Gender Dimensions Research Articles

Gender Dimensions of Determinants of Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change among Smallholder Farmers in Northeast Ethiopia

Gender Dimensions of Determinants of Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change among Smallholder Farmers in Northeast Ethiopia

Mapping of Spatial Variance of Family Policy that Could Increase Fertility: Indices for 23 OECD Countries across 21 Year Period

In a period of falling fertility rates and increasing number of various family policies (FPs) that are designed to address this trend, our study explores spatial and temporal variance of such FP measures which could be associated with increased fertility. They have been implemented in a range of countries, but their variance has not yet been systematically mapped. We employ a novel approach, examining gender and economic dimensions of FP measures to develop FP indices scoring 23 European OECD countries throughout the 2000–2021 period and uncover spatial similarities and discrepancies therein. Our findings indicate that degenderizing FP measures are increasingly being adopted across countries, with both genderizing and generous financial measures also enduring. Interestingly, despite an overall decline in fertility rates, FP has become more robust across countries according to the indices. We agree with recent studies that degenderizing FPs are most common in Nordic countries and least so in Central and Eastern Europe. We provide evidence that Hungary and Estonia are exceptions, with different types and more extensive FP. We also found that countries categorised in different contextual clusters sometimes score similarly strongly on genderizing FP (Czechia, Luxembourg, Spain) or weakly on financial FP measures (Slovakia, the UK, Greece). In countries where index scores increased only recently (e.g., Switzerland, Spain), we expect potential increases in fertility rates in the future.

Gender Dimensions of Forced Displacement: A Brief Review and Introduction to the Special Issue

Displacement has increased continuously over the last 12 years and the number of forcibly displaced persons has reached an unprecedented level. More than half of all forcibly displaced persons are girls or women; yet very little is known about how gender intersects the behavior and welfare of forced displacement. This special issue focuses specifically on the gender dimensions of forced displacement. We make both topical and methodological contributions to knowledge about gender norms, livelihoods, multi-dimensional and income poverty, and gender-based violence and discuss the implications of our findings for future research, policy and practice.

Shades of party activism: understanding ZANU-PF youth activists

This article contributes to debates on authoritarian renewal and youth party activism in Africa, based on case study research with youth who are active in the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). While youth activism and electoral politics is a subject of rich scholarship, there is limited knowledge on the motivations and agency of the party youth of hegemonic ruling parties. The study engaged a diverse group of ZANU-PF youth to understand their journeys into party activism, how they negotiate the discourses and authoritarian practices promoted by ZANU-PF, and their political agency on behalf of and within the party. The article analyses the everyday ways through which youth activists take part in ZANU-PF structures and activities, noting the dimensions of class and gender. The findings demonstrate the existing ‘shades in activism’, with some youth being born into the party and others joining in search of opportunities, but this does not exclude the possibility of some wanting to promote the prosperity of others. Some self-proclaimed loyalists embrace ZANU-PF narratives, while most are highly critical of the ruling party. We argue that everyday forms of youth activism may constitute authoritarianism from below. Whether ‘at the front’ or ‘at the back’, all ZANU-PF youth contribute to the reproduction of the systems and networks of ZANU-PF, and thus authoritarian renewal, especially because the room for contestation and change from within the ruling party is limited.

An Analysis of Contextual Factors Influencing women's Candidacy in Local Elections: Insights From Italy

ABSTRACTExtensive research showed that the gender gap in electoral participation, both active and passive, is linked to cultural and socio‐economic aspects that can combine in diverse ways across different territories, leading to regional disparities. The present study analyzes how such heterogeneity in cultural and socio‐economic conditions interacts with the level of female participation in political competition in Italy, as measured by the proportion of female candidates in municipal elections from 2009 to 2016. Focusing on the gender dimension of candidacy in local elections, the study investigates its territorial determinants, particularly the role of the social and economic context. The research is innovative in two ways. First, it utilizes a large original panel dataset covering gender aspects of electoral candidatures at the municipal level as well as many socio‐economic contextual characteristics. Second, it employs a specification of the Correlated Random Effects Within‐Between model, which allows to disentangle the effect of both time‐variant and time‐invariant information within a panel data framework. Finally, the time period examined is of interest as it encompasses the Italian electoral reform known as Law 215/2012, which introduced a gender list quota at the municipal level. The results of the study suggest that policies to reduce the gender gap must aim not only at introducing quotas for women's representation but also at acting on all those economic and social factors that limit the presence of women in electoral candidacy.

Intersectionality shapes the access to various adaptive resources in climate-vulnerable contexts

Abstract Intersectional approaches are becoming essential to understanding the differential impacts of climate change and the heterogeneity of adaptive capacities. Varying factors of social and economic privileges and inequalities synergistically shape the local power structure, ultimately determining disproportionality and unequal access to adaptive resources. Using empirical data from coastal Bangladesh, which is part of the Ganges Delta, and one of the world’s -most climate-vulnerable regions, this study shows how religion, gender, and ethnicity intersect with patterns in (i) farm and non-farm incomes, (ii) land conflicts, (iii) the size of farms, and (iv) access to critical sources of weather information. The study highlights that multilayered identity, which is shaped by various structural determinants, including local power structure, can determine gendered dimensions of access to various adaptation resources. It also shows that if policymakers and development partners partially understand or do not understand the complex landscape of local vulnerability or unequal power structures including the adaptive capacity of the vulnerable populations, they would not be able to provide critical support in times of crisis. The concept of intersectionality is therefore critical in addressing adaptation and risk management challenges for regions like the Ganges Delta and other parts of the world, where people are struggling with similar social and environmental challenges.

Developing a gender measure and examining its association with cardiovascular diseases incidence: a 28-year prospective cohort study

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Examining gender (socio-cultural) in addition to sex (biological) is required to untangle socio-cultural characteristics contributing to inequities within or between sexes. This study aimed to develop a gender measure including four gender dimensions and examine the association between this gender measure and CVD incidence, across sexes.MethodsA cohort of 9188 white-collar workers (49.9% females) in the Quebec region was recruited in 1991–1993 and follow-up was carried out 28 years later for CVD incidence. Data collection involved a self-administered questionnaire and extraction of medical-administrative CVD incident cases. Cox proportional models allowed calculations of hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), stratified by sex.ResultsSex and gender were partly independent, as discordances were observed in the distribution of the gender score across sexes. Among males, being in the third tertile of the gender score (indicating a higher level of characteristics traditionally ascribed to women) was associated with a 50% CVD risk increase compared to those in the first tertile (HR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.82). This association persisted after adjustment for several CVD risk factors (HR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.73). Conversely, no statistically significant association between the third tertile of the gender score and CVD incidence was observed in females (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.60–1.05).ConclusionsThe findings suggested that males within the third tertile of the gender score were more likely to develop CVD, while females with those characteristics did not exhibit an increased risk. These findings underline the necessity for clinical and population health research to integrate both sex and gender measures, to further evaluate disparities in cardiovascular health and enhance the inclusivity of prevention strategies.

Demographics shape public preferences for carbon dioxide removal and solar geoengineering interventions across 30 countries

Climate intervention technologies such as carbon dioxide removal and solar geoengineering are becoming more actively considered as solutions to global warming. The demographic aspects of the public serve as a core determinant of social vulnerability and the ability for people to cope with, or fail to cope with, exposure to heat waves, air pollution, or disruptions in access to modern energy services. This study examines public preferences for 10 different climate interventions utilizing an original, large-scale, cross-country set of nationally representative surveys in 30 countries. It focuses intently on the demographic dimensions of gender, youth and age, poverty, and income as well as intersections and interactions between these categories. We find that support for the more engineered forms of carbon removal decreases with age. Gender has little effect overall. Those in poverty and the Global South are nearly universally more supportive of climate interventions of various types.

Eight Dimensions of Wellness: Undergraduate Student Behavior

Background: Mental health and well-being are important public health issues. College students are vulnerable to mental health and other wellness issues as this population is often making lifestyle choices autonomously for the first time and many are balancing new responsibilities, priorities, and situations in life. Aim: This study sought to gain an understanding of college students’ behavior when provided time and autonomy to focus on their wellness needs. Methods: Students completed a self-selected activity that corresponded to a dimension of wellness. A chi-square goodness-of-fit test was performed to determine distribution of responses. A chi-square test of independence was performed to examine relationships between dimension of wellness and gender, year of enrollment, and the interaction of gender by year of enrollment. Results: All dimensions of wellness were reflected in student responses with physical, social, and emotional dimensions selected more frequently. A significant relationship was found between dimension of wellness and gender and the interaction effect of gender by year of enrollment. No significant relationship was found between dimension of wellness and year of enrollment. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for diversity in wellness programming and provides valuable insights to optimize student support.

Connecting Urban Mobility and Gender Roles: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Good transport infrastructure and services improve the well-being of all groups of the population, including women, men, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. However, they are often incorrectly considered ‘gender-neutral’. Mobility is socially determined by gender roles related to reproduction, production and community. This research investigates the cohesive relationship of urban transportation, including mobility, gender and care, by studying the case of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The differences between women’s and men’s participation in transportation are identified and connected to gender-role activities. The findings show a clear relationship between urban mobility and gender roles. There is clear evidence of women’s trade-off between travelling less than men and carrying more unpaid work in the family, which is more pronounced for married women who live with their families. Differences in women’s traffic experiences compared to men’s reveal the disadvantages that women face in traffic. The findings of this research will assist the HCMC transport sector and project executive agencies in designing gender-inclusive projects. The dissemination of this research will draw attention to the gender dimension of transport and encourage gender mainstreaming across the transport sector to promote and support equality and women’s empowerment.

Gender- and personality-specific differences in academic qualifications, research motivation, and attractiveness of leadership positions: a survey among radiologists from Germany.

This study investigated gender- and personality-specific differences in academic qualifications, research motivation, and options to increase the attractiveness of leadership positions in radiology.A validated questionnaire with 66 questions was distributed via the German Roentgen Society and individually sent to 4,500 radiologists in Germany. Participants were asked about their gender. Personality dimensions were assessed using the OCEAN (Big Five) model. Multivariable regression analyses were employed.Of 510 included participants (women 237 (46.5%)), men were four times more likely to have acquired an associated professorship (AP, Habilitation Privatdozent) ((odds ratio (OR) 4.39 (2.22-8.67)). Also, they planned to achieve an AP more frequently (OR 2.87 (1.47-5.61)). The only gender-specific motivator for an AP was the option to become eligible for the position of chief physician (men OR 2.56 (1.07-6.15)). Mentors increased the probability of acquiring an AP (OR 2.07 (1.13-3.80)) or striving for an AP (4.82 (2.39-9.73)). Female mentees were likelier to have female mentors (OR 4.62 (1.68-12.73)). To increase the attractiveness of leadership positions, female radiologists perceived gender balance at the management level (OR 3.32 (2.28-4.82)), top sharing (OR 2.22 (1.48-3.32)), and better work-life balance (OR 2.02 (1.19-3.43)) as more relevant than male radiologists. More pronounced openness (OR 1.62 (1.10-2.38)) and extroversion (OR 1.45 (1.07-1.97)) were positively associated with planning an AP. More pronounced agreeableness (OR 0.67 (0.50-0.91)) was negatively associated.Research motivation is mainly independent of gender. Academic qualification varies with gender and personality dimensions. Mentoring, female role models, top sharing, and better work-family compatibility could motivate women to pursue academic leadership. · Male radiologists are more frequently motivated to pursue an associated professorship by the option of becoming a chief physician.. · Openness and extroversion make pursuing an associated professorship more likely.. · Role models at the management level, top sharing, and flexible work time are more important for female radiologists.. · Molwitz I, Kemper C, Stahlmann K et al. Gender- and personality-specific differences in academic qualifications, research motivation, and attractiveness of leadership positions: a survey among radiologists from Germany. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; DOI 10.1055/a-2415-7337.

The Issue of Safety Amongst Undergraduate Students of the University of Delhi

In this paper we investigate what are the connotations of safety for students and in what way is college a safe space. In the questionnaire administered, there was no specific question on safety. However, the response to our first question—What does entering college mean to you?—saw a significant percentage (68%) of female students associating entry into college with entry into a safe space. Students’ expectations from college —as revealed in their responses to other questions—go beyond physical safety, not only do they draw attention to the multidimensionality and complexity of the concept, but in doing so they mark out and identify within the safe environs of college, temporally and spatially fluid islands of unsafety. Their responses problematized the notion of safety, thus alerting us to a political (including gendered) and expansive understanding of safety. In this expansion safety emerges as a cluster concept incorporating dimensions of gender, equality, justice, freedom and democracy. This paper makes two arguments, first that the college experience contributes to the students’ understanding of safety in its multidimensionality. The connotations of safety include both the physical and the socio-psychological dimensions. Second that in the articulation of this learning a student develops a critical understanding of social, political, and economic structures of power.

Gender Selectively Mediates the Association Between Sex and Memory in Cognitively Normal Older Adults

Abstract Background and Objectives Sex and gender are important topics of increasing interest in aging and dementia research. Few studies have jointly examined sex (as a biological attribute) and gender (as a sociocultural and behavioral characteristic) within a single study. We explored a novel data mining approach to include both sex and gender as potentially related influences in memory aging research. Research Design and Methods Participants were 746 cognitively normal older adults from the Victoria Longitudinal Study. First, we adapted the Gender Outcomes INternational Group: To Further Well-being Development (GOING-FWD) framework—which is informed by gender dimensions of the Women’s Health Research Network—to identify, extract, and operationalize gender-related variables in the database. Second, we applied principal component analysis (PCA) to a pool of potential gender variables for creating empirically derived gender-related components. Third, we verified the expected pattern of sex differences in memory performance and evaluated each gender-related component as a potential mediator of the observed sex–memory association. Results Systematic data mining produced a roster of potential gender-related variables, 56 of which corresponded to gender dimensions represented in the GOING-FWD framework. The PCA revealed 6 gender-related components (n indicators = 37): Manual Non-Routine Household Tasks, Subjective Memory Beliefs, Leisure Free Time, Social and Routine Household Management, Health Perceptions and Practices, and Brain Games. We observed sex differences in latent memory performance whereby females outperformed males. Sex differences in memory performance were mediated by Manual Non-Routine Household Tasks, Social and Routine Household Management, and Brain Games. Follow-up analyses showed that education also mediated the sex–memory association. Discussion and Implications We show that (i) data mining can identify and operationalize gender-related variables in archival aging and dementia databases, (ii) these variables can be examined for associations with sex, and (iii) sex differences in memory performance are mediated by selected facets of gender.

Gender differences in the patterns and consequences of changing research directions in scientific careers

Abstract Changes of research direction in scientific careers are related to the so-called “essential tension” between the exploration of new knowledge and the exploitation of established knowledge in research and innovation. Changes of research direction are thereby assumed to influence the evolution of science in general. Research has shown that such changes may also affect the success of individual scientists in their careers. However, the gender dimension of this aspect of career development is so far understudied. There is also a need for more dynamic indicators to record and interpret career developments in macro data. This study combines the gender perspective with the introduction of new indicators. We selected more than 29,000 scientists in Physics & Astronomy and studied them over six decades using a bibliographic data set from Scopus. We find that women are less likely to change research direction than their men counterparts, and that the research performance of women is less negatively affected by changing research direction. We discuss the policy implications of these findings as well as the methodological advancement related to the new indicators of career development.

Gender and socioeconomic dimensions of relative age effects on ADHD prescriptions: Evidence from Denmark

This paper examines the impact of relative age on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) prescriptions among school-aged children. Using a regression discontinuity design, we leverage the quasi-experimental variation in school starting age. We use administrative data for all children aged 6–16 from 2010 to 2019 in Denmark. We find a significant decrease in ADHD prescription rates for girls who are relatively old compared to their class mates. We do not find any significant results for boys. We further test the social gradient in relative age on ADHD prescriptions and find that the effect is entirely driven by girls from low income families.

Bringing Soil, Breaking Bread: Archival Praxis in Visual Storytelling of Palestine in Exile

This article examines themes of archival praxis, visual storytelling, and care through an analysis of two Palestinian short films. Drawing on Edward Said’s concept of the contrapuntal, the authors argue that visual storytelling in Something from There by Rana Nazzal Hamadeh and Brown Bread & Apricots by Serene Husni establishes an archival praxis that utilizes narratives and objects, functioning as a portal connecting temporalities and geographical spaces between Palestine and exile. The authors explore the archival landscape that forms the fabric of Palestinian life in the two films—stories, soil, al-muneh (the pantry), photographs, and documents—arguing that the films speak to the gendered dimensions of archival care, wherein Palestinian women emerge as custodians of memory and storykeeping. By applying strategies of abundance and relationality, the authors posit that the filmmakers foreground family histories, contributing to a deeper understanding of an embodied archive.

Gendering Ocean Management for Sustainable Ocean Care in Ghana

UNESCO presently offers a universal regime and policy environment for the identification and management of natural and cultural heritages. However, heritage does not merely signify cultural diversity; it can also facilitate greater equity and equality. The research problem addressed in this article is that in Ghana, the national government perceives and treats the small-scale fishing (SSF) sector as a masculine space and endeavour, ignoring the gendered aspects of this environment, of SSF practice and ocean care. In the article, it is hypothesized that if the SSF sector is treated as a socially differentiated space, and if the concern of ocean care is prioritized as a key imperative in Ghanaian ocean management, it is likely that a more inclusive and sustainable ocean management process and SSF sector will emerge in Ghana. Mindful of the socially differentiated nature of the SSF sector in Ghana, the goal of the research presented in this article is to use mixed qualitative research methods (participant-observation and semi-structured interviews) to investigate gendered knowledge forms and gendered practices in ocean care in the central region of Ghana. A key finding of the research is that gendered ritual practices, including canoe building and use in Ghana, are critical to long-term, sustainable, and inclusive ocean management in the country. Recognition of the gendered dimensions of ocean management in Ghana may also result in more inclusive ocean governance policies and nature management policies in Ghana in general. The conclusion of the article is that ocean governance in Ghana should consider and mainstream a gendered perspective of the SSF sector, to advance transformative, sustainable, and inclusive ocean care. The article draws on theories of intersectionality, African indigenous feminist thought, and critical heritage studies to analyse the data gathered, to support the discussion, and to propose the way forward for the national government.

How do institutional gender regimes affect formal reporting processes for sexual harassment? A qualitative study of UK higher education

AbstractFormal complaints and disciplinary processes constitute a mandatory aspect of organizational responses for addressing sexual harassment in many jurisdictions. However, previous research has found that reporting parties are not well served by such processes. In particular, Ahmed (Complaint!; 2021) argues that the institutional climate that enables harassment or discrimination to occur—including its gendered dynamics—also shapes how complaints about harassment are handled. Building on Ahmed's work, this article analyses how gender “gets into” formal reporting processes for sexual harassment within organizations. It draws on interviews with 18 students and staff who went through a formal institutional reporting process for gender‐based violence or harassment in UK higher education between 2016 and 2021. Using Connell's theorization of “gender regimes,” we outline how “dimensions of gender” within organizations affected different stages of formal reporting processes, including how evidence was gathered during reporting processes, as well as how it was assessed. These findings demonstrate that gender regimes—via gender relations of power, gendered “attachments and investments,” and “gender‐neutral” processes—can override formal processes and affect outcomes of sexual harassment reporting. These findings explain how gender regimes contribute to the failure of sexual harassment complaints to be upheld within organizations.

Qualitative Exploration of Experiences of Mental Illness and Stigma Management Strategies Among University Students in Lahore

Current literature on student mental health offers ample evidence of a worldwide increase in the prevalence of mental health issues among university students. However, there is limited literature from a social constructionist approach within Pakistan examining the student perception of mental illness, stigma, stigma management, and barriers to help-seeking. This study attempts to bridge the gap by conducting a descriptive qualitative study using the social constructionist framework to understand the perception of mental illness and its corresponding stigma in a fluid, non-canonical fashion. Semi-structured interviews with 11 university students reveal the personalized meanings given to the critical terms within the study. Intersectional dimensions of gender, class, and level of education are extensively explored, considering the student’s perceptions. The reflexive thematic analysis identifies perceived determinants of mental illnesses, the perceived relationship between mental illness and stigma, stigma management strategies employed by respondents, and perceived coping mechanisms. In Pakistan, where mental illness is not only prevalent but highly stigmatized, this research hopes to be a valuable addition to scholarly research on mental health and illness among young people in higher education institutes.

Dimensions of experienced gender and prospective self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in preadolescent children: A national study

ObjectivesGender diverse youth face higher risk of engaging in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) compared to cisgender youth. Limitations in past research include a focus on older adolescents, an emphasis on specific gender identity labels that may not be inclusive of the range of youth gender experiences, and reliance on cross-sectional data. Thus, the current study prospectively evaluated dimensions of experienced gender in relation to first-onset SITBs among preadolescents. MethodsData were drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a longitudinal study of youth across the United States. Youth (n = 7909) were aged 10–11 during initial assessment, and follow-up was conducted one year later. Two dimensions of experienced gender, felt-gender incongruence (not feeling aligned with the gender associated with one's sex assigned at birth) and gender non-contentedness (feeling dissatisfaction with the gender associated with one's sex assigned at birth), were assessed. Primary outcomes included non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal ideation (SI), and suicide attempts (SA). ResultsLogistic regressions were conducted stratified by sex assigned at birth. For youth assigned female at birth, felt-gender incongruence was prospectively associated with first-onset NSSI and SI and gender non-contentedness was prospectively associated with first-onset of NSSI. For youth assigned male at birth, gender non-contentedness was prospectively associated with first-onset SI. Diverse experienced gender did not prospectively predict SA. ConclusionsDimensions of experienced gender may be associated with subsequent first-onset SITBs among preadolescents. These findings support the need for future research on risk and protective factors that may mediate or moderate this relationship.