Structuring Research Articles

Embodying colonialism and early capitalism: Comparing cattle body uses in the Spanish colonies

Cattle were introduced to the Caribbean and subsequently to the mainland during early European colonization, significantly impacting both European settlers and Indigenous communities. This research utilizes zooarchaeological analysis of cattle remains to explore how cattle processing and butchering techniques reflect the rise of extractive economic systems characteristic of early capitalism in the Spanish colonies. This study examines the pivotal role cattle played in the economic and cultural dynamics of the Spanish colonies, particularly in Antigua Guatemala and the Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi, Nogales, Arizona. By using these two distinct colonial sites as illustrations, the study shows how extractive colonialist practices and emergent capitalist values of aggregation and efficiency were incorporated in the bodies of colonial cattle, facilitating the transformation of local economies and social structures.

The Sacred Cycles of Life: Rituals, Transitions, and Community in Poumai Society

The life of a Poumai, inhabitant in the hill ranges of Senapati district of Manipur, northeast India is marked by various ceremonies and rituals that govern key stages, from birth to death. These practices, rooted in cultural beliefs and traditions, centre around significant life transitions, including birth, adulthood, marriage, and death. The rituals and customs reflect the Poumai Nagas' worldview, integrating spiritual beliefs, social structures, and communal ties in shaping their life cycle practices. However, the traditional customs, practices and other related aspects of this tribe have not been explored systematically. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to bring into light the practices of unique life cycle of the Poumai Nagas during birth, marriage and death. It seeks to understand, document, and preserve these traditions, while offering a nuanced portrayal of their cultural and spiritual significance. Using an ethnographic approach, the study provides an in-depth examination of these life cycle stages and their impact on the Poumai community. The research also highlights evolving aspects of the Poumai’s cultural practices, revealing changes in folk habits and traditions over time, both in the past and present.

The Struggle Against Gender-Based Violence: Insights from I Am Vidya: A Transgender’s Journey

Abstract: Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to harmful acts directed at individuals based on their gender or sex. It is rooted in gender inequality, discrimination, and the social norms that perpetuate power imbalances between genders. GBV can occur in various forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological violence, and can happen in both public and private settings. This research paper investigates the experiences of gender-based violence (GBV) as depicted in Living Smile Vidya's autobiographical account, I Am Vidya. The narrative presents a poignant exploration of the systemic violence faced by transgender individuals, particularly in the Indian socio-cultural context. Employing a qualitative thematic analysis, this study identifies key forms of violence, stigma, and resilience portrayed in the text. By applying an intersectional framework, the paper situates Vidya's experiences within broader social structures of power and discrimination. It argues that narratives like Vidya's are crucial for understanding the complexities of GBV and the imperative for advocacy and policy change. The study concludes with recommendations for further research and the necessity for urgent systemic reforms to address the pervasive issue of GBV against marginalized communities.

Waiting, transit assemblages and the making of public spaces

ABSTRACT Inconventional planning practice, transit spaces such as bus stations and bus stops tend to be designed as generic technical fixtures. Little consideration is paid to various waiting practices, the different ways transit passengers interact with the material and social structures at the bus stop and its surrounding, and the potential of transit spaces to serve as urban public spaces. From an assemblage perspective, this study proposes to see the bus stop not as a ready-made product, but as a process through which a transit assemblageis produced through a range of waiting practices involving both human (transit passengers) and non-human actors (material artifacts) at the bus stop location. Based on a close observation study of selected bus stops in Malmö and a small survey of user opinions of Malmö’s bus stops, this paper investigates the processes by which a transit assemblage came into being and is maintained. The paper elaborates on how waiting activities are supported by various transit assemblages that are produced through interactions between users and artifacts at the bus stop location involving not only the assigned bus stop facilities but also the surrounding physical and social infrastructure. It highlights the components and processes that constitute and produce stabilized transit assemblages that have the capacity to support a variety of waiting practices by heterogeneous groups of people. The paper emphasizes the quality of emergence and heterogeneity of transit spaces and argues that it is these qualities that enable them to serve as public spaces.

The "Good Nurse" Narrative, Speaking Up, and the Prevention of Violence in the Workplace.

The "Good Nurse" Narrative, Speaking Up, and the Prevention of Violence in the Workplace.

Marriage Contract in Realizing Happiness from an Interdisciplinary Perspective

This study aims to explore the role of marriage contracts in achieving happiness from an interdisciplinary perspective. It is categorized as library research and is conducted by collecting, evaluating, and synthesizing information from various literature sources. The findings reveal that, from an interdisciplinary perspective, marriage contracts are proven to foster household happiness. Theologically, marriage contracts are based on mutual consent or agreement. Legally, marriage contracts are explained in Law No. 1 of 1974 and the Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI). Moreover, marriage registration is a requirement for those intending to marry. Psychologically, marriage contracts play an important role in maintaining agreement and order. Sociologically, marriage contracts establish formal ties between two individuals and their families. In societies with a strong emphasis on social structure, marriage can influence an individual’s position within the social hierarchy.

Mimicry as a Decolonial Praxis: Exploring Colonial Representations in On the Banks of the Mayyazhi

The relationship between the colonizer and the colonized is characterized by complex interactions of power, spatial dynamics, and social structures. Literary narratives function as critical instruments for exposing the underlying discourses of colonialism that permeate everyday social exchanges. While some narratives tacitly acknowledge colonial hegemony, others strive to subvert it in pursuit of a postcolonial stance. However, Indian writers and critics have long neglected the imperative of decolonial readings in narratives addressing colonisation and westernisation themes. Yet, M. Mukundan's novel, On the Banks of the Mayyazhi, uniquely integrates colonial, postcolonial, and decolonial dimensions of social relations, fostering a nuanced understanding of contemporary social dynamics. This paper employs Homi K. Bhabha's concept of Mimicry to trace the discourses of colonial control within the narrative. Mukundan vividly portrays the colonisation of Mahe by the French alongside the local freedom struggle, facilitating an exploration of mimicry's multifaceted implications and its potential transcendence into mockery as a means to surpass subjugation. Furthermore, the paper underscores the inconsistencies inherent in postcolonial efforts to dismantle colonial boundaries even after their physical dissolution. Such postcolonial narrative analyses are relevant in navigating individual existence amidst the complexities of daily social relations in a neo-colonial milieu.

Correlates of Vocal Tract Evolution in Late Pliocene and Pleistocene Hominins.

Despite decades of research on the emergence of human speech capacities, an integrative account consistent with hominin evolution remains lacking. We review paleoanthropological and archaeological findings in search of a timeline for the emergence of modern human articulatory morphological features. Our synthesis shows that several behavioral innovations coincide with morphological changes to the would-be speech articulators. We find that significant reductions of the mandible and masticatory muscles and vocal tract anatomy coincide in the hominin fossil record with the incorporation of processed and (ultimately) cooked food, the appearance and development of rudimentary stone tools, increases in brain size, and likely changes to social life and organization. Many changes are likely mutually reinforcing; for example, gracilization of the hominin mandible may have been maintainable in the lineage because food processing had already been outsourced to the hands and stone tools, reducing selection pressures for robust mandibles in the process. We highlight correlates of the evolution of craniofacial and vocal tract features in the hominin lineage and outline a timeline by which our ancestors became 'pre-adapted' for the evolution of fully modern human speech.

Offensive speech patterns in Chinese social media: the role of environmental factors in online communities

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the associative background information of offensive speech among the participants on Sina Weibo. Design/methodology/approach Data from 65,321 participants and 83,203 posts from the top 50 “Hot Searches” hashtags on Sina Weibo were analyzed between July 2022 and July 2023. Social network analysis, association analysis and principal component regression were employed to explore the patterns and factors influencing offensive speech. Findings A layered circular social network structure was observed with two main clusters: center and periphery. Offensive speech is primarily concentrated in these two subsets. In the center cluster, users were more interactive and tended to use offensive language more in comments directed at others. Conversely, users in the periphery cluster were part of less interactive subgroups and often used offensive language in posts to express their opinions. Notably, association analysis revealed that certain user profiles, such as non-VIP users and users with moderate follower counts, were associated with a higher possibility of engaging in offensive posting or commenting. Originality/value The research highlights the complex interplay between user behavior, community structure and content dissemination in the context of offensive speech on social media.

Longitudinal association of community and residential environment with the risk of cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older Chinese adults

Cognitive impairment has emerged as a critical global public health issue. This study investigated the association between community and residential environments and the risk of cognitive impairment among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. The study included a final sample of 10,471 participants from the 2011–2020 The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) cohort. Community and residential environment, and cognitive impairment, were assessed using several cognitive tests. The analyzed using the Cox Proportional Hazards Mode adjusting for age, gender, education level, marital status, residence areas, Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking status, alcohol consumption and chronic disease status. After adjusting for all Covariates, participants residing in relaxed community-based residential environments exhibited a 3.8% increased risk of cognitive impairment compared to those in crowded community environments (HR = 1.038). Middle-aged and older adults with access to garbage disposal services had a 19.3% reduced risk of cognitive impairment (HR = 0.807). Community environments featuring age-friendly facilities, such as open-air fitness equipment (HR = 0.834) and accessibility for handicapped individuals (HR = 0.948), were associated with a 16.6% and 5.2% reduction in the risk of cognitive impairment, respectively. In community social support environments, having a social organization for the older adults was associated with a 16.2% reduction in cognitive impairment risk among middle-aged and older adults (HR = 0.838). Regarding housing factors, concrete and steel buildings were associated with an 18.7% lower risk of cognitive impairment compared to adobe or other types of buildings (HR = 0.813). Domestic amenities, including running water supply (HR = 0.847), broadband connectivity (HR = 0.650), and use of clean energy (HR = 0.957), were associated with a 15.3%, 35%, and 4.3% reduction in the risk of cognitive impairment, respectively. Additionally, indoor tidiness (HR = 0.875) was associated with a 12.5% reduction in cognitive impairment risk. The good community and residential environment are correlated with the lower risk of cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Specifically, for the prevention and control of cognitive impairment, community and residential planning and construction should prioritize both the basic social and environmental factors and the internal built environment.

Masculinity beyond the warrior ‘savage’: (re)thinking warriors as elite indigenous masculinity in select Angami folktales

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the cultural perspective of Naga warrior identity through the lens of folktales, challenging colonial stereotypes and exploring the dynamic processes of indigenous masculine identity formation in post-colonial societies. We argue that traditional Naga warriors, while marginalised by colonial powers, also perpetuated a static understanding of masculinity centred on physical prowess and aggression. By utilising Hokowhitu’s (2012) framework of ‘elite indigenous masculinity’ – the tension between traditional authority and the performance of power within the enduring legacy of colonialism. We analyse three Angami warrior folktales to uncover how masculinity is constructed and negotiated within the colonial stereotype of the ‘savage’ male. Our analysis aims to subvert the warrior trope, revealing an understanding of indigenous masculinity, encompassing resistance to colonial domination and reasserting cultural agency. This study further examines how warriors have utilised cultural practices and social structures to challenge and reinterpret colonial power dynamics. Through examining the complexities inherent in Naga warrior culture, we offer insights into the ongoing processes of indigenous masculine identity formation and the strategies employed to resist and transcend colonial narratives.

Innovating for social good: digital transformation and crisis-based entrepreneurial opportunities

PurposeThis research explores how Social Organizations (SOs) leverage digital transformation during crises, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines the links between digital innovation, business model adaptation, and social impact, offering frameworks for resilience in challenging contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe research employs qualitative methodologies to analyze data from 481 project proposals submitted by Italian SOs in response to a crisis-oriented grant initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodological approach combines systematic coding procedures and analytical frameworks, validated through expert consultation to ensure methodological rigor.FindingsThe analysis identifies four strategic approaches to digital transformation: product reconfiguration, business model adaptation, organizational change, and network development. These findings reveal varying digital adoption capabilities among SOs, emphasizing the need for context-specific implementation strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThe research scope is limited by its focus on Italian SOs, potentially affecting result generalizability. Future research directions should encompass cross-cultural comparative analyses and longitudinal investigations of digital strategy evolution.Practical implicationsThe research provides strategic frameworks for organizational leaders implementing digital transformation initiatives. Additionally, it offers guidance for policy development and investment allocation in supporting SO digital capability development.Social implicationsThe integration of digital transformation strategies with social objectives enables SOs to enhance service delivery effectiveness, improve accessibility, and strengthen inclusive practices, ultimately amplifying their societal impact potential.Originality/valueThis study addresses how SOs manage digital transformation and entrepreneurial opportunities during crises, contributing to literature by integrating digitalization, entrepreneurial management, and business model innovation perspectives.

A typology of the engaged university: an empirical investigation into how universities in Europe engage

ABSTRACT The growing recognition of universities’ potential to positively impact their environments has led to increased discussions about their external engagement with stakeholders within the quadruple helix of universities, government, business and society. This research aims to identify the factors that define universities in terms of their external engagement activities and provide a unique exploratory typology of university engagement, including both traditional and emerging forms of engagement. This unique quantitative analysis of international data gathers data from 4,612 academics across 68 universities in Europe and takes into account not only research engagement with industry but also engagement activities in education, management, and regional development with public and social organizations. Drawing from the growing base of literature around the engaged, entrepreneurial, civic university and research-intensive university, this paper identifies four typologies of external university engagement. The study also shows that institutional characteristics (e.g. size, age, type) and those of the external environment (e.g. population size and density, patent applications, R&D investment) are related to universities’ engagement profiles. Implications of these results for policy makers and university leaders include important insights for developing appropriate strategies for university engagement and the necessity of tailored approaches in stimulating external engagement.

Beyond the Paycheck: Family Systems, Adult Children's Job Sector, and Parental Subjective Well‐Being in China

ABSTRACTObjectiveApplying family systems theory, this study examines the relationship between adult children's job sector (public vs. private) and parental subjective well‐being in post‐reform China. Gender disparity and mechanisms have also been examined.BackgroundIndividual development is shaped by multilevel interactions within the systematic family units, embedded in larger social structure contexts. The market transition in China, which contributed to a fragmented labor market and divided welfare regimes, may have reshaped the micro parent–child interconnections. Adult children's life circumstances, differentiated by social structures, may lead to inequalities in well‐being among the older generation.MethodDrawing on data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study uses the Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (IPTW) to investigate the association between children's job sector and parental well‐being while controlling for the observable confounding bias. KHB (Karlson‐Holm‐Breen) analysis is used to examine the mediators with the weighted sample.ResultsAdult children's state‐sector employment is associated with improved parental subjective well‐being, but only daughters' state‐sector jobs significantly favor parental subjective well‐being. The relationships are partly mediated by daughters' well‐being and emotional support toward parents.ConclusionAdopting a systemic approach to understanding social changes, family dynamics, and personal functioning, this study illustrates how a segmented labor market and divided welfare regimes significantly influence individual well‐being through the family process.

Zines as artistic tools in harm reduction: bridging subjective experience and scientific knowledge

Since the early days of the fight against HIV, zines have appeared to play a dual role: they encourage affected communities to voice their experiences and facilitate the exchange of information between researchers, professionals, and the individuals concerned, particularly drug users. However, few studies have examined the role of zines as a harm reduction tool within public health. This commentary draws on a two-year ethnographic study of a zine project designed for people facing drug-related challenges and vulnerabilities, such as social precarity and mental health issues. We identified various forms of engagement with the zine project, based on three key aspects. First, the zine elevates a plurality of voices, whether from the spheres of research, peer-based networks, healthcare professionals, or the streets and social precariousness. Second, the zine operates within a broader network of associations, fostering connections between local social action structures. Lastly, while the zine primarily addresses drug-related issues, it also opens space for broader topics such as precarity, gender, and migration. This thematic transversality stems from a desire to grasp the complexity of social factors that shape individual life trajectories.The production of a zine, envisioned as a platform for expression and the promotion of an alternative subculture, promotes the participation of those most distanced from care and among the most vulnerable populations. The peer-driven collaboration throughout the zine’s creation also enables the stakeholders involved (editorial team, contributors, readers, etc.) to contribute to the emergence of diverse forms of knowledge, fostering a new understanding of reality and bridging audiences that would otherwise rarely intersect.

Challenging temporal structures in job centre pathways towards labour market participation

This article investigates how tensions between temporal structures influence the perceptions of Danish job centre pathways among long-term unemployed citizens and frontline professionals, as well as the challenges they face in aligning with the temporal imperatives of the job centre's institutional time. This study draws on qualitative individual interviews with 28 long-term unemployed citizens, two focus group interviews with frontline professionals and observations of four unemployed citizens’ meetings in Danish job centres. Through an expanded conceptualisation of J. David Lewis and Andrew Weigert's notion of social time structures, we establish that accepting dominant principles and demands is necessary for alignment with the institutional time of the job centre. We find that unemployed citizens’ misalignment with the job centre's institutional time can lead them to contest the progression of their pathways and dispute the priorities established in their pathways. Furthermore, we demonstrate that frontline professionals are similarly challenged in aligning with the institutional time. Our analysis reveals that temporal alignment cannot be assumed for either long-term unemployed citizens or the frontline professionals involved in delivering job centre pathways. Temporal alignments constitute a significant tension in Danish job centres and are crucial for the perception of job centre pathways held by both long-term unemployed citizens and frontline professionals.

Island ancient genomes reveal dynamic populations interactions in the northern China

The Longshan period (2500–1900 BC) was a transformative era in central China, marked by the emergence of complex social structures and early state formation. While human mobility likely played a role in these developments, the scale and nature of migration during this period remain poorly understood. Previous ancient DNA studies on Longshan culture populations have focused on individuals from inland Shandong, with no ancient DNA data available from island populations. In this study, we present the first ancient DNA analysis from individuals associated with the Longshan and subsequent Yueshi cultures on the Tuoji Island. Our findings indicate that, despite the widespread cultural influence of the inland Longshan culture in Shandong, the genetic ancestry of the Tuoji Island individuals primarily reflects connections to the preceding Dawenkou culture, with additional ancestry linked to the coastal regions of southern China. This suggests an earlier population movement into Tuoji Island before the Longshan period. However, during the Longshan period, the spread of Longshan cultural materials on Tuoji Island appears to represent the diffusion of ideas rather than significant population admixture from the inland. Additionally, our study shows genetic continuity of Longshan and Yueshi cultures in Tuoji Island highlighting the dynamic nature of coastal migration, as the Tuoji Island populations exhibit more genetic influence from coastal regions than from the inland. In contrast, inland populations during the Longshan period show no significant genetic influx from neighboring regions. This study not only advances our understanding of the prehistoric populations in Neolithic China but also provides new insights into patterns of migration and cultural exchange during this critical period.

Loneliness and radicalization

This article investigates experiences of loneliness in radicalization processes. The main aim is to develop an empirically grounded theory of loneliness in contemporary forms of radicalization. Starting from Hannah Arendt’s political theory, which posits loneliness as a breeding ground for terror, the analysis extends to a critical phenomenological approach that adopts the perspective of subjective experience while exploring how these experiences are embedded in specific social structures in contemporary societies. The article therefore bridges the gap between theoretical debates on (the politics of) loneliness and empirical research on the processes of radicalization, extremism, and terrorism. The focus is on two sets of cases: lone-actor terrorists and female Western affiliates of ISIS. The analysis reveals that while the fear of individual and collective extinction plays an important role for right-wing lone-actor terrorists, experiences of discrimination and marginalization are crucial in the case of Islamist radicalization in Western countries.

Fakta Kemanusiaan dan Subjek Kolektif dalam Film The Journey: Cerminan Struktur Sosial dalam Anime

<p><strong>The presence of anime, in addition to functioning as entertainment, often also reflects social structures through depictions of human reality and social identity, one of which is the anime The Journey. This anime presents a story in the context of Middle Eastern history and culture. This study aims to reveal how human facts and collective subjects are represented as a reflection of social structures in Anime. The research data are in the form of scenes, dialogues, and storylines of the anime film The Journey which was released in June 2021. The data collection technique was carried out using the listening and note taking technique. The results and discussion show that the anime The Journey depicts human facts and collective subjects Arab society through the social structure in the film. Through the genetic structuralism, prove that social structures in anime is not only fictional, but also a reflection of Arab society. This finding supports Lucien Goldmann's theory that literary works and popular culture can reflect social group. This study only focuses on two basic concepts of genetic structuralism, human facts and collective subjects. It is hoped that further research can continue research either with the same or different theories.<em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Keywords </em></strong><em>– Collective Subject, Genetic Structuralism, Human Facts.</em></p>

Understanding land affordability determinants through the lens of ethnic and religious affiliations

PurposeSeveral institutions increasingly recognise their role in addressing the global housing crisis with initiatives focused on fostering land access by people who identify with them. This study examined land affordability through the lens of ethnic and religious affiliations to provide useful information for addressing housing deficits in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe research questionnaire was administered to 154 and 151 household heads in Redemption City and Amuwo-Odofin, respectively. A questionnaire was used in data collection and data were analysed using frequencies, means, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and Cronbach’s Alpha test. The results showed the significance of 14 factors as determinants of land affordability from ethnic and religious affiliation perspectives.FindingsThe results showed that the respondents agreed that 14 factors were significant determinants of land affordability from ethnic and religious affiliation perspectives. These factors include membership of other social organisations, social status, membership of cooperative societies, absence of land grabbers, access to smaller plot sizes, evidence of ethnic affiliation, subsidised land registration, favourable policies on land transfer, cultural/traditional status, and affiliation to the predominant ethnic group with mean scores above 3.0. With a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of 0.896, the EFA grouped the factors into three dimensions: socio-ethnic inclusion (containing 12 items), religious obligations (containing two items), and religious status (containing two items). With the respective Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.973, 0.934, and 0.786, these three new factors had internal consistency.Practical implicationsThe study underscores the need for nuanced policy interventions in Nigeria, targeting ethnic and religious affiliations as key factors of land affordability. Emphasising inclusivity, the research advocates for initiatives reinforcing land tenure security and community engagement to mitigate disparities and promote sustainable development within the housing sector.Originality/valueThis study’s novelty is unparalleled as it represents the first attempt to examine the determinants of land affordability from the perspective of ethnic and religious affiliations.