ABSTRACT Before the Internet, popular ways for matching potential couples in Nigeria were through betrothal, or introduction by family, friends and religious institutions. Dating was eventually done face-to-face or ‘offline’. However, the discovery of the Internet drastically revolutionized the social, interpersonal and romantic relationships of humans, resulting in the proliferation of online dating shows that cater to diverse demographics and preferences. Using the postcolonial feminist philosophical perspective, the uses and gratification and popular culture theories, this paper employs mixed methods to explore how the Nons Miraj matchmaking show has disrupted traditional dating relationships amongst Nigerian youths. Qualitative visual ethnography and quantitative content analysis were used to collect data and interpret patterns of meaning in participant interactions and audience comments on the shows. Findings showed that critiques, hate speech, and gratifying comments were prevalent, while objectification and opinions on the matched couples were rare, meaning that the entertainment value of the shows superseded the audiences’ interest in the ensuing relationships. This study provides insights on how matchmaking shows complement traditional African norms of dating and finding love. It recommends that content creators strive to balance responsible entertainment with the preservation of human dignity, in the evolving digital dating ecosystem.

This article explores the influence of gender-role attitudes toward childcare and housework on men’s labor market outcomes. Using the Chilean Longitudinal Social Survey (2016–21), the study estimates an individual fixed effects labor supply model and addresses endogeneity through panel data correction methods. Although childcare and housework attitudes are often treated similarly, findings suggest they influence men’s labor market outcomes differently. Men with egalitarian views about housework are less likely to participate in the labor market, more likely to be formal workers, and more likely to face challenges redistributing paid work hours to housework. Conversely, an egalitarian view regarding childcare does not explain any of the outcomes. This difference can be attributed to traditional gender norms that associate childcare with women, leading men to feel less external pressure to participate in this task than housework. This evidence highlights the importance of implementing policies that promote co-responsibility and gender-inclusive work policies. HIGHLIGHTS Men’s views on housework shape labor participation, contracts, and wages in Chile. Egalitarian housework attitudes link to formal jobs and higher pay for men. Support for men’s childcare links to fewer full-time and permanent jobs. Women’s labor outcomes show little response to beliefs about men’s roles. Flexible work schedules and parental leave are needed to align attitudes and behavior.

Bisexual women balance competing sets of gender norms and many adapt their behavior and dress according to the gender of the person they are dating, part of a practice known as bisexual display. The current research explores the consequences bisexual displays have on evaluations of bisexual women's authenticity in the dating context. In Study 1 (N = 137), participants evaluated a bisexual woman as less authentic, trustworthy, and likable when she was described as behaving and dressing differently on dates with men and women. In Study 2 (N = 378), we aimed to replicate Study 1 with more ecologically valid stimuli and extend the research to assess influences on romantic desirability. When dating profiles were presented to straight men, a bisexual woman was evaluated as less authentic when her profiles reflected a bisexual display, but not as less trustworthy, likable, or romantically desirable. The current research provides insight into how bisexual women, in an effort to combat traditional gender norms and authentically embrace their sexual identity, may be seen as less authentic in the dating context.

ABSTRACT Purpose Food waste in Business-to-Business (B2B) banquets has become a pressing issue in China due to cultural practices such as mianzi (face-saving) and guanxi (relationship building). The Chinese government has implemented stringent food waste regulations to curb this problem. However, these regulations pose challenges for foodservice operators, who must balance compliance with traditional business hospitality norms. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to explore how foodservice businesses in China navigate these regulations while maintaining successful B2B relationships. Methodology/Approach A qualitative approach was adopted, utilizing in-depth semi-structured expert interviews with 18 industry professionals, including foodservice managers and B2B banquet hosts. Participants were selected through purposive sampling based on their extensive experience in managing B2B banquets under evolving food waste policies. Thematic analysis was conducted to extract key insights regarding the interplay between regulatory compliance, cultural expectations, and operational strategies. Findings Stricter food waste regulations increase hosts’ reliance on foodservice providers that can preserve mianzi while ensuring compliance. Trust is recalibrated through providers’ regulatory expertise, benevolence, and integrity, and providers use menu consultation, policy communication, and staff training to reduce waste while sustaining banquet success, guest satisfaction, and long-term business relationships. Research Implications This research extends Social Exchange Theory by identifying regulatory pressure as a boundary condition that reshapes how reciprocity and trust operate in inter-organizational relationships. Under such conditions, reciprocity shifts from visible expressions of generosity to responsible behaviors that align with institutional expectations. The study also shows that trust acquires an institutional dimension when compliance expertise becomes important to relationship maintenance. In this context, ability includes regulatory knowledge, benevolence includes protecting partners from relational and resource-related risks, and integrity includes a credible commitment to broader institutional goals. These changes, in turn, reshape dependency and collaboration between exchange partners. Practical Implications Foodservice operators must adopt proactive communication and menu engineering to balance waste reduction with guest satisfaction. Staff training on food waste prevention, suggestive selling techniques, and sustainability commitments are crucial. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of centralized kitchen operations and external nudging (e.g. displaying food waste policies and encouraging guests to take leftovers) to comply with regulations while maintaining business success. Policymakers should foster industry collaboration forums to help foodservice operators navigate regulatory challenges. Originality/Value/Contribution This study offers one of the few empirical examinations of how foodservice providers in China reconcile cultural hospitality norms with sustainability mandates imposed by government policy in B2B banquet settings. Unlike prior studies that examine policy, culture, or food waste separately, this research integrates them through Social Exchange Theory to explain how reciprocity, trust, and collaboration are recalibrated under legal constraints. It contributes a contextually grounded refinement of SET by showing how compliance expertise and relational assurance replace visible excess as key signals of successful exchange. It also provides operationally relevant solutions, grounded in senior industry interviews, for aligning banquet success with waste reduction.

ABSTRACT Feminine honor norms require women to uphold a reputation for sexual purity through behaviors such as dressing modestly or maintaining virginity before marriage. While the consequences of these norms for women's health and well-being are well-documented, their socio-psychological origins remain poorly understood. The dominant account holds that feminine honor is endorsed because female infidelity threatens a male partner's honor. An alternative explanation – the ideological mate-guarding account – proposes that support for feminine honor is rooted in psychological motives related to mate guarding and is shaped by sexual jealousy and mating strategy. However, previous evidence for this account has been correlational and based on trait-level measures of jealousy. Here, we provide initial experimental evidence for this account by inducing state sexual jealousy, which was associated with increased support for feminine honor, particularly among men. Additionally, individuals with a more restricted mating orientation (lower socio-sexuality) showed greater support for feminine honor across genders, even after controlling for state masculinity threat, other honor norms (masculine, family, integrity), religiosity, political conservatism, and age. These findings highlight the importance of mating motives in shaping support for feminine honor and enrich our understanding of how evolved psychological mechanisms contribute to the maintenance of traditional gender norms.

This article explores the gender performances of women police officers in China, focusing on how they navigate femininity within the highly masculinized and culturally specific context of policing. Drawing on Schippers’s framework of hegemonic, pariah, and alternative femininities, alongside the concept of face rooted in Chinese Confucian traditions, the study analyzes interviews with women officers to examine how gender is performed across different spatial and relational contexts. Findings reveal four distinct forms of femininity: hegemonic, pariah, alternative, and an additional form termed adaptive femininity. Women officers strategically shift between these femininities to negotiate workplace expectations, uphold family roles, and preserve both personal and institutional face. While some performances reinforce the existing gender order, others—particularly those aligned with alternative and adaptive femininities—create opportunities to subtly rework traditional norms. However, many officers continue to internalize hegemonic ideals due to longstanding patriarchal values and the pressures of cultural facework. This study contributes to the literature on professional femininities and women in policing by providing a nuanced understanding of how Chinese women officers actively and passively negotiate gender in a complex socio-cultural and institutional landscape.

State of diversity in nursing academia in the United States: An integrative review.

ABSTRACT This co/autoethnographic study examines the educational experiences of two women from rural Azerbaijan, focusing on how societal ‘norms’, gendered expectations and post-Soviet transformations shaped their access to education from the 1990s onward. Using a co/autoethnographic methodology, we draw on collaboratively narrated memories, reflective memos and thematic analysis to analyse lived experiences across childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. This qualitative approach allows us to situate rural educational narratives within broader socio-historical and political contexts, including the collapse of Soviet institutional support, armed conflict in Azerbaijani lands, and the resurgence of traditional gender norms. Guided by a post-colonial framework, the study explores how structural instability, cultural restrictions and gendered power relations contributed to persistent educational barriers, impostor syndrome and resilience-driven motivation for girls from peripheral regions. The article contributes to the literature on post-Soviet gender studies by offering an empirically grounded, insider perspective on women’s education in rural Azerbaijan, an underrepresented context in existing scholarship. By linking autoethnographic data to national and regional gender dynamics, this study challenges static portrayals of post-Soviet transition and highlights the uneven, gendered consequences of social change. The findings underscore the importance of culturally sensitive, gender-responsive educational policies that address both structural inequalities and their long-term psychological effects.

Middle-aged African American men experience disproportionate rates of chronic disease, reduced life expectancy, and barriers to preventive and mental health care. From a public health perspective, these inequities reflect the intersection of structural racism, medical mistrust, and gendered norms of masculinity rather than individual behavior alone. This analytic essay examines how masculinity functions as both a barrier to and facilitator of self-care among African American men in midlife using a social constructionist framework. Traditional norms emphasizing self-reliance, emotional restraint, and provider roles often discourage help-seeking and preventive care, whereas racial discrimination and chronic stress further exacerbate risk. At the same time, emerging evidence suggests that reframing masculinity around responsibility, family protection, and community engagement can promote health-supportive behaviors. The findings highlight the need for culturally responsive public health interventions that address structural barriers, affirm positive reframes of masculine identity, and leverage community strengths to reduce health disparities and improve population health outcomes. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print June 11, 2026:e1-e6. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308477).

Men are not only heads and decision-makers in most families, but they also heavily influence the healthcare access of their female partners and/or children. However, low male spousal accompaniment at health facilities remains a persistent public health challenge in rural Tanzania. While structural barriers are well documented, there is a lack of evidence regarding the behavioral intention factors that drive this men's physical disengagement from clinical spaces. Understanding these internal drivers is critical for designing effective targeted interventions to improve maternal service utilization in rural settings. Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study assessed the predictors of male partners' behavioral intentions and cognitive readiness toward spousal accompaniment in maternal health service utilization in rural Tanzania. A baseline community-based assessment from a longitudinal interventional study was adopted to evaluate 546 randomly selected male partners from June to October 2017 was conducted using a quantitative research approach. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select participants. While male accompaniment broadly encompasses emotional and domestic support, this study specifically operationalized male spousal accompaniment as men's physical accompaniment of their expectant mothers to the health facility for clinical maternal health services. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors (α = 0.05). Participants' mean age was 31 ± 7.726years, and 71.8% were married. Findings revealed that 61.7% of male partners had never physically accompanied their spouses to health facilities for maternal services. High rates of negative behavioral constructs were observed, with 59.0%, 57.0%, and 57.0% of male partners reporting negative attitudes, demonstrating negative perceived subjective norms, and negative perceived behavior control, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that positive attitude (AOR = 3.616; p < 0.05; 95%CI: 1.333, 6.138), positive perceived subjective norms (AOR = 2.374; p < 0.05; 95%CI: 1.669, 5.984), and positive perceived behavioral control (AOR = 1.759; p < 0.05; 95%CI: 1.004, 4.373) were significantly associated with increased prospective intention to accompany partners to care. A significant proportion of male partners in rural Tanzania remain physically disengaged from clinical maternal spaces, driven primarily by negative cognitive constructs and traditional social norms that designate pregnancy care as an exclusively female domain. Policy and programmatic actions should prioritize community-based social and behavior change communications (SBCC) that challenge restrictive subjective norms, foster joint family decision-making, and reshape male attitudes toward spousal accompaniment.

ABSTRACT Social media has emerged as a critical site for negotiating fertility discourse, particularly in China, where a severe demographic crisis clashes with traditional pronatalist norms. Focusing on Xiaohongshu, this study combines computational topic modeling (LDA) with critical discourse analysis to examine 35,023 notes related to fertility. The analysis reveals that fertility discourse on Xiaohongshu centers around thematic clusters of pragmatic policy negotiation, fictionalized reproductive revenge, medical rationalization, the financialization of demographic anxiety, and the gendered articulation of the motherhood penalty. Theoretically, the findings demonstrate a dual process at play: on the one hand, the discourse reflects the intersection of biopolitics and affective capitalism, manifesting as the instrumentalization of reproduction and the commercialization of uncertainty, which subtly transforms structural challenges into issues of personal discipline and consumption. On the other hand, these narratives collectively form a fragmented and commercialized digital public sphere. Drawing on the framework of heteropessimism, the study interprets the user engagement not merely as resistance, but as a structural ambivalence: women adopt an instrumental practice in policy and medical discussions as a psychological defense against reproductive exhaustion, while employing a confrontational narrative practice in topics related to autonomy to seek fictionalized catharsis and negotiate the “cruel optimism” of contemporary womanhood. The concept of structural ambivalence, as deployed here, refers to the durable, irresolvable tension produced when state governance, market logic, and patriarchal norms impose simultaneously contradictory demands on women’s reproductive subjectivity—a tension that individual discursive strategies can negotiate but never dissolve. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that navigating the fertility landscape is less about the act of giving birth itself, and more about managing the profound entanglement of state governance, market logic, and female agency.

This article explores the cultural transitions experienced by the Birhor tribe of Chhattisgarh, focusing on the evolution of tattooing, festival customs, childbirth, marriage, and religious beliefs. Drawing on ethnographic studies and recent anthropological research, the study highlights how modernization, education, policy interventions, and urban migration have influenced traditional practices and social norms. The decline of indigenous tattooing, the hybridization of festivals, and changing childbirth and marriage customs illustrate a dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity. Women’s roles emerge as central in these transformations, reflecting broader shifts in agency and social structure. Despite challenges, the Birhor demonstrate resilience through selective adaptation and syncretism, maintaining cultural identity while negotiating external influences. The discussion underscores the importance of participatory approaches and cultural preservation in supporting sustainable transitions among indigenous communities.

Men with depression are underrepresented in psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care, despite their increased risk of suicide. Studies point to the influence of traditional masculinity norms, stigma-related attitudes, and gender-specific coping patterns on help-seeking behavior. However, it remains unclear how affected men themselves interpret barriers to and facilitating conditions for the use of professional help. The aim was therefore to explore these perspectives using a qualitative approach and to derive practice-relevant implications. In a qualitative study, ten men aged 22 to 64 years were interviewed about their experiences with mental illness and professional help. Data were analyzed using content-structuring qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz and Rädiker. In addition, two subscales of the Male Role Norms Scale (MRNS; status and toughness norms) were administered to assess normative beliefs about traditional masculine roles and to contextualize the qualitative findings. Key barriers were shame, internalized stigma, a pronounced need for autonomy, and fears of losing control or facing professional disadvantages. Help-seeking often occurred only after the onset of acute crises. Facilitating factors comprised social support, positive experiences within the healthcare system, and low-threshold services. Women in close relationships played a crucial role in motivating help-seeking. MRNS scores were mostly below average, indicating a comparatively low adherence to traditional masculine norms. The findings confirm known associations between masculinity norms, autonomy-related expectations, and delayed help-seeking, and further differentiate them by providing insights into subjective interpretive patterns and biographical contexts. They highlight the importance of social support and low-threshold access to services. Overall, the findings support gender-sensitive mental health care that both reduces barriers and makes targeted use of existing resources. A better understanding of men's non-utilization of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic services may provide insights for the further development of mental health care provision. Central strategies include low-threshold contact options, the involvement of social networks, and the reflection of traditional masculinity norms in prevention and treatment.

Self-objectification and sexual wellbeing among women: Exploring the roles of femininity, heteronormativity, and internalized heterosexism.

An invitation into inclusive spaces: When perceived brand altruism translates inclusive advertising into brand attitudes, purchase intentions, and eWoM.

Understanding the role of intersectional identity constructs on psychological well-being of Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) in San Diego, California: A cross-sectional analysis of the NEXUS study.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the complex interplay between financial self-efficacy, relational power, and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimisation and the moderating effects of gender ideologies. Survey data were collected from a sample of 334 abused Chinese women. Results indicated that higher financial self-efficacy was associated with more balanced relational power and in turn with lower levels of IPV victimisation. The gender ideologies of women, their male partners, and interpartner (dis)similarity significantly moderated these relationships. Findings from this study underscore the importance of incorporating financial empowerment, challenging traditional gender norms, and fostering gender-equitable relationships in IPV reduction in the Chinese context.

ABSTRACT This study investigates workplace sexual harassment (WSH) among 2,031 women across four major Chinese cities, including 384 queer women, offering one of the first large-scale analyses of sexual minority women’s experiences in the contemporary Chinese context. Results reveal that queer women experience higher prevalence, greater variety, and more frequent WSH than heterosexual women. Patterns of perpetration also diverge: queer women are disproportionately harassed by colleagues, whereas heterosexual women more often face harassment from clients. Multivariate analyses further reveal the influence of age, employment status, housing insecurity, and endorsement of traditional gender norms, while knowledge of legal protections and social support reduces vulnerability. These findings highlight the disadvantages faced by both heterosexual and queer women in urban China and emphasize the urgent need for targeted legal, organizational, and cultural interventions to safeguard women, especially sexual minorities, in the workplace.

Little has been done to focus on paternal mental health in Nepal despite evidence that fathers’ depression, anxiety, and stress can hurt family functioning and child development. This research measured the prevalence of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms among fathers visiting a tertiary children’s hospital in Kathmandu and analyzed the related psychosocial variables.A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Kanti Children’s Hospital, Kathmandu, among 312 biological fathers of children under two years. Data on psychosocial factors, including stressful life events, financial burden, work-life balance, family support, partner communication, masculinity norms, and child health conditions, were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Psychological symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and masculinity norms using the Macho Scale. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals. Most fathers reported no psychological symptoms: depression (86.9%), anxiety (93.3%), and stress (95.8%). Moderate to severe depressive symptoms, moderate anxiety, and mild to moderate stress were reported by 4.1%, 3.8%, and 4.2% of participants, respectively. Stressful life events during the past year were significantly associated with depression (AOR 4.16, 95% CI: 1.90–9.14), anxiety (AOR 4.66, 95% CI: 1.22–17.84), and stress (AOR 4.07, 95% CI: 1.19–13.95). Lack of family support independently predicted depression, anxiety, and stress. Anxiety was also associated with financial burden and high machismo attitudes.Although most fathers reported low psychological distress, stressful life events, limited family support, financial burden, and traditional masculine norms were significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Family-centered mental health services and routine screening in pediatric settings may help identify and support vulnerable fathers.

BackgroundInterprofessional education (IPE) is increasingly embedded in undergraduate medical curricula, yet little is known about how students encounter interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in real-world clinical practice.MethodsThis longitudinal qualitative study analyzed written diaries from eight final-year medical students at one institution (blinded) to explore IPC experiences during clerkships without formal IPE. Deductive coding used an interprofessional learning framework with four domains: “Roles, Hierarchy, and Power Dynamics,” “Team Inclusion, Collaboration, and Silos,” “Communication Patterns,” and “Navigation of Conflicts.”ResultsStudents reported contrasting experiences with professional roles and power dynamics. Supportive environments with clear delegation facilitated learning and participation, whereas rigid hierarchies fostered hostility. Formal communication channels promoted coordination, while informal interactions fostered inclusion and trust. Conflict was infrequent and generally avoided.ConclusionsThese real-world accounts illustrate how traditional cultural norms and local team dynamics shape medical students’ interprofessional interactions in ways that are difficult to reproduce in classroom or simulation settings. To bridge this gap, IPE should be extended into authentic workplace learning as a socially situated process influenced by local practices and expectations. Targeted strategies to strengthen team communication and clarify roles are particularly needed when these elements are weak and especially during transitional phases such as clerkships.