Gender Lens Research Articles

Generation Z’s meaning of hospitality from a gender perspective

ABSTRACT The concept of hospitality encompasses a range of interactions between hosts and guests, grounded in sociocultural norms and practices. To look into hospitality from a different sociocultural viewpoint, this paper explores how Generation Z understand and interpret “hospitality” through the lens of gender. Using semi-structured interviews, it reveals that females link hospitality to customer service and host-guest relationships, while males emphasiseemphasize commercial elements, such as food and payment. These insights underscore the complex interplay between gender disparities and hospitality perceptions. The research highlights the importance of implementing industry policies and training that address gender disparities and encourage inclusivity. For broader relevance, future research should encompass diverse demographics and assess the influence of temporal and regional factors on these perceptions.

“I’d like to make a proper go of it but it’s really scary”: the perpetual liminality of informally self-employed women as stigmatized entrepreneurs

This article examines the lived experiences of informally self-employed women in the UK, exploring their marginalized and liminal status amid structural stigmatization. Set against a backdrop of punitive welfare conditionality, and assumptions that self-employment is a straightforward route out of poverty, our research addresses the need for more nuanced studies on poverty, gender, and informal self-employment in developed countries. We draw on qualitative data from 24 interviews with informally self-employed women, analysed using template analysis. We find that these women occupy a paraliminal space where the liminal and liminoid coexist, offering opportunities for agency and resistance. However, this space can become permanent and problematic, as respondents risk criminalization as benefits ’cheats“ if they seek formalization. Our contributions are threefold: First, we use liminality theory and the concept of paralimininality to highlight the complex ”betweenness’ of informally self-employed women. Second, we amplify the voices of these often-overlooked women, applying a gender lens to their experiences of, and responses to, the everyday realities of welfare policy. Finally, we critique the promotion of self-employment as a poverty solution, advocating for policies that acknowledge the unique challenges faced by women who navigate (and are held in) the space between unemployment and formal self-employment.

The Women of Corsican Nationalism: Between Tradition and Modernity (1975–98)

AbstractThis article investigates late twentieth‐century Corsican nationalism through the lens of gender, drawing attention to how women have sought to play an active and creative role in the movement. Through a series of interviews with female nationalist militants, this article will focus on what belonging to the nationalist movement meant to Corsican women. Gender relations within the nationalist movement reflected the changes taking place in a society fluctuating between tradition and modernity.

Supporting equitable access to learning via SMS in Kenya: Impact on engagement and learning outcomes

AbstractThe use of SMS messaging for education has grown in recent years, with particular attention recently during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Mobile phones often have high levels of ownership in low‐income contexts compared to computers, and lower connectivity requirements, which arguably make this a more equitable medium than data‐heavy online instruction, for example. However, given that gender can be a factor to influence mobile device access and use, it is also important to consider educational applications through a gender lens, to avoid further exacerbating digital divides. In this paper, we present an analysis of server log and evaluation data in relation to a literacy‐focused initiative for primary‐aged learners carried out in Kenya as part of the Tusome programme and through the SMS‐based M‐Shule education platform, which does not require an Internet connection or smartphone to run. The extent of engagement with the platform varies according to gender and location within the country. The data also demonstrate a positive impact on learning outcomes regardless of learners' gender and location. Furthermore, the learning gains are shown to be relatively cost‐effective in comparison with educational technology interventions in similar contexts. The findings show that this low‐connectivity adaptive model has a positive impact on learning outcomes. It is a scalable approach to support a range of learners in Kenya, providing more support to learners who need it, and leading to increased foundational learning outcomes overall. As such, the findings will also be of highly relevant to other low‐connectivity contexts. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Mobile phones can be used as a means to support learning, through mobile learning and SMS, particularly in low‐connectivity contexts, although there is a lack of rigorous evidence of impact upon learning outcomes. Mobile phone device ownership tends to be higher than computer or wired Internet connections in many low‐income contexts. Software applications which adapt to the learners' level have shown good potential for gender‐equitable learning outcomes in low‐income contexts; however, these often require an Internet connection in addition to computers or tablets to be run on. What this paper adds There is a lack of contextually relevant evidence of the impact of SMS‐based mobile learning applications in low‐resource and low‐connectivity contexts upon learning outcomes. Through analysis of data generated via an experimental design, this study provides evidence that literacy materials delivered through an SMS‐based educational platform—M‐Shule—can have a positive impact upon learning outcomes. Furthermore, gains are equitable in terms of learners' gender, and location, within Kenya. Implications for practice and/or policy Mobile phones can be an effective way of reaching learners to provide additional educational support as part of existing education programmes in low‐connectivity environments. Learning gains using M‐Shule are evidenced as significant and relatively cost‐effective. Existing high‐quality learning materials developed in other media can be effectively adapted to SMS to reach learners particularly who are out‐of‐school or during periods of educational disruption.

Enhancing brain health in the global south through a sex and gender lens

Enhancing brain health in the global south through a sex and gender lens

Leadership in Technical Fields Through a Gender Lens

Although women have fought for labor rights for many years, they continue to be underrepresented at almost all levels of decision-making. The present study aims to provide insights into female leadership in technical fields both in the EU and in Russia. The article examines the principal leadership aspects of women’s status and career experiences. To identify the ingredients of successful leadership, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and interviews were administrated to a sample of 200 mining students and 40 senior executives. The research data were processed by means of correlative, regressive, and autocorrelation analyses. To track the consistency of the identified leadership factors, female heads of enterprise divisions and university departments shared their views on career progress. The Mann–Whitney U test was employed to analyze the leadership factors. Studies indicate that the more senior the position is, the fewer women there are in leadership roles. Women’s progress in technical careers is hindered both by their own uncertainty and judgments made by others about their abilities. To rectify this situation, practices for encouraging young women to pursue technical careers are recommended along with approaches for maintaining them within the career structure. The research findings also indicate a positive emerging global trend towards increased gender diversity in technical fields.

Gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation for health systems.

Gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for health and health systems interventions and programs is vital to improve health, health systems, and gender equality outcomes. It can be used to identify and address gender disparities in program participation, outcomes and benefits, as well as ensure that programs are designed and implemented in a way that is inclusive and accessible for all. While gender-responsive M&E is most effective when interventions and programs intentionally integrate a gender lens, it is relevant for all health systems programs and interventions. Within the literature, gender-responsive M&E is defined in different and diverse ways, making it difficult to operationalize. This is compounded by the complexity and multi-faceted nature of gender. Within this methodological musing, we present our evolving approach to gender-responsive M&E which we are operationalizing within the Monitoring for Gender and Equity project. We define gender-responsive M&E as intentionally integrating the needs, rights, preferences of, and power relations among, women and girls, men and boys, and gender minority individuals, as well as across social, political, economic, and health systems in M&E processes. This is done through the integration of different types of gender data and indicators, including: sex- or gender-specific, sex- or gender-disaggregated, sex- or gender-specific/disaggregated which incorporate needs, rights and preferences, and gender power relations and systems indicators. Examples of each of these are included within the paper. Active approaches can also enhance the gender-responsiveness of any M&E activities, including incorporating an intersectional lens and tailoring the types of data and indicators included and processes used to the specific context. Incorporating gender into the programmatic cycle, including M&E, can lead to more fit-for-purpose, effective and equitable programs and interventions. The framework presented in this paper provides an outline of how to do this, enabling the uptake of gender-responsive M&E.

Gender Lens Investing: A Scoping Review from Theoretical Foundations to Public Equity Applications

This scoping review explores the dynamic field of Gender Lens Investing (GLI), examining its evolution from a niche approach to its current status as a widely recognized investment strategy with the potential to contribute to sustainable development and yield social, financial, and economic benefits. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical foundations of GLI and its practical applications across public equity markets. By conducting research across four major databases, we performed a thematic analysis that identified four principal themes: Benefits and Impacts, GLI Strategies, GLI Instruments and Innovations, and Challenges and Barriers to Implementation. Key findings reveal an increased implementation of GLI in various forms and a gradual increase in publications, reflecting growing interest within academia and industry. Despite these advancements, critical gaps remain in understanding the financial and social impacts of GLI strategies and instruments. While GLI has been broadly defined and implemented, further empirical research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of GLI in public equities and its long-term impacts. The limitations of this review include a focus on English-language publications, which might limit the comprehensiveness of the analysis.

Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions aimed at delabeling low-risk penicillin allergies with consideration for sex and gender

BackgroundApproximately, 10% of people report a penicillin allergy; however, more than 90% can safely undergo delabeling after a detailed history, oral challenge, or other investigations such as penicillin skin testing (PST). Although PST is the gold standard, the results can be heterogeneous, and awaiting specialist assessment may take an inordinate amount of time. Therefore, oral provocation challenge has become acceptable for individuals with low-risk penicillin allergy histories. There also appears to be an association with increased prevalence of adverse drug reaction reporting in female individuals, which may translate to penicillin allergy prevalence; however, the evidence has not been assessed through a sex and gender lens. This systematic review will identify and synthesize the findings from studies that report measures of effectiveness and safety of interventions aimed at delabeling penicillin allergies in low-risk individuals. Information related to sex and gender will be extracted, where available, to understand potential differences in allergy reporting and patient outcomes.MethodsThe Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the Centre for Review and Dissemination’s Guidance for Undertaking Reviews in Health Care will be used as frameworks for conducting this systematic review. The literature search will be conducted by a medical librarian (B. M. M.) and will consist of a search strategy to identify and retrieve published studies that meet our inclusion criteria. Studies that require penicillin skin testing (PST) as a step prior to other interventions will be excluded. Integrated knowledge translation involving co-design was carried out for this systematic review protocol creation. Data extraction will be conducted at four levels: (1) study level, (2) patient level, (3) intervention level, and (4) outcome level. A narrative descriptive synthesis of results and risk of bias of all included studies will be provided, and, if relevant, a meta-analysis will be performed.DiscussionThe dissemination of findings from this knowledge synthesis to various stakeholders is intended to inform on options for evidence-based interventions to aid in delabeling penicillin allergies in individuals with a low risk of experiencing a hypersensitivity reaction. Detailed reporting on the characteristics of delabeling interventions as well as the effectiveness of similar interventions will benefit policy makers considering the implementation of a penicillin allergy delabeling protocol. Additionally, findings from this systematic review will report on the current evidence regarding the role of sex and gender in both the prevalence and outcomes associated with the presence of penicillin allergies.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42022336457.

Would teaching gender as core, not boutique, move us closer to the SDG gender equality goal?

ABSTRACT The Sustainable Development Goals, through Goal 5 on Gender Equality, put gender as a focus at the heart of every endeavour. Yet with 2030 looming, across the globe, we have made insufficient progress towards gender equality. Despite a plethora of mentions of the aim to achieve gender equality in regional and international documents, progress is slow (see https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2022/09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2022 and https://pacificdata.org/dashboard/sdg-5-gender-equality). What can be done? If transformative change is required, then a range of options needs to be explored. Could expanding exposure as to who studies gender be just one tool for building a pipeline of actors who take a gender lens when engaging with key issues, and speeding up progress towards the gender equality goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Goal 5)? How should we rethink the teaching of gender and development? My proposition is that gender should be mainstreamed in every course through a revised curriculum as a practical lever for change and to hasten progress towards Goal 5. The hope is that this paper can encourage conversation both in gender and development circles and the scholarship of teaching and learning, and prompt new lines of research and action towards rethinking the teaching of gender and development, which can then strengthen the knowledge base in the pipeline of political decision-makers and development actors. This paper is a call to action for the repositioning of gender at the heart of all studies – not as an elective or “boutique”, but as core to every subject.

Reimagining the Classics: Feminist Perspectives on Canonical Texts

This paper explores feminist perspectives on canonical texts, reimagining classical literature through the lens of gender, power, and voice. “Canonical works have traditionally reflected patriarchal norms, often marginalizing or silencing female characters. Feminist literary criticism challenges these interpretations, offering new ways to understand these texts by reclaiming the voices of women and exposing the gendered structures embedded within them. Through the examination of key themes such as the male gaze, intersectionality, and the subversion of patriarchal norms, this paper seeks to demonstrate how feminist reinterpretations transform the reader's understanding of classical works. Case studies of iconic texts highlight how female characters are redefined, shifting from passive figures to empowered agents of change. The paper also considers the intersection of race, class, and gender in feminist critiques and how modern adaptations and retellings of canonical texts continue to challenge traditional narratives. By critically engaging with feminist theory and literature, this paper argues that these reimagined readings not only provide a more inclusive understanding of classical texts but also reveal their contemporary relevance in addressing issues of gender equality, empowerment, and social justice. This study contributes to feminist literary scholarship by deepening the dialogue between classical literature and feminist thought.

Children’s and adolescents’ views of health and mental health concepts - A qualitative group interview study

BackgroundDefinitions and perceptions of health and mental health have not remained static over time. This is also true for statistics over Swedish children’s and adolescents’ health and mental health status. The majority of Swedish school-aged children and adolescents report good physical health and good life satisfaction. However, there are some warning signs when it comes to children’s and adolescents’ health and mental health status, for instance, an increased overweight or obesity in children and adolescents, as well as a higher proportion reporting psychological problems and stress. There is also a need for knowing more about the younger population’s voices in this matter. The aim was therefore to explore children’s and adolescent’s conceptualizations and perceptions of health in general, and mental health in particular.MethodsOpen semistructured group interviews with 44 Swedish children and adolescents (10–14 years old) recruited from four schools were conducted. The interviews were conducted between April 2022 and January 2023. Data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis.ResultsChildren’s and adolescents’ conceptualizations of health included aspects of both the body and the mind, with a focus on the latter. Mental health was expressed as a state of being, illustrated by various lived experiences of emotions, moods, and thoughts. The social world was ever present in their understanding of health, e.g., through the lenses of social and gender norms.ConclusionsThis study revealed children’s and adolescents’ recognition of health terms and their ability to observe nuances between mental health problems and everyday struggles. The participants discussed mental health problems to a greater extent than positive mental health. An implication of this study is the highlighted need to focus more on mental health promotion in future preventive programs. These findings might potentially influence how school staff and student health teams communicate with children and adolescents about these concepts.

Immigration, domestic labor, and earnings inequality among native-born women in the US

ABSTRACT The wage effects of immigration have been widely studied, yet much of the research has focused on competitive threats to low-skilled native-born men. In contrast, this paper applies a gender lens to explore possible complementary relationships between immigration-induced outsourcing of domestic work and the earnings of native-born women, while recognizing the classed and racialized nature of domestic labor. Empirically, this article examines subgroup variations in earnings among full-time employed native-born women by education and race/ethnicity in relation to the state share of immigrants in the domestic service sector. The analysis combines data from the 2012 American Community Survey with state-level work-family policy data collected for 2010, accounting for compositional differences and selection into the labor force. Likely due to increased availability of affordable domestic services, the results show a higher immigrant share is associated with greater earnings for native-born women overall. However, education and race/ethnicity moderate this association, indicating that highly educated non-Hispanic white women benefit more than other women because the labor process and outsourcing of household production are classed and racialized. Hence, states with a higher share of immigrants filling domestic services exhibit wage dispersion patterns that reinforce intersectional inequality among native-born women.

Digital political communication through a gender lens: discourses, themes, and inclusive language. A case study of two gender-balanced elections in Andalusia: 2018 and 2022

Electoral campaigns are particularly significant moments for identifying the available political options. Social media campaigns have become universal, and every candidate seeks to showcase their proposals and distinct political personality. The main goal of this article is to examine electoral political communication on social media platforms through a gender perspective. We analyze the messages posted on X (formerly Twitter) by candidates during the last two election campaigns in Andalusia. With a total sample of 2,196 posts, we applied quantitative content analysis and binary logistic regression, in addition to qualitative discourse análisis to a subset of the sample. We aim to identify how, where, when and by whom issues pertaining to women as a collective, feminism, gender, or the use of egalitarian language are introduced into two campaigns characterized by gender-balanced representation of candidates. Our findings indicate a limited use of inclusive language and infrequent foregrounding of women in discourse. Nonetheless, gender is a significant explanatory factor for a more inclusive communication style toward women, alongside an explicit emphasis on addressing policies affecting women.

Positive masculinity programmes and sexual and reproductive health behaviours among boys and men in poor urban settlements in Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

As Positive Masculinity (PM) Programmes continue to develop globally, it is important to examine their role in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) outcomes. This multi-country qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members, beneficiaries and implementers of PM programmes. The findings show that PM programmes are designed using a gender lens to make boys and men more aware and conscious of harmful masculinity traits and their effect on SRHR. The beneficiaries of the interventions report imbibing positive SRHR behaviours by being sexually responsible - upholding sexual rights, taking precautions against sexually transmitted Infections (STIs) and learning proper communication with their partners. They also report acting as vanguards of positive gender norms to their families and peers. Although there are challenges in implementing PM programmes, the results of the study suggest that interventions targeting boys and men hold promise for improving boys' and men's health behaviours and promoting gender equality in poor urban settings.

Women's economic empowerment and COVID-19 pandemic: A study on women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh

This paper aims to explore the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh. Based on the available literature, this paper develops a holistic framework for economic empowerment and measures how COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to changes in the framework. The study adopts a quantitative research method to address the research question; of whether and to what extent women entrepreneurs were economically empowered by their businesses during COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical data was collected from 52 Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs via telephone interviews and online surveys using a structured questionnaire in February–March 2022, and respondents were chosen randomly from various online social groups and pages. The findings suggest that women entrepreneurs have contributed to family spending, resource allocation, and decision-making. However, their role has diminished significantly in asset ownership during the pandemic. In addition, women's attitudes toward violence, social stigma, and education have shifted dramatically. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs face several challenges, including a lack of government support, limited availability of credit, a lack of entrepreneurial education, and an increased responsibility in the family. Although numerous research studies have demonstrated how COVID-19 pandemic affected women during the pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on economic empowerment through gender lenses has frequently been disregarded in Bangladesh context. This study bridges that gap, particularly in developing economies context and the framework constructed in this study is instrumental for understanding the dynamics of economic empowerment that can be applied in future research.

Transformational and Transactional Leadership: From the Gender Lens

This paper aims to review the literature on gender differences in leadership styles, focusing on transformational and transactional leadership. The theoretical backgrounds of transformational and transactional leadership and gender differences in leadership style are reviewed. Previous studies have found mixed results regarding the differences and similarities between men’s and women’s leadership styles. Four factors have been found to lead to these results: (1) the context of the study, (2) the evaluator’s identity, (3) team composition, and (4) culture. The paper hopes to shift researchers’ focus from documenting the differences and similarities to exploring and digging deeper into the causes of these differences and similarities. Based on this, the paper suggests exciting directions for future research.

Identifying menstrual deficit: A feminist analysis of Bangladesh's national menstrual hygiene management strategy 2021

Historically, males have dominated the policy domain, and women have held more direct practice roles; therefore, male analysts do not use a gender lens in formulating a policy or strategy paper. Similarly, the Bangladesh government, with a working group predominantly composed of men, created the National Menstrual Hygiene Management Strategy 2021 for the first time to ensure that "no girl or woman is left behind" in exercising their fundamental rights. This study's goal, from a feminist perspective, was to evaluate the extent to which the government has overcome patriarchal restraints in the development of eight strategies for menstruation. Following the qualitative approach, we used the desk research method to review the strategy. This analysis shows that the strategy refollows patriarchal norms resulting in menstruation being considered a social phenomenon rather than a biological phenomenon.

Community Integration Challenges of Men and Women After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of Lived Experiences Through a Gender Lens.

To investigate community integration (CI) challenges following traumatic brain injury (TBI) through a gender lens. Rehabilitation research-teaching hospital. Adult participants (22 men and 20 women) with a primary diagnosis of mild or moderate-severe TBI, in the acute or chronic stages after injury, were recruited using purposive sampling. Qualitative study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, and thematic analysis was used to identify themes of CI challenges. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) lack of a "graduated home plan": difficulty enacting gendered roles and responsibilities at home, (2) "Something that I cannot handle": mismatch between occupational demands and abilities, and (3) "Slipping away": disrupted connections with self and others. Men consistently voiced struggles with and inability to fulfill household tasks, whereas women detailed ways of adapting domestic responsibilities because of postinjury limitations. Productivity challenges resonated with a substantial number of participants, and a gendered pattern was observed: More women reported an inability, whereas more men reported a limited ability to meet occupational demands. Both genders conveyed disruptions in recreational and leisure activities, although women predominantly discussed challenges relating to social activities and men a tendency to avoid social situations because of anticipated stigma and/or shame. Across all themes, a pervasive sense of diminished community contributions and disrupted identities was observed. The incongruence between preinjury roles and responsibilities and postinjury abilities resulted in difficulties across multiple CI domains for the study participants and did not go unnoticed by them. It is important for health care professionals to assist patients in addressing gendered challenges at home, work, and in the social circle for a smoother transition back into the community.

A Systematic Literature Review on the Working Dilemma of Petrochemical Offshore Workers: A gender perspective

This paper aims to identify the dilemma offshore petrochemical workers face using a gender lens. The gender lens allows examining how gender identities, norms, and power dynamics shape experiences, opportunities, and outcomes for different groups of people. Two databases were used in this search, namely the Web of Science and Scopus. The results indicated that 11 articles were accepted after the identification, screening and eligibility processes were undertaken. Based on the thematic analysis, four emerging themes include psychosocial risks, gender stigma, benefits, and social capital. The findings have practical contributions.