Feminist Research Articles

Global Social Movements and the Governance of the Firm: Past, Present, and Future

ABSTRACTResearch Question/IssueThe objective of this special issue (SI) is to galvanize research that examines the impact of different kinds of global social movements (GSMs) on the practice of international corporate governance.Research Findings/InsightsThe articles included in this SI provide unique insights into how various GSMs, including the feminist, #blacklivesmatter, and climate movements, influence and are influenced by corporate governance actors and practices across different institutional contexts.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsExecutives and boards face increasing pressures to make corporate decisions that consider the demands emerging from different GSMs. This SI uncovers how and why some social movements weigh heavier in corporate decision‐making. This SI uncovers the implications of GSMs for corporate governance actors and processes in different institutional contexts.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsEquipped with the power of the internet, recent social movements have become more global in character. The rising power, reach, and prominence of large corporations have made them a common target of GSMs that aim to influence not only societal values but also corporate values. The articles in this SI provide useful insights into how GSMs engage with corporations and corporate actors and assess their impact on the governance of the firm in different countries.

A Survey on Women Safety and Health Monitoring System

Women safety is a very big issue even in this modern world running with advanced technologies. After a history of times, women got a freedom of equality at the workplace, asset rights, family law, and education. Even Feminist Movement, claimed during 20th Century, Women are not safe anywhere and violence against women and girl child’s happening everywhere during the lonely travelling on roads, picnic spots, work and deserted places. Though we have many armies and super forces to protect everybody, the day to day crime rate against women has not been reduced. There are several safety devices available to protect the women during the violence, but need more human intervention such as entering the data, or shaking the device roughly. We propose a solution for a secure and peaceful environment for women with handbag safety hand-held devices with the aim to provide false proof women safety devices by overcoming the disadvantages in existing system. When we are talking more about Women empowerment, Women achievements it is also very important to think about women safety since a huge numbers (848) of women’s are Indian Women Are Harassed, Raped, Killed Every Day. The proposed work aims at IoT based women safety device by hardware controller attached to the handbag, android application and Bluetooth connectivity in Smartphone. By pressing the controller button, the device alerts the first holder, relatives stored in the database and police when a woman is not safe. The main advantage of the work is, the device works without internet connectivity. Additional features such as protecting the valuable things to be stolen by thieves in crowded places or buses by a separate alarming system, heartbeat sensor setup to monitor heart rate, fingerprint scanner for effecting accessing of the devices and also the mobile android application provide the victim’s location to reach the women and safeguard the women from any harassment at the right time. The main thought of this paper is that it will not only protect the women from physical harassment during odd hours but also safe the women health when it is found abnormal, as a single device comparatively.

Psychological Techniques for Counselling Individuals on Sexual Attitudes and Discrimination

The importance of studying the psychology of sexuality and exploring counselling techniques for individuals dealing with sexual attitudes and discrimination is steadily growing on a global scale. In recent years, democratic reforms, the rise of the feminist movement, increased communication freedom between men and women, the surge of research across various scientific disciplines, and other factors have all contributed to the growing public interest in this branch of sexology. The present era is shaping new laws and patterns, which are still being defined within today’s science. Emerging are new types, categories, subdivisions, and fields that form the structural framework of this scientific field. The categories within the psychology of sexuality are regularly reassessed. Today, the development of sexology as a scientific field demands focused attention from both the scientific community and the state. This includes the publication of specialized literature, the training of university-level educators, the creation of master’s programmes, and the formal recognition of the psychologist-sexologist profession (psychologist-consultant in sexology), along with the opportunity to defend master’s and doctoral theses in this discipline. This reflects the dual challenge of clearly defining the scope of the psychology of sexuality while emphasizing the need for psychologists to be actively involved in sexology. The article highlights the psychologist’s role within sexological support services, presents various models of psychological counselling for individuals facing sexual attitude issues and discrimination, and outlines ethical principles in psychological counselling.

Slow resistance: Feminist and queer activism in ‘illiberal’ contexts

In recent years in China, NGO activism, street gatherings, and the direct expression of gender and sexual rights have been curtailed, yet paradoxically, online feminist expression and organizing, as well as gay visibility, are happening on an unprecedented scale. Inspired by the notions of slow violence and slow hope, this article proposes the concept of slow resistance in relation to ‘illiberalism’ to think through this paradox. Analyzing recent rich and multifaceted, yet often overlooked, feminist activism in China as an example of slow resistance, the article considers slow resistance in ‘illiberal’ contexts as characterized by its context-dependent (in)visibility due to censorship and limitations in global knowledge production and information circulation. Furthermore, slow resistance can be used to understand activism on a global and transnational scale, beyond the oversimplified liberal/illiberal binary. This binary often fails to capture the complexity of political shifts and social changes within ‘illiberal’ contexts. Moreover, the concept of slow resistance challenges the understanding of power solely as state power and resistance solely as opposition to state power. Developing the concept within feminist activism also highlights the importance of gender and sexual politics in understanding social and political change. Slow resistance offers an indeterminate temporality of resistance that challenges narratives of progress in modernization projects and narratives of decline and despair often associated with ‘illiberal states.’ It is important to note that an excessive emphasis on state oppression or illiberal tendencies may paradoxically hinder, rather than facilitate, the potential for (slow) resistance in such contexts.

“A Woman, With No Evidence, Can Send Any Man to Jail Whenever She Wants”: Men’s Rights Activists’ Digital Narratives of a Culture of False Rape Allegations

A dominant narrative among men’s rights activists (MRAs) is that rape culture does not exist. Despite statistical evidence that men are more likely to be sexually assaulted than wrongfully accused of assault, false rape allegations are the most frequently discussed topic on MRA forums and websites. In this study, we analyzed comments about false rape allegations posted to r/MensRights, a popular MRA forum. Just as the larger MRA movement emerged as a reactionary counterbalance to a feminist movement that MRAs believe has purportedly achieved equality, we found that MRAs construct a culture of false rape allegations to counterbalance a purportedly non-existent rape culture. Using a grounded theory approach to examine the narratives deployed by MRAs, we discovered that these men construct what we call a “compensatory culture of injury.” We found that MRAs are driven by “aspirational oppression,” which we theorize as a sense of grievance surrounding a group’s diminishing privilege and desire to achieve the guise of subjugation that warrants reparations to restore the status quo in the ostensible pursuit of fairness and equality. This co-optation of victimhood may be challenged by structural conversations about gender as well as the explicit identification of the misogynistic nature of MRA narratives.

Advancing the grand challenge to eliminate racism: a call to action for citational justice in social work

ABSTRACT The challenge to eliminate racism is not new to social work but achieving its eradication has proven difficult as systemic and structural racism are deeply embedded in systems, laws, policies, and practices that impact both society and the profession. Of great concern is that existing research has reinforced lack of diversity in content and representation in social work. Previous research asserts that Black and Latine individuals were not only less likely to be cited, but more likely to publish on less-cited topics such as racial discrimination, gender-based violence and immigrants. Importantly, The Black Lives Matter, Black in the Ivory and Cite Black Women Movements sparked efforts among numerous academic disciplines and institutions to chart both researcher diversity and recognize how structural racism in science and publishing impacts both Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) researchers and the academic disciplines in which they publish. As cited authors are considered thought leaders in their areas of expertise, it is important for the profession to address how structural racism has led to citational disparities for many scholars who are BIPOC. Citational Justice seeks to critically examine the ethics and politics of knowledge production in academia. Using the Grand Challenge to Eliminate Racism as a guiding framework, these authors present several action strategies that social work organizations can utilize across micro, mezzo and macro levels to achieve citational justice.

Gender Dynamics Across Cultures: A Comprehensive Exploration

Abstract: A Comprehensive exploration delves into the intricate dynamics of gender across different cultures, highlighting how gender roles and identities are influenced by historical, social, economic, and religious factors. The article examines traditional and evolving gender roles, the impact of feminist movements, the role of language in perpetuating gender norms, and the cultural variations in attitudes toward sexuality and LGBTQ+ identities. It also addresses the intersectionality of gender with other identities, media representation, the effects of globalization on gender dynamics, gender-based violence, and the unique constructions of masculinity across cultures. By understanding these multifaceted influences, the article aims to provide a nuanced perspective on the ongoing efforts to create more inclusive and equitable societies.

Lesbian Feminist Music and Meaningful Community Work

ABSTRACT Through an examination of the lesbian feminist women’s music community, I examine how activists take on the often low- or no-pay work of supporting and creating community music. To explain their labor, I draw on the concept of meaningful work that sustains the core ideologies of the community, as well as addressing the identities of individuals. In doing so, I expand understandings of music within politicized communities and how the work of doing music supports the collective and empowers the individual.

The Westernization of social and personality psychology in Turkey and the ongoing struggle for indigenous perspectives: A historical review and an agenda for liberating psychology.

Liberation is a multifaceted concept, often intertwined with psychological processes such as freedom from oppression and the ability to think and act freely. Historically, Western social psychologists have favored the individualistic notion of freedom over the collective effort of liberation. This divergence has led to the separation of the histories of liberation struggles and psychology, including feminism. This article explores distinct historical trajectories in Turkey and highlights the divisive dynamics within feminist movements, particularly the erasure of ethnic minority women by state feminists in postdynastic Turkey. Furthermore, the Westernization and the Americanization of psychology have positioned the field as a neutral, value-free science, effectively silencing indigenous feminist perspectives and encouraging overreliance on adapting gender-based scales to Turkish. Despite this, a nascent history of feminist psychology in Turkey exists, which challenges homogenization and standardization, advocating for a conceptualization of freedom beyond individualism. Finally, an agenda for liberating social psychology is proposed through challenging tattered binaries of "East" and "West" or "secular" or "conservative" and promoting a collective and intersectional approach to psychological research and practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Analysis of Barbie’s Impact in Mexico through a Colorist Lens: Challenging the Persistence of a Stereotyped Pink Society

This article delves into the intricate and layered concept of Mexican pink, a color with deep historical and cultural roots. It commences by tracing the colonial origins of this vibrant hue, highlighting its association with colorism as depicted in caste paintings. These artworks, serving as portraiture, often reinforced social hierarchies based on skin color. From this historical perspective, Mexican pink has transitioned to symbolize femininity and feminist resistance against gender violence. In the 1940s, Mexican pink gained prominence, largely due to the innovative fashion designer Ramón Valdiosera. His pioneering work played a pivotal role in bringing this color to the forefront of the fashion industry, making it a significant representation of Mexican identity. However, the narrative around Mexican pink has continued to evolve, particularly recently. Feminist groups have increasingly adopted this color as a powerful tool to raise awareness about feminicide. This dual use underscores the complexity of the color, which serves as both a symbol of national identity in Mexico and a rallying cry for justice. The article also addresses the tensions arising from the commercialization of pink, mainly when used for feminist purposes. This commercialization can dilute the original meaning and importance of color, leading to debates about the authenticity and commodification of feminist ideals. In conclusion, I analyze the potential impact of Greta Gerwig's Barbie 2023 film on the feminist movement in Mexico. With its significant social media presence, the film has sparked much debate. Four influential Mexican TikTok creators, who became the most followed on the platform between June and August 2023, have been instrumental. Their content, which primarily appeals to young women interested in fashion, makeup, and feminism, creates a unique intersection, further highlighting Mexican pink's ongoing relevance in contemporary culture. This article examines the relationship between the content produced by these influencers and the representation of Barbie pink, which closely resembles Mexican pink. By analyzing this connection, we aim to understand if it is possible to forge a link between the two that can enhance the feminist struggle. Given that Gerwig's film has been framed as a feminist statement, exploring three different, yet similar, shades of pink reveal how they can integrate narratives of consumption with those of feminist activism, ultimately enriching the discourse around both color and the movement it represents.

Asking About the ‘Unspeakable’: Joan Ringelheim and Early Research on Sexual Violence and Same-Sex Practices among Women During the Holocaust

ABSTRACT This article examines feminist scholar Joan Ringelheim’s inquiry about sexual violence and same-sex practices among women during the Holocaust. Drawing on her unpublished manuscript, drafts of conference papers, correspondence, and grassroots oral history interviews in addition to her published work, this article examines how Ringelheim’s analysis of these two topics changed over time. Between the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, Ringelheim worked in a variety of professional roles as a philosophy professor, independent scholar, and an employee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. In each of these positions, she initiated conversations with survivors, scholars, feminist activists, and museum workers, and contributed to innovative conceptual frameworks about these issues that influenced scholarship for decades. Her work was met with both support and considerable hostility. To understand why this was the case, this article historicizes Ringelheim’s efforts within contemporary contexts, including American Jewish debates about the Jewish family, feminist debates about sexuality and women’s history, and the rise of Holocaust consciousness in the United States. My contention is that as Ringelheim asked questions about sexuality during the Holocaust, she had to not only begin to disentangle decades of compounded silencing and mythologization, but she also needed to navigate various forms of pushback related to these debates.

Putting People First: Unpacking the Relationship Between Social Media Influencers and Feminism

ABSTRACTThis narrative review synthesizes knowledge at the intersection of social media scholarship, the role of influencers in disseminating information about feminist causes. Feminist activism on social media, such as hashtag activism like #MeToo, has received much attention from scholars, but the role of influencers in disseminating information remains understudied. Much of the past research has examined the commercial nature of influencers. We conducted a narrative review using the search results from eight academic databases. We examined three research questions: (1) what types of social media influencers have been studied, (2) what feminist approaches were drawn on, (3) and what are influencers' functions in the dissemination of information on feminist causes. We found that the literature had covered influencers from many parts of the world whose content focuses on various areas of life, with some specifically advocating antifeminism. We also found that feminist theoretical approaches, mainly surrounding neoliberalism and post‐feminism, have informed much of this research. Finally, we found that the studies within feminism as challenging norms and expectations, calling out social issues, and building community. From these findings, we derive directions for future studies and the continuation of our project.

EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN IN THE CHANGING POWER DYNAMICS

This research examines the role of women in political oligarchy and their potential to change power dynamics. Political oligarchy concentrates power in the hands of a few, often overlooking women's roles within this structure. Feminist intersectionality reveals that social class significantly influences women's involvement in oligarchy, with greater barriers for women from lower economic classes. Women's participation in politics, both as leaders and members of political parties, is crucial for representing their unique needs in policy-making. However, women in decision-making roles often face cultural and normative dilemmas, needing to overcome negative stereotypes. The feminist movement plays a vital role in addressing gender inequality by changing cultural norms and raising awareness of gender bias. Although the Constitution of Indonesia and international conventions affirm gender equality, implementation requires specific policies. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method, collecting data from literature, official documents, and news sources. Findings indicate that women's roles in political oligarchy are often tied to kinship relations, political clans, and dynasties. Despite affirmative action policies promoting 30% female representation in legislative candidate lists, this representation often serves to validate the interests of certain groups. Nonetheless, women's involvement in politics is a positive step toward gender equality. Addressing gender inequality and increasing women's participation in decision-making requires robust efforts to support women's rights and dismantle social and political barriers. Further policy implementation to support women's political representation is essential for a more inclusive and gender-equal society.

Black Feminist Activism in Times of Digital Technology Immersion and Surveillance Capitalism

This article delves into the possibilities and challenges of digital media for the Black feminist movement in Brazil in an era of data colonialism and the rise of the far right. Barros asks: how does communicating through social media and the web alter how we relate to each other, the way we organize and perform political acts, and defend our rights, including the right to communicate and to inform? In response, Barros shares a vision and explores the conditions of possibility for a diverse and nonextractive digital sphere to emerge.

Documentary as Memory Archive and Feminist Practice

This essay reflects on the significance of documentary filmmaking in the context of Latin American documentaries, in general, and Chilean films, in particular. It also reflects on how Latinas’ diasporic memories of place affect identity and how we think of the past through language and images. Feminist film activism is a way to build an archive of women’s lives and voices revealing how gender shapes them. The short documentary La chispa en la pradera (Spark in the Meadow, 2023) displays feminist activism and feminist memories that cut across different generations of women fighting for equality and justice in contemporary Chile.

Feminist Movement in Turkey in the 1990s

According to a feminism worldview, women should have economic, social, civil, political, and cultural rights. For this, women need to go a long, controversial and interesting path. On the one hand, they are aware of their place in society, in the state, and on the other hand, they are trying to change the cultural norms that cause oppression. Turkey is the only country in which the majority of the population is Muslim, and at the same time, it is a candidate for EU membership. Turkey has managed to create a progress-oriented state. This is a well-planned and calculated path with predetermined steps, paved with the reforms of the founder of the republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938). The problem of feminism is one of the most lively topics in republican Turkey. The processes taking place in the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century prepared a solid ground for further development of the feminist movement. On October 29, 1923, after Turkey was declared a republic, the feminist movement took a new direction. The feminist movement in Turkey went through three periods. The first period includes the processes of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and “Europeanization”, which led to the advancement of the women’s problems to the fore and the active struggle for the rights and place of educated Ottoman women in society. The second period was determined by the civil law on the participation of women in elections, adopted in republican Turkey in 1926. And the third one was the period of the 1990s, when the feminist movement became more widespread and active. Feminist policies have been founded and carried out, the role of women in government structures has increased; feminist organizations were created in Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya, etc. In the 1990s, the movement of Muslim feminists, Islamist women, known as “Islamic feminism”, became active in Turkey. After the creation of the republic in Turkey, religious associations came under the direct subordination and control of the state. There have been prepared various projects to solve women’s problems. Centers for the study of women’s issues have been opened at universities. For the first time, women spoke openly about sexual freedom, etc.

Peranan Aisyiyah Cabang Sebangau di Lahan Gambut Kota Palangka Raya dalam Ketahanan Pangan

Aisyiyah is an Islamic women's movement organization formed by Muhammadiyah, this organization since its inception until now, even more, and more various efforts have been made, including in the fields of religion, education, social and economics, which have benefited the Indonesian people in general and Muslims in particular. One of the 'Aisyiyah movements in the social field is the establishment of Posbakum Aisyiyah in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights, from the Central Leadership of 'Aisyiyah to the regions. The existence of 'Aisyiyah reached the Regional Leader of 'Aisyiyah Central Kalimantan, at the time of the current Covid-19 Pandemic, the role of women has become more increased in domestic roles as well as in fulfilling the economic needs of the family at this time. This study aims to describe the role and form of the role of 'Aisyiyah Kalampangan Branch in Peatlands to Women in increasing family food security. This research was conducted at 'Aisyiyah Kalampangan Branch, Palangka Raya City, Jalan Mahir Mahar Trans Kalimantan Palangka Raya using observation methods (field and participation), interviews (in-depth interviews, taking notes, recording, listening, observing, and capturing using a camera) and literature studies. Data analysis used a simple tabulation to describe the conditions and characteristics of the research site. The processed data is displayed in a table. The targeted finding in this research is the obtaining of a role description by 'Aisyiyah Kalampangan Branch in Peatlands of Palangka Raya City.

Waves of Feminism in Literature and their Literary Reflections

This research paper explores the evolution of feminist thought across four waves. The first wave, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, focused on women's suffrage and legal rights. The second wave, from the 1960s to the 1980s, addressed reproductive rights and systemic patriarchy. The third wave, beginning in the 1990s, emphasized intersectionality, recognizing diverse identities. The fourth wave, marked by digital activism, confronts issues like sexual harassment and body shaming, reflecting the ongoing evolution of feminist movements

Masculinities in Chinese boys’ love stories: female imaginations, market forces and state influence

ABSTRACT This study investigates the imagined utopia of Chinese masculinity to uncover contemporary ideals of Chinese manhood and prototypes of gender relationships. To this end, the study involves in-depth interviews with 25 danmei creators and online questionnaires collected from danmei communities in mainland China. This study contributes to previous scholarly discussions by delineating danmei’s fandom and danmei’s literary formulae. The created masculinities in danmei reflect rising female creators’ subjectivities. Nevertheless, danmei’s political implications in China are limited and cannot be generalized as a move to overthrow the patriarchy or oversimplified as a step towards a feminist movement. Among the different archetypes of relationships, the pairing of two strong male characters enjoys the most popularity, which attests to women’s projection of independent subjectivity and rising neoliberal sensibilities in China. However, these emergent masculinities, initiated by female creators, persist in negotiations with the market and the state. The danmei industry in China, although subject to stringent surveillance, continues to flourish through underground avenues such as piracy and overseas purchasing agents.

The Internet of Peace: Unpacking the Gender-IoT-peacebuilding Nexus in Sudan and Colombia

This research explored the linkages between gender, internet of things and peacebuilding in conflict and in peace times. A desk review of literature and a case analysis of two countries, Sudan and Colombia, were utilised to collect data for the study. The Feminist Techno-science Framework was applied to the study, to analyse how technologies can be used and designed to promote inclusive social justice and peace and it assesses how women’s experiences and perspectives can inform and shape technological innovation and draws the marginalised to the centre of peacebuilding action. The study concluded that inclusive usage of IoT advances the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda by providing opportunities for women's participation in peacebuilding processes, enhancing their social, economic, political, and environmental engagement, provided that operating legal frameworks for ICT usage are gender inclusive.