Gender Inequality Research Articles

Gender Inequality in Social Forestry Management of Baduy Farmers in Lebak Regency

Gender Inequality in Social Forestry Management of Baduy Farmers in Lebak Regency

Combating domestic violence in West Bengal, India: Gendered norms and legal regulations

Domestic violence has long been a major concern for women's organisations globally. Despite decades of progressive legislation in India since the 1980s, this paper underscores the persistent and structural nature of domestic violence, which afflicts lives across gender identities. The study draws on findings from a survey of 2193 aggrieved women and select case studies across 13 districts of West Bengal who have accessed the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), a civil law enacted in 2005 to give protection to victim-survivors from domestic violence (as opposed to punishing the perpetrators). The paper argues that even ‘radical’ legislation such as the PWDVA helps survivors manage and endure violence rather than eliminate it from their lives. In doing so, the legislation offers a coping strategy to the aggrieved rather than a means through which deep-seated social structures of patriarchy that perpetuate domestic violence can be challenged to ensure gender justice. Our study indicates that there is a greater degree of precarity among women survivors with psycho-social disabilities and members of gender-sexual minorities. The majority of actors in the socio-legal ecosystem who should be upholding survivors’ right to live a life free from violence instead place them primarily in the heterosexual patriarchal family. The feminist vision behind the enactment of PWDVA, which valued the assertion of a survivor's rights as a citizen of a democratic country to lead a life free from violence, is eschewed in favour of preserving the institution of family and marriage over gender justice.

Parenthood wage gaps in multinational enterprises

AbstractWhile multinational enterprises (MNEs) are widely recognized for providing employment to a significant number of women around the globe, empirical evidence suggests that existing gender inequalities may be aggravated rather than alleviated in their subsidiaries. We build on gender theory to better understand how gender is construed and enacted differently in MNE subsidiaries compared to domestic firms, particularly with regard to the differential effects of parenthood on wage gaps for male versus female employees. Because of the relatively more demanding working conditions in MNE subsidiaries and their gendered policies and practices, we hypothesize that the motherhood penalty and fatherhood bonus are larger in MNE subsidiaries than in domestic firms. Using an extensive database of micro-level data of over 36,500 employees in 57 countries, we find a larger fatherhood bonus in MNE subsidiaries compared to domestic firms, but no significant difference in the motherhood penalty. Our results suggest that shifting entrenched gendered social beliefs and divisions of household labor is not the only pathway to gender equality, and call for a critical examination of gender-related values, perceptions, policies, and practices in MNEs, beyond a focus on supporting women (with children). We discuss managerial, theoretical, and societal implications accordingly.

“I’m Just so Used to Seeing Men Succeeding”: Gender Inequality and the Glass Slipper of Success in the Events Industry

This mixed methods study investigated differences in men’s and women’s career success in the events industry. A “glass slipper” of success was identified that aligns more readily with some bodies/people than others. An online survey tested the extent to which this glass slipper “fits” men and women. Results illustrate that men are more successful than women on all measures, indicating that the glass slipper of success is gendered. Interviews were used to explore experiences of success (or otherwise) and to investigate the workings of the glass slipper. Women were often aware of their lack of fit, whereas men did not recognize the gendered norms that make it easier for them to have their merit acknowledged and rewarded. The gendered glass slipper contributes to ongoing gender inequality in the events industry, making it harder for women to be recognized???by themselves and others???as successful in their careers.

The relationship between a series of inflammatory markers on the risk of heart failure in different gender groups: Analysis from NHANES 2015-2018.

A better understanding of the level-grade inflammation for the development and worsening of heart failure (HF) in different gender groups is an unmet need. We performed an updated analysis on the impact of a series of systemic inflammation markers on HF. This compensatory cross-sectional study enrolled participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2018. HF was based on the self-reported questions. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to investigate the association between systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and HF. For patients of different genders, P for trend was used to analyze potential linear trend relationships and the restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to describe non-linear relationships. The additive interaction was evaluated by the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP), and the synergy index (SI). The multiplicative interaction was evaluated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of product-term. A total of 5,830 participants from the NHANES database were divided into two groups: the HF group (n = 210) and the non-HF group (n = 5620). After gender stratification, hs-CRP (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.03), SII (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01), NLR (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11-1.35) and LMR (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.93) were independent meaningful factors for HF in males, there was no non-linear relationship between the three factors (SII, NLR, hs-CRP, all P for non-linear > 0.05) and the prevalence of HF, but we detected a non-linear relationship between LMR and the prevalence of HF in males (P for non-linear < 0.05). An additive interaction of hs-CRP and NLR on the risk of HF in males (RERI (OR): 0.67, 95% CI: 0.12-1.34; AP (OR): 0.14, 95% CI: 0.02-0.24; SI (OR): 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03-1.44). In summary, hs-CRP, NLR, and LMR are superior meaningful markers for HF in males. SII may be a meaningful systemic inflammation warning marker for HF, which needs to be discriminated against with caution. Only detected a non-linear relationship between LMR and the prevalence of HF in males. NLR and hs-CRP may have an additive interaction in the prevalence of male HF patients. The outcome compensated for previous studies that still needed more studies for validation.

Self-injury and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents involved in different subtypes of aggression: The role of gender

BackgroundAlthough aggression associated self-injury and suicidal ideation, but the specific impact of different subtypes of aggression is unclear. Therefore, the current study aims to quantify the associations between five subtypes of aggression, self-injury, and suicidal ideation in Chinese adolescents. MethodA total of 18,532 students were recruited in grades 7 to 12 using a stratified cluster sampling across five representative provinces in China. The Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (CH-FASM) and Buss and Warren's Aggression Questionnaire (BWAQ) assess self-injury and aggression, respectively. ResultsDuring the last year, the proportion of self-injury, suicidal ideation, and self-injury plus suicidal ideation (SSI) were 13.4 %, 10.0 %, 12.4 %, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that hostility was associated with self-injury-only (OR = 1.033, 95 % CI = 1.021–1.044), suicidal ideation-only (OR = 1.075, 95 % CI = 1.061–1.088), and SSI (OR = 1.100, 95 % CI = 1.087–1.114) (all P < 0.001) across five subtypes of aggression. In gender stratification, physical aggression was risk factor for self-injury-only, suicidal ideation-only, and SSI (OR = 1.028, 95 % CI = 1.018–1.037, P < 0.001) in females. While anger was association with self-injury-only and suicidal ideation-only in males (P < 0.05). LimitationsThis study was a cross-sectional design and self-reported questionnaire. ConclusionHostility is a strong predictor of self-injury and suicidal ideation across five subtypes of aggression. There are gender differences in relationships. Prevention programs for adolescents' self-injury and suicidal ideation should consider different subtypes of aggression and gender differences.

Ticking Two Boxes, Fighting Two Battles: Intersectional Experiences of Ethnic Minority Women Councillors in UK Local Government

Abstract When the analytical lens of intersectionality was first applied to descriptive representation, it documented the increased level of disadvantage for those belonging to more than one underrepresented group. Although ethnic minority women have been slow to benefit from drives to boost ethnic minority or women’s representation, increasingly, political parties seeking to diversify see them as “ticking two boxes,” resulting in a new positive story of relative representational success in many countries and legislatures. However, we argue that the two narratives coexist: intersectional group membership mars the experience of ethnic minority women politicians despite their increased electoral success. Conceptualizing intersectional disadvantage beyond examining differential outcomes, we focus instead on how the mechanisms leading to those outcomes are experienced by ethnic minority women local councillors, from their selection to their working conditions and extra representative burdens. Using 85 interviews with ethnic minority women and men UK local councillors, we demonstrate how gender and racial inequalities leave ethnic minority women fighting two (or more) battles.

Transformative organizational and programmatic change? Civil society responses to the Canadian Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP)

AbstractMotivationThe article aims to examine how Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) shaped efforts of civil society organizations to address gender equality through organizational and programmatic change. FIAP and other feminist policies have direct implications as to how organizations design and administer their work to address gender inequality and on how funding agencies and foundations administer and support this work.Research QuestionWhat are the opportunities and limitations to FIAP's implementation based on the experiences of civil society organizations' efforts to address gender inequality?Approach and methodsData collection for this article took place between 2019 and 2021, beginning two years after the launch of FIAP. This research adopted a mixed‐methods grounded theory approach, where the collected data shaped the conceptual framework. An online survey, interviews, participatory workshops, and media analysis were included in the data collection. Staff from civil society organizations and the University of Ottawa supported the research design process. A response rate of 50% was achieved with a total of 42 respondents out of 83 organizations responding to the survey. A total of 15 interviews were conducted with gender equality specialists based in Canadian international organizations.FindingsAnalysis from data collected in 2019 with gender specialists and civil society organization (CSO) staff, as well as analysis of media coverage of challenges faced by feminist organizations in 2020 and 2021 revealed that the potential for CSO investment through staff support (financial, training and government guidance) could only be partially realized within the “unfeminist” structural landscape in which development programmes oversee the administration of under‐represented groups.Policy implicationsThis study demonstrates the limitations around building stronger linkages between policy formation and implementation processes, and also the opportunities. The authors argue that strengthening engagement with feminist networks globally could align policy priorities with those identified by grassroots movements, while influencing how funding agencies value feminist practice in CSOs.

Impact of Gestational Exposure to Individual and Combined Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances on a Placental Structure and Efficiency: Findings from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort.

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is inevitable among pregnant women. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research investigating the connections between prenatal PFAS exposure and the placental structure and efficiency. Based on 712 maternal-fetal dyads in the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort, we analyzed associations between individual and mixed PFAS exposure and placental measures. We repeatedly measured 12 PFAS in the maternal serum during pregnancy. Placental weight, scaling exponent, chorionic disc area, and disc eccentricity were used as the outcome variables. Upon adjusting for confounders and implementing corrections for multiple comparisons, we identified positive associations between branched perfluorohexane sulfonate (br-PFHxS) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) with placental weight. Additionally, a positive association was observed between br-PFHxS and the scaling exponent, where a higher scaling exponent signified reduced placental efficiency. Based on neonatal sex stratification, female infants were found to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of PFAS exposure. Mixed exposure modeling revealed that mixed PFAS exposure was positively associated with placental weight and scaling exponent, particularly during the second and third trimesters. Furthermore, br-PFHxS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA played major roles in the placental measures. This study provides the first epidemiological evidence of the relationship between prenatal PFAS exposure and placental measures.

Sex stratification of adverse events should be included in studies about skin disease.

Sex stratification of adverse events should be included in studies about skin disease.

Literature Review: Exploring the Relationship Between Gender Cognition and Student Academics

In the course of human history, discussion regarding gender differences and sexual roles has never come to an end. In present-day society, cultural influences, together with the “discovered” physiological differences, have contributed to severe gender inequalities and bias that can be perceived in all aspects. Under this distressing situation, education should be an important aspect that must be paid attention to as it is a determining factor of societal development. Based on empirical research, it really should be concerned that the often biased gender cognition may have potentially contributed to educational impairment, for which the disparate attitudes, opinions, and assumptions that people hold about the two genders, based on sufficient empirical research, have strongly influenced students’ academic performance and have further facilitated the formation of inequalities in future learning opportunities, career path, etc.; it is fair to say that these series of connections have gradually formed a negative feedback loop worsening the current inequality situation. This paper will focus primarily on finding the connections between the tendentious beliefs on gender cognition and students’ academics; specifically, empirical research papers regarding how people’s gender cognition may affect different aged students’ academic performance and self-concepts at schools will be reviewed to look for possible relationships.

Gender Equality as an Element of Indian Socioeconomic Development: Census Scanning

The socioeconomic classification of men and women—how cultures separate men and women and assign them different social roles—is referred to as "gender." The distinction between sex and gender was created to address the widespread propensity to blame women's subordination on their physical makeup. It has long been held that sex determines the various traits, roles, and statuses given to men and women in society and that these factors are natural and hence unchangeable. The duties and behaviors that are allocated to men and women depending on their sexual preferences are considered to be intimately tied to gender. Gendering begins in families and society as soon as a child is born. Sons receive more love, respect, better nourishment, and appropriate medical care at birth than daughters do, which is why the birth of a boy is celebrated whereas the delivery of a daughter is painful. Girls are taught to stay at home and be reserved, while boys are encouraged to be tough and social. These are all gender-based distinctions that society has produced. Therefore, gender inequality is a type of inequality that is unique from other types of socio-economic disparity.

Decomposing and simplifying the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool-a module from the Taiwan-specific calculator.

The Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX®) is a widely utilized country-specific calculator for identifying individuals with high fracture risk; its score is calculated from 12 variables, but its formulation is not publicly disclosed. We aimed to decompose and simplify the FRAX® by utilizing a nationwide community survey database as a reference module for creating a local assessment tool for osteoporotic fracture community screening in any country. Participants (n = 16384; predominantly women (75%); mean age = 64.8years) were enrolled from the Taiwan OsteoPorosis Survey, a nationwide cross-sectional community survey collected from 2008 to 2011. We identified 11 clinical risk factors from the health questionnaires. BMD was assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in a mobile DXA vehicle, and 10-year fracture risk scores, including major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and hip fracture (HF) risk scores, were calculated using the FRAX®. The mean femoral neck BMD was 0.7 ± 0.1g/cm2, the T-score was -1.9 ± 1.2, the MOF was 8.9 ± 7.1%, and the HF was 3.2 ± 4.7%. Following FRAX® decomposition with multiple linear regression, the adjusted R2 values were 0.9206 for MOF and 0.9376 for HF when BMD was included and 0.9538 for MOF and 0.9554 for HF when BMD was excluded. The FRAX® demonstrated better prediction for women and younger individuals than for men and elderly individuals after sex and age stratification analysis. Excluding femoral neck BMD, age, sex, and previous fractures emerged as 3 primary clinical risk factors for simplified FRAX® according to the decision tree analysis in this study population. The adjusted R2 values for the simplified country-specific FRAX® incorporating 3 premier clinical risk factors were 0.8210 for MOF and 0.8528 for HF. After decomposition, the newly simplified module provides a straightforward formulation for estimating 10-year fracture risk, even without femoral neck BMD, making it suitable for community or clinical osteoporotic fracture risk screening.

75 Years of women representation in Afghanistan: Looking back to look forward

AbstractThis article analyzes barriers and facilitators to Afghan women's representation in the last 75 years, from Zahir Shah (1933–1973) to Ashraf Ghani (2014–2021) and now under the Taliban (2021–…). We conducted a qualitative analysis using administrative documents and related academic contributions from each period to address this topic. The analysis shows that the representation of women in Afghanistan's public administration (PA) has been limited and passive in terms of both numbers and impacts. Historically, Afghanistan's PA has remained a mostly patriarchal system, where prejudice and gender‐based discrimination are a reality in government organizational structures. Our findings show that socio‐economic and political realities have contributed to gender inequality and the underrepresentation of Afghan women in PA. These realities include international invasions, conflicts, frequent regime changes, and cultural elements, which encompass a strong traditional culture, specific religious and patriarchal mindsets, and an overall lack of attention to gender issues. Results also reveal that over the past 75 years, women have not been actively involved in the development and decision‐making processes in the country. As a result, Afghanistan has never experienced a representative PA that mirrors the demographical groups of society, notably women. This study indicates that the interests of Afghan women have mostly been ignored in the policy‐making process and that issues of diversity and gender equality in PA were not on the agenda of the different Afghan regimes.

The National and International Legal Framework Related to Family Relations Seen from the Perspective of Gender Equality

Gender-based discrimination is a long-standing problem of society and of the family in particular. While the possibilities of identifying the phenomenon of discrimination in public life are more tangible, discrimination in the family remains mostly in the shadows and not easily evident. It is about the relationships that are built between spouses, children, and other family members. This study aims to analyze the factual and legal situation of the dimensions of (lack of) equality between family members from a gender perspective. Seen through the lens of family relations in particular, this study will reflect in general terms the trend and society's approach to gender equality. This is because of imagining and not only the family as the basic and most important cell of society, the one that transmits values and principles to society. Healthy family and marital relations are an important contribution to the elimination of gender stereotypes not only between family members but also in society in general. Although family relations mainly belong to the sphere and private interest, the legislator has always put a strong emphasis on the special protection of the family and marriage, providing for it in the most important normative acts, such as the Constitution and the Family Code, but also in other acts which indirectly regulate family relations. There are also numerous international legal instruments that mainly protect the institution of the family and mainly the sphere of equality in the rights and obligations of its members. See these in the consideration of equality between men and women in several main directions such as equality and non-discrimination between men and women to the relationship that originates from marriage as an act, equality and non-discrimination of men and women to the rights and obligations towards children, equality, and non-discrimination in the consequences of ending a marriage. The elaboration and legal basis of the situations cited above will be the purpose of this paper, seen from the perspective of domestic and international legislation, as well as judicial practice. Legal reforms in the aspects of legal equality and non-discrimination in family and marital life have been and will remain a dynamic and continuous process as long as the dominant elements is human nature. This is reflected in internal normative acts such as the Family Code, but also in ratified international instruments and the jurisprudence of the ECHR. While the facts and results show that there is still significant gender inequality between family members, this should be taken as an incentive not only for other legal reforms but also for social policies in the future.&#x0D;  &#x0D; Received: 19 February 2024 / Accepted: 21 March 2024 / Published: 23 March 2024

Tuberculosis case fatality is higher in male than female patients in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Epidemiological TB data indicate differences in infection prevalence, progression rates, and clinical disease incidence between sexes. In contrast, evidence on sex-specific differential (post) TB case fatality in Europe has not been synthesized systematically. We searched electronic databases and grey literature up to December 2020 for studies reporting sex-stratified TB death data for Europe. The JBI critical appraisal tools served for bias risk assessment and subgroup analyses for studying heterogeneity. Random-effects models meta-analyses enabled estimating pooled relative risks of sex-associated TB fatality. Considering associations of comorbidities and risk factors on fatality differences, we applied relative risk meta-regression. Based on 17,400 records screened, 117 studies entered quantitative analyses. Seventy-five studies providing absolute participant data with moderate quality and limited sex stratification reported 33 to 235,000 TB cases and 7 to 27,108 deaths. The pooled male-to-female TB fatality risk ratio was 1.4 [1.3-1.5]. Heterogeneity was high between studies and subgroups. Study time, concurrent comorbidities (e.g., HIV, diabetes, cancers), and mean participant ages showed no effect modification. We identified higher male TB fatality in studies with higher homelessness (coefficient 3.18, 95% CI [-0.59 to 6.94], p-value 0.10) and lower migrants proportion (coefficient -0.24, 95% CI [-0.5 to 0.04], p-value 0.09). We found 30-50% higher TB case fatality for males in Europe. Except for homelessness, migration, and a trend for some comorbidities, assessing effect modification could not reduce our meta-analysis' high heterogeneity. Public health authorities should take heed of this higher risk of dying in male patients' treatment services.

Telework as a childcare policy: mitigating or increasing gender and class inequalities?

ABSTRACT The closure of schools and preschools due to the Covid-19 pandemic constrained millions of workers with children to modify their care arrangements. In Italy and France, governments adopted different measures to support parents in handling the additional care workload, including promoting access to telework. However, we argue that equating access to telework to a childcare policy, especially during the pandemic, had significant consequences in terms of gender and class inequalities. Based on multi-sited fieldwork in Italy and France, the article analyses the impact that telework as a social policy had on gender and class inequalities, stressing common trends and pointing out that caring for children while teleworking reinforces economic and gender inequalities. Moreover, the paper identifies strategies implemented by parents to cope with the challenge of child-caring while teleworking, highlighting that promoting such a policy can have unequal consequences depending on parents’ social and economic capital.

A Case of Sticky Gender? Persistence and Change in the Division of Household Labor during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Contemporary research finds that gender continues to provide an organizing framework for couples’ allocation of household labor. To explain this outcome, scholars focus on how structural arrangements and cultural beliefs contribute to the persistence of gender inequality in domestic labor. Yet scholarship has yet to fully clarify what combination of cultural and structural factors create persistent gender inequality in household labor. We use the COVID-19 pandemic as a naturally occurring event in which arrangements for childcare and work were upended, making it possible for many to rethink their household arrangements. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 81 respondents in heterosexual dual-earner couples, we examine how change in structural arrangements allowed some couples to develop a more egalitarian division of domestic labor. We also examine why an unequal division of labor persisted for most couples even amid the dramatic changes in their work and childcare arrangements and, for some, a strong desire to do so. We theorize that, taken alone, neither cultural attitudes nor shifts in the organization of work are sufficient to remove the stickiness of gender inequality in household work. Instead, structural change offers the possibility to change behavior, but only if cultural beliefs exist that make such change desirable.

Exploring transportation equity issues for persons with disabilities: The impact of gender on mobility and accessibility indicators

IntroductionPersons with disabilities still face numerous barriers in their everyday lives, especially in transportation. The problem of access to transportation is identified through fewer daily trips and more barriers in public transport. These problems indicate transportation equity issues among persons with disabilities. Another issue recognized in previous studies was a gender imbalance in the samples that could indicate gender equality problems among persons with disabilities. This paper aims to investigate mobility and accessibility indicators among persons with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on the impact of gender, in order to explore two critical transportation equity issues: inclusivity and social justice. MethodsThe mobility and accessibility indicators analyzed in this research were the Number of daily trips, Mobility satisfaction, Infrastructure accessibility satisfaction, and Modal distributions of daily trips. The data about indicators was collected by an online version of a questionnaire. The research was performed on 100 persons with disabilities from Serbia, equally distributed by gender. The most common recorded diagnosis of the respondents was spinal cord injury. ResultsIn general, respondents made 3.26 trips per day. At two transportation modes, we identified significant differences between males and females. Males frequently tripped as passenger car drivers, and females often traveled as passengers in passenger cars. Additionally, nine Bayesian linear regression models with weak informative prior distributions brought much helpful information. ConclusionsThe obtained results bring stakeholders valuable information in creating policies, practices, and recommendations to achieve specific goals related to transportation equity. Improving flexibility and time efficiency of females’ trips and resolving the problem of females’ fear of abuse and harassment in taxi cars were recognized as the two most critical topics.

Synthesizing explanations behind global gender (in)equality: Identifying the gaps and moving forward with more economic history

AbstractThis article aims to bridge the mainstream social science and the economic history literatures on the drivers of gender equality across contexts. We discuss the explanations in the social science literature on five central dimensions of global gender equality—health, work, education, marriage, and political representation—and survey the economic history literature that studied these explanations in the historical context. We analyze the commonalities and contradictions in the theoretical and methodological approaches of the two strands. The survey then offers an interdisciplinary theoretical framework that can bridge the two strands. By doing so, the review article discusses how incorporating the economic history literature into the social science literature can improve our current understanding of global gender equality in two ways. First, the long durée perspective provides insight into the diversity in the historical turning points in gender equality across world regions over the 20th century. Second, it suggests that the integration of a historical perspective can tackle the difficulties in isolating causal mechanisms and identify why standard economic and institutional conditions have varying impacts on gender equality outcomes across world regions. It also identifies the limitations in the current social science and economic history literatures and provide directions for future research.