Equality Policies Research Articles

Addressing the Health Impacts of Racism on Children and Youth: Equity Until Equality

Race is a sociopolitical construct based on physical characteristics, not a biological construct. Racism is a system that ascribes value and resources based on the sociopolitical construct called “race.” In the United States and other countries around the world, racism is associated with disparate health outcomes and shortened life expectancies. Health equity employs health-related systems (eg, health care providers, insurance companies, hospitals, research, pharmaceutical companies) across multiple sectors (eg, housing, education, business, government) to allocate resources and services to correct and promote political and social determinants associated with health and wellness. Applying health equity practices and policies ensures that each child, youth, and adult receives comprehensive, evidence-informed, culturally relevant, and needs-based services to achieve optimum health. This article provides an overview of the impact of racism embedded in systems and policies that challenge optimal health for children and youth and offers evidence-supported paths forward to advance health and wellness in the United States. Until each child and adolescent enjoys optimal and equal health outcomes, health equity practices and social justice are mandatory.

Mental health challenges within the LGBTQ community: A societal imperative.

The LGBTQ community faces specific stressors rooted in societal discrimination, bias, and marginalization, impacting mental health significantly. Persistent discrimination, exclusion, and heteronormative expectations are identified as social determinants that contribute to heightened stress levels, resulting in increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has also severely affected the physical and mental health of a large percentage of the population, particularly impacting the health of marginalized individuals such as LGBT individuals. Studies consistently reveal alarming mental health disparities between LGBTQ individuals and their heterosexual counterparts, with elevated rates of mood disorders, substance abuse, and self-harm. Transgender individuals, in particular, face unique challenges, including high rates of gender dysphoria and discrimination-induced mental distress. The concept of intersectionality within the LGBTQ community emphasizes the compounded burden faced by individuals with multiple marginalized identities, necessitating tailored mental health strategies. The societal context, including legal and policy frameworks, plays a pivotal role in shaping the mental health and scope for LGBTQ individuals. Supportive frameworks, such as anti-discrimination laws, marriage equality, and healthcare policies, contribute to societal acceptance and individual well-being. Additionally, efforts to destigmatize LGBTQ identities, comprehensive sex education, and public awareness campaigns challenging stereotypes are crucial for fostering a more inclusive societal mindset. Establishing robust support networks within the LGBTQ community, including initiatives providing mental health resources, counseling, community spaces, and allyship programs, is vital for community resilience. These efforts not only contribute to the well-being of individuals within the LGBTQ community but also work toward creating a more inclusive society. In conclusion, addressing mental health challenges within the LGBTQ community requires a multifaceted approach involving societal understanding, legal support, destigmatization efforts, and robust community resources. By acknowledging and comprehending the unique struggles faced by the LGBTQ community, society can collectively work toward building a more compassionate, supportive, and inclusive environment for all individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

A synthetic vulnerable population dataset for fine scale geographical equity analysis and urban planning

Assessing the social and economic vulnerability of populations within a given area is essential for conducting environmental equity evaluations and devising effective public policies to mitigate disparities. However, prevailing indicators used to measure socio-economic vulnerability exhibit several shortcomings. Primarily relying on factor analysis, these indicators face challenges in terms of comparability over time, lack of standardized scales, and inherent limitations associated with composite indicators. To address these shortcomings, we propose a novel approach that estimates the number of potentially vulnerable individuals by constructing a synthetic population. Our methodology, developed using open tools and datasets, offers a scalable solution applicable to the entire Canadian context. The resulting percentage of potentially vulnerable populations demonstrates strong correlations with traditional vulnerability indicators commonly used in Canada, while overcoming their inherent limitations. The generated dataset holds significant potential and serves as a valuable resource for both researchers and governmental organizations. It provides a robust foundation for conducting equity analyses, assessments, and policy evaluations, thereby facilitating evidence-based decision-making processes aimed at promoting social and economic inclusivity.

Rethinking Transportation Mobility and Social Equity Policy in Lagos Metropolis

Rethinking Transportation Mobility and Social Equity Policy in Lagos Metropolis

Attitudes and prejudice towards immigration in rural and urban contexts in Spain

Introduction: For years now, Spain has been a country that receives immigration wherein different cultures coexist. The aim of this research is to examine the levels of attitudes, subtle and blatant prejudice, as well as their dimensions, from native people to immigrant people in urban and rural areas. Methodology: The scale adapted to the native population by Rueda and Navas is from Meertens and Pettigrew’s scales of subtle and blatant prejudice and the scale of attitudes towards immigration by León, Mira & Gómez. Results: The results obtained from the prejudice scale (α=.804) and attitudes scale (α=.672) demonstrate an appropriate level of internal consistency. Results reveal that people living in rural areas did not exhibit higher levels of prejudice (subtle and blatant) than people living in urban areas. Discussion: Furthermore, people living in rural areas did not exhibit higher levels of attitudes (equality principles and policies attitude) than people living in urban areas. Conclusions: Finally, people living in rural areas did not exhibit higher levels of attitudes (negative social distancing attitude) than people living in urban areas. The results obtained are discussed, referring to the previous literature.

Maternity leave reform and women's labor supply: Evidence from China

China has extended maternity leave to encourage childbirth. This study specifically investigates the effects of China's maternity leave reform (MLR) on women's labor supply, utilizing a difference-in-difference analysis with data from the China Family Panel Studies. Our findings show that MLR leads to a notable decrease in women's working hours, with an average reduction of 2.6 h per week. However, no corresponding impacts are observed in men's labor supply. Mechanism analysis suggests that these effects may stem from women facing more disadvantaged positions in the labor market, having increased intentions for fertility, and experiencing heightened household responsibilities. These findings hold significant implications for the future design and implementation of childbirth promotion and gender equality policies.

Public policy for family equality

Public policy for family equality

Selling soldiering: Marketisation, gender complementarity and the promise of military femininity in 1990s Sweden

AbstractThis article examines the first large‐scale attempts to recruit women as soldiers and officers in 1990s Sweden, focusing on the techniques and promises employed by the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF). Building on a wide range of documents and audiovisual sources, we demonstrate how the SAF utilised various marketing techniques, including advertisements and sponsorships, to attract and ‘sell’ soldiering to young women. Analysing these efforts through scholarship on neoliberal governmentality and gendered military identity, we argue that these strategies marked the onset of military marketisation, reflecting broader neoliberal trends in 1990s Sweden. Moreover, we show how the SAF's marketing techniques promised women a narrowly defined, complementary, feminine military identity that reinforced existing gender stereotypes in the name of gender equality. Our findings shed new light on the instability of gender equality policies deemed progressive and pioneering and, in contrast, the stability of the global racialised hierarchies that inscribe some nations as gender equality forerunners.

Gender quotas are not enough: the need for multiple strategies to address gender equity in Australian universities

ABSTRACT The paper examines a ‘circulatory’ system of gender inequity in Australian universities where gender bias prevents women from accessing senior decision-making roles and stultifies their capacity to act as gender change agents. It has been mooted that equity quotas for senior roles can derail this circuit of male privilege in academia. Yet a plastic reading of the shape of gender equity policy and practice in Australian universities over the last 40 years reveals an increasing acceptance of individualism, which positions women’s liberation as being achievable through self-responsibilisation. If these discourses remain unchallenged, gender quotas for senior roles alone will likely only benefit those entrepreneurial women admitted to senior positions, rendering the causes of gender inequity hidden and exonerated. Using a novel methodology that combines a ‘plastic’ with a complex systems lens of policy manoeuvres, we suggest gender quotas, accompanied by strategy designed to develop leaders’ gender competency and change agency, are required to support more sustainably equitable work structure within the academy.

European Union gender equality and work–life balance policies: managing tensions between the demands of production and reproduction

European Union (EU) gender equality policies increasingly acknowledge the existence of tensions between the demands of productive and reproductive labour, with the former defined as waged work and the latter as the (unpaid) activities reproducing the labour force and provisioning for caring needs. As women increasingly enter the labour market, the EU addresses the growing tensions through new gender equality policy initiatives, prompting the question of whether these recognise the value of reproductive labour to the economy. This article analyses the discourses of three EU institutions (the European Commission, Council of the EU and European Parliament) and finds that EU policy as a whole continues to prioritise the interests of the productive economy. This results in a loss of the emancipatory potential of its gender equality goals, in particular, for women from working-class, minority ethnic or migration backgrounds.

Health Equity in All Urban Policies: A Case Study of Richmond, California.

Local governments working in partnership with communities can institutionalize practices that promote health equity. We offer a case study of how one city in the US is implementing Health in All Policies (HiAP) with the explicit aim of promoting health equity. We use participant observations, original document reviews and interviews to describe how Richmond, California, is building new partnerships, programs and practices with community-based organizations and within government itself as part of the implementation of its HiAP Ordinance. We also report on indicators that were identified by community and government stakeholders for tracking progress toward improving place-based determinants of population health. We find that the responsibility for implementing Richmond's HiAP Ordinance rests on a new institution within local government and this entity is building new partnerships, promoting innovative policies and augmenting practices toward greater health equity. We also reveal how city governments and community partners can collaboratively track progress toward health equity using locally gathered data.

Personality and political representation—How personality traits shape MPs' attitudes toward gender equality

AbstractThis study analyzes whether the personality traits of Members of Parliament (MPs) affect their attitudes toward the representation of gender equality issues. Based on the Big Five personality traits, we argue that Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness shape MPs' positions toward gender equality policies through two different pathways. The first pathway proposes a direct connection. While Openness is expected to positively affect MPs' support for gender equality, Conscientiousness is assumed to have a negative impact. The second pathway runs indirectly, linking Openness and Conscientiousness to preferences toward gender equality through the effect of these personality traits on MPs' general ideological positions. Using data from a survey of elite politicians in Germany and Switzerland, the results of a causal mediation analysis show a positive direct effect of Openness that holds independent of a mediating influence of political ideology. The analysis deepens our understanding of gender equality legislation and the MPs engaging in it.

Balinese Women and Gender Equality in Tourism Industry

Purpose: This research aims to raise awareness among industry players and the wider community, especially those working in the tourism industry, regarding gender equality in the Bali tourism industry. Research methods: The research methodology employed is a literature review. Analysis of textual descriptions was carried out using the Gender Equality Continuum Assessment concept. Results and discussion: The findings reveal injustices faced by Balinese women working in the tourism sector, including the perpetuation of stereotypes implying limitations in managing the tourism sector and inadequate legal protections. These findings underscore the necessity of raising public awareness about gender inequality and enforcing legal protections for women in the tourism sector. Implications: By implementing gender equality policies and raising awareness of gender roles, the tourism industry is expected to create a more inclusive and fair environment thereby promoting social justice and fostering economic development.

Impact of Gender Equality Policies on Women’s Career Mental Health and Well-Being

This paper examines the impact of gender equality policies on women’s career mental health and well-being in Canada. Over the past few decades, Canada has implemented a variety of legislative measures aimed at promoting gender equality, including pay equity, parental leave, and anti-discrimination laws. These policies have been instrumental in creating more inclusive and supportive workplace environments, improving job satisfaction, and enhancing overall mental health for women. However, despite significant progress, challenges such as persistent wage gaps, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and workplace harassment continue to hinder the full realization of gender equality. Using a qualitative research approach, this study explores the experiences of women across different industries and backgrounds to understand how these policies impact their mental health and career progression. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening policy implementation, promoting cultural change within organizations, and addressing intersectional inequalities to further improve the mental health and well-being of women in the workforce. Recommendations for policymakers and organizations are provided to enhance the effectiveness of gender equality policies and create more equitable workplaces.

Assessing the equity and coverage policy sensitivity of financial protection indicators in Europe

Progress towards universal health coverage is monitored by the incidence of catastrophic spending. Two catastrophic spending indicators are commonly used in Europe: Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 3.8.2 and the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) indicator. The use of different indicators can cause confusion, especially if they produce contradictory results and policy implications. We use harmonised household budget survey data from 27 European Union countries covering 505,217 households and estimate the risk of catastrophic spending, conditional on household characteristics and the design of medicines co-payments. We calculate the predicted probability of catastrophic spending for particular households, which we call LISAs, under combinations of medicines co-payment policies and compare predictions across the two indicators. Using the WHO/Europe indicator, any combination of two or more protective policies (i.e. low fixed co-payments instead of percentage co-payments, exemptions for low-income households and income-related caps on co-payments) is associated with a statistically significant lower risk of catastrophic spending. Using the SDG indicator, confidence intervals for every combination of protective policies overlap with those for no protective policies. Although out-of-pocket medicines spending is a strong predictor of catastrophic spending using both indicators, the WHO/Europe indicator is more sensitive to medicines co-payment policies than the SDG indicator, making it a better indicator to monitor health system equity and progress towards UHC in Europe.

The effect of basic public health service equalization on settlement intention of migrant workers in China: the mediating effect model based on subjective feelings

BackgroundDuring the 14th Five-Year Plan, China aims to transform rural migrants into urban citizens and ensure equal access to public services to enhance new urbanization. Understanding migrant workers' settlement intentions is crucial for their citizenship development. Based on the fundamental role of the right to life and health, equalization of basic public health services is essential. Therefore, understanding the potential impact of public health services equalization on the settlement intention of migrant workers is crucial in China’s new urbanization.MethodIn this study, we utilized data from the 2017 wave of China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) and employed the Propensity Score Matching method to investigate the impact of basic public health service equalization policy on the settlement intention of migrant workers. Additionally, we utilized the Mediation Effect Model to uncover the impact mechanism.ResultsOur findings indicate that basic public health service equalization policy has a significant positive effect on increasing the settlement intention of migrant workers, with an even greater effect observed among the low-income group, the cross-provincial subsample, and the new generation subsample. The results of the Mediation Effect Model suggest that Basic public health service equalization policy can bolster the subjective integration willingness and subjective identity of migrant workers, thereby enhancing their settlement intention.ConclusionBased on the results, we propose to strengthen the promotion of the basic public health service equalization policy and expand the coverage of health records to further increase the settlement intention of migrant workers.

Gender equality policy of the Olympic Movement in Chinese sport governing bodies: the case of elite volleyball

Abstract Objectives This research based on the theoretical framework of globalisation focuses on the development of gender equality policy in the Olympic Movement and the implementation of IOC’s gender equality policy in the context of Chinese elite volleyball. Methods In addition to documentary analysis, 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted with key insiders within Chinese elite volleyball system to provide a comprehensive understanding of the IOC’s gender equality policy implementation. The analysis involved perspectives of athletes’ participation, coaching positions, and leadership roles according to three main elements of the IOC’s gender equality policy. Results The findings demonstrated that the responses of Chinese elite volleyball to IOC’s gender equality policy are participative, conflictual, and passive in terms of the gender balance of athletes’ participation, coaches’ positions, and the representation of leadership roles respectively. Conclusions IOC recommended subordinated stakeholders including NOCs to implement gender equality policy. The attitude of Chinese elite volleyball governing body towards gender equality is generally positive. However, IOC’s gender equality policy is not consistently transferred at national level. Policy might be implemented with symbolic measure in China without monitoring system. Referees should be included in policy contents in addition to athletes, coaches and leaders. In addition, since IOC’s gender equality policy and statistics have been keeping updated, further results with respect to the case of volleyball should be demonstrated in future research.

THE PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS REGARDING GENDER EQUALITY POLICIES IN UNIVERSITIES

The study is about the perceptions of students of the University of Korca regarding the university's commitment to gender equality. Albanian universities have made significant efforts in gender mainstreaming. As part of a higher education institution, we must offer new generations a different path, free from prejudice and stereotypes, embracing people’s freedom and appreciating their individuality and originality. There is a significant commitment from the University of Korca (UNIKO) toward gender equality policies. The paper aims to point out the perceptions of students on gender equality policies followed by UNIKO and the commitment of the university to build an honest and communicative learning and work environment where people are treated equally and there is no discrimination, as well as a community which conveys trust, a sense of belonging and shared goals. A quantitative approach was used for this study. A questionnaire was conducted to measure the perception of students on gender equality policies in the university. The students were recruited in the four faculties of UNIKO. The study focused on students' knowledge of gender mainstreaming; their participation in trainings and activities focused on gender issues; equal representation in the decision-making units and awareness of gender equality and unconscious gender biases. The study showed a high interest of students in the gender policies of the institution, but a more visible involvement of students in informative activities and greater awareness to address gender issues is suggested.

Going the distance: Geographic effects of the lung transplant composite allocation score

BackgroundIn March 2023, the lung allocation policy underwent major changes from a tiered structure to a composite allocation score (CAS). The goal was to improve allocation equity for disadvantaged groups by deprioritizing transplant distance. This study examines the effects of CAS on geographic trends and transportation efficiency. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database, queried for adult lung transplants from 9/1/2022 - 9/1/2023. Outcomes were nautical distance of transplant, ischemic time, and flight required for transport (estimated as distance >100 miles). Perioperative complications and early survival were analyzed, with propensity-matching to account for baseline differences. ResultsA total of 1394 pre-CAS and 1197 post-CAS patients were included in the study cohort. Post-CAS recipients were less likely to be ABO type O (39.2% vs 47.3%, p<0.001), and were less likely to be an identical ABO match (82.7% vs. 91.0%, p < 0.001). The CAS cohort travelled significantly further (354.0 mi. [IQR:139 – 657] vs. 195.0 mi. [IQR:78 – 388], p < 0.001). CAS patients had longer ischemic times (6.8 hrs. [IQR: 5.3 – 8.9] vs. 6.0 hrs. [IQR:4.8 – 7.5], p < 0.001), and CAS procurements were more likely to require a flight for transport (n = 934, 78.0% vs. n = 991, 71.1%, p<0.001). However, waitlist time was shorter (28 days [IQR = 9 – 83] vs. 33 days [IQR = 11 – 109]) as was length of stay (24.21 ± 17.84 days vs. 31.44 ± 30.19 days, p<0.001) for CAS recipients, which remained true after propensity-matching. ConclusionThe lung CAS policy change was intended to eliminate geographic boundaries for disadvantaged patients but has expanded transplant distances, with an expected increase in ischemic time and need for flights which affect transplant economics. Although efforts were made to improve transplant availability for the disadvantaged ABO type O group, early assessment of the recipient cohort showed that recipients with blood group type O were actually less likely to be transplanted under the new policy. Positive effects include an overall decrease in waitlist time, but further investigation is warranted to evaluate the effectiveness, equity, and economic sustainability of the new policy.

Non-Moro IP Inclusion in Education Governance: Historical Notes on Institutional Policies and IP Population in MSU-IIT, Iligan City

This article presents a historical overview of institutional initiatives concerning the inclusion of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples as indicators of good governance in education. This underscores the importance of not only integrated but an inclusive education for every student from both the mainstream and the margins. Gleaned from the experience of MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), this study elaborates the following: (1) what are the policies and programs contributing to the inclusion of Non-Moro IPs in MSU-IIT, and (2) how MSU-IIT administered the Non-Moro IP population and what are the challenges encountered. This research utilized qualitative methods with data coming from MSU-IIT offices and online databases, corroborated with purposive-snowball interviews. Discussions show that the IP students have faced a number of obstacles that have interfered with their college experience, whether they relate to admissions or retention including dropping out of classes, financial constraints and struggle in major coursework leading to the necessary improvement on their overall scholastic performance. MSU-IIT has also responded to the challenge of exclusion through, but not limited to, the General Education Program, the Five-Year Development Plan covering Education and Student Support Pillars, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Policy, and other academic and non- academic pathway initiatives.