Representation Of Women Research Articles

‘We resolve our own sorrows’: screening comfort women in Chinese documentary films

This article adds a critical lens to the vicissitudinous public remembrance of the comfort women in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the oscillating representations of comfort women in Chinese documentary films. First, it probes how the violated bodies of comfort women on the screen constantly challenge and disrupt the entrenched gender norms in the interstices of the PRC’s official paradigms of “national humiliation” and “national greatness.” Then, it examines the distinctive film esthetics and documentary ethics of Chinese director Guo Ke’s documentary films Thirty Two (2014) and Twenty Two (2017), given that the latter harvested record-breaking box office sales and incited heated online discussions of the comfort women issue in China. In particular, this article scrutinizes how Guo’s esthetically appealing, politically non-confrontational, and ethically provocative approach helps constitute survivors’ private, gendered memories and encourages the viewers to contemplate his minimalist narratives. In a broader sense, this article contributes to the discussions of gender, nationalism, war remembrance, and documentary filmmaking in contemporary China.

Psychological Health and Ischemic Heart Disease in Women: A Review of Current Evidence and Clinical Considerations across the Healthspan.

Psychological health encompasses a constellation of negative and positive factors-i.e., psychosocial stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness and social isolation, anger and hostility, optimism, and a sense of purpose. This narrative review presents current evidence at the intersection of psychological health, risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), and IHD-related outcomes, with an emphasis on associations in women. For women, relations between psychological health and IHD reflect important sex and gender differences in biological and psychosocial factors. Although efforts devoted to understanding psychological health and IHD risk have varied by psychological factor-scientific evidence is strongest for psychosocial stress and depression, while anxiety, trauma, and positive psychological factors warrant more investigation-less optimal psychological health is consistently associated with an earlier and greater risk of IHD morbidity and mortality in women. Still, many past prospective studies of psychological factors and IHD risk had a limited representation of women, did not include analyses by sex, or failed to account for other influential, sex-specific factors. Thus, there are multiple pathways for further, rigorous investigation into psychological health-IHD associations, mechanisms, and empirically supported psychological interventions to mitigate IHD risk among women. Given the robust evidence linking psychological health with women's risk for IHD, implementing routine, brief, psychological screening is recommended. Significant life events, developmental milestones specific to women, and IHD diagnoses or events could cue further psychological assessment and referral, efforts which will mutually strengthen the evidence for integrated psychological and IHD care and delivery of such care to this vulnerable group.

The specific visuality of women of the global South in the media of the global North

This paper examines how neoliberal, gendered discourses of globalization position marginalized communities of women in popular culture, focusing on the ways in which the media of the global North produces the specific visuality of women of the global South. The representations of women of the global South, such as factory workers, mail/online-order brides, and domestic workers, point to the globalized mode of feminization of labor and the power asymmetry inherent in globalization. By analyzing the ways in which the female body of the global South embodies commodification, sexualization, and abjection, the paper points out that women’s experiences are marginalized or erased in the neoliberal narrative of globalization. The (re)imagination of women of the global South in the media of the global North testifies to the historical legacy and discursive traditions of the colonial/imperial past and points to the reproduction and dissemination of sexualized and racialized imagery of otherness.

Advancing Diversity in Microbiology: A 55-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Background For over 50 years, affirmative action helped advance equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in educational institutions in the United States (U.S.). However, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action in college admissions threatens the progress toward EDI. Objective This study aimed to assess the progress in promoting gender and racial diversity within the discipline of microbiology over a 55-year period. We sought to analyze the representation of women and minority groups in faculty ranks, tenure positions, and leadership to identify disparities and trends and determine who will likely be impacted most with the end of affirmative action. Materials and methods This longitudinal retrospective study utilized publicly available and non-identifiable Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) data on full-time microbiology faculty from 1967 to 2021. Faculty members were categorized based on academic ranks and tenure status, while gender and racial data were also considered. Results The analysis revealed a consistent dominance of white faculty, with over 60% representation across all academic ranks throughout the study period. The Asian and female faculty representation decreased in senior academic ranks. We observed a positive trend in the annual increase of women in faculty positions, academic ranks, chairs, and tenure positions. Furthermore, Asian faculty demonstrated the most robust surge in representation. However, disparities persisted for black, Hispanic, and Native American faculty members, reflecting broader challenges in their representation. Discussion Although efforts to enhance diversity within microbiology have yielded positive results, underrepresented minority groups still face obstacles in attaining leadership positions and senior academic ranks. The diminishing proportion of women at higher academic ranks raises concerns about potential attrition or lack of promotion opportunities. The end of affirmative action poses a risk of perpetuating this trend, leading to a decline in diversity among microbiology faculty.

Gender gaps in publications and citations in gambling studies: Comparisons against addiction science.

Women in academia publish fewer papers and receive fewer citations than men. These gender gaps likely reflect systemic biases operating over several levels, from journal editorial policies to academic career progression. This study sought to characterize gender gaps for publications and citations in the field of gambling studies. An automated gender inference procedure classified authors' binarized gender from their first names. Gender gaps were computed for publications and citations of papers in gambling studies, using the wider field of addiction science as a benchmark. Publication data were scraped from eight peer-reviewed gambling/addictions journals and separately from all gambling publications listed in PubMed. Men authored 16% more publications than women among gambling papers and 23% more publications among nongambling addictions papers. Although robust gender gaps were observed in specialist gambling journals, we find limited overall evidence for gender inequality being greater in gambling studies. Indeed, among nongambling addiction papers, men published more, despite a greater apparent representation of women in the field. The gender gap was most pronounced for the last authorships, denoting seniority. Among the first authorships, there was variability between journals, and some journals displayed approximate parity. There was limited evidence for any corresponding gender gap in citation counts. Gender gaps in gambling research, and addiction science more broadly, adhere to wider trends in academia, including the associations with academic seniority. Variability between individual journals supports the role of journal editorial policies to increase the representation and visibility of women researchers in addiction science. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Ideological representations of women in Jordanian folk proverbs from the perspective of cultural semiotics

This study analyses the semiotics of proverbs by presenting the ideological portrayals of women in Jordanian folk proverbs. The content analysis of the proverbs shows that women are represented both positively and negatively, though they are preponderantly depicted negatively in the majority of the analysed proverbs. They are represented negatively as a symbol of feebleness, foolishness, disgrace, cunning, deception, jealousy and reproduction. Few are the proverbs that elevate the status of women, and if they do, it is on the condition that they are confined to particular restricted gender roles, such as mothers, sisters, wives and daughters providing kindness, help, motivation, and comfort to others. The findings uncover how socially dominant ideologies can influence the way power is practiced in the context of gender relations. They also show the immense significance of such proverbs as a social discourse that has been long used for perpetuating gendered roles and constructing and interpreting related realities, thus affecting social structures and relationships. The inferiority of women constitutes the basis of their assigned roles and responsibilities in various life domains. The proverbs have the ideological indexicals of underestimating women, showing their position in society and also reminding them of their roles.

Exploring gender inequality and sociocultural factors in Fiji: unveiling the “pink unicorns”

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the roles that sociocultural systems such as traditions, religious practices, and rituals play in upholding gender imbalance in Fiji.Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study relies on results from semi-structured interviews with auditors, educationalists, academics, partners from leading accounting/audit firms, company directors and high-ranked government officers. Thematic analysis was conducted both manually and using MAXQDA software, and the themes that emerged from both analyses are complementary. A few more complementary analyses were also conducted such as Word Cloud.Findings The results support the claim that the religious traditions and rituals are strongly linked to gender-inequitable beliefs and suggest sociocultural factors impose on women experiencing self-effacing emotions and passive acceptance of lower status, contributing to the persistence of gender inequality. It also emphasizes the need to challenge certain sociocultural practices to promote greater gender equality, which is the theme emerged from thematic analysis. Additionally, this paper proposes four distinct types of attitudes in this regard as self-effacing feminist, self-effacing traditional, self-effacing modesty and talented driven.Research limitations/implications Respondents' openness authenticity may be limited by factors like selection bias, small sample size and other potential constraints in this study.Practical implications The findings might influence stakeholders to advocate for policy changes to promote women's representation in leadership positions. The results give voice to various segments of society who are advocating greater gender diversity on board representation in Fiji. The themes immerged and theories developed would make a substantial contribution to the existing literature.Social implications The findings highlight the importance of addressing gender inequality in leadership positions to promote inclusive and sustainable growth.Originality/value This study sheds light on the less-explored domain of internal barriers to gender equality within Fiji. It adds a novel dimension to the understanding of how cultural norms intersect with individual perceptions to shape gender inequality.

Female Portrait Statuary in Roman-period Athens: the epigraphic and sculptural evidence

Female portrait statuary forms a large and important category of evidence for understanding the historical phenomenon of the visual representation and commemoration of women in the public spaces of the Greek city. With its rich body of both epigraphical and sculptural remains, the city of Athens is a particularly fruitful site to undertake such a study. While portraits of women begin to be set up in Athens in the early fourth century B.C., the chronological focus here is the Roman Imperial period, when inscribed bases for statues of women and marble sculpture representing female portrait subjects are the most abundant. I consider epigraphical evidence in the form of inscribed statue bases. The main sculptural evidence comes from the American excavations in the Athenian Agora. While a great deal of important research has focused on the epigraphic evidence, particularly from the Acropolis, this article analyzes and puts into conversation both strands of this extensive corpus of material.

The Steep Challenge of Increasing the Electability of Female Legislative Candidates in the 2019 General Election

This study examines how the movement of modalities owned by female candidates in the midst of a patriarchal habitus which is still developing in the 2019 elections in Indonesia. Despite obtaining the highest representation of women in parliament throughout history, in reality the increase that has occurred cannot be significant but tends to be ups and downs. The increase in the representation of female candidates in parliament in 2019 is inseparable from several factors, one of which is the capital owned by female candidates. Using the theory from Pierre Bourdie, he explained that capital is indeed very important for women candidates in Indonesia to get elected, but they also have to pay attention to the arena and their developing habits. The researcher uses the literature study method which is quoted from various sources of scientific studies that can be proven valid to answer research questions. This study found that capital (social capital, political capital, and economic capital) is indeed capable of getting candidates elected, but in reality there are still many female candidates who have high modality unable to win political contestation. This is because the capital owned by female candidates has so far been controlled by a patriarchal class system which causes modality to not develop optimally and the increase in the electability of women candidates in parliament in Indonesia cannot be significant.

The status of women in academic ophthalmology: Authorship of papers, presentations, and academic promotions.

As the field of ophthalmology has evolved in the last several decades, so has the gender distribution of ophthalmologists. We conducted a narrative review to further characterise the status of women in the realm of publication, presentations, editorial positions, grants, academic promotion, and financial compensation. While the proportion of women publishing, presenting, and filling academic and editorial roles has increased over time, it still does not match that of men. Women are more likely to be first authors instead of senior authors, have lower average h-indices, and are awarded fewer grants. The magnitude of some of these differences is smaller when adjusted for women's shorter career duration on average. Despite increased representation of women in ophthalmology, women continue to receive less compensation for the same work. This review highlights that more can be done to improve gender parity in ophthalmology.

Perioperative Exercise Testing in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women of Reproductive Age: A Systematic Review.

Women have classically been excluded from the development of normal data and reference ranges, with pregnant women experiencing further neglect. The incidence of Caesarean section in pregnant women, and of general operative management in young women (both pregnant and non-pregnant), necessitates the formal development of healthy baseline data in these cohorts to optimise their perioperative management. This systematic review assesses the representation of young women in existing reference ranges for several functional exercise tests in common use to facilitate functional assessment in this cohort. Existing reference range data for the exercise tests the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT) and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) in young women of reproductive age were assessed using the MEDLINE (Ovid) database, last searched December 2023. Results were comparatively tabulated but not statistically analysed given underlying variances in data. The role of exercise testing in the perioperative period as an assessment tool, as well as its safety during pregnancy, was evaluated using 65 studies which met inclusion criteria. There is a significant lack of baseline data regarding these tests in this population, especially amongst the pregnant cohort, which limits the application of exercise testing clinically.

In conversation: Melissa Baksh interviews Suchitra Mattai

On the occasion of the Guyanese-born artist Suchitra Mattai’s solo exhibition ‘Monster’ in London, the Art historian and writer Melissa Baksh interviewed Mattai about her work. This interview took place at Unit London in February 2022 and touched on themes such as the representation of women of the South Asian diaspora and how society ‘others’ and stigmatizes immigrants and those experiencing mental health problems.

Gender Reversals in Contemporary Shakespeare Adaptations: The Case of the National Theatre at Home During the Pandemic

ABSTRACT This article explores the diverse ways in which gender reversal is exploited in the adaptations of Shakespeare plays streamed online by the National Theatre at Home platform within its first year of activity. The platform was launched in December 2020 at the height of Covid-19 pandemic and streamed forty plays in its first year, seven of them productions of Shakespeare’s plays both by the National Theatre and other leading companies. Taking as its point of departure, the fact that adaptations present various cultural issues both across time and space, particularly when they are made globally accessible, this article aims to examine the extent to which the representation of women has been (and could be) amended through the strategy of gender reversal.

Comparative analysis of gendered frames in far-right rhetoric in the West

ABSTRACT This research delves into the examination of gender frames within a number of far-right platforms, such as American Renaissance, Heritage and Destiny, Britain First, Daily Stormer, and Front Page Magazine. Our primary objective is to dissect the construction of gendered frames and their consequential roles within the broader far-right political and ideological landscapes in the West. Employing a mixed-method approach, we scrutinize English language material from the aforementioned online platforms. This study argues that despite differences among these platforms, the representations of women’s roles and identities are consistently shaped and moulded in alignment with overarching political and ideological perspectives such as racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-immigration, anti-feminism, anti-left, and anti-media. These perspectives serve as amplifiers, further contributing gendered frames. Ultimately, this dynamic process of constructing gendered frames contributes to the development of far-right identities, drawing distinct demarcation lines between ‘us’ and ‘them’.

We see symbols but not saviors: Women's representation and the political attitudes of working‐class women

AbstractHow does women's representation in politics affect working‐class women's attitudes toward political processes? Despite their increasing presence in the workforce, many women continue to concentrate in occupational sectors characterized by high economic vulnerability and low social status. This dynamic has important implications for the politics of representation. Previous studies suggest that women politicians positively affect women voters' political attitudes, but women's representation in politics is likely to have differing impacts on the political attitudes of working‐class and professional women. This study demonstrates that women's representation has a large class impact among women voters. In particular, using cross‐national data from 31 OECD countries as well as panel survey data from the British Election Study, we show that in countries with a higher degree of women's representation, there is more skepticism among women in low‐skill sectors toward voting and leadership than among those in white‐collar sectors. This is because there exist higher standards of accountability and relatability for women representatives among women voters. Given such high expectations, there is greater room for dissatisfaction among working‐class women than among their white‐collar counterparts when they constantly experience occupational segregation despite a high share of women in politics. In these settings, by contrast, women voters with high‐skill jobs are more likely to believe that voting and leadership matter, as they can better associate themselves with women political elites. Since men voters do not have strong expectations for relatability and accountability for public officeholders, the class impact of women's representation is weak among men. These findings have important implications for the symbolic representation of marginalized groups and democratic accountability.

A qualitative study on the attitudes of women politicians toward their roles in politics: a case of Northern Cyprus.

Politics is a mechanism of cooperation for the common interest of society. In this mechanism, each individual is expected to participate equally in the leadership and decision-making mechanisms. Women's participation in politics is essential for the spread of good governance and democracy. Globally, political participation is disaggregated by gender, with men's participation greater than women's. A lower representation of women in politics is also observed in Northern Cyprus. The attitudes or views of society and politicians may determine the political participation of women in leadership positions. This study examines the obstacles and determining factors that make it difficult for women to reach leadership positions even though their political role is increasing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 female participants for this research. Eleven of them are female ministers in parliament and represent the three main political parties in the country. The remaining 10 female participants are also members of the central executive body of the three parties and the National Assembly. Women politicians believe that problems related to gender equality in politics prevent women from entering active politics and rising to leadership positions. Although there was no gender discrimination in Northern Cyprus means that women have gained equal rights with men in many areas, it was concluded that the traditional political culture keeps women out of politics.

How Are Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Portrayed on Social Media?

Abstract: The aim of the present systematic review was to examine the state of social media representation of women with an experience of sexual violence (SV) and/or intimate partner violence (IPV), as social media has become a significant communication platform for developing social representations of public health issues. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was pre-registered in PROSPERO. PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched, and seven articles met the inclusion criteria. The review identified two distinct portrayals of women with experiences of violence on social media: a stigmatizing representation of women as victims and a portrayal of women as survivors. Therefore, the review shows that social media has the potential to convey a positive representation of women and to raise public awareness on this social issue. Nonetheless, if not used responsibly, social media can contribute to spreading stigmatizing beliefs toward violence against women. In conclusion, this review provides an up-to-date understanding of the portrayal of women with an experience of violence on social media, highlighting the significant influence that social media has on public perceptions.

Two for the price of one: The benefits of job sharing to increase women representation in surgical specialties

Background: Women represent over 50% of medical school classes in Canada, yet only 36.8% of surgical residency applicants identified as female from 1995-2019. One potential explanation for this discrepancy is the lack of work-life balance. Job sharing is an alternative work schedule in which two employees share the responsibilities of one full-time job. Although job sharing is not common in medicine, it may provide a solution to this issue. This paper proposes the implementation of job sharing to increase women representation in surgical specialties and discusses the benefits it would provide to patients, physicians, and the healthcare system.
 Methods: The authors developed a pitch for job sharing in medicine after conducting a review of the literature as part of their participation in the Cutting Edge Womxn in Surgery Hackathon at Dalhousie University.
 Results: Job sharing has been successfully implemented in other industries and could have numerous benefits in medicine, such as preventing burnout and increasing women representation in surgical specialties. Physicians who practice job sharing report feeling supported while having improved work-life balance.
 Conclusion: Job sharing is a promising solution to increase women representation in surgical specialties and prevent burnout among physicians. The implementation of job sharing would benefit patients, physicians, and administration. By targeting excessive workload and promoting work-life balance, physicians can feel more satisfied in their roles and provide higher quality care to their patients. Job sharing warrants further exploration as a potential solution to the underrepresentation of women in surgical specialties and the burnout epidemic in the medical profession.

The Way of Director Presenting Teenage Girls in a Movie and How It Influences Viewers of the Same Age and Gender, Taking the Film Lady Bird as an Example

In the contemporary era of rapid development, the progress of feminism and the evolving status of women have come into focus through the collective efforts of diverse individuals. Various forms of media have played a pivotal role in portraying women's representation. Within the film industry, there has been a notable transformation in the depiction of female characters. Unlike the past, where women were often objectified through the traditional male gaze, modern cinema has given rise to multifaceted female characters brought to life by a myriad of directors and screenwriters. These characters have ceased to be mere accessories and have emerged as independent figures, relatable to countless female viewers. This analysis focuses on the movie Lady Bird as a compelling illustration of contemporary female diversity in cinema. Through an examination of five key scenes, this essay explores the cinematic language, emotions, and messages conveyed to the audience. It delves into how these elements resonate with women of a similar age to the film's heroines. In essence, Lady Bird effectively encapsulates the struggles and passions of young women during their high school years.

Strategies for enhancing the representation of women in clinical trials: an evidence map

BackgroundEquitable sex- and gender-based representation in clinical trials is an essential step to ensuring evidence-based care for women. While multi-institutional actions have led to significant improvements in the inclusion of women in trials, inequity persists in areas like sex-neutral cancers and cardiovascular disease. We sought to identify strategies described or evaluated to boost the inclusion of women in clinical trials.MethodsWe used evidence mapping methodology to examine the breadth of relevant literature. We developed an a priori protocol and followed reporting guidance from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis where applicable. We searched MEDLINE® (via PubMed) and EMBASE (via Elsevier) databases from inception through April 4, 2023, and used standardized procedures incorporating duplication and data verification. We included articles that described strategies to improve the recruitment and retention of women in clinical trials.ResultsWe identified 122 articles describing recruitment and retention strategies for 136 trials (377,595 women). Only one article distinguished between the sex and gender identity of participants, and none defined their use of the terms such as “women” or “female”. The majority of articles (95%) described recruitment for only women, and 64% were conducted in the USA. Ninety-two articles (75%) described strategies in the context of sex-specific conditions (e.g., gynecologic diagnosis). The majority of included articles evaluated a behavioral intervention (52%), with 23% evaluating pharmacologic interventions and 4% invasive interventions. The most common trial phase for reported strategies was during outreach to potential participants (116 articles), followed by intervention delivery (76), enrollment (40), outcomes assessment (21), analysis and interpretation (3), and dissemination (4). We describe specific types of strategies within each of these phases.ConclusionsMost of the existing literature describing strategies to improve the inclusion of women draws from trials for sex-specific conditions and is largely related to outreach to potential participants. There is little information about how and if studies have attempted to proportionally increase the inclusion of women in trials with both men and women or those focused on invasive and pharmacologic interventions. Future work in this area should focus on how to increase the participation of women in mixed-sex studies and on those areas with remaining inequities in trial participation.