Family Aspirations Research Articles

Dynamisms of romantic family imaginaries and asexual identity-making

ABSTRACT This paper explores the interplay between romantic family imaginaries and asexual identity-making through the agentic negotiation of pragmatic trade-offs. Romantic family imaginaries refer to ideational and aspirational aspects of idealized romantic relationships that mark them as chosen family and engender associated feelings of security and normalcy. I analysed idiographic case studies (chosen from a larger sample of 44 interviewees) of two interviewees with asexual tendencies, romantic family aspirations, and ambivalence towards asexual identification. Romantic family imaginaries accentuated ambiguities in how my interviewees experienced and labelled their asexual feelings. Extending ideas about pragmatism explored within family studies and queer Singapore studies, this research conceptually proposes two ways through which pragmatic negotiation may take place: the deployment of provisional and prospective identities. Provisional identities affirm ambiguity by tethering themselves to ongoing relationships that live out family imaginaries. Prospective identities affirm ambiguity by qualifying themselves in relation to future unknowns. Examining these trade-offs reveals how romantic and sexual normativity, usually thought to be allied, may sometimes be situationally opposed.

Impacts of livelihood assets on hydropower displacees’ livelihood strategies: Insights from the Tanahu hydropower project in Nepal

Examination of livelihood assets is crucial for displaced people as it informs effective resource allocation and support. This study investigates the livelihood decisions of households displaced by Nepal's Tanahu Hydropower Project using multinomial logistic regression to evaluate how different assets affect their choices. Data were obtained using questionnaires, with a total of 185 questionnaires used for the analysis in this study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. This study finds that physical assets substantially influence livelihood strategies, promoting diversification and nonfarming activities. Interestingly, social assets have a negative impact, whereas natural, financial, and human assets exert no significant effect. The study highlights the community's focus on economic stability, balancing immediate financial needs with long-term goals such as children's education. However, it reveals ongoing financial struggles, with an average daily income of only 1.962 USD and many households remaining in poverty, particularly those dependent on farming. The study also reflects on the mixed perceptions toward government policies, influenced by factors such as skill gaps and family aspirations. These findings provide essential insights for targeted support and resource allocation to displaced populations.

Why is surgery not popular among medical students and young doctors? - Review of literature

Introduction: Contemporary medicine is witnessing significant advancements in conservative treatment modalities. However, surgery remains paramount for radical cancer treatment and emergent conditions such as trauma, peritonitis, gastrointestinal obstruction, and cholecystitis. Despite the essential role of surgeons, there is a global trend indicating waning interest among medical students in pursuing surgical specialties. Concurrently, practicing surgeons report heightened levels of professional burnout, and many regions face a looming shortage of surgical professionals, posing a threat to healthcare quality. Brief Overview of Current Knowledge: Research conducted across Poland, Germany, Argentina, the United Kingdom, and Japan highlights the declining inclination towards surgery among medical students. Students cite unattractive working conditions, poor work-life balance, elevated stress levels, and limited avenues for scholarly growth as deterrents. Gender plays a role, with females expressing heightened concerns regarding work-life balance and family aspirations. Furthermore, the surgical work environment, inadequate preparatory training in medical schools, and prolonged working hours are identified as factors exacerbating burnout risk among surgeons. Summary: Professional burnout represents a significant concern among surgeons, impacting both their work satisfaction and patient safety. Despite the strides made in conservative medical therapies, surgery remains indispensable, yet its allure as a specialty is diminishing among medical students. Understanding and addressing the discouraging factors, along with promoting healthy work practices, may mitigate burnout and encourage young physicians to consider surgical careers.

Study on the Incense Burners Unearthed from the Tomb of Marquis of Haihun of the Han Dynasty: Focusing on Boshanxianglu with Phoenix and Tortoise Designs

This paper explores the stylistic features and artistic significance of the “Boshanxianglu with Phoenix and Tortoise Designs” unearthed from the recently discovered Han dynasty burial site (92~59 BCE) of Liu He, the Marquis of Haihun, located in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. It discusses the incense burner’s function, consumer group, and cultural context that contributed to its widespread adoption.Liu He, the grandson of Emperor Wu, held the titles of King of Changyi and Marquis of Haihun. He was also deposed as an emperor. The sixteen bronze incense burners found in his tomb are a testament to the prevalent beliefs in immortality and the aspirations of the royal family. The symbolism of the phoenix and tortoise on the “Boshanxianglu with Phoenix and Tortoise Designs” encapsulates the themes of longevity and immortality, hinting at a journey to the celestial realm. As Confucianism-based rationalism gained traction during the later Han dynasty, notions of ascension evolved, leading to a decline in the popularity of incense burners adorned with phoenix and tortoise motifs. This type of incense burner was discovered in upper-class males’ study chambers or reception areas, suggesting their predominant usage among men.In Nangnang, a Han commandery on the Korean Peninsula, various incense burners influenced by Chinese styles were used. The standout discovery of the “Boshanxianglu with Phoenix and Tortoise Designs” at the Sŏgamni No. 9 site, suggests a tailored approach to incense selection and usage based on individual preferences, purposes, and consumption habits within Nangnang society.

Reconciling Family Aspirations and Paid Work in the European Union

Reconciling Family Aspirations and Paid Work in the European Union

The Impact of Within-family Housing Assistance on the Certainty of Young People’s (Housing) Aspirations in the Czech Republic

The article presents the results of research on the factors that determine how certain Czech millennials are about their housing and some other life aspirations. We did not primarily look at the content of life aspirations and instead, we examined how certain, confident and concrete young people are about their plans. Using qualitative interviews and an attitude survey we found that intergenerational housing-related within-family resource transfers had a significant impact on how certain young Czechs are about their housing and (some) work and family aspirations. Therefore, whatever the aspirations of young people are, the ability to form them with certainty and confidence is significantly influenced by a factor that is largely out of their control.

Linkages between high-performance work practices and family-centered goals: implications for financial performance in family firms

PurposeThis study explores what impact high-performance work practices (HPWP) – from the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) framework – might have on financial performance among family firms and examines the mediating role played by family-centered goals (FCGs).Design/methodology/approachThe empirical approach is based on data collected from a sample of 339 Spanish small and medium-sized family enterprises operating in the industry and service sectors. To test the hypotheses, this paper applies a path analysis modeling tool to estimate both indirect and direct effects in mediator models.FindingsThe results indicate that the AMO framework has a significant impact on financial performance through the lens of FCGs. In addition, family businesses' keen concern to preserve family wealth influences the effectiveness of HPWPs, making firms more socioemotionally oriented at the expense of economic impact.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper underscores the importance of integrating family aspirations into strategic human resource management (HRM) design, emphasizing the significance of socioemotional wealth (SEW) preservation.Practical implicationsThe findings offer practical insights for family managers, family owners and human resource (HR) practitioners, suggesting the need to align HR practices with family goals and to strategically balance socioemotional and financial wealth considerations. Family owners in key management positions must skillfully manage HR strategies in order to harmonize family and firm goals.Originality/valueBy examining the mediating effect of FCGs, this paper advances and extends SEW theory in the context of HRM by considering the relationships between HR practices and firm performance as a mixed gamble approach.

Learning from newly settled families in an Aotearoa New Zealand playgroup

Families engage in a range of cultural practices in their everyday lives that shape children’s early literacies. Given the growing number of children who are living outside the country of their birth or their parents’ birth, more research is needed to highlight the under-recognised literacies of young children shaped by their family cultural practices and immigration experiences. This year-long qualitative study in an Aotearoa New Zealand playgroup explored how newly settled families worked to sustain their cultural practices and supported their young children’s understandings of new cultural norms in the context of immigration. Qualitative data collection methods included participant observation in the playgroup and photo-elicitation and semi-structured interview conversations in family languages. Findings highlight family aspirations and tensions regarding children’s participation in family cultural practices over time, sustaining family languages once children transitioned to school, and notions of belonging. Family participation was integral to interpreting children’s meaning-making in the playgroup, including how children flexibly navigated language differences and unfamiliar cultural practices. This study highlights the importance of learning from families about the linguistic and cultural resources young children draw on to represent, communicate and belong in a new country.

Navigating the future: hope and aspirations for future lives among Filipino middling transnational families in Singapore

ABSTRACT This paper sheds light on the experiences of middling Filipino transnational families in Singapore concerning the intersections of hope and aspiration in constructing their imagined futures. In particular, I examine how middling migrants engage in transnational migration and their children’s university education to achieve such futures. Using their case, I explain how hope undergirds and sustains aspired-for familial futures until they come to fruition. I argue that hope, while futural and uncertain, is felt in the present because it is the scaffold on which the imagined future lives of families rest. Moreover, in investigating the importance of place in the construction of future lives, I show how Singapore provides space for hope to emerge in relation to the future lives imagined by middling Filipino transnational families. Finally, veering away from the normative conception of hope as a constant banner of optimism, I suggest that when entangled with familial aspirations, hope brings to the fore emotions and practices that are not always positive but necessary for the realization of aspired-for familial futures.

Psychosocial Predictors of Parents’ Family Aspirations towards Their Children with Disabilities

Psychosocial Predictors of Parents’ Family Aspirations towards Their Children with Disabilities

Russian-Speaking Families and Public Preschools in Luxembourg: Cultural Encounters, Challenges, and Possibilities

Abstract In the twenty-first century, multicultural encounters have become an experience that is familiar even to the youngest. In superdiverse trilingual Luxembourg, over 50% of the population are foreigners, and many of them do not speak the titular language of the country. Multicultural classrooms are studied very closely, but Russian-speaking students, a new but exponentially growing addition to the cultural mix, have not been studied yet in their journey of school integration. There is a gap between the parents and the teachers regarding perception of the content of the studies and family aspirations. Instruction in the Luxembourgish language, usually unfamiliar to Russian families, is not the only obstacle for a child to make good progress at school. The Slavic family group and the Cyrillic alphabet, different holiday calendar and traditions, as well as differences in behavioural patterns and educational models complicate the perception of implicit school rules both for the children and their parents. In this short ethnographic study, based on five in-depth semi-structured interviews with parents, qualitative data were analysed in order to single out the main challenges that Russian-speaking families face while adapting to the public Luxembourgish preschool, the first contact with Luxembourgish language and community life.

Spiritualizing Politics Without Politicizing Religion: The Example of Sargent Shriver by James R. Price and Kenneth R. Melchin

Reviewed by: Spiritualizing Politics Without Politicizing Religion: The Example of Sargent Shriver by James R. Price and Kenneth R. Melchin David O’Brien Spiritualizing Politics Without Politicizing Religion: The Example of Sargent Shriver. By James R. Price and Kenneth R. Melchin. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2022. 200 pp. $45.00. This is an important book. James R. Price and Kenneth R. Melchin have a fresh address to the very old question of “religion and politics” as it once again explodes across the world and even upsets long settled arrangements here in the United States. The authors want to help clarify the situation which they think has been made difficult by the “fog of the culture wars,” the “proliferation of doctrinaire religious convictions,” and the “growing secularism the academy and the public square.” Price and Melchin are determined not to contribute to these endless debates but instead to “think responsibly about politics and religion” and offer constructive proposals designed to enable communities of faith to help their members carry out their shared responsibilities for public life. Their goal is contained in the title: to “spiritualize politics without politicizing religion.” To do this they intend to “affirm the religion-politics distinction that guards freedom of conscience and diversity of belief” while, with equal conviction, “affirming the religion–politics relations that ensure religious involvement in nurturing values essential for public life.” They understand that balancing religious [End Page 95] integrity and shared responsibility will always be a challenge, perhaps requiring in some cases conscientious objection to agreed-upon policies. The authors believe that religion and politics need to be distinguished from each other, but that politics needs religion to achieve its objectives while Christians need politics to carry out Gospel-based obligations. Faced with religious diversity, religion must avoid the twin temptations of disengagement and withdrawal at one end and theocratic power at the other. Politics on the other hand—and here they usually mean liberal democratic politics—requires the spiritual and moral energy of religion if its citizens are to bear their shared responsibility for self-government. Rather than lament divisions, Price and Melchin look for ways to address these challenges with full respect for religious claims and civic responsibilities. They begin with an extended analysis of the speeches of Sargent Shriver, founding leader of the Peace Corps. Shriver’s life and work illustrates how this worked out with one “exemplary figure.” They find him first as a Catholic layman familiar with church teaching, influenced by the scholastic philosophy of natural law updated by Jacques Maritain, and engaged with lively movements of Catholic Action inspiring women and men of his generation to take on new responsibilities at the centers of American life now open to them. Shriver found leadership roles in public education, race relations, and civic dialogue, first in Chicago, then in Washington in the administration of his brother-in-law John F. Kennedy and his successor Lyndon B. Johnson. Like so many of his generation, Shriver was formed in the remarkable families, parishes, schools, and ideas of the American Catholic community, then took full advantage of new opportunities opened by family aspirations and post-World War II prosperity. Making that move into centers of shared public responsibility while remaining faithful to Christianity and his American Catholic subculture required aspiring middle class Catholics like Shriver to adopt a bilingualism, speaking among themselves of Christian faith, Catholic practice, and the shared values found in church teaching, then using broader terms to embrace others in shared work for common purposes. When, in their professional and public work, they needed to find common ground with non-Catholics, Shriver and others continued to speak of service, respect for the other, and democratic aspirations for liberty and justice, all informed by what Shriver thought of as Christian charity. Some thought this move watered down the claims of faith, but the authors argue that, in the case of Shriver, he in fact expanded and deepened Christian ideals of justice and charity. At one point in his inter-racial work Shriver stated the goal that informed all his work: “to direct the [End Page 96] immense power of religion to shaping the conduct and thoughts of men...

Focando no “que importa”: a Estrutura de Ocupação, Capacidade e Bem-estar para terapia ocupacional

Abstract Introduction Critical occupational therapists have challenged models from the Global North that have dominated occupational therapy and informed ableist practices focused on appraising dysfunctions, classifying deviations from bodily “norms”, and remedying individuals’ “deficits” in performing three occupations (self-care, productive, leisure). This indicated the need for a new conceptual framework; one grounded in research evidence derived from a diversity of people and contexts. Objectives To outline the imperative for, and genesis and features of an evidence-informed conceptual framework for occupational therapy, centred on occupations, capabilities and wellbeing. Methods This paper draws from the work of critical occupational therapists; outlining the conception and process of building a flexible framework by linking concepts identified through extensive review of multidisciplinary research from both the Global South and North. Results Building on evidence that occupation is a determinant of wellbeing, the Occupation, Capability and Wellbeing Framework for Occupational Therapy (OCWFOT, Hammell, 2020a) encourages a strengths-based approach to occupational therapy: assessing and building on individual, collective and community assets, abilities and resources; focusing on occupations that “matter most”; and fostering a relational view of people as interdependent and embedded within families and communities. Conclusion Focused unequivocally on the wellbeing needs and aspirations of individuals, families, groups, communities and populations that are met or unmet by current patterns of occupational engagement; on both abilities and opportunities; and on occupation as a human right, the OCWFOT is theoretically defensible, provides conceptual clarity, and has utility as an evidence-informed structure around which future research and practices may be oriented.

Research of Decision-Making in the Family Business and Its Growth: A Family Aspirations Perspective

Research of Decision-Making in the Family Business and Its Growth: A Family Aspirations Perspective

31932 Mentorship opportunity for female dermatologists seeking to balance family and career

Background: Women’s representation in medicine has increased drastically, however, a sex gap remains in higher academic leadership. This study aims to explore potential reasons for this gap through analyzing survey feedback from dermatologists in a variety of practice settings. Methods: We used REDcap to collect 144 surveys from dermatologists actively practicing in the United States. Results: Sixty responses came from the Women’s Dermatologic Society, 46 came from the Association of Professors of Dermatology, and 38 came from Facebook groups. Of the total included respondents, 84% were female. Forty-six respondents worked in private practice, 89 worked in academics, 8 worked in a combination of private practice and academics, and 1 person did not describe practice type. Differences between academics and private practice respondents were seen in questions related to mentorship and goals. In academics, 71% of respondents reported having a relatable mentor while only 46% of those in private practice reported having a relatable mentor (P = .008). Few reported having a mentor that helps balance career and family (27% in academics, 24% in private practice, P = .86). Respondents who report being responsible for a distinct majority of nonfinancial family-oriented tasks such as housekeeping and childcare were less likely to report having a relatable mentor. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that female dermatologists seeking to balance career and family aspirations report may benefit from increased mentorship and support. This may be one area that if addressed could lead to fewer gender disparities in dermatology leadership positions.

Indigenous Dispute Resolution Mechanism (IDRM) in Sindh: A Case Study of Fatehpur Village, Larkana

Pakistan's justice delivery mechanism is based on formal, informal, and sharia laws. The basic purpose of these mechanisms is to facilitate the masses in getting better access to justice for various reasons. Generally, courts involved procedural delays, away from community, foreign language, expansive, and nepotism, thus courts decrease the trust level of people. While IDRM has a speedy justice delivery mechanism, native language, efficient and cost-effective. Earlier, IDRM was not recognized as a law: however, various efforts have been made at national and provincial level to reduce the burden of courts by legitimatizing the IDRM. This research is designed to find how it works and evaluate its role through local narrative/perceptions and whether it has the ability to cater to the aspirations of aggrieved families. The (N=92) interviews were carried out with a purposive sampling technique to collect data from ChangoMurs, local actors, disputants, and their families. A further 4 FGD’s were conducted with the people of the villages at Otak of ChangoMurs, and village hotel. The study concludes that the courts are overwhelmed, with less staffing and their own procedural issues, resulting in delays, sluggish processes, nepotism, and high costs. While IDRM gains familiarity, easy accessibility, low cost, attentiveness, personal affiliation, and suitability in nearly every dispute, villagers interpret conflicts as cultural activities and want mechanisms that comprehend the socio-cultural significance and understand the context of dispute. Moreover, the IDRM resolves disputes while taking into account the political, social, legal, economic, and humanitarian viewpoints of the community. Keywords: Dispute, IDRM, family aspirations, cost and time efficacy

Transition to Long-Term Baccalaureate School in Switzerland: Governance, Tensions, and Justifications

In Switzerland, the baccalaureate school is an important pathway to university education, and the aspirations of families and students to enter baccalaureate school have grown. However, vocational education and training (VET) remains the predominant educational pathway and has a strong lobby. We investigate how in this context, the transition from primary education to baccalaureate school is governed and justified at the cantonal level. We study how two Swiss cantons try to meet the official or unofficial maximum baccalaureate quotas desired by educational policymakers through different selection procedures and admission criteria. Drawing on the Economics of Conventions, we conceptualize selection procedures as cantonal transition chains and show that the strategies, procedures, and instruments applied in governance are rooted in diverse principles of action. This causes tensions within cantons. Our analysis shows that agency and regulating effects in the governance of transitions must be understood as distributed among actors, technologies, and objects.

Family Size and Aspirations: Evidence from China

Family Size and Aspirations: Evidence from China

Aspirations of Fishermen's Families on the North Coast of Java for Children's Education

So far, fishermen are associated with the poor with low education. This is due to the livelihood of fishermen who depend on the sea, which is very dynamic and uncertain. However, during the last 20 years, there has been a change in the perspective and aspirations of fishermen’s families towards their children’s education. The factors of fishermen’s livelihood, which are increasingly difficult and increasing accessibility, are expected to change the perspective on education. This research aims to explore the factors that change the aspirations of fishermen’s families towards education, both formal and informal education in Purworejo Village - Demak. The qualitative research method with ten informants conducted in-depth interviews, three focused discussions, and field observations to understand the existing phenomena. Focused discussions were conducted online and offline due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the research area. Data collection was carried out in July-August 2020 and March 2021. The results showed that the fishermen had seen the importance of their children getting a higher education. The increasing aspirations of fishermen’s parents towards education cannot be separated from the Family Hope Program (Program Keluarga Harapan or PKH), which can at least increase the school participation level of fishermen’s children. Parents expect their children to have a wider choice of jobs than those who live by profession as a fisherman, namely employee of the last resort.

Understanding cultural artefacts to ensure seamless transitions in the Early Years

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Jarjums (children), the cultural and world views they bring from their home life can be very different to those in school, creating an additional layer of adjustments in the Early Years pathway. We describe an Early Years Transitions Framework that demonstrates how changing transition from a process to move Jarjums as quickly as possible into a Western system to one that acknowledges the beliefs and cultural artefacts Jarjums bring to the Early Years space builds smoother transitions. The Framework is underlain by a mesh of High-Expectations Relationships, which moves the educator from the position of ‘knowledge holder’ to one of deep listening to understand the cultural needs and aspirations of families. By bringing these different world views together and building relationships across the Early Years sectors, educators can create a third cultural space where transition becomes a process of interwoven spaces and incremental learning.