty of balancing work and personal/family life and the need for better conditions for women accompanying children). Originality of the research – his study highlights gender equality and work-life balance in the tourism and hospitality industry from the perspective of managers of the leading tourism organisations in Portugal. The study also provides critical implications and future directions based on the findings.