Gender Expectations Research Articles

Nurturing Empowering Perceptions: Exploring High School Girls' Perspectives on Gender Equity in Formal Educational Context and Factors Beyond

The primary objective of this article is to conduct an in-depth analysis of multiple factors-cultural, religious, and educational—that shape the perceptions of gender equality among female high school students. Focusing specifically on this demographic sample enables a nuanced exploration into how adolescence interacts with these factors to influence their perspectives on gender roles and expectations. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, going beyond the traditional educational paradigms, to include a variety of external influences such as familial backgrounds, religious texts, sociocultural norms, and the overall school environment. The research aims to contribute to the scholarly discourse on gender equality by enriching our understanding of how societal attitudes permeate classroom walls to shape young girls' viewpoints. By doing so, this study aspires to unearth the implicit and explicit messages received by female students that sustain gender imbalances. This serves the dual purpose of not only highlighting these influencing variables but also leveraging this knowledge to develop targeted interventions. The ultimate goal of this research is to formulate insightful strategies that promote a more equitable and empowering perception of girls and, by extension, women in society. These strategies will be rooted in the findings, which delineate the complex relationship between culture, religion, and education in shaping these perspectives. Thus, the research provides practical insights that could serve as foundational elements for fostering a more inclusive and empowering socio-educational environment for female students and women in the future.

Embracing a rubber rice bowl: women’s transition from paid work to self-employed entrepreneurship in coastal China

Purpose This study aims to examine why women transition from wage work to self-employed entrepreneurship, the seemingly insecure and unruly economic sector compared with the stable iron rice bowl and the fancy spring rice jobs. Design/methodology/approach Based on in-depth interviews in Zhejiang, the entrepreneurial hotbed in coastal China, this study examines the experiences of self-employed female entrepreneurs who used to work in the iron rice bowl and the spring rice jobs and explores their nonconventional career transition and its gendered implications. Findings This study finds that these women quit their previous jobs to escape from gendered suppression in wage work where their femininity was stereotyped, devalued or disciplined. By working for themselves, these women embrace a rubber rice bowl that allows them to improvise different forms of femininity that are better rewarded and recognized. Originality/value The study contributes to studies on gender and work by framing femininity as a fluid rather than a fixed set of qualities and fills the research gap by illustrating women’s agency in reacting to gender expectations in certain workplaces. The study develops a new concept of rubber rice bowl to describe how entrepreneurship, a seemingly women-unfriendly sphere, attracts women by allowing them to comply with, resist, or improvise normative gender expectations.

Stereological and computed tomography calculation of intracranial volume in Hamdani sheep

AbstractThe intracranial cavity contains vital organs such as the brain, cerebellum and meninges. The veterinary field employment in this region is limited. For this reason, obtaining information about the intracranial cavity, the operation to be performed on this region and information about the world will benefit our unit. It aimed to examine the width between gender differences and expectations by calculating the intracranial volume stereological and 3D models using computed tomography sections. In the study, 7 male and 6 female adult Hamdani sheep were used. The intracranial cavity was modelled in 3D using computed tomography sections. Intracranial volume was estimated using CT slices according to the Cavalieri principle. Morphometric measurements were obtained from the intracranial cavity. In the study, intracranial volume was calculated as 120.50±7.59 cm3 in females and 137.29±9.79 cm3 in males in measurements made using Computed Tomography. Intracranial volume calculation made using the Cavalieri's principle was calculated as 125.33±5.20cm3 in females and 136.89±9.13 cm3in males. In the configured CT models, a target difference was detected between the male and female volume values calculated on it (p < 0.05). There was a difference between males and females in stereologically viable intracranial volume (p < 0.05). A high level of density was observed between the results of both methods. In the mean of the data, there was no difference between the objectives (p > 0.05). Morphometric measurements determined that the maximum cranial cavity width parameter was between females and males (p < 0.005). In index1 and index2 calculated with the obtained partitions, a circulating difference between genders was observed (p < 0.05). In the resulting state, the 3‐dimensional intracranial cavity models and the intracranial volume fraction estimated by the Cavalieri principle are conserved. There are high limits between the methods. Feeding future intracranial volume and clinical care.

Exploring masculinities in Barbie (2023) directed by Greta Gerwig

"Barbie" (2023), directed by Greta Gerwig and co-written with Noah Baumbach, offers a satirical exploration of masculinity in the Barbie universe. This research paper employs Raewyn Connell's "Types of Masculinity" framework to analyze the male characters, particularly Ken, and their representation of different forms of masculinity within the fantastical world of Barbieland. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is used to uncover hidden beliefs and social commentary about masculinity expressed through language. The film presents a multifaceted exploration of masculinity, including hegemonic, complicit, subordinate, and marginalized types, challenging and reinforcing conventional gender expectations and contributing to a broader discourse on gender representation in contemporary cinema.
 
 Keywords: Barbie, contemporary cinema, critical discourse Analysis (CDA), gender representation, Greta Gerwig, masculinity, Raewyn Connell.

Языковое выражение гендерного статуса в немецком языке: за и против

The study aims to determine the influence of modern social processes in the ethnic society of German-speaking countries on the linguistic component of gender expression in the German language. The paper analyzes the current means of gender identity expression in the German language, emphasizes the role of including the gender parameter in linguistic research. The scientific novelty of the work lies in systematizing modern trends in gender expression, determining the role of language for expressing gender identity, roles and expectations in the German ethnic society. As a result of the study, two main strategies for combating androcentrism in the German language are identified: the replacement of gender-specific linguistic units with gender-neutral ones and the equal use of lexical units of the feminine and the masculine grammatical gender in speech. The analysis of the public reaction to modern innovations in the expression of gender status in language is carried out.

“Exploring Social Class and Gender Roles in Jane Austen's Novels”

This paper explores the intricate interplay of social class and gender roles in the novels of Jane Austen, a seminal figure in early 19th-century literature. Through her richly developed characters and astute social critiques, Austen illuminates the constraints imposed by class stratification and gender expectations in a rapidly changing England. By examining key works such as Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility, the paper highlights how Austen navigates the complexities of identity, agency, and societal norms. The analysis reveals that while marriage serves as a critical means of economic security for women, it also underscores the limitations of their choices within a patriarchal framework. Ultimately, Austen’s narratives advocate for personal integrity and emotional authenticity, suggesting that character transcends social boundaries. This study not only reaffirms Austen's relevance in contemporary discussions of class and gender but also invites readers to reflect on the enduring impact of societal structures on individual lives.

Exploring perceptions of gender roles amongst sexually active adolescents in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Traditional gender and social norms reinforce asymmetrical power relations, increase the risk of experiencing gender-based violence and mediate poor engagement with sexual and reproductive health services. This study explored gender norms and expectations amongst cisgender adolescents in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A purposive sample of 29 adolescents aged 16-19 years old were enrolled as part of a longitudinal qualitative study. The current analysis reports on the first round of in-depth interviews, which focused on the role of men and women in their community. A theoretically informed thematic analysis identified three broad themes: 1) Adolescent interpretation and understanding of gender identity, 2) Gendered essentialism and Gender roles (two sub-themes: Young men: Power through providing, and Young women: The domestication process which highlighted that gender roles were defined by being the provider for men, and the successful fulfilment of traditional domestic behaviours amongst women), 3) Gender and fertility highlighted how participants highly valued fertility as affirming of manhood/womanhood. These norms reinforce gender roles that maintain asymmetrical power relations, carrying them over into adulthood. The subtle social pressure to prove fertility could have unintended consequences for driving teenage pregnancy. Structural, gender-based interventions emphasising positive gender-role development in early childhood are needed.

Learning to Care: Men’s Parental Caregiving for Sons and Daughters in Peru

Research on men performing care has become a critical site to explore changes in masculinities. While studies have focused on caring masculinities, Stay-at-home-fathers, and involved fathers in the Global North, this study explores how Peruvian men conceive and perform care. While gender systems and relations in Latin America are changing, the involvement of men as caregivers has not yet been incorporated in efforts to achieve gender equality. Drawing on fourteen semi-structured interviews with male caregivers of adult children with severe mental illness in Lima, this study examines how local gendered expectations shape how men conceive and perform care. I argue that Peruvian men rework the relationship between care and masculinity by engaging with caregiving as a transformative experience. However, they also reproduce hegemonic masculinity, as caregiving becomes valuable when they share their journeys with peers to be casted in good light and regain status. Findings suggest that the men in this study conceptualize care as a skill to be learned; share their journeys as caregivers both to help other and regain status; and are more involved in caring for adult sons than for adult daughters. By providing evidence of experiences of impoverished men in the Global South, this study nuances and advances the scholarship on caring masculinities.

Anita Desai’s Fasting, Feasting: Gender and Social Roles

ABSTRACT: Anita Desai’s tenth novel, Fasting, Feasting deals with themes of deprivation, abundance and being trapped in society's claims. It also deals with male and female roles in two completely different cultures, Indian and American cultures. The contrast in the novel can be understood from the novel’s title. The pressures and expectations placed on the different characters in the novel show the contrast in the social roles men and women are expected to fulfill, both in India and in the United States. While men are expected to be hard working, academic, and successful, the social value of women is dependent on their submissiveness, domestic abilities, beauty and child bearing. Aruna and Uma are raised, educated, and groomed only with marriage in mind. When the multiple attempts of MamaPapa to arrange a marriage for Uma fail, it becomes Uma’s job to take care of her baby brother, Arun, and later her aging parents. Mama’s identity is tied in with her role as the wife of an important man, and she seldom disagrees with him. Anamika meets the social expectations of female submission—yet, abused to death, Anamika experiences the ultimate loss of freedom that threatens all women who are forced to fulfill the feminine ideal. Dr. Dutt and Mira-masi both represent women who, independent of family and men, defy female social roles. Men also lose their free will and individual expression to the social roles they must fill. American society as portrayed in the novel also places gendered expectations onto its members, particularly in regards to male and female beauty. Mrs. Patton, like her daughter Melanie, is burdened by American ideals of female perfection and beauty, which are obsessed with dangerous degrees of thinness and over-tanning. Mr. Patton and Rod similarly fulfill the traditional Macho American stereotype of athleticism and hard work. Like Papa, Mr. Patton assumes passive control over the members of his household. Mrs. Patton, like Mama, appears to have no other identity beyond wife and mother.

The Queens’ gambit: Women leadership, gender expectations, and interstate conflict

If more women were put in states’ leadership positions, would there be fewer militarised interstate disputes? The findings of this study suggest an affirmative answer to this question but for reasons that are different from the arguments associating women with peace. We derive our expectations from the ‘role incongruity’ perspective detailing the impact of gender stereotypes on individuals’ assessment of leaders and their decisions. Due to gendered expectations of leadership, ‘role incongruity’ can contribute to the escalation of militarised disputes in state dyads where one leader is male and the other is female, but its impact is mitigated in joint women-led state dyads. Our contributions to the scholarship on gender and conflict lie in illuminating theoretically how the threats arising from gender stereotypes can be reduced in all-women dyads and testing this relationship on state dyads between years 1966 and 2014.

Feminist HCI and narratives of design semantics in DIY music hardware

Feminist Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) integrates gender, diversity, equity, and social justice into technology research and design, fostering a more inclusive and socially aware technology landscape. This article explores the design semantics of ten Do-it-Yourself (DIY) musical instruments created by women builders. Design semantics refers to the associations conveyed by designed objects so as to identity, emotions, performance or the environment and their sensory qualities such as shape, size, touch or vision. Together these associations and qualities can establish design narratives that influence the way meaning is ascribed. We conduct an analysis of these instruments to answer the question of how fabulations of design semantics, through the lens of feminist HCI principles, can reshape our understanding of gender bias in object design within the realm of DIY musical instruments constructed by women builders. Our investigation uncovers a feminist narrative taking shape as we found out that DIY instruments design contributes to the fabulation of alternative futures that challenge prevalent current gender expectations associated with commercial music hardware. DIY instruments provide a platform for questioning established gender norms, enabling the development of technologies that embrace diverse perspectives and maintain a technical identity.

Reactions to gender-(counter)normative behavior online in the United States: attraction and hiring implications

PurposeResearch indicates that inconsistent gender norm presentations are met with backlash, which is particularly damaging to women. With social media use in selection rising, it is important to understand if this remains consistent for job applicants on social media.Design/methodology/approachIn two experiments, this study investigates hiring managers' reactions to job applicant (in)consistent gender norm-based communication on Facebook (n = 197) and YouTube (n = 203). Participants located in the United States were asked to review social media materials, reported perceptions of task and social attraction, and make hiring recommendations.FindingsInconsistent with work on backlash in face-to-face settings, results demonstrated that masculine communication styles on social media may be detrimental to job seekers, and this was more pronounced for male job seekers. Feminine presentation styles had more favorable results.Practical implicationsThe findings challenge the long-held understanding that men have more leeway to behave in agentic ways in job seeking contexts. While this may remain true in face-to-face settings, these findings suggest that social media, lacking media richness, may be a context in which males experience backlash for agentic behavior.Originality/valueThe research offers a novel perspective investigating traditional gender expectations in the digital realm, paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of gender in employment contexts. This study contributes to the growing body of research on online behavior and expands understanding of how hiring managers react to gender norms in the era of social media.

Love for a handsome man requires a lot of friends: Sociability practices related to romance games (Otome Games) in Japan

AbstractJapan is the world’s largest producer of love simulation games, revealing a curious feature: these games, in theory, assign female players to the unique task of seducing a male character, but, in reality, they promote the establishment of a network of friendship between women. Love cannot be achieved if this network is not carefully woven both in play and in real life. Based on the analysis of this double dynamics, outwardly contradictory, I would like to advance the following hypothesis: that such games enable their users to ‘outsmart’ gender expectations. These games, called otome games, became popular in the context of a national panic related to the declining birthrate: they target the market of women who – living alone or with their parents – are held responsible for the future shortfall of the system. These new generations of women don’t start a family. They have no children. How do they manage to ward off exclusion and stigma? The study will focus on the strategies collectively devised to turn otome games into an identity-building tool, promoting friendship between players as a means of resistance against social norms.

Investigating the Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Chinese BL Culture and the Analyzing Associated Subjects

This research explores the complexity of the BL industry, its origin, its evolution, and the psychological mechanisms behind its popularity among women. Since the introduction of Japanese BL culture into China in the 1990s and has developed rapidly, which formed a strong female ideology and a mode of network as the main communication space in the process of localization and contributed to the emergence of the Fujoshi group. However, behind BLs seemingly powerful narrative lurks unconscious misogyny and anti-feminism. The article will use Lacans mirror stage theory, Freuds castration complex theory, and Ueno Chizukos Misogyny to intensely discuss the psychological mechanism and the problems existing in the epidemic process of BL and the attraction of Fujoshi culture, which reveals the BL provides a fantasy world where women can project their desire and seek an idealized, egalitarian model of love. At the same time, binary gender expectations are also prevalent in BL culture, reflecting traditional gender stereotypes. It suggests that some BL creators may harbor self-loathing towards their own gender and envy towards men.

Beyond the Static: Women, Voice and Radio Zulu in the 1970s and 1980s

ABSTRACT The article argues that radio – in particular, the African-language station initially known as Radio Bantu, and from 1973 as Radio Zulu – became a space that gave women access to a powerful acoustic domain of the airwaves that extended their “voices” in both the private and public spheres. Versatile, multi-operational broadcasters such as Winnie Mahlangu challenged any singular or normative understanding of roles that women could inhabit. They became cultural brokers and norm shakers Also, in the sphere of “voice”, the airwaves of Radio Zulu, in the turbulent 1980s and before, gave space to performers such as the Royal uMntwana/Princess Constance Magogo. Her performances further unsettled any simple configurations of voice, gender and radio. She influenced younger performers and dissolved conventional historical expectations of gender, sound and power.

The Evolution of Patriarchal Structures in Contemporary Families: A Qualitative Inquiry

Objective: The patriarchal family structure has been a dominant societal framework, influencing gender roles and family dynamics across cultures. However, contemporary societal shifts, including changes in economic conditions, cultural norms, and gender expectations, have begun to challenge and reshape these traditional structures. This study aims to explore the evolution of patriarchal structures in contemporary families, focusing on how these changes impact authority dynamics, economic influences, and cultural and social norms within family units. Methods and Materials: A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 25 participants from diverse backgrounds to gather in-depth insights into the shifting patriarchal dynamics within families. Theoretical saturation was achieved, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the themes. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes and subthemes related to the evolution of patriarchal structures. Findings: The analysis revealed three main themes: Changing Dynamics of Authority, Economic Influences on Patriarchy, and Cultural and Social Norms. Under the Changing Dynamics of Authority, findings highlighted a trend towards joint decision-making, redistribution of gender roles, and new conflict resolution strategies. Economic Influences on Patriarchy underscored the role of financial independence in challenging traditional norms, with significant changes observed in household economy management and the impact of economic crises on family roles. Cultural and Social Norms revealed shifts in perceptions of masculinity and femininity, the influence of marriage and family traditions, the role of religion, education, and the impact of media and technology on family structures. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that patriarchal structures in contemporary families are undergoing significant evolution. Economic autonomy, cultural shifts, and changing gender roles play pivotal roles in this transformation. The findings suggest a move towards more egalitarian family structures, where traditional patriarchal authority is being renegotiated in response to contemporary societal changes.

Analysis of the causes of Domestic Violence against men in Ecuador

The research aimed to analyze the causes of domestic violence against men in Ecuador, identifying aggressors' behavioral patterns and the social context contributing to this phenomenon. A bibliographic review of articles in English and Spanish published between 2018 and 2023 was employed, using databases such as PUBMED and DIALNET. The final selection included 27 relevant studies, of which 17 were used for analysis. The methodology focused on using the Pareto chart, which allowed for identifying and prioritizing the main causes of violence. These factors were distributed in a bar chart, showing that a small number of causes are responsible for most of the effects. The results indicated that violence against men is an underestimated and underreported problem due to social stigmas and gender expectations. Additionally, a lack of specific public policies and legal resources for male victims of violence was observed, perpetuating their invisibility and lack of adequate support. Men who suffer violence can develop severe psychological disorders, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It was concluded that this problem must be addressed comprehensively by implementing awareness campaigns, psychological and legal support, and promoting cultural changes to recognize violence against men as a public health issue. The creation of specific public policies and early intervention programs was also recommended to mitigate this phenomenon and provide adequate support to victims.Keywords: male abuse, violent acts, psychological harm, preventive actions

Exploring the Theme of Motherhood as portrayed in Top Girls and Fen by Caryl Churchill

This paper examines the theme of motherhood as portrayed in Caryl Churchill's plays: Top Girls(1982) and Fen (1983). By delving into the nuanced exploration of motherhood within these works, this paper aims to shed light on the complex and multifaceted nature of maternal experiences, while also analyzing the social, cultural, and political contexts that shape these representations. Through a close reading of the plays, this paper elucidates the diverse perspectives on motherhood presented by Churchill. Moreover, this paper situates Churchill's exploration of motherhood within the broader socio-political landscape of the time. It considers the feminist movements and debates surrounding reproductive rights and motherhood in the late 20th century, as well as the socio-economic realities that shaped women's experiences. By contextualizing the plays, this research paper provides a comprehensive understanding of how Churchill's works engage with the theme of motherhood as a lens to comment on the complexities of gender, power, and social expectations.

Are Differences in Living Kidney Donation Rates a Sex or a Gender Disparity?

Sex-disaggregated data reveal significant disparities in living kidney donation, with more female than male living kidney donors in most countries and proportions over 60% in some countries. We summarize the present state of knowledge with respect to the potential drivers of this disparity and argue that it is primarily driven by gender-related factors. First, we present the differences between sex and gender and then proceed to summarize the potential medical reasons that have been proposed to explain why males are less likely to be living kidney donors than females, such as the higher prevalence of kidney failure in males. We then present counterarguments as to why biological sex differences are not enough to explain lower living kidney donation among males, such as a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease among females, which could affect donation rates. We argue that gender differences likely provide a better explanation as to why there are more women than men living kidney donors and explore the role of economic and social factors, as well as gender roles and expectations, in affecting living kidney donation among both men and women. We conclude with the need for a gender analysis to explain this complex psychosocial phenomenon in living kidney donation.

“The Tennis Ball of Fortune”: Print, Manuscript, and Provincial Literacies in The Chronicles of John Cannon

This paper will focus on the Chronicles of John Cannon, a ploughboy turned exciseman and writing master living in the Somerset levels who described himself as a “Tennis Ball of Fortune.” Cannon's story of self-education and writerly self-fashioning took striking material form in an illustrated manuscript book he produced in the first decades of the eighteenth century. As a work and an object, the Chronicles stages a series of conversations between print and manuscript. In exploring this unique case study, we expose how the mixed medium of the manuscript book could present different and mutually supportive forms of authority. In this case, print is referred to through citation, graphic imitation, and paratextual format, whilst at the same time, the virtuoso scribal acts of transcribing and refining within the volume operate as an alternative index of textual fidelity and credibility. Our case study also pushes us to reconsider some of the clustered assumptions around the nature of the manuscript book in this period: this is the work of a male, non-elite writer, an amateur production. It is not a family or coterie production, and rather than offering a miscellany of genres and hands, it subsumes its varied contents into the narrative of a single life. How do we understand this unique blended form in the context of existing narratives about the nature of the manuscript book? And how might we edit such materials to retain a sense of their hybridity? Cannon's Chronicles also helps us connect the study of the manuscript book to a concern with the social dimensions of manuscript forms in a community of mixed literacies. Cannon's copying and writing became an important performance of professional competence in a culture of amateur literary production. As a case study, his work challenges expectations of gender and class in eighteenth-century manuscript studies and reveals how the affordances of the pen might reflect the burgeoning print culture of the period.