Gender Inequality Research Articles

‘Breaking’ the Silence and ‘Fighting’ Back: Changing Representations of Female Response to Gender-Based Violence in Select Malayalam Films

Abstract Representation, particularly mediated forms such as cinema, has always been a powerful tool to enable social change. On the one hand, cinema functions as an instrument that reinstates hegemonic patriarchy, but on the other, it also becomes “a tool for political resistance and subversion” (Lauret, 1991, p. 66). Recently, South Asian cinema and, more specifically, the corpora of Malayalam cinema1 has emerged as an empowering platform that addresses structural and institutionalised inequalities of gender. Broadly, the paper discusses the shift in the representational praxis of gender-based violence in Malayalam cinema, more specifically, the female protagonists’ responses to violence. Specifically, the paper focuses on two recent Malayalam films, Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey (2022) and The Teacher (2022). The films present vigilantism as a means of female empowerment, offering an alternative narrative to traditional portrayals of victimhood, and how it can resist feelings of powerlessness in the face of gender-based violence. Therefore, anchoring on Laura Mattoon D’Amore’s theoretical framework of vigilante feminism (2017), the study examines the intersection of vigilantism, gender-based violence, and cinematic representation, in an attempt to locate both the covert and overt forms and responses surrounding violence against women.

A Comparative Analysis of Gender Inequality Issues in Sports with Special reference to Jharkhand

A Comparative Analysis of Gender Inequality Issues in Sports with Special reference to Jharkhand

Urban-Rural Differentiation in Serbia Beyond the Women’s Role in the Local Labor Force

Abstract Differentiation between rural and urban areas in Serbia is a disputable issue, usually based on the most commonly used indicators which do not reflect the functional and social local features. This research starts from the hypothesis that labor market gender inequality is strongly correlated with urban-rural dichotomy and patriarchal patterns on women's position. It follows the hidden idea of rural life in Serbia beyond the social and economic local features, introducing a gender dimension as a significant element. The cluster analysis is performed, which involves ten variables that represent the differences in women's social and economic engagement. Results enabled the identification of five municipality clusters, whose interpretation illustrated women's current position and significance in shaping (under)developed municipalities and urban/rural societies.

Systematic Review Framework- Analyzing the Policy Landscape of Uttar Pradesh Startup Ecosystem

This paper analyses the policy framework for start-ups in Uttar Pradesh with reference to existing; issues, opportunities and prospects for the development of a supportive framework to create an environment for innovation and enterprise development. They include policy documents and academic articles and focuses on the period 2015-2024 with the view of identifying strengths, weakness and potential areas of improvement in relation to the startup ecosystem in the state. Funny enough, the current emerging sectors including logistics and transportation, financial and other related services, healthcare and Edtechs among others are on the rise but the issues like regulatory measures, talent search, and gender imbalance issues among others still exist. Startup Policy 2020 and infrastructure support have been beneficial, though more effective and friendly policies are needed for that. The study recognizes limitations, for example, in data acquisition and analysis, and incomplete knowledge of the SME sector conditions that may influence the credibility of findings. Most importantly, it offers policy suggestions for optimizing resource allocation and policy effectiveness and advancing sustainable development as well as a bridge between theory and practice for the state’s corporate development.

Analisis Sosial Ekonomi Dampak Pernikahan Dini Dikalangan Remaja

Marriage is an institution that binds two individuals in a relationship officially recognized religion, law and customs. This becomes the foundation important in building a happy family life and sustainable. However, early marriage, especially under the age of 20, poses serious challenges. Teenagers often marry too young not ready to handle the responsibilities of marriage and the risks of experiencing health and economic problems. This problem occurs throughout Indonesia, reflects the complexity of social and economic problems. The need for action strong preventive and intervention to overcome early marriage and improve community welfare. Qualitative descriptive research uses an interview approach and data analysis. Combining qualitative methods, this research explores socio-economic factors that influence early marriage. The aim is to provide a holistic understanding for more effective development policies. Early marriage has a serious impact on individuals and society, influenced by social, economic factors and parental influence. Children or teenagers who marry at a young age are at risk of facing health, educational and economic problems, poverty and gender inequality. Steps such as upgrading education, women's empowerment, and economic development It is necessary to reduce early marriage and deal with its impacts appropriately.

Women's Double Burden: Environmental Responsibility and Gender Inequality

Women's Double Burden: Environmental Responsibility and Gender Inequality

Qualitative Analysis of Social Factors Contributing to Gender Inequality: Evidence from Rural Bangladesh

Gender is a sensitive issue in the traditional societal setup of Bangladesh. People hesitate to discuss gender even in the 21st century. The problem of gender inequality has been widespread in Bangladesh since the ancient and medieval periods. Moreover, this problem is more acute in rural parts of the country, where people have less privilege and live in a more conservative society. This qualitative study explored rural communities' social, cultural, and economic structure to determine the social factors of gender inequality in rural Bangladesh. To do that, this study used a qualitative research approach. Employing semi-structured in-depth interviews and critically analyzing secondary data, the research scrutinized the perspectives of male and female village residents across diverse roles, such as students, employees, farmers, homemakers, and entrepreneurs. The findings highlighted several social factors causing gender disparity, including the inescapable influence of patriarchal structures, gender stereotypes, preference for male offspring, child marriage, the notion of girls as liabilities, a lack of awareness, socioeconomic barriers, and a lack of explicit policy. With nearly 60.29% of the total population residing in remote areas where gender gaps persist, this research sheds light on the urgent need for intervention. Moreover, this study provided significant recommendations after critically examining the findings. Finally, the study underlined the imperative for governmental and decision-making bodies to prioritize these findings, advocating for the introduction of comprehensive gender awareness initiatives within rural communities to combat deep-rooted inequalities and pave the way toward a more equitable society.

The Urgency of Integrating Femicide Norms to Achieve Gender Equality in the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prioritize the value of equality, including ensuring justice and gender equality, fulfilling women's rights, and ending violence against women. Many factors cause violence against women that occur today. One factor causing this is the inequality in relationships between genders, where women are in a subordinate position under men. If this problem is not addressed immediately, it will harm women, especially those in vulnerable conditions. The goal of gender equality in the SDGs is to ensure that women gain security and avoid violence. In its development, this gender inequality causes gender-based violence. This problem leads to femicides as the peak of gender-based violence. Femicide is a term for violence against women. There should be a specific norm or regulation on femicides because, in their implementation, acts that are classified as femicides have not been regulated juridically. The implication is that femicides will be the same as other general crimes. This will have consequences for the government's responsibility for femicide victims and the application of sanctions against femicide perpetrators. Therefore, to achieve true equality between women and men, consistent, solutive, and up-to-date efforts are needed to overcome these problems.

Understanding gender inequality through the lens of gendered sentiment: the case of Korean citizens

ABSTRACT Despite modernization, Korea continues to struggle with gender inequality, even among younger generations exposed to democratic norms. This study examines whether young Korean citizens holistically support gender equality and explores gender and ideological differences in their attitudes. Using a novel 2024 survey dataset, it hypothesizes that gender and political ideology influence support for gender equality. The findings reveal significant divisions: conservative ideology impacts men more strongly than women, and younger citizens are more polarized compared to previous generations. This research sheds light on a key demographic whose attitudes will shape Korea’s societal and political landscape as generational replacement transforms the adult electorate..

DEKONSTRUKSI CITRA PEREMPUAN PADA LIRIK SATU BULAN DAN KATA MEREKA INI BERLEBIHAN KARYA BERNADYA

This study analyzes the representation of women's images in two Bernadya songs through the perspective of Simone de Beauvoir's existentialist feminism, especially how women are depicted in patriarchal love relationships. The method used is critical discourse analysis with a hermeneutic approach, examining the hidden meanings behind the language and narrative in the lyrics. Data was obtained from the lyrics of both songs, sourced from credible music platforms, and analyzed based on de Beauvoir's concept of 'the Other.' The findings indicate that women are positioned in a subordinate role, trapped in the effort to achieve perfection in the eyes of their partners, yet never quite sufficient to gain equal recognition. This study contributes to the understanding of gender inequality in popular music media, with implications that music can serve as a tool to explore gendered power imbalances within patriarchal culture.

DETERMINANTS OF INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN G20 COUNTRIES WITH GENDER INEQUALITY INDEX AS A MODERATING VARIABLE

Introduction: Inclusive growth involves substantial discussions aimed at fostering inclusivity in global society. This research is important because it seeks to explain inclusive growth driven by investment, government spending, and trade openness, with the gender inequality index as a moderating variable in G20 countries over the period from 2007 to 2021. Methods: This research is a quantitative study using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and Moderated Regression Analysis methods (MRA). Results: The findings from the three variables included in this study indicate that two variables can influence inclusive growth, namely government spending and trade openness, while the investment variable does not affect inclusive growth. Conclusion and suggestion: This is due to the fact that G20 countries have not been able to realize the impact of investment rates on inclusive growth. In addition, the gender inequality index is capable of moderating the influence of government spending on inclusive growth. Thus, in creating inclusive growth, the government must be able to allocate its funds wisely and equitably to all elements of society, both men and women.

Empowering women in climate-resilient adaptation: A women, peace, and security (WPS) approach to addressing climate challenges in Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces serious threats from climate change, especially for vulnerable groups like women. Existing vulnerabilities are made worse by the combination of gender inequality and climate change, particularly in rural areas with little adaptation capacity. In order to empower women in climate-resilient adaptation initiatives, this article studies how the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) framework can offer a transformative lens. This study identifies ways to improve women's agency in decision-making, ensure their protection against climate-induced vulnerabilities, and fortify their ability to promote sustainable adaptation by incorporating the WPS pillars—participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery—into climate action strategies. The study highlights the need of inclusive governance, capacity building, and community-based initiatives in addressing the gendered implications of climate change, drawing on case studies and empirical data from Bangladesh. The results highlight the necessity of coordinating national climate policies with international WPS directives in order to build a society that is more resilient and equitable.

Globalization and changing gender norms: A comparative study of working women in Japan, Singapore, and India

Globalization's impacts on gender roles in Asia remain inadequately understood despite extensive scholarship on women's empowerment worldwide. This comparative study investigates how increasing integration into the global economy shapes gender norms and labor force gender gaps in Japan, Singapore and India. Quantitative analysis of World Bank indicators over 1990-2020 reveals divergent patterns; while female labor participation rates converge towards egalitarian norms in Japan and Singapore (rising from 48.89% to 49.29%, and 51.34% to 60.01% respectively), India exhibits persistence of gaping gender imbalances, only narrowing from 32.7% to 32.9% over thirty years. These macro-level trends provide impetus for follow-up qualitative phenomenological study through 1) ethnographic observations of professional women in Tokyo, Delhi and Singapore and 2) in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 60 total working women (n=20 per site) across corporate, service and informal sectors. Thematic analysis of narratives will elucidate common and distinctive mechanisms by which global and local forces interact to moderate traditional patriarchal attitudes and yield varied empowerment outcomes for Asian women. Blending macro-statistical and ground-level qualitative approaches enables holistic understanding of globalization's socioeconomic influences on renegotiating gender relations in context. Findings will inform theory and practice on global forces, development and women's welfare in late modernity.

Social capital as a catalyst for gender inequality: A scoping review of networking disparities in academic medicine.

Gender disparities in academic medicine persist despite gender parity among medical school graduates. Women remain underrepresented in higher academic ranks and leadership roles, with significant differences in retention, promotion, and compensation. In this scoping review, the authors explore the role of networking and social capital in exacerbating these disparities. The literature reviewed highlights the importance of networking in obtaining leadership roles, decreasing social isolation, and enhancing retention. Sponsorship, distinct from mentorship, is vital for career development and has a direct impact on professional growth. However, women are often under-sponsored compared with men, limiting their access to influential networks. In addition, virtual networking platforms and women-focused organizations offer promising alternatives to traditional, male-dominated networking activities. Despite the progress made, informal networking practices and gender biases continue to exclude women from key opportunities. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing the social capital of women in academic medicine to help close the gender gap. Proposed interventions prime for further evaluation include the implementation of formal sponsorship programs, the development of structured networking opportunities, and the promotion of women-focused organizations.

Graffiti as a Catalyst for Urban Creativity: Exploring Agency, Participation, and the Right to the City in Nairobi

This article examines graffiti as a catalyst for urban creativity in Nairobi, focusing on how young people use it to assert agency and reshape public spaces. Drawing on the concepts of the ‘right to the city’ and DIY urbanism, the study analyses two key graffiti projects to explore graffiti’s role in reclaiming public spaces from capitalist and political control. Based on research conducted from 2015 to 2018 across Nairobi’s neighborhoods, the findings highlight graffiti’s potential for civic engagement and placemaking despite challenges like gender inequality and th transient nature of urban art. The study argues that graffiti offers low-cost, impactful ways to foster cultural exchange, civic participation, and creativity in Nairobi’s rapidly evolving urban landscape.

Factors associated with uptake of HIV testing among clients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections in Chegutu District, Zimbabwe, 2021

HIV testing services (HTS) enable early linkage to HIV prevention, treatment and care. A review of Chegutu District Health Information System 2 sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV data revealed HIV testing rates among those infected with STIs were 41%, 48%, 50%, 51% and 68%, respectively, for the period 2016–2020 against a target of 100%. We investigated factors associated with the uptake of HTS among STI clients. Methods: We conducted a 1:1 unmatched case–control study. We randomly selected cases from STI registers and controls from HTS registers. We defined a case as an individual 18–49 years old diagnosed with STI, unknown HIV status and no documented HIV test result from 01 August 2020 through 31 August 2021. We recruited 115 cases and 115 controls. We used questionnaires to collect data from cases and controls after obtaining written consent. Epi Info7 generated frequencies, proportions, odds ratios and confidence intervals (CIs) at a 0.05 significance level. We applied forward stepwise logistic regression to determine independent factors for HIV testing uptake. Results: Independent factors for uptake of HIV testing among STI clients were: being employed [aOR 0.23; 95% CI(0.09–0.50)], having no stigma towards people living with HIV [aOR 0.19;95% CI(0.06–0.61)], preferring health facility for HIV testing [aOR 0.30;95% CI(0.13–0.65)], male head of family [aOR 2.95. 95% CI(1.25–6.95)], and confidence in clinic staff’s commitment to confidentiality [aOR 0.19; 95% CI(0.06–0.63)]. Conclusion: Male decision-makers may deter partner involvement in HTS. We recommended strengthening male involvement in HIV programming through community dialogues that address gender inequalities.

Heroines in the East and the West: a comparative semiotic study of female imagery in the anti-pandemic discourse of Italy and China

Abstract This paper explores the war-based narrative of the COVID-19 discourse in Italy and China, with a focus on female imagery and the conceptualization of female heroism. Employing Umberto Eco’s notion of intertextuality, we analyze influential texts – including texts from social media, journalism, and art – emerging from the pandemic’s first wave in China and Italy to examine how female healthcare workers are depicted as pandemic heroes and highlight the complex interplay between gender representation and cultural topoi. Although casting women in heroic roles traditionally dominated by men may seem progressive, our analysis reveals that such portrayals actually reinforce existing gender stereotypes in both cultures. Our intertextual analysis reveals the extent to which the pandemic narrative has both reflected and perpetuated gender inequalities. This comparative semiotic study contributes to critically assessing the impact of pandemic-related female imagery on societal gender norms and expectations.

Investing in the care services sectors for employment generation and gender-inclusive growth: the case of Turkey

Abstract The care crisis intersects with economic, social, and refugee crises, necessitating focused attention to bolster care infrastructure and address the multifaceted challenges. Women bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic work, exacerbating gender inequalities in labor markets and education. This paper applies the International Labour Organization–UN Women (2021) policy tool to Turkish data, estimating coverage gaps in education and healthcare, associated costs, and employment generation potential in the care sectors and related sectors. We identify a coverage gap in education affecting 5.8 million children. The required investment to address this gap is estimated at 2.28 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). In all, 303,000 healthcare workers are needed, requiring an investment of 1.23 percent of GDP. These investments have the potential to generate 1.740 million direct and 152,000 indirect jobs. This would result in a substantial 6.7 percent increase in total employment. Considering the current gender composition, women are expected to fill 65 percent of these jobs, leading to a 14 percent improvement in female employment. Incorporating 3.7 million Syrian refugees, Turkey’s investment cost rises to 3.74 percent of GDP, creating 1.878 million new direct jobs – an 8 percent boost over the non-inclusive scenario. Prioritizing public investments in care services promises to promote gender equality, human development, and inclusive economic growth.

Gender norms and solar panel energy adoption in Australia: Evidence from a natural experiment

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the United Kingdom transported convicts to the penal colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. Most of the convicts who were sent to the colonies were men. Treating it as a quasi-natural experiment, we employ the gender imbalance associated with this historical event to examine how gender norms influence the adoption of photovoltaic solar panels (PVS) in modern day Australia. Estimates from our preferred instrumental variable specification suggest that a unit increase in the historical sex ratio causes 3.5 more PVS units to be installed per 1000 population. We provide indirect evidence on the role of female bargaining power as a channel. We find that women living in locations which had higher historical sex ratios report being more satisfied with the division of childcare and household responsibilities, consistent with having greater bargaining power. We find that the effect of historical sex ratios on each of these proxies for female bargaining power is moderated by having an Australian-born parent, such that having an Australian-born parent strengthens the relationship, consistent with gender norms being passed down across generations. We also find that the effect of historical sex ratios on female bargaining power is attenuated by internal migration and greater ethnic diversity in the postcode, both of which weaken the vertical transmission of gender norms.

Science for whom? The influence of the regional academic circuit on gender inequalities in Latin America

AbstractThe Latin‐American scientific community has achieved significant progress towards gender parity, with nearly equal representation of women and men scientists. Nevertheless, women continue to be underrepresented in scholarly communication. Throughout the 20th century, Latin America established its academic circuit, focusing on research topics of regional significance. Through an analysis of scientific publications, this article explores the relationship between gender inequalities in science and the integration of Latin‐American researchers into the regional and global academic circuits between 1993 and 2022. We find that women are more likely to engage in the regional circuit, while men are more active within the global circuit. This trend is attributed to a thematic alignment between women's research interests and issues specific to Latin America. Furthermore, our results reveal that the mechanisms contributing to gender differences in symbolic capital accumulation vary between circuits. Women's work achieves equal or greater recognition compared to men's within the regional circuit, but generally garners less attention in the global circuit. Our findings suggest that policies aimed at strengthening the regional academic circuit would encourage scientists to address locally relevant topics while simultaneously fostering gender equality in science.