Social Inclusion Policies Research Articles

711 Bullying Culture Within Neurosurgery and Spinal Surgery Centres - a Scoping Review of the Current Social Inclusion Policy Surrounding Neurosurgical Practice in the United Kingdom

Abstract Aim Homogeneity within surgical academia has been shown to precipitate increased risks of erroneous diagnoses and impede innovation. Successive generations have introduced equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) to the surgical workforce. However, healthcare professionals, especially those in training, still experience bullying and harassment, particularly in neurosurgery and spinal surgery (SS). Therefore, a scoping review (SR) was conducted to evaluate bullying culture within neurosurgery and SS centres globally, focussing on British institutions. Method SR complied with the Arksey and O'Malley framework, where PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched between 2020-current. Only relevant papers were screened per inclusion criteria to keywords: ‘bully’, ‘harass’, ‘neurosurgery’, and ‘spine surgery’, adhering to PRISMA-SR guidelines. Using pretested forms, two separate reviewers conducted review selection and characterisation. Results Articles searched surmounted 13,298, where 37 select articles, of which 8 were included in final analysis. Of these, letters, editorials, and cross-sectional surveys accounted for 25%, 37.5%, and 37.5%, respectively. Common themes comprised EDI workforce embracement and collective policy implementation for dynamic social change (n=62.5%). Issues related to institutional reputation (n=50%), barriers to career prospects (n=25%), retaliation (n=12.5%), and stress (n=25%) amongst healthcare professionals raising concerns. Conclusions Facing discrimination, prejudice, and harassment is immoral and unethical in the context of neurosurgical or SS training. While original research evaluating EDI issues in surgery has proliferated, emphasis should be exercised when assessing this impact among neurosurgical and SS trainees. Our SR elucidates that social change remains contentious in neurosurgery and SS. Further work is warranted to establish such perspectives within the UK.

From Social Darwinism to Sociobiology: The Developmental Trajectory of Biological Determinism in Social Sciences

Biological determinism, the theory that human behavior is primarily determined by genetic factors, has sparked extensive debate and controversy between social and biological sciences since the late 19th century with the introduction of Darwin's theory of evolution. By examining the origins, development, and impacts of these theories on modern scientific research and social policy from historical and theoretical perspectives, this article reveals the limitations and potential risks inherent in scientific research and social policymaking. The article emphasizes the complexity of using these theories to explain human behavior and social structures, as well as their importance in formulating inclusive social policies.

Enhancing the quality of life of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities or Autism: The role of disability-specific support

BackgroundA holistic approach considering the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of living with a disability is essential for developing effective support systems, policies, and interventions. The quality of life of individuals with disabilities is interrelated with the well-being of their families making family quality of life (FQOL) a crucial aspect of study. AimsThis study explores the effects of support on FQOL among Saudi Arabian families with children diagnosed with intellectual disabilities or autism, from the perspectives of 269 mothers. Methods and proceduresThrough a survey, we examined how disability-related support correlates with FQOL, emphasizing the need for personalized support systems. We employed multiple regression analysis to assess the impact of various factors on FQOL, including the type and severity of disability, family income, and marital status.Outcomes and Results: The findings revealed that disability-related support is a significant predictor of FQOL, highlighting its critical role in enhancing the well-being of families. Conclusions and implicationsThis study contributes to the scarce regional literature, and underscores the importance of inclusive social policies tailored to the diverse needs of families with disabilities.

Grand challenge of insecurity and Leadership: Humanizing Leadership to enhance security in divided Nigeria nation state.

The past few years has become synonymous with grand challenge of insecurity in Nigeria, impacting negatively on individuals’ emotion, the national economy, social collectivity, peace and security. Having been impacted by the militant agitation on her oil resource exploration in the Niger Delta region; the emerged and occurrence of attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents, herders’ farmers conflicts, bandit attacks, secessionist crusade and hardship economic protests have made threat her national security. While government have adopted different policies to address the incessant conflicts, much of these are found to be counterproductive. The arrest and re-arrest of secessionists leaders like; Kanu, IPOB leader, and Ighoho who champions demand for Yoruba nation are reference in points. This paper carries out exploratory survey of the occurrence of insecurity as differently experienced in Nigeria from northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest. The article argues that, insensitivity to public opinions, high level of public distrust and bad leadership has brought Nigerians to the point of no return. It suggests that for Nigerians to build confidence on their leaders and institutions; Nigerian leaders must take to their responsibilities, seek more for inclusive social policies, and stand out for equity. Since humanizing approach emphasizes the relational and co-constitutive aspects of leadership; solving grand challenge of insecurity in Nigeria, requires a sense of leadership responsibility, coordinated efforts, pragmatic collaborations with the stakeholders while commune with their environment.

The professional identity of highly educated migrant women: a multinational study of migration processes from a gender and educational perspective

Migration studies often focus on macro-level analyses, emphasising political and economic factors while overlooking personal (micro-level) aspects, whereas social work offers valuable insights into the individual experiences and needs of migrants. Little information exists regarding the perspectives of highly educated migrant women, including about the economic, social and emotional aspects of their migration experiences. This article focuses on how the professional identities of highly educated women in novel sociocultural settings are formed and examines how their professional identities influence their integration. Using snowball sampling, qualitative interviews were conducted with 36 participants from the Netherlands, Slovenia and Germany, supplemented by field notes and a demographic questionnaire. Looking through the micro-level contributes to a better understanding of the everyday lives of highly educated migrant women and the importance of maintaining their professional identities in a new environment in the context of social work and migration. By intersecting gender and education, this article addresses the complexities and the significance of professional identity among highly educated migrant women and its influence on their integration process, highlighting their challenges while also emphasising potential integration strategies and social policies for better social inclusion.

Women Directors: An Empirical Test of Critical Mass Hypothesis

This paper offers integrated theoretical-based empirical evidence regarding the role of female directors in promoting corporate common good using resource dependency model built on critical mass hypothesis. Using panel regression involving 220 firm-year observations from 2011 to 2021, the paper empirically assesses the moderating impacts of diversity and social inclusion policy, and gender-based power separation in determining the direction of causality between composition of female directors and foreign capital importation by the top 20 commercial banks in Nigeria. With approximately 30 per cent female director representation in the sampled banks (i.e., optimal gender threshold), the paper offers support to critical mass hypothesis and validates intrinsic benefits of women in corporate boardroom. The empirical result shows that female director representation in boards with strong diversity and social inclusion policy and greater independent non-executive directors, is positively linked to resource dependency role of foreign capital importation. Diversity of power separation is found to be detrimental to such board tasks due to overwhelming tokenism effect that surrounds gender-based power delineation. These key findings are statistically significant and robust to a series of iterated sensitivity tests. In addition to offering emerging market contributions to the growing literature on critical mass theory application, findings from this study demonstrate the inherent value of combining multiple governance theories (such as resource dependency and critical mass models) and the dynamic research framework opportunities it offers for robust empirical testing.

Belonging to the Ace Spectrum: Correlates of Cognitions, Feelings, and Desires of Ace Individuals

Abstract Introduction Asexuality is typically defined as a lack of sexual attraction, and yet this definition fails to include the multitude of experiences within the ace community. We explored the correlates of different cognitions, feelings, and desires reported by ace individuals. Methods Data for a cross-sectional study with 456 individuals from online ace communities (61.8% women; Mage = 24.62, SD = 6.98) were collected in 2019. Results Higher scores on the Asexuality Identification Scale (AIS) were associated with fewer experiences with romantic partners, more experiences with intimate affective relationships, and higher avoidant attachment. In contrast, sexual and romantic attractions were associated with more experiences with romantic partners. However, sexual attraction was associated with fewer experiences with non-sexual romantic relationships and lower AIS scores, whereas romantic attraction was associated with lower avoidant attachment and higher anxious attachment. The desire to have physically intimate romantic relationships was associated with more experiences with romantic partners, lower avoidant attachment, higher anxious attachment, and lower AIS scores. Lastly, the desire to have intimate affective relationships was associated with more experiences with solely affective relationships and higher anxiety attachment. Conclusions These findings show the importance of past experiences and individual differences in shaping the way ace individuals construe their identity, and experience feelings and desires. Policy Implications By highlighting the need to acknowledge diversity within the ace community, this study offers insights into how to increase awareness and develop more inclusive social policies.

Closing the clean cooking gap: Which policies and institutional qualities matter?

Access to clean energy is vital for fostering economic development and promoting shared prosperity. Yet, billions of people in the developing world continue to lack access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, creating a growing clean cooking gap. Achieving universal access to clean cooking requires integrated policies and quality institutions. However, attempts to examine the policies and institutional qualities that matter are missing. We take up this task and study the role of public policies and institutional qualities in closing the clean cooking gap using a generalized method of moment and a dynamic panel threshold model for 65 developing countries covering the period between 2005 and 2022. Our result confirms that economic management policies and policies for social inclusion and equity were critical to closing the clean cooking gap. Also, structural policies, except for a few dimensions, were found to minimize the clean cooking gap. However, we find an unintended adverse effect of a strict public sector management and institution on the clean cooking gap. Our study recommends the need for targeted interventions involving subsidies, tax incentives, and credit guarantees carried out under a flexible regulatory framework.

СОЦІАЛЬНА ІНКЛЮЗІЯ ТА СТАЛИЙ СІЛЬСЬКИЙ РОЗВИТОК: НА ПЕРЕТИНІ ПОЛІТИК ЄС

The article presents the results of research into the conceptual foundations of social inclusion policy, identifies its principles, goals and subjects in accordance with modern world practice. It has been proven that social isolation is an urgent problem of modern times in countries regardless of their level of development and carries with it significant negative socio-economic consequences for individuals, countries and the world community in the form of increased social tension and conflict, loss of human capital and GDP. Methodological aspects of the social inclusion basic principles and ideas implementation in the policy of rural development in the European Union are determined. It has been established that social inclusion as a tool for ensuring sustainable rural development is implemented at the pan-European, national and local levels within the framework of various components of institutional support for rural areas. Promotion of social inclusion is carried out through the implementation of numerous programs focused on the support of certain socially vulnerable groups of the population – youth, women, migrants, disability people, etc. The institutional basis for the systematic implementation of the social inclusion policy in rural areas is formed by the European network for rural development, which includes government institutions of various levels and stakeholders of sustainable rural development, represented through local action groups. It has been proven that the systematic implementation of social inclusion initiatives has become a guarantee of progress in achieving the goals of sustainable development in rural areas, the basis of the formation of a comfortable and conflict-free environment for life without any social, economic or other discrimination.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policies: Considerations in Health Sectors in Nepal

This article tries to highlight the existing gender equality and social inclusion GESI policies and practices in health sectors in Nepal. Nepal has participated and ratified the gender policies in all Conventions and Conferences. To fulfill this very obligation, it has introduced some legal provisions and made an attempt to implement them. Due to this region, Nepal has started to address the gender issues in health sectors from Interim Constitution 2007AD addresses health as a fundamental right and that have very citizen shall have the right to basic health services free of cost from the state, as provided in law. Ninth, Tenth and Three-Year Interim Plan have pursued gender equality and women’s empowerment through a gender mainstreaming strategy. The governance framework, fundamental rights and directives of the constitution provide the impetus for revising the 2009 Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Strategy of the Health Sector and to align the strategy with the new governance arrangements and state obligations. The institutional structure to lead and coordinate the mainstreaming of GESI into the health system was created in 2012. The Health Sector Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Strategy (2010) provides the foundation for mainstreaming GESI, ensuring that policy development and programme planning are viewed through a create a favourable environment for the use of rights based approaches and more equitable access to healthcare. Implementation of the strategy is guided by the GESI Operational Guidelines (2013). Constitution of Nepal 2015 AD has also considered the rights of women as the right to receive special opportunities based on positive discrimination in education, health, employment, and social security. The Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and the Nepal Health Sector Strategy (2015-2020) embrace the importance of gender equality, and leaving no one behind to achieve health goals.

Objective and subjective difficulties in returning to the country of origin in case of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, under the prism of different periods of time

Integration and social inclusion policy appear to face various difficulties, in case of migrants, refugees, other forcibly displaced persons. It usually depends on various social, national, cultural and religious biases, prejudices, personal or interpersonal limitations that are shared either in the frame of receiving society or in one of the refuge seekers. Moreover, because of aforementioned features the integration policy works either properly and successfully or fails. Therefore, we can see brilliantly integrated individuals, who restore their level of personal, financial and social independence even while being a refugee and ones, who suffer from not being able to do this even after a long period of time. Anyway, the refuge seekers are legally treated as individuals, who will potentially stay on the territory of the receiving country during a limited period of time (thus, the necessary time, until the optimal conditions of well-being and welfare in their country of origin will not be properly restored). However, as the time passes by, the primary desire to be back home and reintegrate to the primary society decreases until the full elimination. And this tendency appear not be anyhow dependent both on difficulties that the refuge seekers face during integration and social inclusion periods and other factors as well. In our current research we have postulated objective and subjective difficulties of the fact, why the tendency of returning to the home land decreases with the time, and how the integration policy shall be changed to allow the most optimal level of social inclusion of new comers who potentially will become permanent foreign nationals staying abroad.

A partial empirical test of the general strain theory on cyberbullying victimization among expatriate students

A partial empirical test of the general strain theory on cyberbullying victimization among expatriate students

Methods for Estimating the Impact of Disability Costs for Designing Inclusive Policies

The impact of disability on people’s lives is often underestimated because the extra costs of living with a disability are not accounted for. This paper analyzes several different methodologies for estimating those costs and explores their usefulness in designing inclusive social policies. For example, one approach is to measure what is currently being spent, while another is to estimate what would need to be spent for equal participation. These can be measured using statistical techniques or through a more qualitative methodology. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. The paper concludes with recommendations for which methodology fits which purpose, and how they can be used together to obtain a full accounting of the extra costs incurred by people with disabilities.

Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: The case of Nepal

Social norms are often put forward to explain resistance to gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and women continue to be largely absent from decision-making positions in the energy sector worldwide. However, there is limited research on the institutional mechanisms of policy-making and implementation at different scales within a federal system.Using Nepal as a case study, this paper explores why, despite commitments, progress toward GESI objectives in the energy sector has been slow. Based on a review of energy policies, and interviews at federal, provincial and local government spheres, this paper focuses on the institutional and policy processes at play within the energy sector and between the three spheres of the federal system (the national, provincial and local). It examines the extent to which these processes undermine the implementation of inclusion policy. Understanding the broader institutional processes helps to identify different types of bottlenecks compromising progress in GESI: those which are linked to deficient policy regimes which cannot be addressed solely through additional GESI-focused interventions, and those which can be characterized as resistant to GESI-related issues. The aim of this research is also to understand why Nepal's public energy institutions, despite a constitutional commitment to gender equality and non-discrimination based on caste, class, ethnicity and religion, seem so reluctant to mainstream GESI within its policies and practice. The paper concludes that GESI implementation in the energy sector suffers from limited human resources, a narrow conceptual framing and delays in policy development and implementation within different spheres of the federal system. Moreover, shortcomings related to GESI policy-making and implementation should be considered within the broader context of federalism. Therefore, to support GESI policy implementation, bureaucratic as well as local-level ownership of the concept and its relevance for sustainable development must be developed and strengthened.

Estimating the extra disability expenditures for the design of inclusive social protection policies.

For social protection policies to be inclusive they must address the extra costs that people with disabilities incur. Studies show that these costs are highly significant and if not taken into account the economic wellbeing of people with disabilities is underestimated. Additionally, disability costs vary significantly by the type and degree of disability. To align the structure of social protection programs with how costs are incurred to promote equal participation requires estimating those costs. The Goods and Services Required approach, it is argued, is better than the often used Standard of Living Approach, and has implications for policy design.

Mentoring for social inclusion: a call for social work to engage with an emerging model of social intervention

ABSTRACT A new form of volunteer-based intervention is mushrooming across Europe: social mentoring. Such programmes turn ‘ordinary’ citizens into mentors for individuals from disadvantaged groups. Related initiatives are becoming more institutionalised and social mentoring has gained popularity as a social policy measure, especially in the face of crises. However, the social work discussion has taken little notice of this burgeoning phenomenon adjoining our professional field. There is a lack of concepts and data that could fuel a debate at the intersection of mentoring for social inclusion, human services, and welfare policies. This paper presents a first attempt to outline what social mentoring means, why social work should engage with it and how we can research into it. It offers theoretical reflection on ongoing developments in the EU, based on observation of the literature and field. To expand the available knowledge, it is suggested that research should pay equal attention to all three constituent elements of the topic: personal relationships, programmes, and policies. In line with critical traditions, this paper suggests a holistic, multi-scalar perspective that is sensitive to social inequalities and power imbalances, while also embracing innovative and transformative aspects of social mentoring as a ‘popular’ form of social problems work.

Can social inclusion policies promote financial inclusion?

PurposeThis study aims to examine whether social inclusion policies promote financial inclusion. Three social inclusion policies were analyzed: gender equality policies, environmental sustainability policies and social protection (SP) policies.Design/methodology/approachThe study used the panel fixed effect regression methodology to analyze data from 48 low- and medium-income countries.FindingsThe results show that social inclusion policies do not have a significant effect on financial inclusion. Also, the older population is less likely to own an account at a formal financial institution in low- and medium-income countries that have strong environmental sustainability policies and institutions. The implication of the finding is that the policies and institutions established to promote environmental sustainability can discourage the older population from keeping the population's wealth in formal financial institutions in the country.Practical implicationsPolicy makers should consider how social and environmental policies and programs can be designed to promote financial inclusion for older individuals in the individuals' countries.Originality/valueThe financial inclusion literature has not considered the role of social inclusion policies in promoting financial inclusion for individuals, businesses and the excluded groups in a country.

POLICIES FOR THE SOCIAL INCLUSION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN ECUADOR

The indigenous people of Ecuador are divided by nationalities and aboriginal peoples; Currently, according to the National Council for the Development of Nationalities and Peoples of Ecuador (CODENPE), in the Ecuadorian territory, in the Costa, Sierra and Oriented regions, there are 14 nationalities and 18 indigenous peoples, each with its own worldview, customs and traditions. The generals that regulate the behavior of these cultures are the ama killa, ama llulla, ama shwa (not to be idle, not to lie, not to steal), they practice the minka and ayni, which are models of community cooperation and collaboration. The exclusion of indigenous people has been a problem, which, from generation to generation, for more than 500 years, our aboriginal brothers have had to endure, until June 2022, according to the National Survey of Employment, Unemployment and Underemployment (ENEMDU, 2022 ), income poverty in the rural sector was 42.9% and extreme poverty reached 22.7%; that is, of the approximately 1,080,000 indigenous people, 463,320 indigenous people live in poverty and 245,160 live in extreme poverty; which implies pointing out that the discrimination, exclusion and exploitation of this group of priority attention is recurrent. The manuscript answers the question: Have public policies of social and political inclusion improved the quality of life in the indigenous communities of Ecuador? The results allow us to establish that public policies for social and political inclusion are mechanisms that materialize the rights to citizen participation and a dignified life, not only of indigenous people, but of all citizens of Ecuador; however, these strategies are not fulfilling the stated objective, which is why the quality of life in the rural sector where the majority of aborigines reside has not improved significantly.

New Wine in Old Wineskins? Incomplete Democratization in Brazil During the First Pink Tide

Abstract During the last decades in Brazil, two societal projects strived for hegemony: a democratic and participatory project disputed against an alliance of the emerging bourgeoisie with traditional political forces. The PT-led government, driven by Lula da Silva (2003–2010) and Dilma Rousseff (2011–2016), representative of the democratic and participatory line, implemented many innovative policies concerning notably social citizenship rights and industrialization. Perhaps, like many other Latin American countries during the first pink tide, it was unsuccessful in transforming the old economic, political, and social frameworks to provide a suitable environment for new politics. The text examines this period, emphasizing improvements in political participation, inclusive social policies, and the relationship between the government and social movements, as well as some flaws that hastened its demise.

4. White Backlash and Power Preservation in Bell’s Interest Convergence Dilemma

Abstract In this paper I propose the concept of the Power Preservation Principle as an outgrowth of Derrick Bell’s well-known “interest convergence” dilemma. I posit that the Power Preservation Principle helps us begin to explain and understand the rapid deterioration and retrenchment of inclusive social justice policies over the last few decades.