Autonomy Status Research Articles

“If two ride a horse, one must ride in front”: Married Women’s Nationality and the Law in Canada 1880–1950

Canada’s Naturalization Act 1881 followed Britain’s lead in requiring a woman’s nationality to conform to that of her husband. Analysis of the interwar campaign to change the law sheds light on the link between the status of women and dominion autonomy; the continuing reluctance to admit immigrant women to the full privileges of citizenship; the role of national women’s organizations in maintaining Canada’s future as a white settler nation; and the emergence of new ways of justifying and maintaining male legal privilege at a time when ideas about gender and marital equality were gaining some traction. By 1946, when Canada’s Citizenship Act declared citizenship to be independent of marriage, and Canadian citizenship to be independent of British subject status, the emancipation of married women from their husbands’ nationality tracked the disengagement of Canada from the British Empire. La loi canadienne de 1881 sur la naturalisation a suivi l’exemple britannique en exigeant que la nationalité d’une femme se conforme à celle de son mari. L’analyse de la campagne menée dans l’entre-deux-guerres pour changer la loi met en lumière plusieurs choses : le lien entre le statut de la femme et l’autonomie du dominion, la réticence persistante à donner aux femmes immigrantes les pleins privilèges de la citoyenneté, l’action des organisations féminines nationales pour assurer l’avenir du Canada en tant que nation de colonisation de race blanche, et l’émergence de nouvelles façons de justifier et de maintenir la supériorité légale du sexe masculin alors même que l’idée d’égalité sexuelle et maritale prenait son élan. En 1946, quand la Loi sur la citoyenneté canadienne a séparé la citoyenneté du mariage et la citoyenneté canadienne du statut de sujet britannique, l’émancipation des femmes mariées par rapport à la nationalité de leur mari a fait écho au désengagement du Canada par rapport à l’Empire britannique.

Dupes of Patriarchy: Feminist Strong Substantive Autonomy's Epistemological Weaknesses

Feminist strong substantive autonomy (FSSA), as presented by Natalie Stoljar and Anita Superson, pronounces judgment on the autonomy status of certain women living under oppression. These women act on deformed desires, Superson explains, and as deformed desires cannot be the agent's own, the women are heteronomous. Stoljar argues that some women's choices violate the Feminist Intuition; by acting on false and oppressive values, these women render themselves heteronomous. I argue against Stoljar and Superson on epistemological grounds. I present six different ways in which agents' choices can be related to deformed desires, with varying results for their autonomy statuses. I show that Stoljar and Superson are not able to distinguish properly among the differing autonomy statuses in these six cases, because doing so requires attention to agents' inner processes of decision‐making, as those processes are enacted in the agents' social and temporal contexts. Stoljar and Superson judge others' autonomy statuses based on abstract generalizations rather than via empirical attention to agents' actual decision‐making processes. Consequently, their judgments are not adequate to the lived self‐direction of real persons. Assessing others' autonomy status requires consideration of agents' inner choice‐making in sociotemporal context, which favors a procedural or weak substantive account of autonomy.

Autonomy and Accountability in Higher Education An Indian Perspective

This comprehensive paper is an attempt to provide an overview of the design, development and implementation of and the mechanism set up to ensure the fulfillment of the objective laid down in the scheme of the grant of Autonomy vis-a-vis the Status of Autonomy in India. This paper highlights very recent initiatives pertaining to the grant of Autonomy vis-a-vis the Status of Autonomy in India. This paper attempts to develop an overview of the initiatives of the Ministry of Human Resource Development of Government of India (MHRD), University Grants Commission of India (UGC). This paper critical analyzes (a) the steps taken for grant of Autonomy, (b) perception, attitude and approach of higher educational institutions towards the concept of the Autonomy in India, on the background of the criteria, goals and objectives of higher education set out by the MHRD and UGC.

Développement d’indicateurs pour valoriser des actions de prévention et de réadaptation de la perte d’autonomie des personnes âgées

BackgroundIn Europe and Asia, long-term care funding is disability-based. This introduces a perverse effect by inappropriately adding value to functional decline among beneficiaries. To support the efforts in prevention and rehabilitation made by personnel in long-term care services, indicators have to be developed to promote functional improvement of beneficiaries. As people receiving those services are already experiencing a functional decline process, it is essential to know the natural magnitude of functional decline in order to assess deviation from this expected decline. The objective of the study was to estimate the natural decrease of autonomy in beneficiaries of home care services and nursing homes. MethodsTwo databases were used: for home-dwelling people, 1235 subjects over 75years old who participated in the PRISMA study; for institutions, 1330 residents over 65years old of a nursing home in Sherbrooke (QC, Canada). These subjects were assessed several times over many years with the Functional Autonomy Measurement System (SMAF). Growth analyses were used to estimate the annual decrease in the SMAF score according to age, gender and the initial autonomy status. ResultsAt home, only age was significantly associated with the slope of functional decline. The average annual decrease of subjects 75–84years old was 2.4 points on the SMAF score (out of 87); for those aged over 85, the annual loss was 3.8 points. In institutions, gender and the initial autonomy profile were associated with the annual decrease. For men, the annual decrease varied between 0.7 for the most disabled subjects to 5.2 for the most autonomous. For women, those values varied from 0.2 to 6.6, respectively. ConclusionA decrease in the SMAF score less than these expected values should be associated with a bonus to support personnel training, prevention activities, rehabilitation and activities aimed at supporting the autonomy of the beneficiaries. Such a strategy requires the implementation of a precise and reliable assessment instrument like the SMAF and also the availability of a longitudinal database where data for each beneficiary could be linked over time.

Taking Religion Seriously: On the Legal Relevance of Religious Self-Concepts

How can the law deal with religion in an adequate manner, if on one hand it must guarantee religion its status of autonomy and therefore cannot construct its own idea of religion, and on the other it needs to know the object of legal protection? The present paper scrutinizes one possible solution to this problem developed by the German Federal Constitutional Court. According to this judicial strategy, the law orients itself by referring to the relevance of religious self-concepts that are to a certain degree legally binding.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to liver transplantation for acute respiratory distress syndrome-induced life-threatening hypoxaemia aggravated by hepatopulmonary syndrome

IntroductionCombined with massive lung aeration loss resulting from acute respiratory distress syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome, a liver-induced vascular lung disorder characterized by diffuse or localized dilated pulmonary capillaries, may induce hypoxaemia and death in patients with end-stage liver disease.MethodsThe case of such a patient presenting with both disorders and in whom an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used is described.ResultsA 51-year-old man with a five-year history of alcoholic cirrhosis was admitted for acute respiratory failure, platypnoea and severe hypoxaemia requiring emergency tracheal intubation. Following mechanical ventilation, hypoxaemia remained refractory to positive end-expiratory pressure, 100% of inspired oxygen and inhaled nitric oxide. Two-dimensional contrast-enhanced (agitated saline) transthoracic echocardiography disclosed a massive right-to-left extracardiac shunt, without patent foramen ovale. Contrast computed tomography (CT) of the thorax using quantitative analysis and colour encoding system established the diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome aggravated by hepatopulmonary syndrome. According to the severity of the respiratory condition, a veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was implemented and the patient was listed for emergency liver transplantation. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed at Day 13. At the end of the surgical procedure, the improvement in oxygenation allowed removal of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (Day 5). The patient was discharged from hospital at Day 48. Three months after hospital discharge, the patient recovered a correct physical autonomy status without supplemental O2.ConclusionsIn a cirrhotic patient, acute respiratory distress syndrome was aggravated by hepatopulmonary syndrome causing life-threatening hypoxaemia not controlled by standard supportive measures. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, by controlling gas exchange, allowed the performing of a successful liver transplantation and final recovery.

Work‐related attitudes of employees in the emerging ITES‐BPO sector of Sri Lanka

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore work‐related attitudes of information technology (IT) enabled business process outsourcing (ITES‐BPO) employees.Design/methodology/approachThere are 25 firms operating in Sri Lanka that fall into the category of ITES‐BPO; a random sample of 117 employees from these 25 firms responded to the survey.FindingsThe findings suggest that tenure has a significant effect on task autonomy and marital status has a significant effect on working hours.Originality/valueA research exploring work‐related attitudes of ITES‐BPO employees towards their work and work environment, in a South Asian country that is considered as active and promising destination for such services, could provide practitioners with key information that could enable them to make informed managerial decisions.

National Cultural Autonomy in Russia: A Case of Symbolic Law

AbstractIn this article, the author discusses the Russian experience in utilizing the no- tion of non-territorial, or 'national cultural', autonomy for the management of ethnic diversity. The term 'national-cultural autonomy' can be used to mean several things, including a right, a political principle, and a specific type of organization. The author assumes that such notions as autonomy, ethnicity, group, and culture should not be reified, and must be regarded as practical categories with shifting meanings and implications; he also emphasizes the need to distinguish between symbolic and instrumental law. The point of departure is the disjuncture between the high symbolic status and negligible instrumental value of national-cultural autonomy in Russia. The author provides an overview of the Russian legislation on nongovernmental organizations, of the 1996 Federal Law on National-Cultural Autonomy, and of other legislation incorporating the notion of national-cultural autonomy. He concludes that NCAs, which are legally defined as NGOs, face a number of disadvantages vis-à-vis other types of NGOs. National-cultural autonomy also should not be seen as a political tool, since no efforts have been made to implement the goals declared or implied in the law or in official statements. In the meantime, the idea of national-cultural autonomy is highly valued, and the number of NCAs in Russia has been growing over the years. The author concludes that the very issue of national-cultural autonomy in Russia should not be regarded in terms of the law and legal regulation; rather, it must be seen in terms of symbolism. The idea of national-cultural autonomy is a component of the Russian public consensus on the way ethnic diversity should be described and managed.

Autonomy Luck

I bring together three philosophical accounts to argue that differential social shaping puts agents' autonomy status outside their complete control, thanks to specific forms of good and bad luck generated by agents' membership in socially privileged and socially oppressed groups. Oppression generates psychological harms and external damages, all of which can impede autonomy. Relational Autonomy analyses suggest that agents become autonomous only through relationships with others and further enact that autonomy in social contexts. Moral Luck theorists examine the apparent paradoxes involved in our being held responsible for states and results outside our control; I consider the import of constitutive luck, situational luck, and resultant luck. We have limited control-hence, luck-with reference to beneficial and harmful ways in which relationships and social institutions affect our autonomy.

The misuse of autonomy in ethical decision-making – time for a change?

Concepts of personal autonomy and freedom have featured prominently in British social and political history. They are widely regarded as a very positive aspect of British culture. However, the presumption of mental capacity and the privileged status of autonomy over the promotion of well-being may on some occasions result in unnecessary suffering and neglect. Currently, individuals are presumed able to make autonomous decisions about their treatment. Their autonomy can only be challenged through a proactive process, in which the health professional must provide valid arguments for overriding it.

When Time is Not on Your Side

Waiting for care is common in many countries as a result of supply-side rationing. The effects that waiting has on patients and their environment have not received much attention thus far. We discuss the literature and present the results of a study on patient experiences with waiting for home care or admission to a nursing or residential home.Health status, well-being (or happiness), and different measures of the burden of waiting were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Finally, respondents were asked to evaluate five statements regarding changes in health status and feelings of uncertainty, dependence, stress, and autonomy as a result of waiting for care, using a Likert-type scale (four categories ranging from 'totally agree' to 'totally disagree').Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 12.0.1). Differences in means between people waiting for home care and admission were tested using one-way ANOVA; differences in proportions were tested using the Chi-squared test. Multivariate analysis was conducted to explore associations of the burden of waiting with background variables and characteristics of intermittent care received, using a forward conditional regression model. Late in 2003 we recruited people on a waiting list in the Waardenland and Midden-Holland regions in the Netherlands to participate in a survey. People were randomly selected from waiting lists for home care or admission to a nursing or residential home. A structured questionnaire was administered to either the patient or their proxy. Respondents answered questions about socioeconomic status, health, well-being, intermittent care use, care providers, and additional costs associated with waiting. Furthermore, the survey included questions addressing waiting (time) perceptionsHealth status, well-being (or happiness), and different measures of the burden of waiting were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Finally, respondents were asked to evaluate five statements regarding changes in health status and feelings of uncertainty, dependence, stress, and autonomy as a result of waiting for care, using a Likert-type scale (four categories ranging from 'totally agree' to 'totally disagree').Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 12.0.1). Differences in means between people waiting for home care and admission were tested using one-way ANOVA; differences in proportions were tested using the Chi-squared test. Multivariate analysis was conducted to explore associations of the burden of waiting with background variables and characteristics of intermittent care received, using a forward conditional regression model. We found that waiting for care may have far-reaching consequences for patients and their families, and that approximately half of the patients waiting for care considered their current waiting time to be unacceptable. However, the mean burden of waiting is moderate and associated with the extent to which shortages in care are supplemented by support from informal caregivers, volunteers, or a domestic help. Differences in how waiting time is perceived between individuals and care sectors are helpful building blocks for the development of more tailor-made policies aimed at reducing the burden of waiting time. These policies include additional support or quicker access to support at home for those most in need, and setting waiting time guarantees in order to reduce uncertainty.

Suryong’s Direct Rule and the Political Regime in North Korea under Kim Jong IL

The political in North Korea has been characterized as a Dominant Party-State System. Since mid-1980s, however, its political has displayed two interesting aspects. Formally, broad System has been maintained; in practice, however, Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army, and government have come to acquire respectively different and considerably strengthened roles. Under this new regime, Kim Jong Il (Suryong) directly rules over party, government, and military. Meanwhile, political-ideological base, military base, and economic base are administered respectively by party, army, and government. Interestingly, while power of party still overwhelms that of military and government, party's means of influence has changed from giving direct orders to providing provisions or encouraging policy outlines. Key words: North Korea, Communist parties, East Asian politics Introduction The political in Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) has experienced significant changes since death of its longstanding leader, Kim Il Sung, in 1994. No plenary meeting of party's Central Committee (PCC), highest leadership body of North Korea, has been held since December 1993. In addition, two significant political institutions, presidency and Central People's Committee (CPC), were abolished by constitutional revision that took place in 1998. Specifically, abolishment of CPC weakened consulting channel between Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and government. These changes, in turn, reinforced roles of cabinet and Korean People's Army (KPA), both previously controlled by WPK. In other words, under rule of Kim Jong Il, the cabinet responsibility system on which administrative-economic apparatus is concentrated, is actively operating, and politics, or Songun policy, has become central theme of North Korean politics. This makes KPA driving force of economic development and national security. Previous literature on political in North Korea has shown different findings regarding Suryong (great leader) system, Suryong's direct rule, party-government relations and party-military relations in eras of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Specifically, most studies are divided into two perspectives regarding core issue of socialist political systems, party control. Some scholars argue that similar to era of Kim Il Sung's rule, WPK under Kim Jong Il exercises guidance and leadership over government and KPA. This is so even though he has bolstered status of KPA and autonomy of cabinet.1 Meanwhile, other scholars point out that because of development of military-first politics and cabinet responsibility system, previous relations among party, government, and KPA have significantly changed, or at very least, formerly direct control WPK once had has been weakened during Kim Jong Il era.2 If so, why were previous studies on socialist political systems concentrated on relations between communist party, government, and military? According to Schurmann's seminal study,3 socialist political systems, especially Chinese communist in 1960s, can be analyzed by focusing on hierarchical structure among Chinese Communist Party, People's Liberation Army, and government. That is, power structure in socialist countries is characterized by communistparty dominant pattern within a strict power triangle that consists of communist party, government, and military.4 Thus, Schurmann's study implies that for analysis of socialist political systems, we need to scrutinize identity of supreme power and its relations with other actors. In this regard, North Korea is not so different from other socialist political systems. …

Macroeconomic stabilization and monetary policy nexus in Nigeria

This paper develops the Central Bank reaction function and investigates the extent to which the Central Bank of Nigeria in recent years has been successful in addressing adverse changes in prices and the naira exchange rate. The result indicates that the CBN was successful in controlling inflation and depreciation of the naira in foreign exchange market. However, there was a large lag in the responsiveness of the monetary authorities to adverse changes in the economic environment. The study recommends among others that the current autonomy status granted the CBN should be strengthened and sustained.Global Journal of Social Sciences Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 37-43

Performance evaluation of the efficiency of Philippine Private Higher Educational Institutions: application of frontier approaches

AbstractThis paper evaluates the efficiency performance of Philippine Private Higher Educational Institutions (PHEIs), using frontier approaches known as data envelopment analysis – Malmquist indices and stochastic frontier analysis. The sample consists of 30 private educational institutions, which were granted autonomy over the time period 1999–2003, with a total of 150 observations. The paper also analyzes whether technical inefficiency is systematically related to age, ownership (private sectarian versus private non‐sectarian), and autonomy status. Significant new findings show that higher technological progress boosted the higher productivity growth of the majority of PHEIs (about 66.67%). We also found that age and ownership have positive and statistically significant effects on its technical inefficiency. PHEIs obtained a technical efficiency of 71.2%, and therefore need to increase their output revenues by 28.8% to be efficient. These new findings contribute significantly to educational performance.

Qualifying teacher work: everyday work as basis for the autonomy of the teaching profession

Teachers’ work in tuition‐free (non‐classroom) time was investigated to see to what degree teachers do work that could be considered as qualifying for the status of professional autonomy. The question arises in Sweden and elsewhere as both teachers and the state actively, and in tandem, strive to professionalise the work of the teacher. Abbott’s work on the division of expert labour is taken as a point of departure. Based on data collected by an organisation sampling method, the article describes what teachers do in their tuition‐free time. The study data consist of 1166 reports from 59 Swedish teachers’ daily work situations in school years 1–12. Qualifying teacher work is related to teachers’ ways of handling divergent cases, discretionary work and problem solving. Situations where teachers can use specific professional knowledge are described. One of the main findings is that in 22.2% of the situations studied, such professional knowledge can be applied. This corresponds to at least 7.5 hours of the Swedish teachers’ weekly working hours; with the reservation that 10 hours of teachers’ weekly 45 hours working time is not examined. This time corresponds roughly with the non‐regulated working time, that is, time when the teachers do not have to be at school.

Cultural issues surrounding end-of-life care

Summary According to census data approximately 8% of the UK population is classified as an ethnic minority. This is greater in Britain's urban areas and given associations between inner-city living, low socio-economic status and ill-health it is inevitable that staff throughout the National Health Service will have to deal with critically ill patients from ethnic minorities. Invariably some of these contacts will involve the possibility of care on an intensive care unit. Any ingrained values within western culture and medical practice have the potential to clash with the values of other cultures, at best through innocent misunderstandings and at worst through a conscious failure to engage. Such differences (real or perceived) can lead to open conflict and hostility, which if associated with care can hinder the provision of effective palliative care and create lasting negative impressions for both staff and relatives. A need to understand cultural differences exists. Such a need is a two-way process and from the perspective of healthcare workers in the critical care unit faced with end-of-life decisions it encompasses consideration of factors such as ethnicity, religion and/or spirituality, age, socio-economic status and interpretations of autonomy.

The Meaning, Status, and Future of Reproductive Autonomy: The Case of Alcohol Use during Pregnancy

The Meaning, Status, and Future of Reproductive Autonomy: The Case of Alcohol Use during Pregnancy

Diabetic hyperosmolarity: a consequence of loss of autonomy

Diabetic hyperosmolarity is a serious acute metabolic disorder mainly occurring in the frail elderly subject presenting age-related favoring factors (reduced sensation of thirst, altered endocrine regulation), disease-related favoring factors (cognitive impairment, poor nutritional status and/or loss of autonomy), and a triggering factor, generally infection. Diabetic hyperosmolarity can occur in a previously non-diabetic patient. Intense dehydration dominants the clinical picture. The prognosis depends largely on the underlying chronic disease.

Decentralization and welfare reform in Andalusia

Decentralization of the Spanish welfare state has stimulated regional policy innovation. A ‘demonstration effect’ among all Spanish Comunidades Autónomas has so far acted as a policy equalizer. In Andalusia, where a strong sense of common identity is widely shared, the regional government (Junta) has implemented new welfare policies which have contributed to consolidate its institutional legitimacy. This article reviews the process of decentralization in Spain. It concentrates on the ‘catching up’ quest articulated by Andalusia to gain a similar status and degree of autonomy as those achieved by the ‘historical nationalities’ (Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia).

Infantilization as Elder Mistreatment: Evidence from Five Adult Day Centers

ABSTRACTTo prevent maltreatment, aging services must be age appropriate even as consumers suffer from physical and cognitive disabilities. In this paper, it is argued that exposing older persons to child-oriented settings, activities and speech patterns in aging service environments represent a form of psychological mistreatment. Ethnographic evidence from 220 hours of field observations in five “social model” adult day centers revealed infantilization of service users in the form of confinement, baby-talk, nicknames, child-oriented decor, teacher-student learning format, reprimands, use of toys, as well as a loss of privacy regulation, autonomy, choice, and adult status. All centers exhibited some mistreatment, but severe examples were present in two of the five centers studied. Negative influences on behavior, well-being, self-identity, relationship formation, and social interaction were detected, which distinguished mistreatment from poor quality of care. Insider interviews (23) revealed resentment and adaptive strategies employed to distance themselves from infantilization.