Participation Of Women Research Articles

What are the barriers towards cervical cancer screening for vulnerable women? A qualitative comparative analysis of stakeholder perspectives in seven European countries.

The aim of this study was to map and compare stakeholders' perceptions of barriers towards cervical cancer screening for vulnerable women in seven European countries. In Collaborative User Boards, stakeholders were invited to participate to identify barriers towards participation in cervical cancer screening. The study is nested in the European Union-funded project CBIG-SCREEN which aims to tackle inequity in cervical cancer screening for vulnerable women (www.cbig-screen.eu). Data collection took place in Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Portugal and Romania. Participants represented micro-level stakeholders covering representatives of users, that is, vulnerable women, meso-level stakeholders covering healthcare professionals and social workers, and macro-level stakeholders covering programme managers and decision-makers. Across the seven countries, 25 meetings in Collaborative User Boards with a duration of 2 hours took place between October 2021 and June 2022. The meetings were video recorded or audio recorded, transcribed and translated into English for a qualitative framework analysis. 120 participants took part in the Collaborative User Boards. Context-specific barriers were related to different healthcare systems and characteristics of vulnerable populations. In Romania and Bulgaria, the lack of a continuous screening effort and lack of ways to identify eligible women were identified as barriers for all women rather than being specific for women in vulnerable situations. The participants in Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy and Portugal identified providers' lack of cultural and social sensitivity towards vulnerable women as barriers. In all countries, vulnerable women's fear, shame and lack of priority to preventive healthcare were identified as psychological barriers. The study provides an overview of stakeholders' perceived barriers towards vulnerable women's cervical cancer screening participation in seven European countries. The organisation of healthcare systems and the maturity of screening programmes differ between countries, while vulnerable women's psychological barriers had several similarities.

Factors influencing clinical trial participation of women with fibromyalgia across the United States: a cross-sectional survey

ABSTRACT Although fibromyalgia is a widespread chronic pain condition where 90 percent of patients are women, they are underrepresented in Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs). We aim to describe the willingness to participate, assess different factors, and explore the impact of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on perceived barriers to trial participation. This is a cross-sectional survey targeting women with fibromyalgia. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Of the 436 women with fibromyalgia, 56 percent were very likely to participate in RCTs. Minorities expressed less interest than non-minorities, while higher pain scores, previous participation, and younger patients reported a higher interest. Barriers significantly associated with a reduced willingness were: the participant’s perception (side effects, distance, potential negative impact), the center (reputation), the trial protocol (number of visits, placebo), and trial awareness by their physician. In a multivariate analysis, older age, low education, lower income, and higher pain scores were associated with perceived barriers to RCT participation. Despite the high interest to participate, factors such as side effects, the center’s distance, number of visits, placebo treatments, and the institution’s reputation must be considered in clinical trials for women with fibromyalgia.

Slave trades, kinship structures and women's political participation in Africa

AbstractWe study whether present‐day women's political participation in sub‐Saharan Africa is associated to the temporary gender ratio imbalances caused by the transatlantic and Indian Ocean slave trades, taking into account pre‐existing gender norms influenced by kinship structures. To study the interrelatedness between historical exposure to the slave trades, patrilineality and their association to contemporary women's political participation, we use individual‐level data for 35,595 women from 28 sub‐Saharan African countries from three rounds of Afrobarometer surveys, georeferenced to historical ethnic region kinship and slave trade data. Our findings suggest that a woman's ethnic region historical exposure to the transatlantic slave trade is associated with an increase in her likelihood to vote today, however, only in non‐patrilineal ethnic regions. This effect is mitigated in patrilineal ethnic regions, where women have less decision‐making power. This paper contributes to the literature on the contemporary sub‐national effects of the slave trades and the historical causes of gender gaps in political participation.

Economic Growth and Female Participation in the Labour Market: Gender Disaggregated Data

The study aims to examine the impact of economic growth on female labour market participation in Kenya with data spanning between 1991 and 2022. Labour-force data disaggregated by gender are important to monitor the dynamic of gender inequalities in the labour market. The secondary data used to construct the time series was obtained from the World Bank and the International Labour Organization sources. The research was informed by the Feminisation U hypothesis, which describes the tendency of female labour force participation to first decline and then rise in the process of economic growth. The study used a fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) and Granger causality test to analyse the long-run effect of economic growth on women's participation in the labour market. The study results indicate that economic growth positively and significantly contributes to women’s participation in the labour market in the long run. Furthermore, the results of the control variables suggest that education has a beneficial effect on women's workforce, while women’s access to the workforce is hampered by male labour market participation, fertility rate, female self-employment and rate of urbanization. The study suggests to policymakers that the strategy to success is to facilitate education, vocational training, and social change that enable women to play the same role as men in the labour market. Finally, women must be in productive sectors and government should remove barriers to ownership of factors of production to encourage them to participate in economic activities and the labour market.

Una Coscienza Coloniale: forging imperial women in the Fascist Colonial Institute of Bologna

ABSTRACT This paper studies the Fascist Colonial Institute (ICF) of Bologna as a local space in which fascist ideals of empire, gender and class collided and were reproduced. Founded shortly before Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, the ICF served to transmit colonial consciousness to the Italian people, and, most especially, to young middle-class women. Analysis of the local Bolognese ICF, however, reveals a more complex reality. Courses designed to create fascist imperialists out of middle-class women and forge a ruling settler class for the colonies evidence that the institute used the empire as a tool to shore up gender norms in fascist Italy. The author argues that an unintended outcome of these courses was that the ICF became a space of limited freedom and of social and professional mobility for its young women participants. In addition to learning transgressive skills, these women took advantage of their affiliation with the institute, using it as a springboard for further employment opportunities. The paper is based on a rich collection of sources from the Bolognese branch of the ICF, held in the Museo Civico del Risorgimento di Bologna in the Archivio dell’Istituto Fascista dell’Africa Italiana – Sezione di Bologna.

Natural resource rents and public spending on education in Africa: Does women's political empowerment matter?

The increase in the number of women in political office is one of the most significant social trends of recent decades. Although still underrepresented, women's participation in decision-making bodies is increasing. This paper analyzes the moderating effect of women's political empowerment on the relationship between natural resource rents and public spending on education in a sample of 47 African countries over the period 2003–2020. This study employs several recent methods to effectively address the endogeneity issue, including the Generalized Method of Moments in System (GMM-S) and the Two-stage Instrumental Variables (2SIV) approach. Overall, the results show that natural resource rents reduce public spending on education, but their interaction with the index of women's political empowerment in composite and disaggregated form increases public spending on education in Africa. These results are tested at four levels of robustness, including the inclusion of additional control variables, the exclusion of outliers, and the use of alternative dependent and independent variables. We suggest improving the representation of women in African political decision-making. This could include quotas for women in decision-making bodies, mentoring programs for women leaders, and financial incentives for political parties that promote women's participation. Steps must also be taken to address structural barriers that prevent women from fully participating in political life, such as discrimination and violence against women.

Addressing Barriers to Women's Representation in Party Candidate Selections

AbstractAn analysis of Conservative and Labour Party candidate selections reveals persistent gender disparities, with the Conservative Party nominating a significantly higher proportion of men. While various factors, such as local connections and harassment, abuse and intimidation (HAI) are cited as explanations, they fail to address systemic issues within the Conservative Party's recruitment processes and organisational culture. This article argues that the focus should shift from individual women to party structures and practices that perpetuate gender inequality. Drawing on previous research and empirical evidence, it calls for institutional reforms including the implementation of quotas and greater transparency in candidate selection. Finally, it calls for a gender‐sensitive audit of party culture to address underlying barriers to women's participation in politics.

A study of political party affiliation as a means to enhance gender equality and women’s political participation in Kazakhstan

PurposeThe article aims to identify the main mechanisms for promoting more Kazakhstani women participation in the legislative authorities based on a study of the competition of political parties in 2023.Design/methodology/approachUtilizing the structural-biographical method, the article investigates the ways of increasing women’s participation in the political life of Kazakhstan. This empirical study comprises a total of 18 biographies of women deputies / candidates on party lists who were elected to the legislative body. Content analysis was also conducted to investigate the pre-election programs of the political parties.FindingsThis study has identified that political party is the main resource for promoting gender equality and involving women in the decision-making process. All 18 women deputies of the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, are members of political parties. The findings show that women candidates without party affiliation were unable to get into representative body. The results of the election campaign of 2023 provided evidence for determining the gender order in the Kazakhstani political space. The party has become an effective channel for promoting women participations in the parliament of the country. By comparison, in single-mandate constituencies no woman was able to pass to the elected body.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature of gender equality and women’s political participation in Kazakhstan and may be relevant for other countries. It also has practical significance and policy implications for the government and political parties.

Changes in gastrocnemius MTU stiffness and their correlation with plantar pressure in patients with knee osteoarthritis

BackgroundAbnormal, excessive, and repetitive knee load is a critical risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA). The gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit (MTU) interacts with foot biomechanics and is vital in cushioning the knee load. Abnormal gastrocnemius activation and plantar pressure during walking in patients with knee OA may negatively affect gastrocnemius MTU stiffness, increasing knee load. Few studies investigated the relationship between gastrocnemius MTU stiffness and plantar pressure. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in gastrocnemius MTU stiffness in patients with knee OA and their correlations with plantar pressure and clinical symptoms.MethodsThirty women patients with unilateral knee OA and 30 healthy women participants were recruited. Shear wave elastography was used to quantify gastrocnemius MTU stiffness in ankle resting and anatomical 0° positions, defined as natural and neutral positions in this study. A plantar pressure analysis system was used to collect the plantar pressure parameters on the symptomatic side in patients with knee OA. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were used to measure the severity of clinical symptoms.ResultsMedial and lateral gastrocnemius (MG and LG) stiffness on both the asymptomatic and symptomatic sides in patients with knee OA was increased compared with that in healthy participants. The MG and LG optimal cutoff stiffness in the natural position was 15.73 kPa and 14.25 kPa, respectively. The optimal cutoff stiffness in the neutral position was 36.32 kPa and 25.43 kPa, respectively, with excellent sensitivity and specificity. The MG and LG stiffness were positively correlated with the percentages of anterior and medial plantar pressure and negatively correlated with the length of pressure center path. The LG and MG were significantly correlated with WOMAC and VAS scores.ConclusionPatients with knee OA have increased gastrocnemius muscle stiffness, closely related to plantar pressure and clinical symptoms. Monitoring the gastrocnemius muscle in patients with knee OA can provide an essential basis for its prevention and treatment.

Examining the Role of Women’s Labor Participation in CO2 Emissions in Saudi Arabia

Women can play an active role in determining environmental quality, and Saudi women’s share in the labor market is increasing considerably. Women's participation is still low in the labor market, and their participation might affect the aggregated environmental situation. Therefore, we explore the effect of Women's Labor Participation (WLP) on CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2022 by employing a cointegration technique. The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) is tested and substantiated in the long run, but it is not verified in the short run. WLP raises CO2 emissions. Thus, women's labor market entry has environmental consequences. Moreover, trade openness also contributes to CO2 emissions over a long period of time. Nevertheless, its short-term impact is environmentally pleasant. The study recommends checking environmental problems out of WLP by developing gender-responsive environmental policies. So, gender equality and sustainable growth would be targeted simultaneously.

Association Between Sexual Autonomy and Reproductive Tract Infections Among Married Women in India: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Nationally Representative Sample

This study explores the links between sexual autonomy and selfreported reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among married Indian women using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021). It also investigates heterogeneous associations of sexual autonomy, intimate partner violence, husband's controlling attitudes, women's participation in decision-making, and physical mobility with RTI. Binary logistic regression models were employed to unravel the association and interaction terms introduced in the model to assess heterogeneous associations. Results suggest that sexual autonomy was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of RTIs. Women's sexual autonomy may enable their agency to practice safer marital sexual relations, which may further translate into reducing the risk of RTIs.

The impact of square dancing on psychological well-being and life satisfaction among aging women

As the most popular sport among middle-aged and elderly women in China, square dancing has both physical and psychological benefits for menopausal women. Previous studies have shown that square dance exercises can promote the physical health of older women, but there is a lack of research on the influence of middle-aged and elderly women on mental health and mediating variables. Therefore, this study starts with one of the important indicators of mental health—positive affects, aiming to explore the impact of square dance on the positive emotions of elderly women and further explore the mediating mechanisms involved. We send out The Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale to a total of 2311 middle-aged and elderly women. SPSS 23 software and PROCESS were used to perform regression analysis and establish mediation models. Modeling results show square dance exercises could positively predict positive affect through the chain mediating effect of psychological resilience and life satisfaction. The results of this study are of great significance for promoting the extensive participation of middle-aged and elderly women in sports and protecting their mental health.

THE SPARŚA PROJECT: BUILDING A COMPREHENSIVE MENSTRUAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT INTERVENTION IN NEPAL

This article addresses the pervasive silence around menstrual health management (MHM) in Nepal, emphasizing its impact on women's rights. Despite being a natural process, menstruation remains taboo, perpetuating gender discrimination and restricting women's empowerment. This study examines the lack of sufficient menstruation-related targets in international development agendas and focuses on Nepal's cultural norms concerning this issue that affect women's behaviour, health, and social participation. The paper advocates for a comprehensive understanding of women's experiences and preferences to design effective MHM interventions. It explores various strategies, including campaigns against practices like Chhaupadi, presents findings from a field survey and introduces the Sparśa project - a women-led social enterprise offering biodegradable pads to counteract menstrual discrimination across Nepal. The article emphasises the historical neglect of menstrual-related needs, resulting in adverse effects like school absenteeism and social marginalization. It highlights the crucial role of coordinated efforts and fostering knowledge-sharing to implement more impactful and comprehensive interventions in the field of MHM. The research highlights the Sparśa project's potential to transform societal perceptions of menstruation, break the silence, and contribute to women's rights. It offers insights into the challenges faced by Nepali women and provides valuable considerations for global menstrual health initiatives.

Gender Dynamics in STEM Fields: Women's Experiences in Different Cultural Contexts

Purpose: The general aim of this study was to explore gender dynamics in STEM fields particularly, women’s experiences in different cultural contexts. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the gender dynamics in STEM fields. Through a comparative analysis across diverse cultural settings, significant variations in women's experiences in STEM were revealed, with some societies demonstrating greater gender equity and support for women. However, persistent disparities and challenges related to cultural norms and gender roles were observed in others. The research underscored the intersectional nature of gender dynamics in STEM, emphasizing the interconnectedness of gender with other dimensions of identity such as race and ethnicity. Additionally, cultural stereotypes and societal expectations were identified as significant barriers to women's participation and advancement in STEM fields. The findings underscored the importance of context-specific approaches to promoting gender equity in STEM and highlighted the need for challenging stereotypes and fostering inclusive environments for women in STEM fields globally. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social Cognitive Career theory (SCCT), intersectionality theory and Cultural-Historical Activity theory (CHAT) may be used to anchor future studies on gender dynamics in STEM fields. The study provided valuable recommendations with significant implications for theory, practice, and policy. It contributed to theoretical advancements by highlighting the intersectional nature of gender dynamics in STEM, offering practical recommendations for stakeholders in education and workforce development, and suggesting policy interventions aimed at promoting gender equity in STEM fields. The study emphasized the importance of organizational change, global collaboration, and continuous evaluation and improvement in advancing gender equity in STEM. By implementing these recommendations, stakeholders could work towards creating more equitable and inclusive environments where women could thrive and contribute meaningfully to STEM fields worldwide.

Formation in coffee production: knowledge from the Coffee Farms of Ituango

This article presents Ituango's coffee producers as knowledgeable individuals who possess a wealth of valuable insights. The research methodology employed was narrative-based, designed to capture the lived and told experiences and perspectives of the growers in a participatory and dialogic manner. The narratives were grouped according to thematic affinities into two categories: technological evolution and adaptation to change; and coffee growing, a formative path. The first category contains testimonials that highlight the history of coffee growing in Ituango and perceptions about the evolution of technology in coffee production. The second category is comprised of testimonials that emphasize coffee culture as a vocation centered around family. The skills of the coffee producers were recognized in creating support networks, promoting collective work, enabling continuous learning, promoting women's participation in coffee farming, and fostering critical thinking to adapt to technological advances in their environment. All these contributions from coffee growers are significant in the global coffee chain sustainability.

The nonlinear road to happiness: Making sense of ESGD impacts on well-being

This study examines the heterogeneous impact of environmental, social, governance, and digital (ESGD) factors on subjective well-being across 86 countries from 2005 to 2019, using Method of Moments Quantile Regression. The results reveal complex, nonlinear relationships between ESGD factors and well-being. CO2 emissions display an inverted U-curve, suggesting eventual negative impacts after initial gains. Our findings suggest that renewable energy only benefits higher quantiles, revealing affordability issues. Social and governance factors like labor participation and women's political participation relate nonlinearly to well-being across income levels, reflecting employment quality and social norms differences. Similarly, digital factors improve well-being in high-income countries but not lower-middle-income nations, due to economic complexity gaps and the digital divide. A “digital economy paradox” emerges where more digital skills combined with limited digital economies decrease well-being in lower-middle income countries signifying the need for tailored digital policies. This study enhances understanding of links between ESGD factors and well-being patterns.

Farm Women Participation in Natural Resource Conservation: Technology Adoption Study in Semi-Arid Regions of India

Background: Semi-arid regions (SARs) of India are characterized by limited rainfall and often prone to droughts. These regions typically receive moderate to low levels of precipitation, making agriculture and water availability significantly challenging. In India, 55% of population is engaged in agriculture and its allied activities. Despite making a significant contribution to livelihoods, the sector continues to face challenges as soil degradation and resource depletion have reduced crop and livestock outputs. To mitigate the effects of land degradation and conserve rainwater, government has taken significant measures to make natural resource conservation a priority throughout the country. To conserve the natural resources, women are always playing an important role as they are always involved in agricultural activities. Methods: The study was undertaken to investigate the role of women in Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) in 3 SARs of India. The purposive sampling was done as watershed beneficiaries were selected as sample respondents. Result: The results revealed that majority of women (55%) had a medium level of technology adoption. Multiple regression analysis revealed that women’s age, education, farming experience, risk bearing, social participation and cost-effectiveness were influencing the adoption of SWC technologies in watersheds. The correlation analysis reflected that out of sixteen factors, eleven factors namely age, education, farming experience, land holding, risk bearing, social participation, agro advisory and weather advisory, skill development, ease of use and cost effectiveness significantly affected the adoption of SWC technologies.

Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Cloud Infrastructures: Policy Recommendations for Enhancing Women's Participation in the Tech-Driven Economy

This study investigates the underrepresentation of women in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, and Cloud Infrastructures, exploring the barriers and challenges they face and assessing the effectiveness of current policies and initiatives to promote gender diversity within the tech industry. Employing quantitative research methods, the study used a survey distributed to 572 female professionals in tech-related roles across various industries, achieving a 67.9% response rate. Multiple regression analysis was utilized to test four main hypotheses concerning barriers to entry and advancement, the inclusivity of educational programs, the impact of diverse teams on innovation and performance, and the effectiveness of gender-inclusive policies. Key findings indicate that the type of organization and specific tech sectors significantly influence the barriers experienced by women. Notably, gender diversity within teams correlates strongly with improved innovation and performance. However, educational and training programs often fail to be sufficiently inclusive, underscoring the need for programs better tailored to women's needs in tech fields. Moreover, the study confirms that implementing gender-inclusive policies substantially increases women's participation in tech roles, especially when these policies are applied long-term. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for adopting comprehensive, inclusive practices at organizational and educational levels, promoting diversity in team composition and leadership, committing long-term to effective policy implementation, and developing supportive networks through mentorship and sponsorship programs. These measures are aimed at reducing gender disparities and enhancing the integration of women into the high-tech economy. The study underscores the critical role that strategic policy-making and organizational change play in fostering an inclusive tech environment that not only addresses gender disparities but also enhances overall industry innovation and performance.

Gendered processes of recruitment to elite higher educational institutions in mid‐twentieth century Britain

AbstractThis article uses rare and detailed data on matriculants to the University of Oxford during the middle decades of the twentieth century as a prism through which to consider gendered processes of recruitment to elite institutions. The article makes four key claims. First, the broader shifts in middle‐class women's labour market participation in the mid‐century are reflected in patterns of maternal occupation among matriculants, shifting from being predominantly housewives to professionals across the period. Related to this, the fathers of matriculants had similar professions whether their child was male or female, but mothers’ professions varied much more between male and female students. There was much more variation between mothers and fathers of students who attended what we term ‘elite’ schools. Finally, across the mid‐twentieth century, the number of male students from elite schools declined significantly, whereas the number of women students who had attended an ‘elite’ school was much steadier. Given the centrality of Oxford for processes of elite recruitment, these trends in their matriculants will have far wider implications for who gets access to elite positions in the decades after these shifts were occurring, revealing in some ways the continuity of class privilege and the increasingly salient role of mother's occupation in processes of elite reproduction.

Contribution of Women in Political Movement of Nepal

This article explores the extraordinary contributions made by women to Nepal's political movement, demonstrating their fundamental influence on the political climate of the nation. The study investigates the varied political activism of Nepalese women through an analysis of historical accounts, academic research, and direct testimonies. In Nepal, women have been instrumental in political movements, community mobilization, and advocacy for social and political change. They have actively taken part in protests, rallies, and neighborhood campaigns, pushing back against patriarchal conventions and clamoring for equitable participation in governmental organizations. In order to advance gender equality and women's rights in the political sphere, the article examines the effects of women's organizations, women-led projects, and female activists. It looks at their initiatives to remove social constraints, boost women's political participation, and combat gender-based prejudice. This article also examines the obstacles women have had to overcome while examining the crucial role they have played in Nepal's political movement and their contributions to constitutional changes. The paper offers insights on the empowerment of women within the Nepali political system by a thorough analysis of scholarly research, historical records, and documented experiences.