Recently, noteworthy progress has been made in the transition to gender equality, and the actions of several governments worldwide have been described as steps towards finding positive solutions to this issue. Ensuring gender equality is crucial in achieving sustainable development and effective economic growth at both the national and regional levels. Various articles on gender studies in the Central Asian (CA) region were retrieved using Scopus, one of the most popular databases. VOSviewer Version 1.6.20 was employed to analyse different metrics such as co-citation networks, co-occurrences, and author keywords. A total of 132 articles were extracted from the Scopus database and analysed through five bibliometric analysis units: evolution of scientific production, analysis of authors, analysis of sources/journals, analysis of countries and institutions, and analysis of author keywords. The main findings of this study can be summarised in the following three key points: (i) The scientific output of articles addressing gender issues in the societies of CA countries remains insufficient, and the commitment to achieving gender equality does not align with international and regional interests; (ii) Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are recognised as countries that devote considerable attention to scientific research related to gender in the CA region. In contrast, Turkmenistan is identified as a country that does not engage in gender research at the international level, primarily due to a lack of materials in the Scopus database; (iii) Overall, it can be concluded that the implementation of gender equality in the Central Asian region still lacks substantial support from the state, as research related to gender issues in this area has predominantly been conducted and supported by democratic and well-developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Purpose This study aims to examine how gender is conceptualised and addressed within management accounting research, moving beyond its use as a mere “control variable” or “dummy variable”. It identifies dominant themes, highlights ongoing research gaps and proposes directions for developing more inclusive and critically engaged research. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review of gender-related studies in management accounting was conducted, covering articles published in ranked “accounting journals” between 1990 and 2024. Thematic analysis was applied to synthesise key findings and highlight research gaps. Findings The study identifies four dominant themes in the literature, revealing the persistent underrepresentation of gender-focused research in management accounting. While existing studies acknowledge gender, they largely focus on workplace dynamics and overlook how management accounting practices reflect, reinforce or challenge gendered structures. The study underscores the need for deeper theoretical engagement – particularly with feminist and intersectional perspectives – to critically assess gendered power dynamics in management accounting. Research limitations/implications This study provides an impetus for advancing gender research in management accounting by promoting theoretical diversification, methodological pluralism and greater attention to intersectional and contextual dimensions. Originality/value By synthesising existing research and identifying critical gaps, this study calls for a shift from viewing gender as a control or dummy variable towards a more integrated, theoretically informed and critically engaged approach to gender in management accounting.

INTRODUCTIONThe evidentiary base for dementia caregiver programs is still emerging and is less clear for diverse racial and ethnic minoritized populations. We explored in‐depth perspectives about program participation, acceptability, and recommendations from diverse caregivers who completed one of three versions of the Savvy Caregiver Program.METHODSWe conducted 19 focus groups with 92 caregivers who participated in an online version of the Savvy Caregiver Program (Savvy Caregiver Program, Savvy Express, and Unidos en el Cuidado, a Spanish‐language version). Data were analyzed with thematic analysis.RESULTSCaregivers reported positive appraisals of the program's acceptability. Time constraints and a desire for more peer interaction were prominent. Key themes included programmatic features, cultural and gender considerations, program and research participation, and suggestions for improvement.DISCUSSIONOur findings can inform programmatic improvements to future interventions for family caregivers of persons living with dementia, applicable to both online and on‐site settings.HighlightsDiverse caregivers report positive experiences in online dementia caregiving interventions.Key takeaways include dementia knowledge, self‐care, and caregiving strategies.Cultural and gender considerations highlight gaps in caregiver program representation.Participants suggest expanding discussion time and offering follow‐up sessions.

Study designBibliometric analysis and conceptual framework.ObjectivesTo provide a framework for prioritizing sex/gender research in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI), which can help inform and develop future research directions benefiting both women and men affected by SCI.SettingNot applicableMethodsWe searched the Web of Science Core Collection to identify relevant articles. Data was analyzed using the Bibliometrix and VoSviewer tools to provide a macroscopic overview of sex/gender research trends in the field of SCI research. A framework was developed based on the results of bibliometric analyses and literature scoping, engaging professionals with backgrounds in gender medicine, translational medicine, psychology, clinical epidemiology, SCI, and endocrinology.ResultsA total of 1031 documents were included in the analyses. We observed a steady increase in sex/gender related research from 2012, with an annual growth rate of 9.64%. Rehabilitation, epidemiology, obesity, depression, and sex hormones were identified as fundamental and critical topics for advancing sex and gender research in the context of SCI. Among a randomly selected articles, a significant proportion of studies interchangeably used the terms sex and gender. Therefore, we discuss the key overarching themes and terminology that are essential for any study exploring the relevance of sex and gender in health research. We developed a three-step research framework for considering and incorporating sex and gender in research, using SCI as a case in point.ConclusionThe major principles in current paper can benefit everyone interested in studying sex/gender in the context of health in complex and disabling conditions.

In this paper, I propose to explore the relationship between women and the mobile phone through the lens of political economy critique and the Marxian theory of value, as revisited by feminist scholars. In the first part, I offer metatheoretical reflections on strategies to revitalize the theoretical framework of mobile communication studies. I analyze the limitations of how mobile (and digital) studies have, so far, framed the issue of gender. I propose an initial paradigm shift in these studies by broadening the scope of gender and mobile communication research beyond the confines of traditional studies on gender differences, moving toward an exploration of the relationship between women and capital in mobile communication. I continue by proposing a second shift in mobile phone studies, illustrating how mobile communication is increasingly becoming human–machine communication and how the use of mobile phones is actually structured as reproductive labor. I then introduce the theory of value, a well-established sociological theory first proposed by Marx and later reelaborated by feminist scholars. I apply this theory to mobile communication, by expanding it further. Following this, I present a third paradigm shift, advocating a transition from studying the social consequences of mobile communication to investigating the deeper socioeconomic forces driving the adoption of mobile phones and digital technologies for women. The feminist reworking of the theory of value supports these paradigm shifts, enabling us to explore mobile communication within the domestic sphere in a novel way, particularly as it relates to housework and digital labor.

ABSTRACT Underrepresentation of women leaders in higher education is a global phenomenon. This qualitative study explores Chinese educational leaders’ lived experiences and comparative perspectives on (under)representation of women leaders and gender equality in Chinese universities. Informed by Chinese feminisms and critical feminist perspectives, the study investigates gender-based leadership barriers at the macro (societal), meso (organisational), and micro (individual) levels. The findings elucidate diverse interpretations regarding leadership and gender equality. The comparative perspectives highlight context-specific complexity and challenge the simplistic male/female binaries often prevalent in leadership and gender research. The study offers nuanced insights into how gendered power relations and leadership are produced and maintained through social and organisational practices. The implications of advancing gender equality in higher education leadership and transcending Western-centrism and nationalism are discussed.

Purpose This study explores how different conceptions of masculinity – ranging from traditional breadwinner models to more egalitarian frameworks – influence men’s engagement with work–life balance policies. It examines how generational differences intersect with supervisory attitudes and organizational culture in shaping men’s decisions to use family friendly policies. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research design was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with 45 men from three generational cohorts: Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials/Generation Z. The study applied an iterative, inductive analysis to explore how masculinities are expressed and negotiated in relation to work–life practices. Findings The analysis identifies three core themes: (1) masculinity continuum (traditional vs evolving), (2) supervisory and cultural norms and (3) internal conflict (career prioritization vs family engagement). Older participants tended to align with hegemonic masculinity and avoid policy use, while younger men embraced more egalitarian models. Leadership and workplace norms played a central role in reinforcing or challenging gendered expectations around work–life engagement. Practical implications Organizations should move beyond policy availability and foster inclusive cultures where men feel supported in reconciling work and family roles. Supervisors play a crucial role in modeling alternative masculinities and legitimizing the use of family friendly policies, particularly in contexts where traditional norms persist. Originality/value This study contributes to work–family literature by integrating Connell’s theory of multiple masculinities with empirical insights on generational dynamics and organizational influence. It highlights how identity, leadership and culture interact to shape men’s engagement with work–life practices – an area often overlooked in both gender and organizational research.

This study investigated message effectiveness on behavioral intentions of Pacific Crest Trail hikers to follow two Leave No Trace practices: dispose of waste properly and travel and camp on durable surfaces. This study tested the effect of three message frames—humor, moral, or threatening appeals—to determine which message influenced the viewer’s intent to follow an LNT principle. This study also tested which message sender—ranger or volunteer—influenced the viewer’s intent to hike on durable surfaces. The data shows a relationship between gender and survey participants’ reported intentions to perform LNT behaviors. The study also found that participants with more self-reported of LNT principles were more likely to perform the recommended behaviors. These findings indicate that LNT education is an effective tool for limiting the environmental impact of hikers on the PCT, and they highlight a need for further research in LNT communication, gender, and outdoor recreation.

The intersection of disability and sexuality is an exciting area of scholarship that offers fresh perspectives and critical insights into how disabled people navigate desire, intimacy, and pleasure. This emerging field challenges traditional boundaries within the sociology of sexualities, calling into question who is included in this research and how normative assumptions shape discourse and methodology. Yet despite this growing literature, disabled people remain systematically marginalized in gender and sexuality research. Their voices are often excluded due to institutional gatekeeping and ableist stereotypes that infantilize or hypersexualize them. This article argues for inclusive, participatory qualitative methodologies—rooted in “crip” theoretical frameworks—that recognize disabled people as experts in their own lives. By embracing innovative approaches, such as arts-based and diverse communication methods, researchers can create more accessible spaces that allow disabled people to share their experiences on their own terms. Such approaches facilitate knowledge cocreation and foreground the complexity and richness of disabled people’s sexual and relational worlds. Although progress has been made, substantial gaps remain, particularly for those with intersecting marginalized identities. This article highlights the necessity of centering disabled voices in conversations about sexuality, thereby broadening the sociological imagination and fostering a future in which disabled people’s desires, pleasures, and relationships are not only acknowledged but also celebrated.

Gender-specific differences also affect the subject of orthopaedics and trauma surgery (O&T). While the proportion of women studying medicine is steadily increasing, the proportion of female surgeons in O&T is only 18.6%. This underrepresentation affects not only clinics but also research and is reflected in participation in scientific annual meetings such as the German Congress for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DKOU).This retrospective study examined the gender differences in abstract submissions to the DKOU from 2015 to 2024. The anonymised data were subjected to examination regarding gender, role in submission and academic title.The overall participation of women in the 82,813 abstracts was 20%. The proportion of women among submitters was 23.3%, among presenters 24.5% and among co-authors 18.2%. In the analysis of the female cohort alone, women were more likely to be submitters and presenters than in the male cohort (p<0.001). The proportion of female participation in abstract submissions increased by an average of 0.5% per year over the study period. However, women were significantly underrepresented at higher academic degrees, such as habilitations (7.4%), professorships (7.6%) and university professorships (5.2%).The results show that the proportion of women submitting abstracts to the DKOU largely corresponds to the percentage in the field of orthopaedics and trauma surgery (18.6% in 2022), reflecting the overall gender disparity in this specialty. If this trend analysis were applied to the general development of gender parity in orthopaedics and trauma surgery, gender-equitable staffing of medical positions could not be achieved before the year 2087. To accelerate this development, targeted measures to promote women in orthopaedics and trauma surgery are necessary. This includes dismantling structural barriers and implementing specific support programs for female surgeons pursuing academic careers.

The research deals with implementing the tactic of advice in the speech of female personages in American feature films presenting a case study of the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic", which describes the life of a young woman who, despite her painful addiction to buying wardrobe items, writes a column about financial literacy for a fashion magazine. The study integrates sociolinguistic and pragmatic approaches to the analysis of gender-specific female speech, provides information on the history and current state of gender research in linguistics; describes the latest trends in the study of personages’ speech in linguistics and proves the possibility of using American film discourse to study the actually existing speech patterns of representatives of American society. The article aims to identify, describe and classify the linguistic means used by female personages to implement the tactic of advice. The latter is seen as the one which provides the recipient with the advice in the form of a categorical instruction or a non-categorical suggestion about his or her actions and behavior according to the speaker's point of view. The research proves that the advice indicates the higher status of the female speaker, who ascribes to herself the right or demonstrates the desire to control the behavior of the addresser of the advice. Acceptance of advice additionally increases the status of its addressee, the protest against it lowers this status. Categorical advice-instruction is implemented by female characters in the injunctive speech acts and with the help of modal and notional verbs, modal equivalents that have the meaning of the necessity to perform an action. The implementation of non-categorical advice-suggestion by female personages involves the use of a number of means softening the categorical nature of the statement, among which we highlight modal words, verbs and phrases with the meaning of the possible character of the action performance. In the speech of female personages, there exists a combination of instructions and suggestions for the implementation of the tactic of advice. A possible way to reduce the categorical character of advice is to use indirect advice by female personages, which increases the chances of achieving the goal. The tactic of self-help is used by female characters in a conversation with an imaginary interlocutor.

With the rapid development of society and the acceleration of the globalization process, the post-2000 generation of women, namely Generation Z women, are experiencing unprecedented social changes. The gender concepts of this generation are undergoing profound transformations. This study selects an all-girls high school in Australia as a typical field site and investigates on the marriage views, family concepts, future career choices, and attitudes towards current feminism of Generation Z women. This research aims to explore how Generation Z women shape and express their gender concepts when confronted with the conflict between traditional gender roles and modern feminist ideas. Through in-depth research on this specific group, this study will reveal the diversity and complexity of gender concepts in contemporary society and provide new perspectives and data support for future gender research.

ABSTRACT Systemic forces of power are deeply embedded in areas of ecological extraction. As such, it is imperative that theoretical stances employed to frame research of extraction centre intersections of power and the subsequent impacts for communities. To do so, this paper offers the convergence of ecofeminist and decolonial theory; a decolonial ecofeminism, as an complimentary paradigmatic framework to engage in critical research surrounding topics of gender, ecology and coloniality. Through a case study of a recent research project of gender and extraction in the Dominican Republic, this theoretical paper demonstrates the possibilities of a decolonial ecofeminism to situate women’s narratives of extraction within systems of power, illustrating the severity of gendered experiences caused and perpetuated by open-pit mining. This paper provides a thorough overview of decolonial and ecofeminist theories respectively, including key theorists, main tenets and significance for critical research. Further, the compatibility of these theories is revealed, establishing suitability for theoretical convergence to complement existing conceptual understandings. Through decolonial ecofeminism as a paradigmatic contribution, this work strives to build on existing debates surrounding coloniality and gender, exposing the exploitation of nature and women as neocolonial, capitalist violence, and enhancing opportunities for scholarly activism, disruption and resistance.

Linguistic gender research has originated from Western academia and gone through centennial and continual development throughout the birth and growth of linguistics. Lately, the interjection words, serving as an observable but marginal lexical index, have played an increasingly significant role in many aspects of linguistic studies for recent decades, for example, in the way the experts analyze the vocal expression of emotion, study the cross-lingual analysis in Japanese and English, and many other applications. This paper adopts three classifications of interjection words noise-like primary interjections, word-like primary interjections, and secondary interjections to further explore the relationship between gender and each classification of interjections on the platform of YouTube. The randomly chosen videos of YouTubers, fifty male YouTubers, and fifty female ones, are transcribed into words and analyzed systematically with the assistance of the structured questionnaire and the corpus analysis. Consequently and generally, male YouTubers using the interjections are significantly different from those female YouTubers on word frequency (p&lt;0.05) which agreed with the data from noise-like primary interjections and secondary interjections but disagreed with word-like primary interjections. It suggests that gender does influence the common usage of the interjections significantly, but there are still some exceptions, like the word-like primary interjections.

The food and nutrition challenges in Cape Town are complex and reflect historical legacies of colonialism and apartheid as well as the impact of contemporary neoliberal policy leading to extremes in socio-economic status. The right to food is enshrined in the South African constitution, yet there is an intersection between food, gender and injustice that prevails in marginalised communities in Cape Town, which is regarded to be one of the most unequal cities in the world and facing great social vulnerability. Rapid urbanisation, climate change, intensity of droughts and flooding, land speculation and shrinking quotas for small-scale fishing put pressure on the city´s food system and reduce citizens access to nutritious food. A survey of 1 060 township households from 2011 showed that 80% of low-income households in Cape Town experience food insecurity. It is now acknowledged that COVID-19 exacerbated food insecurity, and that the city has high levels of poverty induced hunger and a lack of effective response from politicians. In the post-COVID period, and with the ongoing global crisis, food prices have escalated sharply, affecting those that are the most vulnerable. At the tail end of unjust food systems are women and children, and furthermore, women-headed households are in general more food insecure than male-headed. This paper contributes to an important issue in gender research, namely the intersection between gender justice and food security. The case study is carried out in a coastal community on the Cape Peninsula of the Western Cape, South Africa where a majority of the population experience food insecurity and frequent hunger. We explore how women in the community engage in activities that can contribute to improving food security, their motivation for taking action and for advocating for just and inclusive food systems. The study draws on a methodology of co-creation of knowledge, which is embedded in a critical feminist research tradition and that addresses the lived experiences of people in the community.

Queer-feminist science and technology studies (STS) critically inquire science and technology and their promises enable new possibilities and challenging their manifestations, which are often seen as reproducing and increasing inequalities on local and global levels (Cipolla et al. 2017). The transdisciplinary technology development project PROTEA (2022-2025) has received funding to integrate a gender dimension into the human-centred technology design of 3D-printed prostheses with integrated sensor technology (Thaler et al. 2024). The gender research is adding an intersectional perspective to the participatory technology design itself, and raising gender awareness and knowledge within the research team. This paper demonstrates how a queer-feminist STS lens can intervene with the aim of challenging existing norms and standards in human-centred design through using the cyborg narrative (Haraway 1991, 2016) to analyse data. The queer-feminist lens challenges potential defaults by the research funders, and led to new research questions beyond prostheses improvement.

This paper examines the power dynamics and hierarchies in international development that systematically exclude and minoritise women of colour (WOC) in the workplace, particularly as these dynamics relate to gender, race, and class. Narrative interviews were conducted with 24 women of colour who work in the energy and health sub-sectors in US donor and implementing agencies to generate ‘counternarratives’ or stories of minoritised individuals that challenge master narratives. Master narratives are dominant cultural, political, or historical stories used by the majority to legitimate their power and position and normalise oppression. The interviews were analysed using intersectionality and critical race theory as theoretical lenses. The counternarratives were classified according to the four domains of power – structural, disciplinary, homogeneous, and interpersonal – to show how oppression and privilege manifest and interact in different settings. Prior work in this space has highlighted the experiences of WOC in the workplace in sectors like education, but there is limited scholarly work in international development. The present research contributes to knowledge by examining an industry with colonial roots. By articulating the counternarratives of women of colour who work in international development, this study lessens their invisibility as a minority and aids others who experience similar obstacles. The study provides evidence-based support for the critical role of intersectional leadership and a comparative lens between two sub-sectors in development – energy and health – which contrast in many ways. More broadly, by exploring the lived experiences and social contexts of individuals, it also contributes to qualitative gender research.

Statement on the Importance of Sexuality and Gender Research

Background: Nursing leadership in the Arab world is essential for improving healthcare outcomes, enhancing nurse performance, and ensuring efficient service delivery. However, nurse leaders in the region face significant challenges, including workforce shortages, gender disparities, inadequate leadership training, and policy restrictions.Objective: This study examines the challenges and opportunities for nursing leadership in the Arab world, emphasizing strategies to enhance leadership capacity and foster sustainable growth.Methods: A comprehensive analysis of existing literature was conducted to identify key barriers to nursing leadership, including cultural norms, regulatory constraints, and resource limitations. Additionally, opportunities such as leadership training, gender inclusivity, and policy reforms were explored.Results: Findings indicate that nurse leaders struggle with workforce instability due to high turnover rates and reliance on expatriate nurses. Gender disparities limit female career advancement, while insufficient leadership education restricts professional growth. Hierarchical resistance to change further hinders leadership effectiveness. However, opportunities exist in expanding leadership education, promoting gender equity, and strengthening policy frameworks. Transformational leadership approaches, inter professional collaboration, and technological integration can enhance leadership effectiveness.Conclusion: Strengthening nursing leadership requires targeted reforms, including investment in education, mentorship programs, and regulatory improvements. Encouraging gender inclusivity, research initiatives, and digital learning platforms can drive long-term progress. Addressing these challenges will improve patient care, workforce stability, and healthcare system resilience across the Arab world.

BackgroundDestructive leadership has been linked to negative consequences for both organizations and followers. Research has also shown that leader gender affects follower perceptions of leadership behavior and follower outcomes [1, 2–3]. However, knowledge is limited as to whether this also applies to destructive leadership [4]. This study aims to combine gendered organization theory with destructive leadership research to investigate the role that gender plays in the relation between destructive leadership behavior and follower outcomes.MethodsThe data were collected in collaboration with Statistic Sweden. It is a representative sample from the working population in Sweden. We used a two-wave survey design and included 1,121 participants in the analysis.ResultsThe results from structural equation models indicated that destructive leadership has negative consequences for follower burnout, job satisfaction, and turnover intention 6 months later. The results also showed that followers reported a greater intention to leave the organization if the leader was the same gender and used destructive leadership.ConclusionsOur study contributes to destructive leadership research by showing that the gender of both the leader and follower matters for the relation between destructive leadership behavior and follower outcomes. Additionally, our study makes a theoretical contribution by integrating a gender research perspective into destructive leadership research.