Underrepresented Voices Research Articles

Blockout 2024: digital mobilization movements’ role in raising global awareness and fostering change

<p>Blockout 2024, a social media mobilization campaign, gained traction in response to celebrities’ and powerful people’s silence following the Met Gala in New York. Users who have remained silent or unconcerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza are encouraged to block influencers’ accounts. The review seeks to investigate the Blockout 2024 phenomenon and how it affects celebrities’ social media. This review examines the impact of social media on power dynamics. On social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X, users have blocked the accounts (especially celebrities’ account) of those who have not responded to the humanitarian disaster. The movement emphasizes the importance of implementing change and making underrepresented voices heard in digital environments. While some celebrities have expressed their support, others have chosen to remain silent, which has resulted in criticism and lost followers. Finally, the Blockout 2024 campaign has gained significant traction on social media platforms such as X, Instagram, and TikTok. Users of social media are becoming more aware of their responsibility to denounce crimes and fight for justice, as evidenced by this group effort. The Blockout 2024 movement has highlighted the potential of digital mobilization to raise global awareness, address humanitarian crises, and hold influencers accountable.</p>

Women and men in library and information science scholarship: Authorship trends from 2003 to 2021

Library and information science (LIS) has long consisted of more women than men, at least in sheer numbers of library employees, but men are the primary authors of library literature. This study explores LIS literature published between 2003 and 2021 to identify if there are differences in the publishing patterns of women and men. The authors used content analysis to code the entire sample to identify overall subject trends after authors were categorized as women or men by mainly automated methods, using two R packages, genderize and ssa. The results show that there are overall inequities when compared to the profession as whole between the publishing rates of women and men in LIS, as well as differences in publication patterns by subjects and within specific journals. Shifts in subjects over the period under investigation did not increase the percentage of women publishing in the selected LIS journals. The authors conclude more research needs to be conducted to determine the cause of inequities in publishing not just among women and men, but all underrepresented voices in LIS.

“We're loud, why aren't you?” Laura’s social media activism through justice-oriented literacies

PurposeSocial media offers youth a virtual platform to build community and amplify underrepresented voices. Online spaces are often used to respond to societal issues and adopt various roles. This article aims to focus on Laura's case, spotlighting the intersection of online activism by a youth of Color, and social media literacies used to demonstrate civic engagement around contemporary social justice issues.Design/methodology/approachThrough case study methods, the author examined how a youth of Color used social media to employ critical literacy practices as tools for civic engagement, advocating for social justice, and navigating the complexities of identity work in online spaces, spotlighting Laura, a self-identified Mexican and Ecuadorian Latine 18-year-old activist, to understand how social media shapes multimodal literacy practices, how youth build culture, engage in literacies and craft civic identities online.FindingsFindings examine Laura’s social media literacies toward social justice activism, contributing to the understanding of youth activism, digital identity and civic engagement. Findings will also examine how Laura enacts online literacy practices related to her racialized identities, and how she engages in activism and civic participation related to social justice issues. These findings contribute to the understanding of youth activism, digital identity and civic engagement.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on Laura’s practices within the larger frame of politics, digital space and youth culture. Moreover, it also highlights the potential of youths' multifaceted social media literacies to redefine the educator's role by fostering youth identity and social justice literacies.

Challenging assumptions: "unveiling meritocracy's reality in neurosurgery".

Meritocracy, a concept revered as the cornerstone of fairness and equal opportunity, is critically examined in the context of neurosurgery. This article challenges the notion that success in this demanding field is solely determined by individual abilities and effort. It reveals that factors such as background, gender, and socioeconomic status significantly influence one's career trajectory. By investigating how these systemic barriers impact admissions to neurosurgical training programs and professional advancement, the paper underscores the complexity of meritocracy in neurosurgery, suggesting that the meritocratic ideal is more nuanced and influenced by external variables than commonly believed. Certain universities deemed elite offer a curriculum divergent from that of their counterparts in low and middle-income countries. Students at these "elite" institutions gain exposure to new technologies and research incentives, which brings us to the realm of research. Remarkably, 75% of articles originating from developed nations account for just 25% of traumatic brain injury cases. This disparity highlights a significant research imbalance, and the common refrain underscores the need to bolster research capabilities in low-income countries. For neurosurgeons in the developing world, engaging in research often becomes a luxury due to multifaceted challenges. Financial barriers, including publication costs and paywalls for accessing articles, pose significant hurdles. Comparing salaries between countries underscores the glaring divide according to "Neurosurgeon Salary" in 2024. Neurosurgeons in the United States receive a median salary of $412,000 dollars per year, compared to $13,200 dollars in Latin America, as of June 2023. Given such incongruities, the prospect of even attending conferences or workshops abroad remains difficult for neurosurgeons from developing nations. Research isn't cast aside due to a lack of interest but due to resource limitations. The present landscape demands reconsideration. We underscore the journey towards a more inclusive and equitable future in neurosurgery as not just a goal, but a dynamic process fuelled by resilience, collaboration, and a commitment to diversity. The narrative promotes a collective endeavour to dismantle barriers and embrace innovation, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, cross-institutional collaboration, and the amplification of underrepresented voices.

Writing and righting disability representation: autoethnographic reflections

Limited literature is available from Arab women authors on the topic of disability, and even less interest is found when looking at the publishing industry. This autoethnographic paper examines the role of the publishing industry in promoting underrepresented voices and questions who determines which voices are important and deserving of publication. This article intends to highlight the obstacles that disabled scholars and individuals confront in the publishing sector by examining the author’s personal experience in publishing a hybrid memoir. Head Above Water: Reflections on Illness (2022, 2023, London and New York) explores themes of ableism, academia, and disability identity.

Fashion as an Expression of Cultural Identity in the Digital Age

Fashion has long been a powerful medium for expressing cultural identity, reflecting various communities' values, traditions, and social dynamics. This expression has evolved dramatically in the digital age, shaped by the pervasive influence of technology and social media. This study explores how fashion serves as a conduit for cultural identity in the contemporary digital landscape. It examines the interplay between traditional fashion practices and modern digital platforms. It highlights how individuals and communities use fashion to navigate and assert their cultural identities in an increasingly globalised world. The research investigates the role of digital platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and fashion blogs, in disseminating and transforming cultural fashion trends. These platforms provide a space for cultural exchange and the democratisation of fashion, allowing underrepresented voices to showcase their heritage and creativity. Additionally, the study delves into the impact of virtual fashion shows, digital influencers, and online retail on cultural identity expression. It considers how these elements contribute to preserving and evolving traditional fashion practices. Furthermore, the research addresses the complexities of cultural appropriation in the digital age, where fashion trends can be rapidly adopted and commercialised, often detached from their cultural significance. By analysing case studies and engaging with fashion designers, influencers, and consumers, the study offers insights into the ethical considerations and responsibilities involved in cultural fashion representation. The findings suggest that while digital platforms can facilitate celebrating and sharing cultural identities, they pose challenges related to authenticity, appropriation, and commercialisation. This duality underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of fashion as a cultural expression in the digital era. The study concludes with recommendations for fostering a more inclusive and respectful digital fashion ecosystem that honours and preserves cultural identities while embracing innovation and diversity. Through this exploration, the research aims to contribute to the broader discourse on cultural identity, fashion, and digital media, offering valuable perspectives for academics, industry professionals, and cultural advocates.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Evolving into belonging, dignity, and justice.

The authors want to invite the integrated care community to reflect with us on an evolutionary shift in how we approach matters of justice and equity: from a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) framework to a perspective that centers the relational concepts of belonging, dignity, and justice (BDJ) for a more just world (Davis, 2021). Our desire to reflect, question, and pivot is inspired by the Ecocycle Planning Model-which I (Deepu George) used to critically frame the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association's (CFHA) history in Part I of the article (George, 2023a) and creatively anticipate our future in Part II (George & Khatri, 2024). In this article, the authors want to focus on the nodes of maturity and creative destruction, as well as the idea of the rigidity trap-to examine our collective energies around the idea of DEI. With CFHA's 30th anniversary upon us, we pause and reflect on not only the benefits of DEI efforts heretofore, but also the pitfalls, to avoid the rigidity trap, which is likely to occur when we embrace tenets of an idea that may no longer serve the values we once aspired to or fail to evolve in favor of the familiar. Considering critiques of the limitations of DEI work in practice and literature, the authors believe a BDJ approach will better inform our growth moving forward. Therefore, the authors want to reflect, honor, and build upon the impact and gains from DEI and adapt them to better serve the needs of all-especially the historically marginalized and underrepresented voices. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Addressing equity, diversity and inclusion in academic publishing: key initiatives from JMTE

AbstractThis paper addresses the pressing issues of equity, diversity and inclusion in academic publishing, with a focus on mathematics education research. It highlights systemic biases and barriers that marginalise under-represented voices in the academic discourse. Through an analysis of the Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education’s (JMTE) publication patterns, it reveals a significant geographical imbalance and a disparity between the Global North and the Global South, prompting critical reflection on whose voices are prioritised. The paper outlines key initiatives undertaken by JMTE, such as forming an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, broadening the aims and scope of the journal, developing inclusive reviewing guidelines, and fostering diversity among editors, reviewers and authors. These efforts aim to promote a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive field of mathematics education research by encouraging contributions from under-represented regions and communities and by addressing language barriers and institutional support issues.

A critical cartography: mapping chapters, networks, and relationships through regional organization

ABSTRACT The Association for Critical Heritage Studies (ACHS) was created, in part, to address underrepresentation in the study and management of heritage. However, achieving genuinely inclusive representation within global heritage conversations remains elusive, exacerbated by entrenched power dynamics and the dominance of Western epistemologies. Here, we discuss ACHS’s efforts to foster a more democratic, inclusive discourse through its organizational structure and international collaborations. As we argue here, although significant strides towards diversifying heritage discourse are evidenced by the creation of chapters and networks aimed at amplifying underrepresented voices, challenges persist in ensuring equitable participation. We discuss the importance of strategic regionalization and language inclusivity in advancing a platform that reflects the diversity of global heritage perspectives.

The Human Settlement: Erwin Anton Gutkind's fascination with Africa and critique of modern design

ABSTRACT In the immediate aftermath of the devastation and frustration of the Second World war, several architects and planners in Europe and North America took on the task of expanding their disciplinary boundaries and providing accounts of ‘others’. As they investigated various understandings of human life and the social dimension of the built environment, the interest shifted from the paradigms of modern design to the complexity of distant cultures and the variety beyond the Western tradition. Among those who challenged narrow perspectives was Erwin Anton Gutkind, a planner, architect, and theorist of German origin. Examining his unpublished manuscript, entitled The Human Settlement, and its long chapter on Africa, this article demonstrates how Gutkind pushed the theoretical and geographical limits of the historical research on architecture of his time to develop a project that offered a strong critique of modernist attitudes, internationalist models, and nation-state narratives. The essay also reflects on both Gutkind's exposure of colonial and neocolonial strategies of modernization and westernization on the continent and his problematic representation of local and non-colonial architecture in Africa. The manuscript's merits and limits reveal the significant friction that arose between Gutkind's strategies for including underrepresented voices and his reliance on biased perspectives.

World Voice Day 2024: Resonate, Educate, Celebrate!

Abstract: The theme of World Voice Day 2024 is “Resonate, Educate, Celebrate!” NATS members are urged to celebrate the transformative power of singing through concerts and campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of singing and advocate for vocal diversity on Tuesday, April 16. Performers and teachers can broaden repertoire choices, incorporating varied musical traditions, new, and underrepresented voices, and suggests a “Giving Tuesday.” In preparation for NATS’ 80th anniversary and the upcoming NATS National Conference, NATS announces its partnership with the non-profit organization SocialOffset.

Patient-centered research in pediatric transplant: Engaging families and recipients

Pediatric liver transplant (LT) recipients navigate a lifelong journey that includes constant monitoring and challenges. Research priorities and questions in LT have traditionally been provider-driven. This project was a novel partnership between a learning health system dedicated to pediatric LT (Starzl Network for Excellence in Pediatric Transplantation) and a parent-led advocacy group (Transplant Families) that aimed to prepare families and providers for collaborative patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR). We developed 5 virtual modules to (1) teach participants about PCOR, and (2) elicit ideas for PCOR priorities and processes in pediatric LT. Parents and providers participated via self-guided online modules or focus groups. Participants included 240 patient partners and 133 pediatric LT providers from 16 centers over 2 years. We held 20 focus groups, including 5 to amplify underrepresented voices: young adults, Spanish speakers, and African Americans. Feedback was summarized to create a PCOR Roadmap, a guide for future PCOR in the Starzl Network, which was disseminated back to participants online and via webinars. Feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders allowed us to develop PCOR priorities and processes for the pediatric LT community. Our engagement strategies could be adapted by other transplant communities to facilitate patient and provider research partnerships.

Going for gold: exploring the making of the arts-based health research artefact Golden Years, a short story and one-act play about ageing and mortality

ABSTRACT Arts-based health research (ABHR) artefacts provide a means for exploring the experiences of diverse populations through using the arts. They are useful for reaching audiences beyond academia, promoting empathy, showcasing under-represented voices and offering insights into human experience not captured by more traditional research methods. To augment the growing usage of ABHR, there have been calls for more studies examining how ABHR artefacts are being developed. This helps dispel uncertainty about ABHR processes, provide criteria for judgement of quality and show others how they might proceed on a similar path. The purpose of this paper is to add to the ABHR body of knowledge by offering the exemplar Golden Years, a work of fiction with themes pertaining to ageing and mortality. To achieve this, the authors will describe their use of practice-based research (PBR), which centres the making of the artefact at the core of the research. The paper includes an exegesis in which the authors explain how tacit knowledge, feedback from peers and collaboration were used as methods. They also place Golden Years within a critical framework based on the principles of the bi-cultural research group Te Arai Palliative Care and End of Life Research Group in New Zealand.

Statement from the Editors

Stachka! Is a journal of Marxist-Leninist Film Studies and Visual Culture. We aim to make accessible new scholarship that advances theory and practice at the intersection of visual me- dia and communist politics. Work published in Stachka! will seek to advance anti-imperialist, feminist, anti-racist, decolonial, and class-conscious perspectives in film and media analysis, emphasizing cultivating a constructive and inclusive environment for underrepresented voices. Analysis ranging from Marxist cultural theory applied to American and European Cinema, to historical content on the cinema of socialist states, to appreciation and discussion of Third Cinema is welcome. In addition to traditional articles, Stachka! aims to publish visual art, in- terviews with filmmakers and creators, short essays, reviews, and festivals. Stachka! especially encourages submissions from young scholars and scholars from diverse backgrounds. However, anyone is welcome to submit their manuscripts. We accept English, Standard Mandarin Chi- nese, Spanish, and Russian language submissions.

Unveiling the ethical void: Bias in reference citations and its academic ramifications

Citation bias receives scant attention in discussions of ethics. However, inaccurate citation may lead to significant distortions in scientific understanding. Although ethnical and gender citation disparities have been proposed as critical aspects, there are other contributors to citation distortions, like region-based citation bias, that, although less recognized within the scientific community, are equally important. While the foundations of scientific citation include acknowledging pioneers, giving credit to related work, and providing background reading, other more subjective or even questionable criteria are often used when constructing a reference lists. Here, we discuss the potential causes and ethical concerns of citation bias, emphasizing the role of international- or region-based citation bias as one of the most harmful aspects of this ethical breach. We argue that the international scientific community should be aware of this problem and recognize its consequences, which include hindering the accurate dissemination of science, marginalizing underrepresented voices in academia, and impeding scientific progress. We advocate that scientists should compile their reference lists with the same seriousness and integrity they apply to all other aspects of their research.

Reclaiming Narratives: Using Technology to Strengthen Underrepresented Voices

Reclaiming Narratives: Using Technology to Strengthen Underrepresented Voices

Understanding and Improving Black Social Worker and Student Experiences in England

This article explores the experiences of Black newly qualified social workers and student social workers in England. Drawing on related studies that have begun to outline the challenges faced by Global Ethnic Majority social workers in the UK, the article highlights that this is both an important and under‐researched area. The article provides a much‐needed contribution to understanding the unique experiences of Black social workers through a thematic analysis of interviews with Black social workers, providing an opportunity for social work colleagues, managers, educators, and academics to understand the challenges and obstacles that these social workers face. The research reveals a dire situation in which Black social workers are hindered by racial stereotyping, discrimination, and invisibility. Black social worker voices also highlight suggestions for best practice and guidance for the social work sector about how to improve. By centering these underrepresented voices, this article provides an opportunity to acknowledge and begin to rectify the barriers and challenges that Black social workers face.

Inclusion and Accessibility: The Explosion of the Art Song Canon

Abstract: We are living in a time of unprecedented growth in classical music repertoire. The global crisis of inequity and exclusion has necessitated changes throughout cultural and educational institutions, challenging the conventions of curricular teaching, performance traditions, and genre parameters. Consequently, the canon of art song repertoire has exploded with a wealth of underrepresented voices and their champions. This column acknowledges art song’s capacity to break down barriers of bias and prejudice, while celebrating some people and publications that are paving the way for a vibrant and inclusive world of vocal repertoire.

Love is love: Reverse isomorphism and the rise of LGBTQ+ romance publishing

In the late 2010s, US romance publishing underwent an astonishing change. Previously, same-sex couples were all but nonexistent in romances released by major publishers. By 2022, every large publisher in the United States issued romances featuring same-sex couples: A few also published bisexual, trans, or polyamorous romances. This article turns to neo-institutionalism to analyze how processes of isomorphism contributed to this change. Through interviews with 10 authors and 7 editors, we show how specific mechanisms associated with isomorphism—coercion, mimesis, and normative pressures—explain this major shift. Contrary to prevailing literature, we find that structural innovations moved from publishing’s periphery to its core in a process we call reverse isomorphism. We contribute to discussions of representation in media by showing how social, organizational, and institutional processes facilitate or suppress underrepresented voices. At the same time, we caution that new structures may create new types of marginalization.

Uncovering power asymmetries in North-South research collaborations – An example from sustainability research in Tanzania

North - South collaboration between scientists and collaborators is increasingly prominent and promoted in research. This study examines power dynamics within a North-South research collaboration project conducted between institutions in Tanzania and Germany. The research design is guided by postcolonial considerations of knowledge production and seeks to amplify underrepresented voices from the South. The analysis reveals power manifestations in project setup, processes, and outcomes, through three perspectives: resources, social relations, and discourses. The study confirms the prevailing impression of the Northern partner as the donor and conceptualizer, directing the research path, while the Southern partner remains in a peripheral position as the local implementor. Both parties benefit from the collaboration, but the Northern partner gains more in terms of academic recognition and reproduction, furthering the asymmetrical power distance. This study concludes that to approach the ideal mutual knowledge co-production, collaborations should reconsider funding structures, question ways of knowing, increase the importance of equal capacity building, and challenge established Western academic knowledge production structures.