Socioeconomic Injustices Research Articles

Issues of social justice in the development of personalised therapy for paediatric SIRS patients

Abstract Background Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) is an often-emergent condition, which lacks specific diagnostic tools. Personalised therapy could fill this gap but as every new technology, it raises issues of social justice. Our report aims at identification and analysis of social justice implications within the bigger ERA PerMed funded project of development of tailored immunotherapy for paediatric SIRS patients (TIPS) coordinated by Prof. Catharina Schütz from Technic University Dresden. Methods Qualitative research methodology thought 10 semi-structured interviews. Systematic literature review grounded the interview questionnaire. Transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis by two independent researchers. Results Social justice was seen as equal chances of inclusion of different population groups in research. Socioeconomic differences were perceived as a challenge to ensure justice across various populations (N = 7). Two interviewees saw discrimination as inherent to precision medicine, which is focused on personalised treatment. Two experts viewed the exclusion of specific patients’ groups as an unsolvable problem, that only advocates for the inclusion of as many patients as possible. On the opinion of six experts individual and ethnocultural factors may influence outcomes in personalised treatment, especially considering the small sample size and the diverse populations. One medical expert, on the contrary, perceived no significant challenges associated with the heterogeneity of patients. Whether socioeconomic injustices should be addressed by guidelines and how these correspond to the rights of the patient were further discussed. Conclusions The issues of social justice accompany research in personalised medicine, including SIRS. In general, there is sensitivity to this issue, but current guidelines are too vague. As with other ethical problems, so with social justice we seem to have a rethinking of the concept, that needs further study. Key messages • In the context of SIRS personalised therapy research, there is a sensitivity to the issue of social justice, but no consensus how to ensure it. • Issues of social justice are often boiled down to equal chances of inclusion in research and equal access to treatment. In the case of personalised therapy, there seems to be more to it.

The Association of Socio-Environmental Inequality and Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Major Surgery

IntroductionEnvironmental hazards may influence health outcomes and be a driver of health inequalities. We sought to characterize the extent to which social–environmental inequalities were associated with surgical outcomes following a complex operation. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, patients who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, coronary artery bypass grafting, colectomy, pneumonectomy, or pancreatectomy between 2016 and 2021 were identified from Medicare claims data. Patient data were linked with social–environmental data sourced from Centers for Disease Control and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry data based on county of residence. The Environmental Justice Index social–environmental ranking (SER) was used as a measure of environmental injustice. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between SER and surgical outcomes. ResultsAmong 1,052,040 Medicare beneficiaries, 346,410 (32.9%) individuals lived in counties with low SER, while 357,564 (33.9%) lived in counties with high SER. Patients experiencing greater social–environmental injustice were less likely to achieve textbook outcome (odds ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.94-0.96, P < 0.001) and to be discharged to an intermediate care facility or home with a health agency (odds ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.96-0.98, P < 0.001). ConclusionsCumulative social and environmental inequalities, as captured by the Environmental Justice Index SER, were associated with postoperative outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries undergoing a range of surgical procedures. Policy makers should focus on environmental, as well as socioeconomic injustice to address preventable health disparities.

SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND DEAGRARIANIZATION IN RURAL CHANGE

Deagrarianization describes the variety of alterations and modifications that rural people and communities went through as the global economies developed. Deagrarianization, when viewed as social change, is also a process of social inequality development and transmission. This essay examines how the spatial separation of agrarian operations contributes to the perpetuation of socioeconomic injustices. First, socioeconomic and cultural changes in the countryside establish agricultural territories in accordance with flexible productive specialization, which is one aspect of the socio-territorial differentiation process explored in this study. The ways in which both rural and urban population live are likewise redefined by these developments. Second, shifts in the rural-urban divide result in new socio-territorial links, which entail spatial reconfigurations. The ethno-territorial fragmentation of communities is also linked to rising mobility (migrations and displacements). This paper`s conclusion identifies many deagrarianization-related origins of inequality.

The mechanisms of AI hype and its planetary and social costs

Our global landscape of emerging technologies is increasingly affected by artificial intelligence (AI) hype, a phenomenon with significant large-scale consequences for the global AI narratives being created today. This paper aims to dissect the phenomenon of AI hype in light of its core mechanisms, drawing comparisons between the current wave and historical episodes of AI hype, concluding that the current hype is historically unmatched in terms of magnitude, scale and planetary and social costs. We identify and discuss socio-technical mechanisms fueling AI hype, including anthropomorphism, the proliferation of self-proclaimed AI “experts”, the geopolitical and private sector “fear of missing out” trends and the overuse and misappropriation of the term “AI” in emerging technologies. The second part of the paper seeks to highlight the often-overlooked costs of the current AI hype. We examine its planetary costs as the AI hype exerts tremendous pressure on finite resources and energy consumption. Additionally, we focus on the connection between AI hype and socio-economic injustices, including perpetuation of social inequalities by the huge associated redistribution of wealth and costs to human intelligence. In the conclusion, we offer insights into the implications for how to mitigate AI hype moving forward. We give recommendations of how developers, regulators, deployers and the public can navigate the relationship between AI hype, innovation, investment and scientific exploration, while addressing critical societal and environmental challenges.

Serial Intersections in the New York Herald and The Mysteries of Paris

abstract: On March 27, 1844, the New York Herald published the "Memoir of Zulma Marache," a first-person account of seduction and abortion. The Herald compared it to Eugene Sue's popular serial novel, the Mysteries of Paris . Although the "Memoir" was unique, its story of gender and socioeconomic injustices enabled by systemic inequity played out repeatedly in the Herald's columns as well as in Sue's novel. The Herald's framing of the "Memoir of Zulma Marache" via allusions to Mysteries of Paris asked readers to refresh and reframe their understandings of figures represented in the press. In collapsing fact and fiction, the Herald showed that what was called "sensational" was actually, tragically, perversely mundane—serial problems that had not then, and have not yet, been solved.

Decolonizing Neoliberalism: A Literary Critique of Western Influence in Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's Matigari

This paper analyzes Ngugi wa Thiong'o's novel Matigari through the lens of allegory, highlighting the critiques of the neoliberal socio-economic system imposed on many African countries after independence. The paper examines the impact of Western influence on African countries, perpetuating class segregation, gender and labor violence, and socio-economic injustice. The paper argues that Matigari can be read as a counter-narrative to the neoliberal system that disempowers the local masses economically, socially, and politically. Moreover, the character of Matigari serves as a catalyst for the revolution, embodying the people's desire for change and their aspirations for a just and equitable society. Matigari's revolutionary actions demonstrate that the people have the power to resist and challenge the oppressive system. The paper also suggests possibilities for further examination of decolonized third world literary texts through this lens of allegory, emphasizing the potential for analyzing other texts that critique oppressive systems and offer hope for revolution and change. Overall, the paper contributes to the ongoing conversation about the impacts of neoliberalism on third world countries and the potential for resistance and change through literature.

AniraBlock: A leap towards dynamic smart contracts in agriculture using blockchain based key-value format framework

Blockchain technology offers data transparency and traceability, which is particularly useful in the agricultural sector, especially within the supply chains of commodities like coffee and fish. This sector often encounters issues such as quality degradation, unclear information, and socioeconomic injustice affecting stakeholders. The implementation of Static Smart Contracts (SSCs) on blockchains provides a structured method for executing agreements. However, this approach also has limitations, including a lack of flexibility and responsiveness to dynamic changes in the supply chain. Despite these challenges, blockchain remains a valuable tool for ensuring transaction transparency, traceability, and integrity, which are vital in agriculture. These limitations involve unchangeable parameters, rigid rules, and constraints on adaptability and scalability. This study aims to tackle these issues by designing a more dynamic and responsive smart contract system. We introduce AniraBlock, a revolutionary concept for the agricultural supply chain, particularly in the coffee and fish sectors, by implementing Dynamic Smart Contracts (DSCs) based on a key-value format framework. Unlike SSCs, DSCs offer enhanced adaptability and scalability, addressing the former's limitations. Our study adopts a mixed-method approach, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data to validate AniraBlock's effectiveness. Preliminary results show significant improvements in data management and supply chain transparency. The proposed framework has the potential to influence the agricultural sector by boosting data integrity and operational efficiency.

DIVINE DEMANDS FOR JUSTICE: AN EXEGETICAL READING OF AMOS 5, 18-27

The book of Amos is one of the prophetic literatures to be read in every context of human life. While reading Amos 5,18-27 we may ask the question: What is the reason for God to hate Israel’s worship and not accepting their offering? This selected text shows a contrasting movement of relationship between God and Israel. God chooses and makes Israel his own, in order that they would be an instrument of his blessing for others. However, the Israelites failed to practice it in their daily life. In this exegetical paper, I would suggest that neglecting justice for the poor in the society provokes God’s anger to hate Israel’s worship and reject their sacrifice. Concerning the wickedness of Israel, Amos declared that even though Israel desires for the day of Yahweh, it is darkness and not light for them (v.18) and because of their sins, God will send them into exile beyond Damascus (v. 27). God hates their attitude but still loves them as his chosen people. The purpose of Amos’s announcement is to change the hearts of ruling class’s behavior and his basic concern on socioeconomic injustices. Amos’s oracles suggest that the officials got rich in dishonesty. The exile is the consequence of the failure of Israel leaders in leading the people to live in divine will. It becomes the moment for Israel to purify themselves before God and being trained for strengthen their good relationship with Yahweh, their God.

Introduction: reconsidering Chinese citizenship: cultural roots and cultural reach

ABSTRACT The study of citizenship in China has become popular not only as a research topic but also as a praxis that seeks to influence citizenship-related policies and address structural injustice. Analysis of the trajectory of developing citizenship research over the decades indicates that scholarship focusing on socioeconomic injustice has affected various policy actions, and the struggle associated with the cultural dimension of citizenship seems to have intensified. This special issue deconstructs the state’s monolithic interpretation of culture and examines the cultural underpinnings of citizenship discourse and practice in China. We take a broad view of cultural traditions, which have been deeply rooted throughout history and have shaped the underlying relationships between the state, society, and citizens in modern China. The articles in this special issue reveal the culture-informed citizenship practices enacted by various actors, including the government forces, cultural minorities, and grassroots activists. They suggest that spirituality is a site of experiencing and negotiating citizenship in the Chinese context.

Understanding Stakeholders' Perspectives to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Uptake Among Black Individuals With Rheumatic Conditions.

Disparities in COVID-19 vaccine and booster uptake persist. This study aimed to obtain perspectives from community and physician stakeholders on COVID-19 vaccine and booster hesitancy and strategies to promote vaccine uptake among Black individuals with rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions. We invited community leaders and physicians in greater Boston and Chicago to participate in semi-structured interviews using a moderator guide developed a priori. Participants were queried about how to best address vaccine hesitancy, strategies to target high-risk populations, and factors to identify future community leaders. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using Dedoose. A total of 8 physicians and 12 community leaders participated in this study between November 2021 and October 2022. Qualitative analyses revealed misinformation/mixed messaging and mistrust, with subthemes including conspiracy theories, concerns regarding vaccine development and function, racism and historical injustices, and general mistrust of health care systems as the top cited reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Participants also shared demographic-specific differences, such as race, ethnicity, age, and gender that influenced the identified themes, with emphasis on COVID-19 vaccine access and apathy. Strategies for community-based vaccine-related information dissemination included personal storytelling with an iterative and empathetic approach, while recognizing the importance of protecting community leader well-being. To increase vaccine uptake among Black individuals with rheumatic conditions, strategies should acknowledge and respond to racial/ethnic and socioeconomic injustices that engender vaccine hesitancy. Messaging should be compassionate, individually tailored, and recognize heterogeneity in experiences and opinions. Results from these analyses will inform a planned community-based intervention in Boston and Chicago.

Sisterly intimacies: Islam, gift‐giving, and women's relations of care in Russia

AbstractDrawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Saint Petersburg (Russia) between 2015 and 2016, this article weaves together gift exchange and affect theory to analyze how low‐income Muslim women cultivated sisterly intimacies, a materially mediated and affect‐laden form of attachment. Sustained through the practices of giving clothing, food, and other spiritually significant items to one another, sisterly intimacies illuminates not only how the women survived and thrived on the margins of Russian society amid socioeconomic crises and political volatility but also how their material exchanges facilitated their ability to remain continuously oriented toward their community and God while striving for an ethical Muslim life and a favorable afterlife. Sisterly intimacies as a cultural formation also offers a broader glimpse into the affective landscapes of Russia, where indignation about socioeconomic injustices and authoritarianism coexist with a desire for (religious) connectivity, ethical living, and collective world‐making. Sisterly intimacies as a mode of relationality and self‐making highlights the agentive capacity of intimacy to create worlds for those who struggle to live in ways that they consider meaningful.

Selling visibility-boosts on dating apps: a problematic practice?

Love, sex, and physical intimacy are some of the most desired goods in life and they are increasingly being sought on dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, and Badoo. For those who want a leg up in the chase for other people’s attention, almost all of these apps now offer the option of paying a fee to boost one’s visibility for a certain amount of time, which may range from 30 min to a few hours. In this article, I argue that there are strong moral grounds and, in countries with laws against unconscionable contracts, legal ones for thinking that the sale of such visibility boosts should be regulated, if not banned altogether. To do so, I raise two objections against their unfettered sale, namely that it exploits the impaired autonomy of certain users and that it creates socio-economic injustices.

The Dual Legacy: Mahasweta Devi as a Reformer and Revolutionary

This article presents an in-depth exploration of Mahasweta Devi’s multifaceted persona— a celebrated author, social activist, and a prominent figure in the realm of socio-political reforms in India. She is known for her rich literary contributions. Her works primarily emphasized the plight and the struggles of the marginalized sections of the society, often acting as a bridge between them and the wider world. For Mahasweta Devi the creation of literature is a solemn and responsible vocation. She uses her art as a weapon to fight against the socio-economic injustice meted out to the marginalized in Indian society. Literature is intrinsic to her advocacy for social justice, establishing Devi as a thoughtful, committed reformer and revolutionary. Her writings are imbued with calls for change and revolution, exhibiting her profound abilities as a writer equipped with a reformist vision and revolutionary determination. Devi is not merely a writer, but a crusader with a mission— a social commitment to the upliftment of tribal communities. Her narratives hold significant social relevance, pushing the contours of contemporary Indian literature with their often radical and provocative themes. Yet, Devi’s influence transcends her literary contributions, reflecting her intense passion as a reformer and revolutionary. Her untiring activism targeted the systemic oppressions entrenched in the Indian society, particularly towards tribals and Dalits. She exposed the blatant violation of human rights, often confronting the authorities, embodying the spirit of a revolutionary. Drawing a trajectory of her influence, the article suggests that Devi’s radicalism, uncompromising in its advocacy for the dispossessed, established her as a reformer, pushing for change at both grassroots and policy levels. Her relentless pursuit for social justice and equality, while shedding light on how her literary works served as tools of resistance and activism. Drawing upon various examples from her seminal works like Draupadi, Rudali, and Mother of 1084, it unravels how her narratives portrayed the unvarnished reality of the oppressed, compelling her readers to confront uncomfortable truths. The article also examines her influence on various contemporary movements and how her ideologies continue to inspire activists and reformers today. It highlights the life and works of Mahasweta Devi, not only as a celebrated author, but also as a fearless reformer and revolutionary activist whose enduring legacy continues to inspire generations of activists and writers in their fight against social injustices.

Ethnic Issues and National Integration in Pakistan: A Review

A sense of ethnicity is logic of cultural group identity within a particular community. A complex interaction of ethnic, cultural, and historical features helps people set themselves apart from the other groups. There are no states on the earth that are racially diverse. Pakistan is not an exception in this regard. Pakistan is unrivaled in its ethnic, linguistic, and geographic diversity. Conflicts develop when ethnic identity runs afoul of socioeconomic injustice. Ethnic conflicts significantly impact national integration, the bond, and solidarity among people of all castes, creeds, religions, and genders. It is a sense of brotherhood, solidarity, and social coherence within the nation's society and communities. The current study focuses on the idea of ethnicity in Pakistan, and some of the factors include religion, language, caste, territory, and national integration. Unfortunately, ethnic conflict exists in every region of Pakistan. According to the report, to reduce interethnic tensions, each ethnic community should receive a fair share of political power and economic resources.

The Pope’s New Clothes

The Pope’s New Clothes

World Health Organization myth busters and indigenous perceptions of COVID-19: Quechua and Shipibo communities

When the COVID (SARS-V2) pandemic swept across the world, it impacted Indigenous communities more than others. This is due to a variety of reasons: socioeconomic injustice and racialization, lack of access to equitable healthcare, and linguistic discrimination. As a result, several communities and community types demonstrated this effect when perceptions of inferences or other COVID-related information were measured. This paper reports on a participatory collaborative study with two Indigenous communities in rural Peru—ten Quechua-speaking communities in Southern Cuzco and three Shipibo-speaking communities in Ucayali regions. We investigate the communities' level of preparedness for the crisis by eliciting answers based on the World Health Organization COVID ‘MythBusters’ in a form of a semi-structured interview. Interviews were transcribed, translated, and analyzed in search of the effect of three variables: gender (male/female), language group (Shipibo/Quechua), and proficiency in the Indigenous language (from 0 to 4). Data reveal that all three variables have some effect on the target comprehension of COVID-related messages. Additionally, we explore other possible explanations.

Human Resources: Class and Cannibalism in Herrick’s “The Hock-Cart”

Herrick’s “The Hock-Cart, or Harvest Home: To the Right Honourable, Mildmay, Earle of Westmorland” was composed at a time when the unpropertied rural laborers it depicts were facing unprecedented economic hardship—years which one historian has described as “probably the most terrible … through which the country has ever passed.” It is often noted that the final lines of the poem give an unusually frank glimpse of their disempowered state, but this is normally seen as no more than a jarring note in a poem which otherwise reaffirms and celebrates the harmony of their relations with a benevolent landlord. On a closer reading, however, the unsettling close appears as merely the culmination of undercurrents running throughout the poem. Beneath the surface celebration, with its deeply conservative implications, runs a somber critique of socioeconomic injustice and oppression, which draws on traditions of political protest stretching from the Old Testament to contemporary pamphleteers. As well as revealing the artistry with which Herrick’s deeply ambivalent poem sustains its two incompatible perspectives, this reading prompts further reflection on Herrick’s sense of his own socioeconomic position, of his relationship with his wealthy patron, and of the constraints on and purposes of his lyric composition. [S.P.]

Towards a sustainable artisanal gold mining sector in South Africa: Proposed developmental initiatives

South Africa's Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) of 2002 addresses the socio-economic injustices of the post-Apartheid (after 1994) era. Additionally, the Act stipulates that a mining permit or licence is required to mine lawfully. Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities that occur without a mining permit, therefore, are illegal and criminalised. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) in South Africa recently released the draft Artisanal and Small-Scale mining policy for implementation in March 2022. The announcement of this policy is the first step in formalising the artisanal mining sector in South Africa. Yet, formalisation strategies often fail in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of Africa. Consequently, the artisanal mining sector continues to operate informally or, in many cases, in an illegal setting. This paper argues that efforts should be directed toward addressing the sector's challenges, and the formalisation process ought to be viewed as an ongoing process. This article outlines developmental initiatives that industry players can apply to support the sector's challenges as part of a formalisation strategy. Ultimately, this will create opportunities where historically disadvantaged people can benefit from South Africa's mineral resources.

How Prophecy Critiquing Socio-Economic Injustice Transformed into Law: The Cases of the Covenant Code and Early Prophetic Texts

Abstract The present article investigates how prophetic critiques of socio-economic injustice turned into a legal discourse in the process of the theologization of laws in the Covenant Code. The article argues that the initial formation and development of the notion of divine law depended heavily on the prophetic traditions denouncing socio-economic injustice, on both thematic and terminological levels, and that this process reflects the social and economic situation of the late eighth through the seventh centuries BCE.

Determinants of exposure to endocrine disruptors following hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey was a category four storm that induced catastrophic flooding in the Houston metropolitan area. Following the hurricane there was increased concern regarding chemical exposures due to damage caused by flood waters and emergency excess emissions from industrial facilities. This study utilized personal passive samplers in the form of silicone wristbands in Houston, TX to both assess chemical exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) immediately after the hurricane and determine participant characteristics associated with higher concentrations of exposure. Participants from the Houston-3H cohort (n = 172) wore a wristband for seven days and completed a questionnaire to determine various flood-related and demographic variables. Bivariate and multivariate analysis indicated that living in an area with a high Area Deprivation Index (ADI) (indicative of low socioeconomic status), identifying as Black/African American or Latino, and living in the Houston neighborhoods of Baytown and East Houston were associated with increased exposure to EDCs. These results provide evidence of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic injustices in exposure to EDCs in the Houston Metropolitan Area. Since the multiple regression models conducted did not fully explain exposure (0.047 < R2 < 0.34), more research is needed on the direct sources of EDCs within this area to create effective exposure mitigation strategies.