Gender Class Research Articles

Locating Indigenous Meitei feminist counterspaces in Linthoi Chanu’s Wari: the (fem)animist prefiguration of Feminist Posthumanities

ABSTRACT This article explores the animist socio-cultural fabric of the Indigenous Meitei community in Manipur, India, to locate the feminist counterspaces embedded within it through a (con)textual analysis of two short stories from the anthology Wari (2019) by the Meitei author Linthoi Chanu. In this exploration, we conceptualize a distinctive praxis of Indigenous Meitei ‘femanimism’ – intertwining Indigenous Meitei feminism with animist philosophies. Furthermore, our discussion illuminates how the Indigenous Meitei ‘femanimist’ praxis, embodying a non-dualistic and relational genderscape, prefigures the emergent Western Feminist Posthumanist theoretical discourses, particularly hydrofeminist and vital materialist concepts of fluid and entangled human embodiment. Accordingly, the present study endeavours to bridge a synergistic conversation between Indigenous Meitei ‘femanimist’ praxis and the contemporary Western theoretical currents of Feminist Posthumanities, aspiring to forge a decolonized feminist vista that transcends hierarchical binaries of gender (man/woman), humanism (human/non-human), and colonialism (the Indigenous as primitive vis-à-vis the Western as modern).

A high-quality dataset featuring classified and annotated cervical spine X-ray atlas

Recent research in computational imaging largely focuses on developing machine learning (ML) techniques for image recognition in the medical field, which requires large-scale and high-quality training datasets consisting of raw images and annotated images. However, suitable experimental datasets for cervical spine X-ray are scarce. We fill the gap by providing an open-access Cervical Spine X-ray Atlas (CSXA), which includes 4963 raw PNG images and 4963 annotated images with JSON format (JavaScript Object Notation). Every image in the CSXA is enriched with gender, age, pixel equivalent, asymptomatic and symptomatic classifications, cervical curvature categorization and 118 quantitative parameters. Subsequently, an efficient algorithm has developed to transform 23 keypoints in images into 77 quantitative parameters for cervical spine disease diagnosis and treatment. The algorithm’s development is intended to assist future researchers in repurposing annotated images for the advancement of machine learning techniques across various image recognition tasks. The CSXA and algorithm are open-access with the intention of aiding the research communities in experiment replication and advancing the field of medical imaging in cervical spine.

Perceptions of height and weight screening and associations with body image: a cross-sectional study in early primary school children

BackgroundDespite parental concern, few studies have investigated children’s experiences with school-based screening of growth deviations. This study aimed to explore perceptions of height and weight screening and associations with body...

Afterword: queering beyond queer theory

My comment addresses a theme in several of the papers in this collection that gestures to the limits of queer theory, as a body of scholarship developed mainly from within Euro-American feminist frameworks. I will ask if perhaps groundedness in place and historical specificity might suggest registers of ‘queerness’ that exceed the potentials of queer theory. Particularly considering precarity - a sense of embodied vulnerability to each other - this piece will examine the potentials of frameworks that are rooted in place-based ideas about reciprocity, kinship, and intimacy as integral to understanding queer precarities. Indeed, such a view might suggest that what is ‘queer’ is often framed through a normatively modern and often colonial rendering of binary gender, and sexuality as fixed in sexual identity. It will ask what an archive of queer precarity might look like, and what geographies it might suggest if we decentred queer theory. Simultaneously, the essay will ask how forms of reciprocity, indebtedness, kinship, and homemaking that exceed the limits of coloniality might open up registers for queerness.

Effects of Grammatical Gender on Gender Inferences: Experimental Evidence From Italian Common Gender Nouns

Recent psycholinguistic research has focused on how different grammatical gender marking strategies affect people's mental representation of referents’ gender. Such works particularly explored how explicitly encoded linguistic elements, such as grammatical gender markers, may drive the inferential process as attentional clues. Results of reading comprehension tasks in French and German have shown that the explicit encoding of masculine gender in plural forms of role nouns often leads to a male bias, a specific masculine inference corresponding to the grammatical gender clue, even when the masculine form was intended as generic, thus including women and men. Moreover, comparing generic masculine forms with gender-fair alternatives revealed that the latter significantly reduce this male bias. The present study examines the impact of three gender marking strategies on the construction of generic mental representations. Indeed, the experiment tested generic masculine against two gender-fair forms (split masculine/feminine forms and ambiguous syntactic reformulations) among 38 Italian speakers. No significant effect was found in generating a generic mental representation through form manipulation. However, ambiguous syntactic reformulation realised by presenting target nouns from the Italian common gender noun class and through the neutralisation of determiners’ gender, increased the probability of a male-specific inference. Additionally, a keen interest in gender-fair language topics was linked to longer reaction times, indicating a higher cognitive effort during the inference process.

Prevalence Estimate for Adjustment Disorders in the South African Navy.

Adjustment Disorder is among the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in the armed forces, with a mean prevalence estimated at 7.4% across military populations. The prevalence in South African military populations is not known. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Adjustment Disorders in the South African Navy and to explore potential risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, a representative sample of 714 sailors completed the International Adjustment Disorder Questionnaire, and also provided information from their biennial occupational health assessment mental health screening, which included other clinical screeners of mental health and adjustment history. The estimated prevalence of Adjustment Disorders in the South African Navy was 6.9%, and was proportionally distributed across gender and age categories. Depression and PTSD were the main comorbid conditions. Risk factors included a) history of adjustment difficulties during military deployment or family adjustment difficulties, b) domestic discord (difficulties in relationship with spouse/partner or immediate family), and c) the experience of stress overload (i.e., that the demands of life are overwhelming available resources). The estimated prevalence was similar to the expectation of military personnel generally, although the self-report data needs to be interpreted cautiously. The contributing risk factors offer possible direction for targeted intervention, e.g., skills training and relationship counselling to enhance coping with military service and family challenges, and cognitive behaviour therapy generally to address sailors' experience of stress overload.

Disparities in cancer outcomes: A comprehensive analysis of cancer incidence, mortality, and prevalence in Europe

Cancer poses a substantial challenge in Europe’s public health landscape, contributing significantly to illness burden, diminished productivity, and escalating health-care costs. This article investigates the extent to which disparities in cancer outcomes are associated with factors influencing the performance of cancer control initiatives within the European Union (EU). The characteristics of health-care systems play a pivotal role in shaping cancer outcomes through three key mechanisms: (i) Access to screening programs; (ii) quality and efficiency of health-care services; and (iii) health education and awareness programs. A multifactorial regression analysis was employed, utilizing the GLOBOCAN 2020 projections of cancer incidence, mortality, and prevalence based on the data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This analysis was delineated across 36 distinct cancer classifications by both gender and age categories. In countries with incomplete population coverage, patients may face limitations in accessing certain services or contend with significant financial obstacles. Furthermore, disparities in health-care service implementation, including diagnostic procedures, treatment modalities, and follow-up care, significantly affect cancer outcomes. In addition, systematic distinctions in care quality, such as early diagnosis, timely access to specialized care, and the presence of coordinated efforts, contribute significantly to diverse cancer outcomes. In conclusion, this article highlights the variations in cancer care provision across European countries, offering valuable insights for enhancing cancer patient care.

(De)Gendering (English-Spanish) Translation of Legal Texts

Abstract Within Western culture, gender is frequently interpreted in terms of binarism (male versus female), derived from biological sex at birth. Nevertheless, there is an accelerating percentage of non-binary and transgender people, who are not related to binary nomenclature, and they also need to resort to legal documentation and their renderings into other languages. This fact becomes a troublesome issue that must be nowadays solved, especially when translating into Spanish, a grammatical gender language, from English, a non-grammatical gender language. In this paper we will first select a corpus of eight British legal documents representing highly demanded translation briefs. We will then search for 15 problematic lexical items, searching for their lexicographic definitions and translations, and we will later resort to their most feasible translations into the Spanish language, considering both gendered translations and genderless ones. Our research shows how the Spanish language has its own translation techniques, especially paraphrasing, to be able to provide the English-Spanish target readership with binary legal terms, and especially with non-binary ones.

Gender-specific aspects of socialisation and risk of cardiovascular disease among community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study using machine learning algorithms and a conventional method

BackgroundGender influences cardiovascular disease (CVD) through norms, social relations, roles and behaviours. This study identified gender-specific aspects of socialisation associated with CVD.MethodsA longitudinal study was conducted, involving 9936 (5,231 women...

Como gênero e raça estruturam o sistema prisional: Diálogos com Angela Davis sobre racismo e sexismo no controle punitivo brasileiro

Abstract We present an analysis of the phenomenon of female incarceration in Brazil, placing it as a concrete determination of the capitalist mode of production. We start from the issue of how the categories of gender and race act as structural elements of Brazilian penal control, based on the reading proposed by Angela Davis, in dialogue with authors of Brazilian feminist. For this reason, initially, we will promote initial debates about oppression as structures of social relations in capitalism. Subsequently, it will be necessary to discuss the oppression of gender and race in the Brazilian context, especially considering the overload of reproductive, invisible, and precarious work. Finally, we will analyze the consolidation of Brazilian punitive control as an instrument for the management of disposable bodies and the constant production and reproduction of racism and sexism in Brazilian culture. We will use materialistic analysis as a methodology, with the critical interpellation (ana-dialectical moment of the method) through the critical analytical, theoretical framework of the black feminism theory. With the formulations, we can conclude, in short, that the violent and racist management of the penal system maintains a solid Brazilian social structure, subjecting the bodies of black women to the harder process of vulnerability imposed by punitive state control.

Gender assignment is local: On the relation between grammatical gender and inalienable possession

Abstract: The grammatical gender of a noun can be sensitive to a number of different factors, including the noun’s lexical semantics, nominalizing morphology, or arbitrary requirements imposed by particular roots (e.g. Corbett 1991, Kramer 2020), though the limits on possible factors are not currently understood, with some work proposing that a noun’s gender can even be valued ‘at a distance’ via agreement with other nominals. The current study explores the understudied phenomenon of gender-possession interactions (Evans 1994), investigating whether being possessed, or being possessable, can have an impact on which gender a noun is assigned. Evidence is provided from four unrelated languages supporting the existence of such interactions. Strikingly, however, these interactions are restricted to inalienable possession; no such interactions have been identified for alienable possession. I propose that this falls out from a general gender locality hypothesis (GLH), which restricts the domain of gender assignment within a phrase n P. The GLH captures the gender asymmetry between ‘local’, inalienable possessors introduced within n P and ‘nonlocal’, alienable possessors introduced outside of n P, for example, in a phrase PossP (Alexiadou 2003, Myler 2016). The GLH also makes further predictions for other features with respect to what may or may not factor into gender assignment, severely restricting or outright prohibiting gender-assignment effects from number, definiteness, and case. Broadly, the work expands our understanding of which types of elements can be relevant to gender assignment and sheds light on underexplored gender-, possession-, and agreement-related phenomena.

The Verbal System of Baritle Neo-Aramaic

Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive study of verbal inflection in the Neo-Aramaic dialect of Baritle (northern Iraq). Similar to other Semitic languages, Baritle uses ‘root and pattern’ morphology and verb roots are generally triliteral. Whereas the core structures of the Baritle verb system align with those found in other North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic languages, Baritle exhibits distinctive variations in several noteworthy aspects. This study of the verbal inflection of Baritle identifies the inflections by number and type. It finds that the verb in Baritle has different functional categories indicating tense, aspect, and mood. It also finds that the verb has various bound pronominals representing the grammatical categories of person, number, and gender of its arguments. This paper documents an endangered language and contributes to the typology of the grammar of natural languages.

Active versus passive learning: Comparative case study of problem-solving competencies in stoichiometry

Teaching methods can help learners to develop problem-solving skills and enhance their achievement in stoichiometry. Process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) is one of the teaching methods that promote problem-solving skills because it provides opportunities for learners to work with many formulae through many steps in solving problems such as stoichiometric calculations of number of moles and concentration of solutions. To understand how POGIL can improve learners’ achievement and develop problem-solving skills, four grade 11 physical sciences classes of mixed gender and multicultural black learners were purposefully and conventional sampled from four different township schools in Pretoria, South Africa. Through pre- and post-test case study and lesson observations, two different independent groups (POGIL group and lecture group) were included in the study. POGIL group constituted 48 students, while lecture group 62 students taught by their respective teachers at their schools for three weeks using English second language. The results from the pre-test suggest that learners in all the four classes lacked problem-solving competencies in solving both the low-order and the high-order stoichiometry questions. According to the research interpretation, lesson observations of POGIL were active learning while lecture method was passive learning. The post-test results indicate statistically significant greater problem-solving competencies in POGIL group than in the lecture group. The study recommends the use of POGIL in teaching stoichiometry.

Geschlecht und Autorschaft Stefan Zweigs “Künstlernovelle” Brief einer Unbekannten

Abstract: Brief einer Unbekannten , one of Stefan Zweig’s best-known novellas, is the story of a famous writer who receives a letter from an “unknown” woman who tells him of her unrequited love for him. The reason for the letter is the death of their child. The novella is often cited as an example of Zweig’s psychologically sensitive portrayal of his characters. The aim of this article is to read the novella as a reflection on Zweig’s artistry and authorship, with the category of gender playing a decisive role: The unknown woman herself appears as a writing woman next to the male writer. In light of contemporary gender discourses that shape the constellation of characters and genders in the novella, Brief einer Unbekannten can be read as an expression of Stefan Zweig’s examination of his own authorship. The question of female and male writing thus becomes a question of distinction. This concerns, in no small part, Stefan Zweig’s personal life and that of his wife Friderike, who not only promoted her husband’s career but was also herself a writer.

The History and Development of Noun Gender in the German Language

This article explores the historical development, cognitive aspects, and sociolinguistic influences on noun gender in the German language. It traces the evolution of grammatical gender from Proto-Indo-European roots through Old High German and Middle High German to Modern German, highlighting key changes and the impact of external influences such as Latin and other languages. The study examines phonological and morphological shifts, semantic roles, and the challenges faced by learners due to inconsistencies in gender assignment. It also delves into ongoing debates about the necessity and complexity of gender, proposed reforms, and the importance of understanding historical context for language learning and teaching. The article concludes with potential future directions for the German gender system, emphasizing the balance between linguistic heritage and inclusivity.

Gender disparities in high-quality dermatology research over the past 15 years.

In the last 15 years, an increase in U.S. female dermatologists from 41 to 52.2% and a surge in female authorship (FAP) have been noted. Authorship is a pivotal objective measurement of academic productivity and, contribution as first or senior author, plays a major role in the promotion process of active physicians and faculty members. To validate, analyze, and clarify trends in FAP in high-quality dermatology research in the last 15 years. The Thomson Reuters Web of Science Journal Citation Reports 2021 was used to retrieve the 100 most-cited original articles from the top 5 dermatology journals (determined by 2021 impact factors) in 5 consecutive 3-year intervals between 2009 and 2023. Gender application programming interface, a gender algorithm, was used to identify FAP according to country of origin and first name. Monotonic trend test significance level was set at 5%. In total, 14,187 articles were retrieved and subdivided into the 100 most-cited in 3-year intervals. A total of 418 first and 447 senior authors' gender were identified. FAP was found in 43%, 31%, and 37% of the first, last, and total authors. Trend analysis revealed a decrease in the last 15 years (S = -4610, P = .068) in senior FAP. Similarly, the trend persists in the United States (S = -1606, P = .052). Due to the usage of a binary gender identification algorithm, Nonbinary gender could not be identified in this analysis. The last 15 years show an inverse relationship, with an increase in female dermatologists and a decrease in senior FAP in high-quality journals in the general dermatology community.

Large language models can infer psychological dispositions of social media users.

Large language models (LLMs) demonstrate increasingly human-like abilities across a wide variety of tasks. In this paper, we investigate whether LLMs like ChatGPT can accurately infer the psychological dispositions of social media users and whether their ability to do so varies across socio-demographic groups. Specifically, we test whether GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 can derive the Big Five personality traits from users' Facebook status updates in a zero-shot learning scenario. Our results show an average correlation of ( ) between LLM-inferred and self-reported trait scores-a level of accuracy that is similar to that of supervised machine learning models specifically trained to infer personality. Our findings also highlight heterogeneity in the accuracy of personality inferences across different age groups and gender categories: predictions were found to be more accurate for women and younger individuals on several traits, suggesting a potential bias stemming from the underlying training data or differences in online self-expression. The ability of LLMs to infer psychological dispositions from user-generated text has the potential to democratize access to cheap and scalable psychometric assessments for both researchers and practitioners. On the one hand, this democratization might facilitate large-scale research of high ecological validity and spark innovation in personalized services. On the other hand, it also raises ethical concerns regarding user privacy and self-determination, highlighting the need for stringent ethical frameworks and regulation.

In Genderqueer Closets: Challenging Gender Binarism through Embodied Narratives of Affect and Style

“Queer,” once a derogatory term to refer to sexual minorities, has been recently celebrated as “the fashion avant-garde of our times” through genderqueer self-expression. Despite increased visibility in fashion, research on the feelings and daily practices surrounding genderqueer style remains scarce. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the everyday practices and emotions of non-binary individuals, using the wardrobe as a conceptual framework. Genderqueer forms of self-expression, despite its emergence, have been notably under-explored. In order to address this gap, we ask the question- how do non-binary people assemble their styles in relation to how they feel? We respond to this question through a case study involving thirteen in-depth interviews and social media analysis exploring how non-binary people style themselves, navigate societal constraints, and emotionally engage with clothing. Findings suggest that non-binary individuals assemble their styles to achieve bold contrast, resisting gender norms and navigating the gender spectrum as an exercise of self-acceptance. Their wardrobe assembly is a form of self-identification and self-expression, influenced by spatial considerations that can amplify or conceal gender expression. By theorizing these practices, this study contributes to understanding diverse gender identities in fashion studies and deepens our understanding of fashion and affects.

Exploring factors that affect Kindergarten teachers’ use of picturebooks with gender non-conforming fictional characters

Kindergarten environments are critical settings for early socialization and development of gender perceptions. Teachers play a significant role in shaping children’s understanding of gender, as do the materials and media they introduce to the classroom. The aim of this study is to explore the factors that affect kindergarten teachers’ use of picturebooks with gender non-conforming fictional characters in their teaching process. For the purposes of this research a quantitative approach was utilized. A sample of eighty-five kindergarten teachers answered a semi-structured questionnaire. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed, presenting the factors which affect kindergarten teachers’ use of gendered oriented picturebooks. Results show that factors which mostly affect kindergarten teachers are a) related to the educational framework, b) interwoven with teachers’ own personal beliefs, and c) referring to parents’ influence. The comparison of mean scores of factors in different academic qualification groups shows that highly qualified teachers with the least working experience are not affected negatively in their use of picturebooks with gender non-conforming characters in their teaching process. Those teachers are open to gender diversity, are not discouraged by the parents’ influence and take advantage of both the variety of LGBTQ picturebooks offered and the methodological framework of the Early Years Curriculum to deconstruct gender binaries. Mapping the factors could reveal the need for enhancing teachers’ continuing education on diversity matters and teachers’ resilience towards parents’ influence. Furthermore, findings reveal the need for designing a more detailed and practical methodological framework regarding the approach of gender issues in early years.

Nonbinary identity and pronoun use: A qualitative analysis

Background and Aims Limited psychological research focuses on the identities and pronoun use experiences of nonbinary and genderqueer people. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of nonbinary and genderqueer young people, particularly with respect to the use and significance of pronouns. Method Twenty nonbinary people between the ages of 18 and 28 were recruited through flyers, queer student groups, and social media to take part in an interview and brief demographic survey. Interview transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Four overarching themes were selected: “Beyond Binary Gender Restrictions,” “Pronouns as a Tool,” “Pronouns and Outness,” and “Nonbinary Enough.” Participants reported finding strength in their gender nonconformity while balancing complicated demands from their communities and from society at large. They also described their pronouns as playing important roles in social relationships and in identity affirmation. Discussion The diverse roles that pronouns play in the lives of nonbinary people illustrates the need for increased conversation and flexibility in using people’s pronouns. Results suggest that supporting nonbinary identities requires increased understanding, respect, and more active forms of allyship from cisgender individuals, including moving beyond conceptualizing gender as a binary.