Gender Diversity Research Articles

Melodies of empowerment: exploring the impact of Taylor Swift’s music on lifelong learning in Thailand

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how Taylor Swift’s music influences language acquisition, gender representation, emotional well-being and cultural awareness among Thai university students within the context of lifelong learning. By exploring these dimensions, the study aims to uncover the transformative potential of integrating popular culture, particularly music, into lifelong learning frameworks, thereby offering insights into the role of music in fostering continuous education, cultural sensitivity and personal growth.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to explore the impact of Taylor Swift’s music on language acquisition, gender representation, emotional well-being and cultural awareness within the context of lifelong learning. Around 32 university students from six prominent universities in Thailand participated in the study. Thematic analysis was used to identify and interpret the recurring themes related to how Taylor Swift’s music influences these aspects of lifelong learning, providing an in-depth understanding of her music’s role in educational and personal development.FindingsThe study found that Taylor Swift’s music significantly impacts language acquisition by providing an immersive and engaging learning environment. Her music also challenges traditional gender norms, promoting self-expression and empowerment. Additionally, the emotional resonance of her songs contributes to students' emotional well-being, offering solace and encouragement. Furthermore, her advocacy for diversity and inclusivity enhances cultural awareness, fostering empathy and cross-cultural understanding. Overall, Taylor Swift’s music serves as a powerful tool for promoting lifelong learning, cultural awareness and emotional resilience among university students.Research limitations/implicationsThis study primarily focused on Thai university students, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other cultural contexts. Future research could explore the impact of Taylor Swift’s music on a broader demographic, including different age groups and cultural backgrounds. Additionally, a longitudinal approach could provide deeper insights into how sustained engagement with music influences lifelong learning and personal development over time. The findings underscore the need for further exploration of popular culture’s role in education and its potential to enhance learning outcomes across diverse contexts.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that integrating popular music, like Taylor Swift’s, into educational curricula can enhance language learning, promote cultural awareness and support emotional well-being. Educators are encouraged to incorporate music-based activities into their teaching strategies to create a more engaging and relatable learning environment. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of using music as a tool for challenging traditional gender norms and fostering inclusivity, suggesting that educational programs should leverage popular culture to promote social empowerment and personal growth among students.Social implicationsThe study demonstrates that Taylor Swift’s music plays a significant role in promoting social empowerment, gender equality and cultural sensitivity among university students. By challenging traditional norms and advocating for inclusivity, her music encourages listeners to embrace diversity and engage in lifelong learning. The findings suggest that popular culture, particularly music, can be a powerful force for social change, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic society. This underscores the potential of music to contribute to broader social objectives, including gender equality, cultural awareness and emotional resilience.Originality/valueThis study is unique in its comprehensive examination of Taylor Swift’s music as a tool for lifelong learning among university students in Thailand. While previous research has explored music’s role in language acquisition or emotional well-being, this study integrates multiple dimensions – language learning, gender representation, emotional well-being and cultural awareness – within the context of lifelong learning. By focusing on a global pop icon’s influence in a non-Western setting, the research provides valuable insights into the transformative potential of popular culture in education, offering educators innovative strategies to engage students through music.

Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Diversity in Plastic Surgery: Evaluating Effective Initiatives and Identifying Areas for Improvement.

Women and racial and ethnic minorities have historically been underrepresented in medicine, making up a minority of all physicians and a smaller subset of plastic surgeons. Furthermore, these groups represent an even smaller fraction of plastic surgeons in research and leadership roles. Parallel to the general recognition of the importance of increasing diversity in the medical field, there has been a surge in the literature detailing current issues and highlighting potential areas for intervention within plastic surgery. Various initiatives have been piloted to address the underrepresentation of certain demographic groups in the field. These have largely targeted the medical student level, with a focus on increasing mentorship, targeted recruitment, exposure to the field, and scholarly opportunities. With the growing body of research conducted in this realm, this review seeks to synthesize our understanding of the modern landscape of gender, racial, and ethnic diversity within plastic surgery, with an emphasis on identifying successful initiatives that have positively impacted representation and inclusivity.

Does entrepreneurship really reduce income inequality?

This paper examines whether entrepreneurial activities reduce social inequality. Using data from 62 countries, we find that countries with higher levels of entrepreneurship have lower income inequality. We also find that various cultural factors including gender wage gap and diversity indicators influence country-level entrepreneurship. When we use gender wage gap as an instrument to account for potential endogeneity in the decision to become an entrepreneur, the entrepreneurship-inequality relation becomes stronger. In economic terms, one standard deviation in entrepreneurship reduces income inequality by 6–11 %, relative to the mean. Together, these findings suggest that entrepreneurial activities can be an effective strategy for mitigating income disparities and promoting economic inclusivity.

How Government, Social and Personnel Support Leverage the Sustainability in Start-ups: The Moderating Role of Board Gender Diversity

How Government, Social and Personnel Support Leverage the Sustainability in Start-ups: The Moderating Role of Board Gender Diversity

Who Gets to Talk When “WE” Talk about Israel: An Intersectional Meditation on Inclusivity

Abstract Occasioned by a recent article by Jill Jacobs criticizing the underrepresentation of women in American Jewish debate about Israel and by a recently implemented policy by the Association for Jewish Studies (AJS) requiring gender diversity on panels at the association’s annual conference, this article explores the space where knowledge production, rhetorics of inclusivity, and disciplinary organization intersect: Despite its policies of inclusion, is the AJS able to avoid exercising a Jewish supremacy in its Israel/Palestine-oriented knowledge practices?

Gendered workplace as a double-loop social construct: the case of Japanese women professionals

Purpose This paper aims to critically examine the role of women in the Japanese workplace and discusses its implications for gender studies within the context of diversity, equity and inclusion in international business (IB). Employing a social constructivism approach, this paper moves beyond conventional economic typologies and specific cases to offer an integrative and socially embedded perspective for understanding gender dynamics in the Japanese workplace. Design/methodology/approach This viewpoint paper critiques existing research on Japanese women professionals, drawing on factual evidence and literature to propose a double-loop gendering framework. This framework explores the socially constructed phenomenon of women in the Japanese workplace at multiple levels, providing a holistic interpretation of gender dynamics. Findings We identify five macro-level environmental factors that influence female labour participation, leadership positions and entrepreneurship. These factors are mediated by career motivation, corporate culture and men’s attitudes towards gender equality. Distinguishing between first-loop gendering, which focuses on problem-solving for improved gender equality, and second-loop gendering, which examines the underlying assumptions of social norms, values and beliefs, offers insights into the challenges Japan faces in achieving female leadership and equality. Second-loop gendering may help explain the paradoxical state of Japan’s women professionals, characterized by slow progress in gender equality despite significant political and financial resources. Our analysis reveals complex, multi-level interactions and influences within this socially constructed phenomenon. Originality/value This viewpoint paper provides a critical analysis of gender studies in the Japanese context, offering potential avenues for IB explorations. The insights extend to future IB studies, international comparisons of gender equality and the management of gender diversity in multinational corporations (MNCs).

Exploring the Relationship between Top Management Team Characteristics and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

In the evolving landscape of corporate governance, the role of Top Management Teams (TMTs) has transcended traditional decision-making paradigms, becoming integral to the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). While the existing literature has identified general trends in TMT diversity, stability, and leadership styles, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis focusing on the interplay of these characteristics and their direct implications for CSR strategies. This study employs a literature review and bibliometric analysis of the existing literature up to 2023, utilizing the Scopus database to discern trends and patterns in the TMT–CSR relationship. Findings reveal that TMT characteristics, including diversity in gender, age, and professional background, significantly influence CSR strategies, enhancing organizations’ responsiveness to stakeholder needs. Notably, diverse TMTs demonstrate a greater capacity for developing comprehensive CSR initiatives, particularly when led by executives committed to sustainability and ethical practices. The analysis indicates a growing scholarly interest in this intersection, with a marked increase in publications over the past decade, highlighting the strategic importance of TMTs in shaping CSR outcomes. However, the identified research gaps suggest a need for further exploration of context-specific approaches, particularly in varying regional and industry settings, as well as longitudinal studies to capture the dynamic nature of TMT–CSR relationships over time.

Karakteristik dewan direksi dan Kinerja Perusahaan

The growth of market capitalization value for energy sector companies is supported by the high demand for products in this sector. The board of directors' managerial function will be evident in the company's performance achievements. Based on the upper echelon theory, a perspective influenced by the personal attributes of top management is used to evaluate situations and potential decisions. This research aims to determine the influence of gender diversity, board size, and CEO tenure on company performance. The findings of this study can serve as additional references for academics and practitioners. The research population comprises energy sector companies listed on the main board of the Indonesia Stock Exchange, publishing annual reports during the period of 2012–2022. The data analysis method used is multiple linear regression with pooled ordinary least squares for panel data. Heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation-robust standard errors are employed for hypothesis testing and interpretation. Gender diversity does not have a significant impact on company performance. Board size has a positive impact on company performance. CEO tenure has a negative impact on company performance.

Decoding the temporal structures and interactions of multiple face dimensions using optically pumped magnetometer magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG).

Humans possess a remarkable ability to rapidly access diverse information from others' faces with just a brief glance, which is crucial for intricate social interactions. While previous studies using event-related potentials/fields have explored various face dimensions during this process, the interplay between these dimensions remains unclear. Here, by applying multivariate decoding analysis to neural signals recorded with optically pumped magnetometer magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG), we systematically investigated the temporal interactions between invariant and variable aspects of face stimuli, including race, gender, age and expression. First, our analysis revealed unique temporal structures for each face dimension with high test-retest reliability. Notably, expression and race exhibited a dominant and stably maintained temporal structure according to temporal generalization analysis. Further exploration into the mutual interactions among face dimensions uncovered age effects on gender and race, as well as expression effects on race, during the early stage (around 200-300 ms post face presentation). Additionally, we observed a relatively late effect of race on gender representation, peaking around 350 ms after stimulus onset. Taken together, our findings provide novel insights into the neural dynamics underlying the multi-dimensional aspects of face perception and illuminate the promising future of utilizing OPM-MEG for exploring higher-level human cognition.Significance statement In everyday social activities, people can quickly interpret a wide range of information from others' faces. Although converging evidence has shed light upon the neural substrates underpinning the perception of invariant and variable aspects of faces, such as race, gender, age and expression, it is still not fully understood how the information of one face dimension alters the perception of another. In this study, we utilized multivariate decoding analysis on neural activity captured through OPM-MEG during face perception. Our approach enabled a comprehensive exploration of the temporal interactions among different face dimensions, providing an improved understanding of the temporally structured neural dynamics that support the multi-dimensional face perception in the human brain.

Diversity Audit at Starbucks: Assessment of Workforce Demography, Inclusion Initiatives, and Corporate Culture

The main goal of this diversity audit is to evaluate Starbucks’ present diversity and inclusion programs for efficacy. This audit evaluates organizational policies, worker satisfaction, workforce inclusionary practices, and the results of diversity programs at two Starbucks locations. The audit uses a mixed-methods approach, combining the analysis of publicly available data and direct observational studies, in South Florida locations, to provide a comprehensive knowledge of Starbucks’ diversity policy. The findings demonstrate a noteworthy level of gender diversity and highlight areas in which minority representation in senior management roles needs to be strengthened. Creating employee resource groups, stepping up diversity training, using targeted recruitment techniques, and conducting frequent diversity audits to guarantee ongoing improvement are just a few of the recommendations. The paper provides actionable insights to help firms like Starbucks maintain a competitive edge in a diversified global market and enhance their inclusivity. The advancement of an inclusive culture that recognizes and benefits from diversity at all organizational levels depends on many measures that are tracked and improved consistently. By implementing practical suggestions, modern organizations can ensure that their diversity initiatives stay relevant and successful, upholding their standing as pioneers in corporate diversity programs. In addition to assisting Starbucks in navigating a challenging international market, a proactive commitment to diversity and inclusion will help create a more just society. In a culturally diverse work environment, a diversity audit is a crucial tool for corporations to assess and improve their workforce equity, accessibility to everyone, and inclusivity. By conducting a thorough review of existing policies, practices, and employee experiences, diversity audits help identify biases, barriers, and areas for growth before any costly lawsuits surface. This process enables companies to pinpoint disparities in hiring, promotion, and retention rates, as well as uncover hidden biases in decision-making processes. With audit findings, corporations can develop targeted strategies to foster a more inclusive culture, enhance employee engagement, and boost innovation. Ultimately, a diversity audit helps organizations ensure fairness, equity, and equal opportunities for all prospects and employees, thereby leading to increased productivity, better brand reputation, and a competitive advantage in both attracting and retaining diverse top talent for the firm.

Humanizing Different Archetypal Expressions of Gender Expansiveness.

This article explores the concept of gender expansiveness. This term refers to a person's self-identifying as gender fluid, genderqueer, transgender, non-binary, gender diverse, or gender nonconforming. Young people, including older children and adolescents, increasingly are experimenting with crossing gender lines. This trend can be understood as a sociocultural process for humanizing more terrifying archetypal forms of gender diversity. Using Henderson's (1988) concept of the cultural unconscious, the author posits that current social developments among youth are attempting to bring gender expansiveness more into collective consciousness. This issue has occasioned a strong counterreaction with panicked appeals to upholding traditional gender norms and needing restrictions on gender-affirming care. Examples from myth, literature and clinical practice help to contextualize the intense emotions aroused by gender diversity. A case example shows how gender fantasies are worked through within an empathic analytic relationship. The author makes an appeal for updating and humanizing older psychological theories that have relied heavily on splits, polarities, and oppositions, all of which are more characteristic of a 20th century way of thinking about the psyche. A potential approach to incorporate gender expansiveness is through a model of the psyche as a mosaic.

The gender gap in executive promotions

This paper examines whether there is a gender promotion gap among executives. Using a comprehensive dataset of executives, I find that women’s promotion probability is 16% lower than men’s after controlling for educational and employment background, age, function, rank, and firm characteristics. The gap occurs partially because women are clustered in positions that support the business rather than positions with profit-and-loss responsibilities. Additionally, my analysis shows that product market competition, public attention on gender diversity, a respectful corporate culture, and board gender diversity alleviate the gender promotion gap. These findings support the notion that demand-side factors continue to hinder women’s advancement to leadership positions.

The Nexus between Corporate Governance and Economic, Social and Environment (ESE) Practices: Bangladeshi Banking Paradox

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between corporate governance and sustainability practices at 45 scheduled commercial banks in Bangladesh. The study specifically focused on the impact of corporate governance on bank sustainability practices, using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI-4) sustainability guidelines. The resource-based view theory was used to explain the relationship between corporate governance and sustainability practices. Panel data used for this analysis was derived from the annual and sustainability disclosure reports of these banks from 2017 to 2021. This study explores dimensions of corporate governance, including board size, independent board members, CEO duality, gender diversity, audit committees, risk management committees, and audit firm size, highlighting their importance in strategic decision-making. It also explores sustainability practices from a corporate perspective, focusing on economic, social, and environmental performance indicators and emphasizing the importance of strategic resource allocation and disclosure. Four hypotheses were formed, and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was employed to test the relationship between corporate governance and bank sustainability practices. The statistical results showed that CG has a direct effect on firms overall sustainability as well as social and environmental sustainability practices. It was also seen that the size of the board has a significant effect on the overall sustainability measures (ESE). The study suggests that pro-active measures should be taken to improve sustainability practices in Bangladesh.

Rookie independent directors and agency costs: Evidence from Chinese listed firms

This study investigates the impact of rookie independent directors (RIDs) on agency costs. Utilizing a sample of Chinese listed firms, we employ panel ordinary least square estimations. Our findings reveal that increased RIDs is positively associated with agency costs, suggesting that rookie independent directors may exacerbate agency conflicts within Chinese firms. Also, qualified financial institutional investors and gender diversity within the board composition mitigate the positive effect of RIDs on agency costs. Overall, our study contributes to understanding corporate governance dynamics in Chinese listed firms by shedding light on the nuanced relationship between rookie independent directors and agency costs.

Corporate Governance and Financial Performance: Family Firms vs. Non-Family Firms

The essence of a family business captures the distinguishing factors differentiating them from non-family businesses. Among these factors, the constructs of family firms’ managing and governance elements are perceived differently by non-family firms. This is especially important in a developing country such as South Africa (SA) with many governance challenges. The objectives of this study were, first, to identify relationships among financial performance, corporate governance, and ownership concentrations of listed family and non-family businesses in SA. Next, a comparison was made between the different ownership structures. Secondary data were collected using purposive sampling from 2015 to 2019. These data were analysed using panel data analysis and descriptive statistics. The results show that family firms place a greater emphasis on ownership concentration, board size, and board gender diversity, which have a significant relationship with financial performance. Only board size was significant to financial performance for non-family firms. The results indicate that family businesses should appoint female family members as directors on their boards, given the significance of gender-diverse boards for financial performance. Non-family businesses should also consider having smaller boards. Theoretically, this study expands on the literature regarding family businesses in SA. However, the findings cannot be generalised due to a single industry being selected. This study should be replicated in different industries to compare the results.

Instructor Gender Influences Non-Major’s Drawings of an Entomologist

The Draw-a-Scientist Test (DAST) has been extensively researched as a projective test used to assess individuals’ perceptions of scientists. This study investigated student perceptions of entomologists and compared responses of students taught by a male instructor with responses of students who viewed video lectures recorded by the male instructor but interacted with a female instructor. Data were collected from two sections of an introductory entomology course at Oklahoma State University, with one section taught by a male instructor and the other by a female instructor using lecture recordings of the male instructor. Drawings were analyzed for characteristics including facial expression, clothing, equipment, presence of insects, race, and gender. The majority of drawings included smiling faces, glasses, and entomology equipment, while few students illustrated persons of color. Specific criteria to classify drawn entomologists as male, female, or non-gender figures were developed and used to assess drawings. The majority of students in both sections drew male entomologists, consistent with previous DAST studies where male scientists predominate. However, a higher proportion of female entomologists were depicted in the section who interacted with the female instructor. These findings emphasize the impact of instructor gender on students’ perceptions and stereotypes. Even when lectures are given by a male instructor, interaction with a female instructor can positively influence the gender representation in students’ drawings. Efforts should be made to promote diversity and inclusivity in instruction to increase underrepresented groups in science. This study contributes criteria to assess student depictions of gender and provides valuable insights into the gender representation and characteristics depicted in student drawings of entomologists. It highlights the influence of instructor gender on students’ perceptions and stereotypes in entomology and likely applies to other fields of biology.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF TURKISH SHORT FILMS RELEASED ON MUBI

49 Turkish short films published on the MUBI platform were analysed and it was determined that the majority of them were in the fiction genre (78%) and a few were in the documentary genre (22%). In the analysed films, the problem of gender equality in the directing position was observed and it was revealed that the majority of the directors were male. In terms of language use, it was determined that Turkish was dominant (59.18%) and some films did not contain any dialogue (22.45%). In the gender distribution of the main characters, it was observed that female and male characters were used with similar frequency. It was observed that the majority of the films were shot in the Marmara Region and the geographical diversity of Turkey was reflected in the cinema. In the thematic analysis, social and psychological problems came to the forefront, and it was determined that social issues such as migration and women's rights were intensively handled (58.16%) and psychological themes such as melancholy and loneliness (18.36%). In conclusion, it has been observed that Turkish short films published on MUBI bring together various aspects of Turkish cinema with the audience through their language diversity, gender representation, geographical distribution and rich thematic content.

Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Representation Among US Academic Spine Surgeons.

Although diversity has improved across certain orthopaedic subspecialties, enhancing diversity within spine surgery has remained a challenge. We aimed to investigate the current state of sex, racial, and ethnic diversity among academic orthopaedic spine surgeons in the United States. In January 2024, a cross-sectional analysis of orthopaedic spine surgery faculty in the United States was conducted using the Doximity database to identify eligible surgeons. Fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeons (professor, associate professor, and assistant professor) who graduated residency between 1990 and 2022 were included. Race, sex, academic rank, residency year of graduation, and H-Index scores were recorded using publicly available information from faculty profile pages and the Doximity database. Four hundred fifty-two spine faculty were included in the analysis: 95.1% men and 4.84% women. Across race and ethnicity, 315 surgeons (69.7%) were White, 111 (24.6%) Asian, 15 (3.32%) Black or African American, and 11 (2.43%) Hispanic or Latino or of Spanish origin. Of the 101 professor-level surgeons, 3 (2.97%) were Black men. Among female professors, none were Black, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino. No Hispanic or Latino female professors, associate professors, or assistant professors were identified. The sex and race/ethnicity demographics that have increased in percentage over time include White women (0.92% to 6.08%), Asian men (11.0% to 26.5%), Asian women (0% to 1.66%), and Hispanic/Latino men (1.83% to 3.87%). The surgeon demographic groups that demonstrated minimal fluctuations over time included Black men, Black women, and Hispanic/Latino women. Our findings demonstrate that underrepresentation among academic spine surgeons remains an ongoing challenge that warrants increased attention. Enhancing the representation of Black and Hispanic men, as well as Black, Asian, and Hispanic women, in spine surgery requires a deliberate effort at every level of orthopaedic training.

Perception of voice cues and speech-in-speech by children with prelingual single-sided deafness and a cochlear implant

Voice cues, such as fundamental frequency (F0) and vocal tract length (VTL), help listeners identify the speaker's gender, perceive the linguistic and emotional prosody, and segregate competing talkers. Postlingually implanted adult cochlear implant (CI) users seem to have difficulty in perceiving and making use of voice cues, especially of VTL. Early implanted child CI users, in contrast, perceive and make use of both voice cues better than CI adults, and in patterns similar to their peers with normal hearing (NH).In our study, we investigated the perception and use of voice cues in children with single-sided deafness (SSD) who received their CI at an early age (SSD+CI), in an attempt to bridge the gap between these two groups. The SSD+CI children have access to bilateral auditory information and often receive their CI at an early age, similar to CI children. They may also have dominant acoustic representations, similar to CI adults who acquired hearing loss at a later age. As such, the current study aimed to investigate the perception and use of voice cues by a group of nine early-implanted children with prelingual SSD. The study consisted of three experiments: F0 and VTL discrimination, voice gender categorization, and speech-in-speech perception. In each experiment, the results of the SSD group are compared to children and adults with CIs (for their CI ear) and with typical hearing (for their NH ear).Overall, the SSD+CI children had poorer VTL detection thresholds with their CI compared to their NH ear, while their F0 perception was similar across ears. Detection thresholds for both F0 and VTL with their CI ear was comparable to those of bilaterally implanted CI children, suggesting that SSD+CI children do not only rely on their NH ear, but actually make use of their CI. SSD+CI children relied more heavily on F0 cues than on VTL cues for voice gender categorization, with cue weighting patterns comparable to those of CI adults. In contrast to CI children, the SSD+CI children showed limited speech perception benefit based on F0 and VTL differences between the target and masker speaker, which again corresponded to the results of CI adults. Altogether, the SSD+CI children make good use of their CI, despite a good-hearing ear, however, the perceptual patterns seem to fall in-between those of CI children and CI adults. Perhaps a combination of childhood neuroplasticity, limited experience with relying only on the CI, and a dominant acoustic representation of voice gender explain these results.

Gender Mainstreaming and Diversity in Higher Education: An Experience in Software Engineering Education

Gender Mainstreaming and Diversity in Higher Education: An Experience in Software Engineering Education