Changing Gender Roles Research Articles

Changing gender role behaviors of south Asian men in different gender regimes: A comparative study of COVID‐19 lockdown in Pakistan and Germany

This comparative study of COVID‐19 lockdown aims to underline changes in gender role behaviors of South‐Asian men (husbands) living in different gender regimes: Pakistan and Germany. As a nascent contribution to existing discourses of political science (gender regimes), international migration, and men and masculinity, the study compares self‐reported changes in husbands' masculine and feminine role behaviors with perceptions of their wives during the lockdown period. A gender role behavior scale is adapted to design an online survey and collect data through convenient and snowball sampling techniques. By computing analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures, the study infers that the COVID‐19 driven first lockdown has limited the mobility of men (husbands). Thus, they have reported a significant decline in their traditional masculine role behaviors (outside the home) in both countries. Nonetheless, a subsequent increase does not appear in their feminine role behaviors. Although temporary suspension of their breadwinning roles due to lockdown has allowed them to modify their gender role behaviors by sharing increased domestic and caregiving tasks in families, a significant change does not appear in their behaviors. Findings conclude that social upheaval (COVID‐19) does not convince men (husbands) to interchange their masculine and feminine role behaviors in families. Thus, inferences support key prims of bio‐socialists that gender role behaviors are inherited and may change through cultural advancements (through gender education and enabling legal frameworks) in relatively less gender‐egalitarian societies and proper ‘gendered integration’ initiatives in relatively more gender‐egalitarian societies.

Locking Down Gender Roles? A Time-Use Perspective on Gender Division of Household Labour during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Belgium.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the division of household labour could continue to lock down or start to break gender roles. Using time-use data of n = 473 individuals collected during the lockdown restrictions in Belgium from March to May 2020, we analyse the gendered division of routine and non-routine household labour in absolute time use and relative shares. We compare against the Belgian time-use data of 2013 for the same time period (n = 678 individuals). A time-demanding work and living situation associate with an increase in men's time spent on household labour during the lockdown but not with a change in women's time use. The gender gap closes in absolute time but not in relative shares of routine and non-routine household labour. The limited impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gender division of household labour indicates a temporal rather than a substantial change in gender roles.

Family planning, the pill, and reproductive agency in Italy, 1945–1971: From ‘conscious procreation’ to ‘a new fundamental right’?

ABSTRACT The article analyses post-war family planning campaigning in Italy and the legalization of the Pill (1971), in order to illustrate wider processes of change in sexual norms and practices, the feminization of contraception, and the emergence of notions of individual rights in procreation. Situating the Italian family planning movement as part of a transnational network and a global agenda, it problematizes understandings of family planning as a site of individual liberation only, highlighting the hierarchization of reproductive bodies that underpinned the campaigns of many family planning activists. Drawing on archives, publications and memoirs by family planners in Italy and the US, this is the first scholarly analysis of the Italian family planning movement’s role in the (illegal) distribution of contraception and sexual information, as well as its key contribution to the legalization of the Pill. The article aims to offer an original contribution to the socio-political negotiation of reproductive agency in the post-war period, set against the backdrop of the globalization of demographic debate, secularization, changing gender roles and new medical technologies.

Alcohol's Impact on the Fetus.

Background: Alcohol is a teratogen and prenatal exposure may adversely impact the developing fetus, increasing risk for negative outcomes, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Global trends of increasing alcohol use among women of childbearing age due to economic development, changing gender roles, increased availability of alcohol, peer pressure and social acceptability of women’s alcohol use may put an increasing number of pregnancies at risk for prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). This risk has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in some countries. Method: This literature review presents an overview on the epidemiology of alcohol use among childbearing age and pregnant women and FASD by World Health Organization regions; impact of PAE on fetal health, including FASD; associated comorbidities; and social outcomes. Results/Conclusion: The impact of alcohol on fetal health and social outcomes later in life is enormous, placing a huge economic burden on countries. Prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure and early identification of affected individuals should be a global public health priority.

“They taught us not only our rights as women, but also how to live.” Gender-based violence and empowerment experiences of Syrian women in Turkey and the role of women and girls safe spaces: A qualitative study

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a women rights violation, particularly during humanitarian crises. Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) were opened within a project, where refugee women work and receive gender-sensitive services. The researchers aim to reveal the GBV exposure and empowerment experiences of Syrian refugee women in Ankara and WGSS’ role. In-depth interviews were conducted with 26 health mediators working at WGSS. The findings obtained through thematic analysis revealed four main themes: changing forms of GBV during migration, learning women’s rights as a means of resistance to GBV, experiences of women’s working lives and empowerment, and changing gender roles.

Socioeconomic Status of Nepalese Employed Women in institutional Sector: A Sociological Study of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City

Gender role has been changing in Nepali society. Traditional rigid patriarchal system has been changing gradually. Particularly urban society has realized such change. Women have marched towards the breadwinning job which was assumed to be the job of male member in traditional society. This research article is dedicated to the understanding of the condition of dual role of working women and increasing socioeconomic status of urban society. This article is based on the primary data. Online questionnaire has been used as the main tool for data collection. Obtained data were analyzed by using the SPSS program. Result of this study shows that there is the situation of double burden of household chores and income generating work of outer periphery. They are facing different physical, mental, social difficulties in both sectors’ work. However, their socioeconomic status has been changing positively in society along with the changing gender role in the urban society.

Social circus in aerials: Female experience, muscularity, pain and trust

Women are often asked to conform to a rigid set of heteronormative ideas of femininity within a culture that values women based on appearance. Historically, the female aerialist’s muscularity challenged traditional stereotypes of female inferiority, displaying nuanced representations of femininity. Current research in social circus indicates that participation in circus activities can increase participants’ self-confidence and self-belief. This participant-based research explores a group of eighteen to thirty-five-year-old women’s experience of learning and performing aerial circus skills integrated with training in digital media production within a social circus context. As a circus performer and instructor this research emerged from over ten years of practitioner experience. The central aim of the article is to explore participants’ experiences of aerial circus training with a focus on strength, muscularity, pain and bodily markings as having the potential to challenge traditional notions of femininity, and ideas of embodied trust and capacity as a result of developing an informed relationship with one’s body. The article draws on participants’ voices and experiences based on observation and interviews. The findings add to our understanding of female experience of social aerial circus. Participants spoke of increased self-confidence as a result of what their body can achieve as opposed to focussing on self-perceived lacks. Working within participants’ concept of empowerment, aerial circus training offered participants a notional form of liberation, where through physical practice they were able to explore changing gender roles and embody ideas of self-reliance.

The Content of Gender Stereotypes Embedded in Language Use

Gender stereotypes have endured despite substantial change in gender roles. Previous work has assessed how gender stereotypes affect language production in particular interactional contexts. Here, we assessed communication biases where context was less specified: written texts to diffuse audiences. We used Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) to computationally quantify the similarity in meaning between gendered names and stereotype-linked terms in these communications. This revealed that female names were more similar in meaning to the proscriptive (undesirable) masculine terms, such as emotional.

Becoming a gay caretaker of a religious image (Camarero): Catholic devotion in the Philippines as a gendered social practice

Pagsasanto or the beliefs and practices associated with the caretaking of religious images is a Catholic devotion brought by the Spanish colonization in the Philippines. The history of pagsasanto illuminates a religious tradition exclusively performed by old-rich women (camareras) and prominent political families. At present, the changing gender roles in pagsasanto through the growing participation of gay caretakers of religious images (camareros) has redefined the practice. This shift prompted the researchers to investigate how gender mediates a devotional practice and how gender is constructed, negotiated, and performed through pagsasanto. Using ethnography, the researchers did participant observation to examine the meanings and practices associated with pagsasanto activities such as decorating the image and its carriage as well as joining the procession. To facilitate further analysis, interviews and focus group discussions were undertaken among four gay informants, highlighting their life histories as image caretakers. Data were categorized through themes and analysed from a critical cultural perspective. The research found that gender mediates pagsasanto and vice versa. The becoming of a gay camarero is rooted in cultural practice and familial Catholic tradition. The changing meanings of pagsasanto arecontingent on gender performativity, market, social media and the growingcommunity networks.

Social Roles of Grandparents in an Ageing, Modern Society

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The authors’ aim is to create an original typology of the social roles of grandparents in modern society. The reflection is set in the context of demographic changes related to ageing processes and theories of life cycles. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The main thesis is that despite the significant sociocultural changes occurring in the context of the intensifying aging processes of societies, it is possible to indicate the multiplicity of roles played by grandparents. The article is based on two research projects conducted among women aged 50‑64 and men aged 55‑69 living in the Lubuskie Voivodeship. The data used has a qualitative character, and the empirical basis is 110 written biographical stories. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The background of the study is data from public statistics that illustrate the deepening ageing processes of the region’s population. Unfavourable demographic processes are intertwined with sociocultural changes related to the change of gender roles, professional activity, and free time. This element is related to the concept of life phases. An extensive theoretical introduction precedes the analysis of the results of research on the typology of the social roles of women and men as grandparents. RESEARCH RESULTS: An original typology of the roles of grandparents in the modern world was proposed. The mechanisms related to the roles focus mainly on meeting the needs of the family in the first place. We can draw an axis of traditional vs. modern, which leaves room for some other indirect possibilities (e.g. space for female self‑realization). However, it depends on the sociocultural factors and scripts implemented at earlier stages of family life. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: There is no uniform and coherent grandfathering pattern, and there is a clear difference between the sexes on the axis of involvement in caring functions.

MDAÜ ÜLKELERİNDE BOŞANMANIN SOSYOEKONOMİK NEDENLERİ ÜZERİNE AMPİRİK BİR ARAŞTIRMA

The paper examines the relationship between divorce rates and socioeconomic variables in CEE countries whose economic and political regimes were changed from communism to capitalism. Factors such as regime change have been ignored, although there are many studies that examine the impact of changing gender roles and female labor force participation on the family structure. This study focuses on the impact of socio-economic impacts on divorce as well as regime change. Panel LM unit root test was used with the aim of finding out whether the destabilizing effect of divorce rates in CEE countries was permanent after the regime change. Also, panel data regression was employed to determine the social l factors that affected divorce rates from the years between 2008 nd 2017. The Czech Republic appears to have left behind the shock effect it experienced on divorce rates, which is considered to be a result of the country’s closeness to liberal values from past to present. The result of panel regression was supported the fact that growth rate and openness have a significant negative effect on divorce rates.

Power in romantic relationships: How positional and experienced power are associated with relationship quality

Power dynamics have been described as being constitutive of romantic relationships and can impact outcomes such as relationship quality. Yet, in relationships nowadays, power may be less important than in the past due to changes in gender roles and society’s expectations. We analyzed four power characteristics and their effects on a multidimensional measure of relationship quality using an actor-partner interdependence model framework with 181 heterosexual couples. There was usually a balance of power in the couples with respect to a personal sense of power but an imbalance in positional power. We found actor and partner effects: Personal sense of power and satisfaction with power predicted actors’ and partners’ relationship quality. By contrast, positional power, the general power motive, and the balance of power were not associated with relationship quality. There were hardly any differences in actor or partner effects between men and women. Apparently, it is not objective, positional power but subjective, experienced power that is relevant to overall relationship quality. Furthermore, what matters most for satisfaction with the relationship is not the balance of power but rather the perceived personal level of power. Future research may extend these findings by using domain-specific power measures and behavioral power indicators.

Women in Love: Why Women are Expected to Love First and the Exploration of Changing Gender Roles in Heterosexual Romantic Relationships

This paper explores the misconception that women, being perceived in western society as the most emotional gender, is the first to feel love and to say the words “I love you” in a romantic heterosexual relationship. Research has determined that women are expected to say and feel love in a relationship before men, when in reality the opposite is true. I will discuss social expectations of gender norms in heterosexual relationships and the ways in which relationship norms are currently being challenged. I suggest that changes in courtship norms and media influences on youth create inaccurate gender expectations around love and that new technological advances and decrease in the effectiveness of monogamous heterosexual relationships are challenging these gender expectations, therefore the relationship model and the gendered expectations within these relationships, as known by western society, may be obsolete.

The representations and implications of gender stereotypes portrayed in three selected TV advertisements shown in Bangladesh: a critical interpretation

Purpose This paper aims to the precise critical interpretation of gender roles portrayed in the three selected TV advertisements shown in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach The analysis begins with the theoretical framework of gender roles analysis here in this paper: Goffman’s gender stereotypes hypothesis which is used to identify and analyse the thematic features present in the ads. After critically examining the hypothesis, Kress and Van Leeuwen’s systemic functional analysis framework is used to analyse the semiotic feature to interpret the signs and symbols. After that, Fairclough’s stylistic analysis of discourse analysis is used to find out these features in the advertisements to search the cultural, political implications. Finally, the paper uses Pope’s The Rape of the Lock and it is Cultural-Ecofeminist Analysis of Francois d’Eaubonne. Findings This paper tries to connect with the above-mentioned frameworks from a contextual point of view to predict the future progression of the gender representations and their implications in the coming years to check whether the changes in gender roles are reflected in the society or not. Originality/value Both in houses and workplaces, women empowerment, more female entrepreneurs in the working forces will bring out a change in the minds of people about the stereotypes and make more women inclusive and the women-friendly environment in Bangladesh and South Asian Countries.

Critical Interpretations of Gender Stereotypes in Selected Bangladeshi TV Advertisements

This paper aims at a precise critical interpretation of gender roles portrayed in the three selected TV advertisements shown in Bangladesh. The analysis begins with the theoretical framework of gender roles analysis here in this paper: Goffman’s Gender Stereotypes Hypothesis which is used to identify and analyse the thematic features present in the ads. After critically examining the hypothesis, Kress and Van Leeuwen’s Systemic Functional Analysis framework is used to analyse the semiotic feature to interpret the signs and symbols. After that, Fairclough’s stylistic analysis of Discourse Analysis is used to find out these features in the advertisements to search the cultural, political implications. Lastly, the paper uses Pope’s The Rape of the Lock and its Cultural-Ecofeminist Analysis of Francois d’Eaubonne to connect with the above-mentioned frameworks from a contextual point of view to form the “Multi-Disciplinary Framework” to predict the future progression of the gender representations and their implications in the coming years. Results show that despite the presence of gender stereotypes, the changes in gender roles both in houses and workplaces, women empowerment, more female entrepreneurs in the working forces will bring out about a change in the minds of people about the stereotypes and make a more women-inclusive and women-friendly environment in Bangladesh.

Gender role in climate change adaptation on the peat swamp ecosystem in Pulang Pisau Regency Central Kalimantan

Climate change has the most severe impact on women, but studies on adaptation in a gender perspective are still limited. The purposes of this study were to find out: (1) gender role changes in response to climate change, and (2) the impact of gender role changes on the vulnerability of women. This study was conducted on the peat-swamp ecosystem in Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan. Gender roles in natural resource management in adapting to climate change in the peat-swamp ecosystem were descriptively qualitatively analyzed which emphasized relations and gender roles in the household. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. This study used documentation methods with secondary data types. From the results of the study, it can be seen that the gender role of women is divided into three, namely productive roles, reproductive roles, and social community roles. Climate change in Pulang Pisau Regency will interact and be sustainable with gender inequality and which disadvantages women than men, especially among the poor community, so that access to the availability of natural resources is needed in order to solve existing vulnerabilities and increase more real participation in the current climate change adaptation process.

Gender Adaptation Strategy to The Impact of Forest and Land Fire in Kelampangan Village Peatland, Sebangau, Central Kalimantan

Climate change that occurs in Central Kalimantan mostly caused by forest and land fire has led to season shifting and gender life order changing. Thus, it resulted in a poor impact on gender life sustainability that was difficult to be recovered in a short time. This research aims to identify and evaluate the adaptation of women to forest and land fires in Palangkaraya and to express solutions that can improve gender equality. The research was conducted in Kalampangan, Sebangau. This research applied an interview method with a purposive sampling technique and conducted a descriptive analysis that emphasized climate change conditions in recent years. Climate change caused land changing due to forest and land fire. Therefore, it was also able to change gender roles (women) to take responsibility to support family economic conditions. This condition created a double burden carried by women, so this condition required a choice of adaptation for women in dealing with it. The intended strategic choices were (1) surviving with these conditions and utilizing modest agricultural products; (2) changing land, using a traditional system while the restoration of burned land was processed; (3) forming post- fire farmer groups by gradually changing their mindset.

Female Chants from the Past: Celtic Myths in Tomm Moore’s Song of the Sea

ABSTRACT This article discusses the Celtic myths, figures, and central themes of Tomm Moore’s animated movie Song of the Sea (2014), from a transmodern feminist perspective. While the movie offers a vivid portrayal of the dichotomy between the tranquil Irish countryside and the turbulent city of Dublin, its main theme revolves around a rural family’s lament for the loss of the mother who is a modern-day personification of the Celtic selkie (seal woman). This curious female figure embodies contradictory characteristics: she is semi-human and at the same time a mother and a wife who, in struggling with her in-between state, leaves her family and returns to her mythical roots. By focusing on several of the Celtic mythical figures and central themes of maternal loss, motherhood, gender relations, and family reconciliation, I attempt to show that the movie’s transmodern echoes and concerns suggest that alternative family formations and changed gender roles are possible in Irish society and in the world more generally.

Forced Migration as a Crisis in Masculinity: A Sociological Approach to Refugee Men’s Remasculinization Strategies in Turkey

AbstractThis article focuses on the changes in masculinity identity caused by forced migration and remasculinization strategies developed by men against this situation. This qualitative study sets out the idea that forced migration causes the dramatic changes in gender roles, especially in the identity of masculinity. In this context, data were collected from 15 male refugees who flee from different countries to Turkey through semi-structured interviews. According to the data, forced migration refers to a crisis in masculinity that shook the power of some men. Men cannot perform the various roles that traditionally attributed to masculine identity, due to poverty and unemployment they face by displacement. In the face of this situation, some men try to reconstruct and regain their power and masculinity identity by developing different remasculinization strategies. These are realized by emphasizing the roles of hegemonic masculinity that men can perform in the process of forced migration.

Gender Relations at the Digitalised Workplace: The Interrelation Between Digitalisation, Gender, and Work

Innovative leaps in digital technology alongside changing gender roles in society may open a window of opportunity to renegotiate gendered work patterns. The main question addressed in this article is the extent to which digitalisation holds the potential to reorganise gendered work relations, and if so why. First, we elaborate on the interrelation between work and gender in capitalist societies. Our main argument is that digitalisation is shifting the boundaries between paid and unpaid labour with far-reaching repercussions for women and men. Second, we will identify core digitalisation processes capable of overcoming or changing gendered work patterns. These include automation, the platform economy, and the interactive processes by which a value is assigned to work. We discuss these three processes and their implications for gender inequalities by means of examples based on current literature.