Gender Diversity Research Articles

The Nexus between Corporate Governance and Economic, Social and Environment (ESE) Practices: Bangladeshi Banking Paradox

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between corporate governance and sustainability practices at 45 scheduled commercial banks in Bangladesh. The study specifically focused on the impact of corporate governance on bank sustainability practices, using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI-4) sustainability guidelines. The resource-based view theory was used to explain the relationship between corporate governance and sustainability practices. Panel data used for this analysis was derived from the annual and sustainability disclosure reports of these banks from 2017 to 2021. This study explores dimensions of corporate governance, including board size, independent board members, CEO duality, gender diversity, audit committees, risk management committees, and audit firm size, highlighting their importance in strategic decision-making. It also explores sustainability practices from a corporate perspective, focusing on economic, social, and environmental performance indicators and emphasizing the importance of strategic resource allocation and disclosure. Four hypotheses were formed, and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was employed to test the relationship between corporate governance and bank sustainability practices. The statistical results showed that CG has a direct effect on firms overall sustainability as well as social and environmental sustainability practices. It was also seen that the size of the board has a significant effect on the overall sustainability measures (ESE). The study suggests that pro-active measures should be taken to improve sustainability practices in Bangladesh.

Rookie independent directors and agency costs: Evidence from Chinese listed firms

This study investigates the impact of rookie independent directors (RIDs) on agency costs. Utilizing a sample of Chinese listed firms, we employ panel ordinary least square estimations. Our findings reveal that increased RIDs is positively associated with agency costs, suggesting that rookie independent directors may exacerbate agency conflicts within Chinese firms. Also, qualified financial institutional investors and gender diversity within the board composition mitigate the positive effect of RIDs on agency costs. Overall, our study contributes to understanding corporate governance dynamics in Chinese listed firms by shedding light on the nuanced relationship between rookie independent directors and agency costs.

Corporate Governance and Financial Performance: Family Firms vs. Non-Family Firms

The essence of a family business captures the distinguishing factors differentiating them from non-family businesses. Among these factors, the constructs of family firms’ managing and governance elements are perceived differently by non-family firms. This is especially important in a developing country such as South Africa (SA) with many governance challenges. The objectives of this study were, first, to identify relationships among financial performance, corporate governance, and ownership concentrations of listed family and non-family businesses in SA. Next, a comparison was made between the different ownership structures. Secondary data were collected using purposive sampling from 2015 to 2019. These data were analysed using panel data analysis and descriptive statistics. The results show that family firms place a greater emphasis on ownership concentration, board size, and board gender diversity, which have a significant relationship with financial performance. Only board size was significant to financial performance for non-family firms. The results indicate that family businesses should appoint female family members as directors on their boards, given the significance of gender-diverse boards for financial performance. Non-family businesses should also consider having smaller boards. Theoretically, this study expands on the literature regarding family businesses in SA. However, the findings cannot be generalised due to a single industry being selected. This study should be replicated in different industries to compare the results.

Instructor Gender Influences Non-Major’s Drawings of an Entomologist

The Draw-a-Scientist Test (DAST) has been extensively researched as a projective test used to assess individuals’ perceptions of scientists. This study investigated student perceptions of entomologists and compared responses of students taught by a male instructor with responses of students who viewed video lectures recorded by the male instructor but interacted with a female instructor. Data were collected from two sections of an introductory entomology course at Oklahoma State University, with one section taught by a male instructor and the other by a female instructor using lecture recordings of the male instructor. Drawings were analyzed for characteristics including facial expression, clothing, equipment, presence of insects, race, and gender. The majority of drawings included smiling faces, glasses, and entomology equipment, while few students illustrated persons of color. Specific criteria to classify drawn entomologists as male, female, or non-gender figures were developed and used to assess drawings. The majority of students in both sections drew male entomologists, consistent with previous DAST studies where male scientists predominate. However, a higher proportion of female entomologists were depicted in the section who interacted with the female instructor. These findings emphasize the impact of instructor gender on students’ perceptions and stereotypes. Even when lectures are given by a male instructor, interaction with a female instructor can positively influence the gender representation in students’ drawings. Efforts should be made to promote diversity and inclusivity in instruction to increase underrepresented groups in science. This study contributes criteria to assess student depictions of gender and provides valuable insights into the gender representation and characteristics depicted in student drawings of entomologists. It highlights the influence of instructor gender on students’ perceptions and stereotypes in entomology and likely applies to other fields of biology.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF TURKISH SHORT FILMS RELEASED ON MUBI

49 Turkish short films published on the MUBI platform were analysed and it was determined that the majority of them were in the fiction genre (78%) and a few were in the documentary genre (22%). In the analysed films, the problem of gender equality in the directing position was observed and it was revealed that the majority of the directors were male. In terms of language use, it was determined that Turkish was dominant (59.18%) and some films did not contain any dialogue (22.45%). In the gender distribution of the main characters, it was observed that female and male characters were used with similar frequency. It was observed that the majority of the films were shot in the Marmara Region and the geographical diversity of Turkey was reflected in the cinema. In the thematic analysis, social and psychological problems came to the forefront, and it was determined that social issues such as migration and women's rights were intensively handled (58.16%) and psychological themes such as melancholy and loneliness (18.36%). In conclusion, it has been observed that Turkish short films published on MUBI bring together various aspects of Turkish cinema with the audience through their language diversity, gender representation, geographical distribution and rich thematic content.

Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Representation Among US Academic Spine Surgeons.

Although diversity has improved across certain orthopaedic subspecialties, enhancing diversity within spine surgery has remained a challenge. We aimed to investigate the current state of sex, racial, and ethnic diversity among academic orthopaedic spine surgeons in the United States. In January 2024, a cross-sectional analysis of orthopaedic spine surgery faculty in the United States was conducted using the Doximity database to identify eligible surgeons. Fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeons (professor, associate professor, and assistant professor) who graduated residency between 1990 and 2022 were included. Race, sex, academic rank, residency year of graduation, and H-Index scores were recorded using publicly available information from faculty profile pages and the Doximity database. Four hundred fifty-two spine faculty were included in the analysis: 95.1% men and 4.84% women. Across race and ethnicity, 315 surgeons (69.7%) were White, 111 (24.6%) Asian, 15 (3.32%) Black or African American, and 11 (2.43%) Hispanic or Latino or of Spanish origin. Of the 101 professor-level surgeons, 3 (2.97%) were Black men. Among female professors, none were Black, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino. No Hispanic or Latino female professors, associate professors, or assistant professors were identified. The sex and race/ethnicity demographics that have increased in percentage over time include White women (0.92% to 6.08%), Asian men (11.0% to 26.5%), Asian women (0% to 1.66%), and Hispanic/Latino men (1.83% to 3.87%). The surgeon demographic groups that demonstrated minimal fluctuations over time included Black men, Black women, and Hispanic/Latino women. Our findings demonstrate that underrepresentation among academic spine surgeons remains an ongoing challenge that warrants increased attention. Enhancing the representation of Black and Hispanic men, as well as Black, Asian, and Hispanic women, in spine surgery requires a deliberate effort at every level of orthopaedic training.

Perception of voice cues and speech-in-speech by children with prelingual single-sided deafness and a cochlear implant

Voice cues, such as fundamental frequency (F0) and vocal tract length (VTL), help listeners identify the speaker's gender, perceive the linguistic and emotional prosody, and segregate competing talkers. Postlingually implanted adult cochlear implant (CI) users seem to have difficulty in perceiving and making use of voice cues, especially of VTL. Early implanted child CI users, in contrast, perceive and make use of both voice cues better than CI adults, and in patterns similar to their peers with normal hearing (NH).In our study, we investigated the perception and use of voice cues in children with single-sided deafness (SSD) who received their CI at an early age (SSD+CI), in an attempt to bridge the gap between these two groups. The SSD+CI children have access to bilateral auditory information and often receive their CI at an early age, similar to CI children. They may also have dominant acoustic representations, similar to CI adults who acquired hearing loss at a later age. As such, the current study aimed to investigate the perception and use of voice cues by a group of nine early-implanted children with prelingual SSD. The study consisted of three experiments: F0 and VTL discrimination, voice gender categorization, and speech-in-speech perception. In each experiment, the results of the SSD group are compared to children and adults with CIs (for their CI ear) and with typical hearing (for their NH ear).Overall, the SSD+CI children had poorer VTL detection thresholds with their CI compared to their NH ear, while their F0 perception was similar across ears. Detection thresholds for both F0 and VTL with their CI ear was comparable to those of bilaterally implanted CI children, suggesting that SSD+CI children do not only rely on their NH ear, but actually make use of their CI. SSD+CI children relied more heavily on F0 cues than on VTL cues for voice gender categorization, with cue weighting patterns comparable to those of CI adults. In contrast to CI children, the SSD+CI children showed limited speech perception benefit based on F0 and VTL differences between the target and masker speaker, which again corresponded to the results of CI adults. Altogether, the SSD+CI children make good use of their CI, despite a good-hearing ear, however, the perceptual patterns seem to fall in-between those of CI children and CI adults. Perhaps a combination of childhood neuroplasticity, limited experience with relying only on the CI, and a dominant acoustic representation of voice gender explain these results.

Far-right rhetorics and deconstructions in Brazilian educational policies

Brazil's education policy has historically been marked by significant inequalities in access and quality, particularly affecting the most vulnerable populations. Over the past two decades, Brazil has implemented substantial changes aimed at reducing inequality, promoting inclusion, and addressing racial and gender disparities. However, the rise of radical right-wing populism, particularly under President Jair Bolsonaro (2018-2022), resulted in a shift in educational policy. This article examines how radical right groups have influenced education policy in Brazil. Bolsonaro's administration, supported by conservative and religious groups, sought to reverse progressive policies related to gender, sexual orientation, and ethnic diversity and inclusion. These changes reinforced societal norms, traditional values, and nationalism, rejecting multiculturalism and adopting forms of othering. The findings are based on previous research that involded qualitative analysis of documents and interviews.

Gender Mainstreaming and Diversity in Higher Education: An Experience in Software Engineering Education

Gender Mainstreaming and Diversity in Higher Education: An Experience in Software Engineering Education

Analyzing diversity trends in dermatology: A comprehensive overview.

Dermatology lags behind other medical specialties in workforce diversity, particularly regarding gender, race, and ethnicity. This study aims to analyze the current demographics of dermatology physicians in the United States, comparing them with other medical specialties, the overall population of practicing U.S. physicians, and the U.S. population as a whole. Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the U.S. Census Bureau (2007-2022) were used to evaluate gender, racial, and ethnic diversity within dermatology. Demographic factors analyzed included gender, race, and ethnicity, with racial categories grouped as White, Asian, and underrepresented minorities in medicine (URiM). Chi-square tests assessed the fit of gender and age distributions with population proportions, while linear regression models examined trends over time. From 2007 to 2021, the number of dermatologists grew by 22.9%, with a corresponding decrease in population per dermatologist, indicating growth relative to the general population. The proportion of female dermatologists rose by 68.1% during this period, while the male proportion declined by 5.1%. From 2019 to 2022, a significant linear increase (p < 0.001) in URiM representation among dermatology residents was observed, with a model-predicted annual increase of 1.6%. The increasing diversity in dermatology may be attributed to initiatives such as scholarships and mentorship programs implemented by dermatology organizations and residency programs. By fostering a more diverse workforce, dermatology can better address the healthcare needs of a diverse population and promote health equity across all demographics.

Teenagers, media usage, and attitudes toward LGBTIQ+ issues: An ethnographic approach to Barcelona’s students

The paper analyses the discourses of teenagers from Barcelona around LGBTIQ+ rights and individuals, focusing on determining what influence the media have on these discourses. Short-term ethnographic research was carried out from March 2022 to May 2023 in three educational institutions from the Barcelona metropolitan area. The study involved 59 participants aged between 14 and 18 years old, encompassing diverse identities and backgrounds. The data gathered during the ethnographic research were coded and analyzed qualitatively. The results are presented in four main areas: (1) Over-information, dis-information, and confusion; (2) Media usage; (3) LGBTIQ+ phobia; and (4) LGBTIQ+ self-perception and responses. The paper contributes to LGBTIQ+ Media Studies by incorporating ethnographic methods into this field. In addition, it provides information for educators and practitioners that can be used in subjects that include aspects on gender and sexual diversity.

Parent perceptions of various treatment approaches for PANS and PANDAS

Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDAS) is characterized by sudden, dramatic onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) following a Group A Streptococcus infection. Pediatric acute neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) refers to sudden, dramatic onset OCD and/or restricted eating triggered by infections and other inflammatory reactions. A variety of treatments have been utilized for PANS/PANDAS; however, there is no “gold standard” intervention protocol. Parental expectations of a given treatment have been found to improve a child's overall treatment experience; however, parent attitudes towards PANS/PANDAS treatments are unknown, which was the purpose of this study. An online survey was distributed to 208 parents of children with self-reported PANS/PANDAS. Treatments were grouped together within overarching categories (i.e., psychotherapy, psychiatric/psychotropic, inflammation/infection mitigation, supplements, lifestyle changes, and surgery). Categorically, parents rated inflammation/infection mitigation interventions and lifestyle changes as most appropriate, and psychiatric/psychotropic interventions as least appropriate. At the individual level, treatments including antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, intravenous immunoglobulin, and family counseling received ratings between “appropriate” and “extremely appropriate” Alternatively, treatments including deep brain stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, antidepressant medications, and exposure and response prevention received ratings between “inappropriate” and “extremely inappropriate.” Study limitations include a lack of gender and race representation in our sample. Findings indicate a need for dissemination of current, relevant research to the parent population as well as further examination of the parent experience throughout onset, diagnosis, and treatment.

“Only some can succeed Here”: A mixed methods study of how faculty unproductive mindsets relate to Gender, Racial, and First-Gen representation in higher education

Gender, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities pervade academia. Though there are a wealth of established reasons for these gaps, recent research has begun to examine how faculty beliefs contribute to representation outcomes for groups stereotyped as lacking intelligence. Extending prior research and using a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach, the present study investigates how field-specific ability beliefs (beliefs about the importance of brilliance) and fixed mindsets (beliefs about the immutability of intelligence) relate to the representation of women, racial/ethnic minorities, and first-generation students at various levels of academia. In a quantitative study of 1,025 faculty from 83 departments, self-reported beliefs exhibited negative correlations with representation outcomes in the small to very large range (−.16 > r’s > -0.44). Qualitative findings, however, suggest a more complicated relationship. Focus group data from undergraduate and graduate students in two departments differing in faculty beliefs (N = 32), suggested that both explicit and implicit messages from professors, peers, and the learning environment are important contributors to students’ experiences, beliefs, and decisions. The results call for more intentional considerations, both in research and in practice, of the messages students receive from the environments in which they learn.

Disentangling gender, sex, and biology: a mixed methods study of gender identity data collection tools

ObjectivesWe used community-based mixed methods to test whether transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people preferred gender identity questions developed by community members over current questions in use and generate hypotheses about data collection preferences. MethodsWe interviewed twenty TGD adults in English and Spanish, asking them to rate and discuss their responses to questions. We analyzed quantitative data with descriptive statistics and qualitative data with template analysis, then integrated them. ResultsMore participants preferred gender identity questions that were currently in use. Themes: 1) TGD participants find questions about “gender” and related terminology unclear because of conflations of sex, gender, and other constructs. 2) TGD participants resist cisgenderism in questions about gender identity. 3) TGD people desire questions that allow for autonomy, privacy, and safety. 4) Contextual factors, particularly safety, influence whether and how TGD people answer questions about gender and sex. ConclusionsTGD people have varied concepts of sex and gender and preferences about data collection. Future research should investigate the impacts of disentangling gender, sex, and biological factors, which could decrease stigma for TGD people.Practice implicationsMedical care that disentangles gender, sex, and biological factors could improve data collection effectiveness and the safety of TGD people.

Dimensions of experienced gender and prospective self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in preadolescent children: A national study

ObjectivesGender diverse youth face higher risk of engaging in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) compared to cisgender youth. Limitations in past research include a focus on older adolescents, an emphasis on specific gender identity labels that may not be inclusive of the range of youth gender experiences, and reliance on cross-sectional data. Thus, the current study prospectively evaluated dimensions of experienced gender in relation to first-onset SITBs among preadolescents. MethodsData were drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a longitudinal study of youth across the United States. Youth (n = 7909) were aged 10–11 during initial assessment, and follow-up was conducted one year later. Two dimensions of experienced gender, felt-gender incongruence (not feeling aligned with the gender associated with one's sex assigned at birth) and gender non-contentedness (feeling dissatisfaction with the gender associated with one's sex assigned at birth), were assessed. Primary outcomes included non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal ideation (SI), and suicide attempts (SA). ResultsLogistic regressions were conducted stratified by sex assigned at birth. For youth assigned female at birth, felt-gender incongruence was prospectively associated with first-onset NSSI and SI and gender non-contentedness was prospectively associated with first-onset of NSSI. For youth assigned male at birth, gender non-contentedness was prospectively associated with first-onset SI. Diverse experienced gender did not prospectively predict SA. ConclusionsDimensions of experienced gender may be associated with subsequent first-onset SITBs among preadolescents. These findings support the need for future research on risk and protective factors that may mediate or moderate this relationship.

Do board characteristics impact greenwashing? Moderating role of CSR committee

The study examines the role of board characteristics (board gender diversity, independence, and foreign-experienced directors) on greenwashing with the corporate social responsibility (CSR) committee as moderator. The study employed data for the period 2014–2023 drawn from CSMAR and infinitive database. Regression analysis was performed and the results revealed that board gender diversity, independence, and foreign-experienced directors negatively influence greenwashing among Chinese listed firms. Additionally, the CSR committee negatively moderates the board characteristics–greenwashing relationship. The study offers important implications for practitioners and regulators.

Board Gender Diversity and Firm Performance: Evidence from Listed Energy Firms in Vietnam

Board Gender Diversity and Firm Performance: Evidence from Listed Energy Firms in Vietnam

Exploring the 6-year Trend in Dedicated Research Years among Integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residents.

The plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) match has become more competitive with an emphasis on research productivity. With the transition of the US Medical Licensing Examination step 1 examination to pass-fail grading, alternative evaluation metrics for residency applications are needed. Our study provides a landscape of the incidence of research years amongst integrated PRS residents and the potential impacts of gender and race. A retrospective study was conducted for all integrated PRS residents who matched between 2017 and 2022, using publicly available sources including residency websites, PubMed, Doximity, and social media. Demographics, educational background, and participation in a dedicated PRS research year were recorded. Among 993 residents across 85 accredited integrated PRS programs, 15.7% (156 of 993) took a research year, with a significant increase over 6 years (R 2 = 0.73, P = 0.019). The majority were men at 51.9%, and White at 53.5%, with underrepresented in medicine residents comprising 13.5%. A total of 73.1% came from a medical school with a home program, and 52.6% matched into a top 20 residency program. No significant difference was seen in the racial/ethnic or gender representation of residents who took a research year compared with all PRS applicants and active PRS residents. Research years before applying to residency are becoming more common among integrated PRS residents. Research years are especially common with students who do not have a home program and may help them gain skills and access to mentorship that improves the likelihood of matching.

Impact of Institutional Isomorphism on Gender Diversity on the Boards of Sport Organizations in Japan

This study utilized institutional theory to examine how the Governance Code implemented in Japan in 2019 increased the number of female board members in national sport federations (NF) recognized by the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC). Using the three mechanisms of antecedents that lead to changes in institutional isomorphism as a framework (coercive isomorphism, mimetic processes, and normative pressures), we conducted semi-structured interviews with board members of sport organizations and analyzed the obtained data using thematic analysis. The results revealed institutional isomorphism influenced gender diversity on NF boards and identified the mechanisms that promote gender diversity on the boards of sport organizations.

Impact of Workforce Diversity on Organizational Effectiveness: Evidence from Nepalese Commercial Banks

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between workforce diversity and overall effectiveness of Nepalese commercial banks, focusing on how diverse employee backgrounds contribute to organizational performance and operational success.Method: The descriptive and casual comparative research designs were used. The data were collected from 210 managerial level employeesof Nepalese commercial banks through structured questionnaires. The study applied purposive sampling technique to collect the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used for data analysis. Data analysis was performed using Smart PLS 4.Results: The study reveals that ethnic diversity does not significantly influence organizational effectiveness. Conversely, gender and age diversity are significant predictors of organizational effectiveness. These results underscore the relevance of gender and age diversity in enhancing organizational performance in the Nepalese commercial banks.Conclusion: The research highlights the importance of fostering gender-balanced and age-diverse workforces for improving organizational effectiveness. By focusing on gender and age diversity, banks can better harness diverse perspectives and experiences, leading to improved outcomes. These findings suggest that workforce diversity is a major organizational strategy to enhance organizational effectiveness by fostering innovation, improving decision-making, increasing employee satisfaction, and enhancing customer services.