Gender Equality Research Articles

Promoting gender equality through experiments with water rockets in distance physics class between the Technological University of Jalisco, Mexico and the Technological University of Bolívar, Colombia

This article presents a study on the promotion of gender equality in distance learning physics, using experiments with water rockets as a pedagogical tool. A collaboration was carried out between the Technological University of Jalisco in Mexico and the Technological University of Bolívar in Colombia. Through this research, we seek to identify how the implementation of practical activities can influence the participation and interest of students of different genders in the field of physics. The results of the applied methodology are presented, as well as the implications of these findings for future educational practices.

The Paradoxical State: The Political Economy of Multidimensional Gender Inequality in Korea

ABSTRACT Why do Korean women, who live in one of the most technologically and economically dynamic countries in the world, lag so far behind men in most important aspects of social life? Conventional answers to this question believe that more government intervention is needed, but Korea has followed state feminist policies since democratisation with limited success. This article draws on insights from the field of feminist political economy and the theory of performativity to propose a revised model of state–society interaction that better explains this puzzle. Historically, the South Korean state has oscillated between creating gender inequality for its economic and political nation-building projects, and then seeking to reduce it for the purposes of social reproduction. However, this reverse movement is ‘sticky’ because many non-state actors’ performances of gender inequality are resistant to state feminism, and others are closely associated with national identity. We conduct a plausibility probe of our model by applying it to three key performances of gender in Korea: traditional culture, conscription, and sex work. Our findings suggest the need for more bottom-up activism and campaigns against actors within and beyond the state who continue to resist gender equality.

Gender equity in authorship of emergency medicine publications in Australasia.

To evaluate gender authorship trends in the official journal of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), Emergency Medicine Australasia (EMA). A bibliometric review of author gender in EMA during the 10-year period 2013-2022. The gender of first/last authors were determined by www.genderize.io, or a manual internet search where gender was not determined with at least 90% certainty. Descriptive statistics were used with percentages of women as first and last author compared to current percentages of ACEM Fellows (FACEMs) who identify as women. The final analysis included 1703 articles. Women accounted for 27.4% fewer authors than men (36.3% vs 63.7%). Women were outnumbered by men by 20.0% among first authors (40% vs 60%), and 36.2% (31.9% vs 68.1%) for last authors. When the last author was a woman, there was a similar rate of women (49.2%) and men (50.8%) as first authors. However, when the last author was a man, first authors were 37.1% women versus 62.9% men. If the last author was a woman, there was a 60% greater probability that the first author was also a woman (odds ratio 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.1). First authorship rate by women was equal to or exceeds the proportion of women FACEMs, however, last authorship by women still lags behind. The emergency medicine community in Australasia must continue to tackle existing gender disparities which exist in our specialty. A creative and active strategy on the part of publishers, editors, academics and authors is needed to redress this balance.

Development and validation of the Gender Stereotypes in Sport Scale (GSSS) in an Italian soccer context

ABSTRACT This study aims to develop and validate the Gender Stereotypes in Sport Scale (GSSS), an instrument evaluating people’s endorsement of gender stereotypes in sport with a focus on soccer. The study was conducted with a total sample of 740 Italians, including 389 women and 351 men aged 18 to over 60, 403 laypeople and 337 experts in the field (i.e., athletes, coaches, medical staff, and managers). First, a pool of 22 items was initially created after conducting interviews with the experts. Next, the factorial structure of the scale was assessed through cross-validated exploratory-confirmatory factor analyses with two different sub-samples of 370 participants each. Three factors for a total of 16 items emerged from the analyses: “stereotypical beliefs” (i.e., stereotypical opinions about women and girls in soccer), “egalitarian beliefs” (i.e., items emphasising the equality of male and female performances), and “openness” (i.e., items concerning people’s open-mindedness about women and girls in soccer). The validity of the GSSS was supported by significant correlations with sexism and adherence to masculine traits. Men, those with lower education, and experts reported higher endorsement of gender stereotypes according to all three factors. Crucially, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis confirmed scale invariance across gender, education, and familiarity with soccer. The GSSS allows researchers to assess gender stereotypes in sport, facilitating the understanding of their correlates. By better comprehending the causes and consequences of these beliefs, scholars and practitioners can contribute to ongoing public discussions regarding gender equity and promote inclusivity in the sport domain.

Adverse childhood experiences and subsequent experiences of intimate partner violence in adulthood: a gender perspective.

Investigate the prevalence of adverse childhood experience (ACE) and intimate partner violence (IPV) using a large representative Chinese sample, explore the association mechanism between ACE and adult exposure to IPV and to examine gender differences. A total of 21,154 participants were included in this study. The ACE scale was used to assess participants' exposure to ACE before the age of 18. Participants were evaluated for IPV experienced after the age of 18 using the IPV Scale. Logistic regression model was used to analyse the association between ACE and the risk of IPV exposure in adulthood. Principal component analysis was used to extract the main patterns of ACEs in the Chinese population. Network analyses were employed to identify the most critical types of ACE and IPV, analyse the association mechanisms between ACEs and IPVs, explore gender differences in this association and compare gender differences in the severity of IPVs experienced in adulthood. Participants with at least one ACE event faced a 215.5% higher risk of IPV compared to those without ACE experiences. In population-wide and gender-specific networks, The ACE and IPV nodes with the highest expected influence are 'ACE1 (Verbal abuse + physical abuse pattern)' and 'IPV5 (Partner compares me to other people and blatantly accuses me, making me feel embarrassed and unsure of myself)'. Positive correlations were found between 'ACE1 (Verbal abuse + physical abuse pattern)'-'IPV3 (Partner does not care about me when I am in bad shape [not feeling well or in a bad mood])', 'ACE4 (Violent treatment of mother or stepmother + criminal acts in the family pattern)'-'IPV1 (Partner has ever directly assaulted or hurt me with the help of an instrument)' and 'ACE2 (Exposure to sexual assault pattern)'-'IPV2 (Partner would have physical or sexual contact with me against my will)', which were the three edges with the highest edge weight values in the ACE pattern and IPV edges. 'ACE1 (Verbal abuse + physical abuse pattern)'-'IPV3 (Partner does not care about me when I am in bad shape [not feeling well or in a bad mood])', 'ACE2 (Exposure to sexual assault pattern)'-'IPV2 (Partner would have physical or sexual contact with me against my will)', 'ACE4 (Violent treatment of mother or stepmother + criminal acts in the family pattern)'-'IPV1 (Partner has ever directly assaulted or hurt me with the help of an instrument)' in the male network and 'ACE1 (Verbal abuse + physical abuse pattern)'-'IPV3 (Partner does not care about me when I am in bad shape [not feeling well or in a bad mood])', 'ACE4 (Violent treatment of mother or stepmother + criminal acts in the family pattern)'-'IPV1 (Partner has ever directly assaulted or hurt me with the help of an instrument)', 'ACE3 (Substance abuse + mental illness + violent treatment of mother or stepmother pattern)'-'IPV1 (Partner has ever directly assaulted or hurt me with the help of an instrument)' in the female network are the three edges with the highest edge weights among the ACE and IPV edges in their networks, respectively, all displaying positive correlations. The strength of 'IPV3 (Partner does not care about me when I am in bad shape [not feeling well or in a bad mood])' was higher in the male network than in the female (male = 0.821, female = 0.755, p = 0.002). The edge weight values of 'ACE3 (Substance abuse + mental illness + violent treatment of mother or stepmother pattern)'-'IPV1 (Partner has ever directly assaulted or hurt me with the help of an instrument)' (P = 0.043) and 'ACE4 (Violent treatment of mother or stepmother + criminal acts in the family pattern)'-'IPV1 (Partner has ever directly assaulted or hurt me with the help of an instrument)' (P = 0.032) are greater for females than males. The most common type of ACE in the Chinese population is verbal violence combined with physical violence, while the predominant type of IPV is verbal violence. Males experience higher levels of emotional neglect from their partners compared to females. The association between witnessing physical violence in childhood and experiencing physical violence from a partner in adulthood is stronger in females than in males. The homotypic continuum between ACE and IPV is a crucial mechanism in understanding intergenerational domestic violence. Enhance economic and educational levels, promote correct parenting concepts, reduce child abuse, establish accurate perceptions of intimate relationships, eliminate shame about violence and further advance gender equality. These efforts are vital for reducing IPV prevalence and breaking the cycle of violence in victims' lives.

Mumpreneurs’ decision-making when facing uncertainty and competing goals

PurposeThis study examines the decision-making processes and coping mechanisms of mumpreneurs (entrepreneurs who are mothers) as they navigate complex environments characterized by uncertainty and competing goals that are heightened by their circumstances and marginalization.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews were conducted with 26 female entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom who are raising young children.FindingsThe research develops a new framework based on regulatory focus theory. It uncovers multiple layers of uncertainty facing mumpreneurs, including traditional business-focused uncertainties such as global crises, market volatility and financial risks, but including uncertainties derived from the challenge of balancing business growth with family responsibilities. Despite these complexities, mumpreneurs pursue multiple competing goals related to their businesses, families and societal contributions. The study identifies four key coping and decision-making mechanisms employed by mumpreneurs in complex environments: intuition, adaptability, confidence and a dynamic interplay between promotion and prevention regulatory focus.Originality/valueThis study contributes to entrepreneurship literature by providing a nuanced understanding of how mumpreneurs are required to navigate uncertainty and competing demands and the key coping and decision-making mechanisms they use to achieve this. It challenges the binary view of regulatory focus theory and offers insights into the unique stress dynamics experienced by mother entrepreneurs. The findings underscore the need for tailored support systems, including coaching and mentoring programs for mumpreneurs with young children. Moreover, the research highlights the importance of policy interventions, such as increased childcare subsidies, to support parental entrepreneurship and advance gender equality goals.

Comparative Analysis of Gender Equality Laws in Three Countries: Norway, Sweden, and Finland

In the background of the global demand for gender equality, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, three Nordic countries that excel in gender equality legislation. By comparative analysis, this paper aims to deeply compare and analyze the practices and achievements of these three countries in terms of gender equality laws, specifically examining their legal frameworks, implementation strategies, and outcomes, as well as the societal impacts of these strategies. This study reveals that these Nordic countries have adopted diverse approaches to advancing gender equality and achieved significant results, evident not only in legal advancements but also in positive changes across various sectors, including social attitudes, education, and employment. The conclusion summarizes the key factors contributing to the success of these countries' gender equality laws and explores whether these experiences can be applied to other nations, along with the challenges and opportunities in promoting gender equality laws globally.

Public policies and attitudes towards gender equality in Peruvian university students

Gender inequality is a structural social problem, associated with history, culture, education, religion and politics, this difficulty occurs in all social institutions due to the heterogeneity of the structure in the sexual division of labor, socioeconomic inequality, inclusion and inequity in participation in the public space between men and women. Public policies and attitudes towards gender equality in Peruvian university students were analyzed according to socio-academic variables. A descriptive-comparative study, with a quantitative approach, and not experimental cross-sectional, involved 776 university students from a public and a private university in Peru, intentionally selected. Adaptive attitudes (57.9%) were found to tend to be sexist; Likewise, in the study dimensions, the same trend was found in the sociocultural and relational levels, while in the personal dimension students develop sexist attitudes (62.4%). It is concluded, attitudes towards gender equality are sexist reproduction that is influenced by the sociocultural environment of the family, this situation occurs to a greater extent in men, while female students present attitudes of equality in greater intensity to seek equity in the distribution of roles.

Assessing the Impact of Women’s Empowerment on their Nutritional Status in Bangladesh: A Multilevel Logistic Regression Analysis

Women’s empowerment is one of the ten ‘special initiatives’ of Bangladesh government. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2022, Bangladesh ranks as the most gender-equal nation in South Asia. Understanding how Bangladeshi women are empowering themselves and its impact on their nutritional status is crucial, as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include both gender equality and women's health. This study aims to investigate women’s empowerment in Bangladesh and its impacts on their nutritional status. A total number of 14,862 samples were extracted from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017-18 for this study. Women’s empowerment was measured using three indicators; (i) women’s participation to make decision on their healthcare, (ii) women’s participation to purchase households goods and (iii) person who usually decides to visit family and friends. The composite index of these three indicators was used as outcome variable for further statistical analysis. The study revealed that 79.0%, 76.1% and 78.4% women participated to make decision on their healthcare, purchasing household goods and visit to relatives and friends respectively, resulting in 63.7% women being classified as empowered in Bangladesh. Predictors of women’s empowerment included: living location (division), type of residence, place of delivery, sex of household head, wealth index, respondents’ age, education, occupation, having bank account, total ever born children and decision in using contraception, and beating by husband. After controlling the effect of other factors, it was shown that empowered women were more likely to become over nourished than unempowered women. The study also found that a strikingly large proportion of women in Bangladesh remained unempowered. Some modifiable factors were found as predictors of women empowerment. Additionally, unempowered women were more likely to be undernourished. International Journal of Statistical Sciences, Vol. 24(2), November, 2024, pp 19-34

Do managers actually walk the talk? Gender equality in hotel careers in Aotearoa New Zealand

This article offers insights into factors that affect hotel employees’ decisions to make a career in hotels. They are important as there are differences between men’s and women’s career expectations. Career progression in the hotel industry tends to be linear, from entry-level positions to senior management positions globally (Wang, 2013). Employees’ career expectations and values are important, as they drive individual career choices and influence (Kong et al., 2015). Factors such as personal interests, family background, educational level, and gender/race/ethnicity (Metz et al., 2009) all shape individual career hopes, and industry and geographical context change actual outcomes.

The Analysis of the Roles of Women in the Windrush Generation

After the British Nationality Act was enacted in 1948, the legislation expanded the pathway to immigration. In the same year, HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury with 1,027 Caribbean immigrants that were, later on, referred to as the Windrush generation. As the turning point of the UKs migration history, this specific historical period from 1948 to the 1970s had been studied thoroughly by scholars. However, only a limited proportion of them are about the 200 or more women on the Empire Windrush. Thus, this paper, through a method of literature review, explores and analyzes the roles played by women in the Windrush generation. The paper finds that Windrush women, firstly, often join the public phase and work as a paid workforce after immigrating to London through chain migration. By doing so, they not only provided additional income to their family but also contributed to the post-war recovery of the British Empire. Meanwhile, they served as community builders who not only managed chores but also bonded their family members and even the entire immigrant community. Moreover, the Windrush women became active advocates that voiced for racial and gender equality and social justice.

Gender and Geographic Equity in the International Association for Dental Research Awards.

To examine the gender and geographic distribution of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) Distinguished Scientist Awards (DSA; data: 2019-2024), group awards (data: 1982-2024), and fellowships (data: 1987-2024). Publicly available data were obtained from the IADR awards website. Information on gender and location of the awardees was gathered from photographs and affiliations if available or otherwise from online profiles or using Genderize, an online gender allocation platform. Of the 99 DSA awardees in 2019 to 2024, 35% were women; 38% were from the United States, 12% were from the United Kingdom, and 11% were from Australia. Of the 35 DSA women awardees, 54% were from the United States and 11% from Finland. Of the 795 group awardees, 45% were women. Data on the location of awardees were readily available for 681 group awards; of these, 39% were from the United States and 87% were from high-income countries. Of the 113 fellowships awarded, 58% were to women. Of the 32 fellowships since 2018, 44% were for awardees from upper-middle income countries. Although women are overrepresented in the dental profession and the IADR has a global membership, women awardees remain underrepresented, and most awards are granted to researchers in high-income countries. These findings call attention to a deeper look at diversity, equity, and inclusion within the IADR. Gender diversity of IADR research awards is moving in the right direction, but geographic diversity lags, with most Distinguished Scientist Awards and group awards to members in high-income countries. There is an urgent need to consider performance relative to opportunities and applications. This change in process could provide a much-needed intersectionality lens for recognizing the research performance of IADR members while increasing diversity and inclusivity.

Can State Family Support Policies Level the Playing Field for Early-Career Women in Plastic Surgery? An Analysis of Web-Scraped Data.

For the young plastic surgeon, the quantity of first-author peer-reviewed publications plays a prominent role in job offers and promotions. Women surgeons carry a disproportionate share of family responsibilities, contributing to their lower representation in positions of leader- ship and influence. Policies protecting reproductive rights and mandating paid family leave (PFL) boost women's participation and productivity in the workplace. However, these policies vary by U.S., state and territory. Web-scraped publication data from all PubMed-indexed plastic surgery journals from 2010 to 2022 were evaluated by first-author gender and affiliated state reproductive rights policy and PFL. Female first authors were further compared with men by publication output (1 article; ≥ 2; ≥ 5) by gender and by affiliated state policies. Protective reproductive rights policies were associated with greater representation of female first authors (3.3 percentage points; p value = 0.003). Protective reproductive rights policies and PFL were associated with a decreased publication gender gap (0.13 articles, p value < 0.001, and 0.18 articles, p value < 0.001, respectively). Protective reproductive policies and PFL had an even greater correlation with higher publication output among female first authors. Protective reproductive rights and mandatory PFL are not only correlated with women's representation among early-career researchers but with a reduction in the publication gender gap. Legislation and policies aimed at supporting women's family responsibilities are associated with higher research productivity among women and likely play a significant role in attracting more women to higher academic ranks and improving gender equity in professional success in plastic surgery. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The glass ceiling in ophthalmology

Currently, two thirds of medical students are female. However, women continue to be clearly underrepresented in leading medical positions, which is also true for ophthalmology. The scientific output of female ophthalmologists is increasing, more pronounced as first authors than last, but remains below that of male colleagues. However, asignificant gender bias has been shown in the grant application processes. There are significantly more male surgeons in vitreoretinal, refractive, and corneal surgery. Concerning surgical training, it has been shown that female ophthalmologists operate less during their residency, especially in cataract surgery. Also among surgeons do women continue to shoulder the main responsibility for family and household, despite the negative consequences for their career. This publication presents an overview of the present career situation for women in ophthalmology and discusses possible measures to achieve gender equality, such as the establishment of mentoring programs and networks.

Perceptions of Social Mobility, Gender, and Progressive Politics

Extensive research explores the relationship between deepening conflict over socio-cultural issues and stagnating social mobility, typically focusing on men. Upwardly mobile women are routinely mentioned as belonging to the progressive “winners” of the knowledge-based society, yet their experiences and politics have received far less attention. This paper theorizes and investigates how women view their individual and collective trajectories and how these views relate to perceptions of future opportunities and political attitudes. Using survey data from four West European countries, we find that, while experiencing upward intergenerational mobility at the individual level is associated with positive opportunity perceptions, this relationship is not more pronounced among women than men nor linked to especially progressive attitudes. Rather, it is women sharing a sense of upward collective momentum who demand further action to achieve gender equality. This contrasts with men—including those perceiving themselves as upwardly mobile—who also acknowledge women’s collective gains: they more readily accept the still male-dominated status quo.

Gender Disparities in Digital Employment in China

The rapid expansion of the digital economy has profoundly reshaped employ-ment dynamics in China. Drawing on microdata from the China General Social Surveys (CGSS) conducted in 2010 and 2021, this study delves into the evolving gender gap within China’s digital workforce. Through bivariate analyses and logistic regression, this research examines how gender intersects with various factors, including age, educational attainment, account status, number of children, internet usage, and geo-graphical region, to elucidate disparities in digital employment. Findings indicate a shift towards greater gender parity in the digital sector, notwithstanding enduring challenges for women. The responsibilities of childbearing and childrearing have constrained women’s engagement in digital occupations, although this impediment is diminishing. Educational achievements and internet usage emerge as pivotal determinants of digital employment for both genders. Workers in the more developed Eastern region exhibited higher likelihoods of digital employment than those in other regions. Diverse strategies are essential to tackle gender gaps in digital employment.

Women seafarers in Taiwan: policies, benefits, challenges, and bias in the data

ABSTRACT Gender imbalance and equality have been highlighted in the global seafarer market. Taiwan relies heavily on shipping development and three container shipping companies (Evergreen, Yang Ming, Wai Hai Line) in Taiwan are ranked as top 11 in the world. To highlight the important contribution of women seafarers in the maritime industry, and add to the growing body of research in this area, this paper adopted in-depth interviews (n = 30) with both female (n = 24) and male (n = 6) seafarers to explore their perceptions of women seafarers regarding policies, benefits, and challenges. Key themes were barriers to employment such as company policies but also perceived benefits of employing women such as their ability with specific tasks such as administration and conciliation, aspects not highlighted before. Also, and uniquely, we identify a significant obstacle to achieving gender equality, and that is that the data gathered was biased; often delivered through the paradigm of the very problem itself: gender inequality and a male-biased environment. Nevertheless, and through identifying this obstacle, we make suggestions for engaging with and overcoming such biases in future work, and also help increase gender equality in the industry in line with United Nations Development Goals.

Transforming Gender Relations through Digital Financial Inclusion in India

This article provides a brief overview of digital financial inclusion for marginalised and vulnerable populations, particularly women. The focus is on understanding the status and how digital financial inclusion for women is critical for achieving gender parity, their empowerment and overall gender equality. The article assesses the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which claims to promote financial inclusion and gender equality by extending and expanding affordable access to financial services such as bank accounts, remittances, credit, insurance and pensions. The framework of intersectionality is used to theorise digital financial inclusion and its implications for marginalised and vulnerable sections of society, followed by policy recommendations.

Invisible and Replaced: The Female Ghost Workers in the History of Information Technology From the Perspective of Media Archaeology

Drawing on Marxist feminism, this article provides general literature analyses and conducts interviews of Chinese participants to explore woman's historical roles as telephone operators, punched card operators, and artificial intelligence (AI) trainers. This article highlights women's significant but marginalized technical labor across different stages of technological revolutions. It examines how patriarchal and capitalist systems confine women to low-end technical roles, perpetuating their invisibility and vulnerability to technological unemployment. In the end, the study advocates that the state should intervene into platform capitalism and promote gender equity through technical education and long-term opportunities.

Exploring mechanisms behind the increasing gender gap in adolescent psychological symptoms, 2002-2022: the role of national-level gender equality.

Internalising problems have increased considerably among adolescents in the last decades, particularly among girls, resulting in widening gender gaps. This study examined whether the gender gap in psychological symptoms increased more in more gender-equal countries in the period 2002-2022, and if so, to what extent this could be explained by changes over time in the experience of stressors (i.e. schoolwork pressure, body dissatisfaction, low classmate support) among boys and girls in these countries. National data on gender inequality (UNDP Gender Inequality Index) were combined with aggregated individual-level data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study (2002-2022) across 43 countries (N = 1,268,220). Absolute and relative gender gaps in psychological symptoms were regressed on survey cycle, GII and their interaction. Next, interactions of survey cycle and either schoolwork pressure, body dissatisfaction or classmate support were added to the model. Increases in the absolute and relative gender gap in psychological symptoms between 2002 and 2022 were stronger in more gender-equal countries, mainly due to larger increases in psychological symptoms among girls in these countries. Also, less favourable time trends for schoolwork pressure and classmate support were found in more gender-equal countries for boys and especially girls. The larger increase in schoolwork pressure among girls in more gender-equal countries partly explained the increased absolute gender gap in psychological symptoms in these countries. While national-level gender equality was positively associated with boys' and girls' mental health in the early 2000s, this association has become negative for girls in more recent years. The benefits of gender equality for girls' mental health may have become overshadowed by the increased experience of stressors, especially schoolwork pressure. Far from advocating that gender equality is a negative situation, these findings suggest that much work remains to achieve full gender equality, where men and women really share the burdens and stressors in everyday life.