Responsibility Of Women Research Articles

Exploring the experiences of the overburden of water collection responsibility of rural women in Ghana

ABSTRACT Despite evidence emphasizing women's responsibility for collecting water in sub-Saharan Africa, more needs to be known about the gender-specific consequences of this obligation, especially in rural Ghana, where water inaccessibility is a persistent issue. Employing a community-based case study, this research aimed to explore the gendered consequences of women's water collection responsibility, using a coupled systems framework. Data were gathered from surveys and focus groups and analysed statistically and thematically, respectively. Key findings highlighted intersecting influences in women's water access and collection difficulties, including distance to water sources, poverty, and health issues. Results revealed that over 50% of women experienced multiple consequences, including physical and psychological injuries (>80%), animal attacks (≤12%), spousal violence (>40%), nutritional challenges (>30%), hygiene problems (>40%), and socioeconomic issues (>50%). Over half faced three to seven intersecting water-related consequences, which intensified their difficulty in accessing and collecting water. Differences were observed across sub-communities. Interestingly, not all men had knowledge of these consequences, highlighting the crucial need to broaden their understanding as part of the solution to ease women's burdens. Addressing sociocultural norms and the various factors influencing access through effective and gendered water management and planning is imperative to alleviate women's burdens and improve equitable access.

Health Workers' Attitudes Toward Adverse Gender Norms and Implications for Young People's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Nigeria.

Adverse gender norms within the health care system are detrimental to the sexual and reproductive health of young people. This study assessed the attitudes of health workers toward adverse gender norms related to intimate partner relationships across three domains: intimate partner violence (IPV); sexuality; and reproductive health behavior. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among 255 health workers in youth-friendly primary health centers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Attitudes to gender norm statements were assessed on a 3-point scale of agree (3 points), partially agree (2 points), and disagree (1 point). Mean attitude scores were estimated for each statement and the predictors of attitudes were determined through multiple linear regression analysis with p-value set at .05. Majority of the health workers held gender biases regarding male control over sexual decision-making, men's higher desire and value for sex, and the woman's responsibility to prevent pregnancy. Over 40% of the respondents associated women carrying condoms with promiscuity, and 39.6% believed that only men have the "social" rights to purchase condoms. Urban residence predicted health workers' attitudes to adverse gender norms related to sexuality (β = -.179, p = .003). Findings from this study provide a basis for in-service training programs that are designed to change the attitudes of health workers to adverse gender norms and transform their practices.

Exploring Gendered Relational Dynamics in Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study on Women Professional Caregivers in India.

The gendered dynamics in palliative care settings in India are deeply influenced by societal norms, which position caregiving primarily as a woman's responsibility. This study explores the experiences of women caregivers in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, to understand their challenges and strategies. This qualitative study used a narrative approach to investigate the lived experiences of 38 women caregivers from six palliative care institutions in Bengaluru. Semi-structured interviews conducted in Kannada captured the nuances of their caregiving roles. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes related to caregiving challenges and coping mechanisms. The study reveals that women caregivers face significant burdens due to societal expectations and institutional constraints, including resource shortages and limited professional development opportunities. Despite these challenges, the women demonstrated resilience through strong social networks, spiritual practices, and effective time management. However, relying on informal support systems highlights a gap in formal institutional support. The findings emphasise the need for comprehensive support systems within palliative care institutions that address the practical and cultural challenges of caregiving. Future research should include a more diverse sample, including male caregivers, and explore the evolving nature of caregiving challenges.

Patriarchal Influence on Contraceptive Use and Reproductive Decision Making: A Study on Selected Areas in Sirajganj District

This study explores the relationship between contraceptive use, reproductive decision-making, and patriarchal influence in rural Bangladesh, focusing on deeply rooted gender norms and power structures. Using a cross-sectional qualitative and explorative research methodology, data were collected from 50 respondents, both male and female, in Chandaikona and Debrajpur villages in Sirajganj District through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The findings reveal significant gender disparities in contraceptive use, with women bearing the primary responsibility due to societal norms and male dominance. While previous research has emphasized women's roles in family planning, this study uniquely addresses how patriarchal norms influence men’s involvement in contraceptive use. The results show that men, despite their significant role in decision-making, are reluctant to actively engage in family planning, perpetuating traditional gender roles. Additionally, instances of domestic abuse and coercion in reproductive decisions highlight women's vulnerability within patriarchal households. The socio-cultural stigma surrounding male contraceptive use further reinforces the imbalance, supporting the belief that contraception is mainly a woman's responsibility. The study underscores the urgent need for inclusive and equitable reproductive health programs that engage both genders. By addressing patriarchal norms and advocating for comprehensive reproductive health education, Bangladesh can progress towards a more egalitarian society where individuals have autonomy in making reproductive decisions. The findings emphasize the necessity of interventions to empower women and challenge traditional gender roles, ensuring more balanced and informed contraceptive practices within communities.

Fungsi Laten dan Fungsi Manifes Wirausaha Perempuan terhadap Pembangunan Ekonomi di Kota Sabang

This research aims to determine the manifest and latent functions of women entrepreneurs and what impacts they have on economic development in Sabang City. This research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. Based on the analysis results, it can be concluded that the latent function and manifest function always appear in every condition. This can be seen from (1) Difficult economic factors have proven to encourage female entrepreneurs to get involved in the business world. For the government this is a desired function (manifest function). However, for women's personal lives, this is an undesirable function because it causes women's duties and responsibilities as wives and mothers to increase. (2) Environmental factors, the support of the women's entrepreneurial community is also a strength in women's entrepreneurship. This is certainly a manifest function for economic development in Sabang City. However, it is a latent function for the individual woman herself due to (3) Family Factors, women who are entrepreneurs are proven to be more productive, can also make the family prosperous and increase regional income (manifest function). Meanwhile, in terms of parenting, it becomes an obstacle due to dual roles. Thus, these three factors are a manifestation of a social system that is considered functional for a group, but this can also be non-functional for other groups.

A Study of Work-life Integration for Women Entrepreneurs

A Study of Work-life Integration for Women Entrepreneurs

THE EVOLUTION OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN THE JORDANIAN LEGISLATION: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINED PROGRESS

Purpose: To analyze and evaluate the impact of the most recent legal reforms in the Jordanian laws aimed at protecting women’s rights. Theoretical Reference: By employing human rights and critical legal studies as theoretical frameworks, the research provide a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of women's rights in Jordanian legislation, identify key challenges, and propose strategies for sustained progress towards gender equality. Method: The research method used is Doctrinal Legal Research, analyzing laws, regulations, statutes, and legal documents to understand the structure of the law and its applicability to the intended purpose. Results and Conclusion: The research provided in-depth analysis of the progress in protecting women rights in CEDAW reservations, the Jordanian constitution, and major national laws: nationality law, personal status law, civil service law, and labor law. Beyond legal changes, it's vital for the government to view laws as protective measures and actively combat indirect discrimination against women, shifting focus from mere legal neutrality to acknowledging and supporting women's roles and responsibilities in society. Implications of research: Overall, studying the evolution of women's rights in legislation provides valuable insights into the progress, challenges, and opportunities for advancing gender equality and human rights within societies. Originality/value: Recent reforms in Jordanian legislation, notably the latest constitutional amendment, highlight the importance of assessing the status of women's rights in the country. While there are concerns about the perceived limited progress in legal protection for women, there is a critical need for comprehensive analysis of recent amendments to enrich global literature on this significant issue, emphasizing the necessity of updating existing literature with relevant, current information.

Representasi Feminisme dalam Serial Film The Queen’s Gambit: Analisis Semiotika John Fiske

Gender inequality is a serious problem in the world that gives rise to feminist thought. Mass media such as series represent the reality of life to convey messages such as the issue of feminism. The Queen's Gambit is a series that tells the story of Beth Harmon, an intelligent woman who takes part in a chess match between men. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with the collection of observational data as primary data, interviews and documentation as secondary data. This study uses John Fiske's semiotic analysis by analyzing reality and representation to get the ideology of feminism in the main character of this series. The results of the study there are five scenes that represent feminism. The results of this study indicate the reality code in this series through appearance, costume, make-up, behavior, environment, speech, gesture, and facial expressions. Code representation such as camera, lighting, editing, music, sound effects, narration, conflict, character, action, and dialogue, as well as ideological code, there are feminist ideologies such as women's intellectuality, women's rights and responsibilities, women work to achieve transformation, rejection of women's existence under men, and women's representation in achieving social transformation in society.

Exploring the Root Causes of Inequality and Gender Issues in Current China Based on Existence Theory

Much of gender inequality has its roots in differences between men and women in society. In addition to the difference in the sexual division of labour, the difference is rooted in the roles and relations constructed by society. Inspired by Chizuko Uenos writing, the author intends to explore the inequality and gender issues that could not be ignored. This article takes advantage of the existence theory, a new sociological theory, to explore the root causes of gender inequality in current China. This article also compares the existential milestones of men and women and uses contradictory milestones to explain gender inequality and inequality in different social classes. In addition, the article discusses why the common perception that taking care of families is women's natural responsibility exists in modern society. Finally, the article points out some legislation approaches to address gender inequality and compares the progress of feminist awareness in China and abroad, hoping to push the development of gender equality.

Women's entrepreneurial resistance to the COVID-19 pandemic inside handloom family enterprises: a case study of West Bengal, India

PurposeIn light of the COVID-19 pandemic's economic effects, this paper focuses on how home-based women artisans running their family businesses plan their operations to function in the “new normal” environment. The paper emphasises the adaptability and reorientation of business strategies displayed by women entrepreneurs in response to the changing work environment. The paper argues that the women's sense of agency after years of running the family business enables them to bargain and offer passive resistance to the family's power, with the latter aiming to curtail their entrepreneurial gains as the men return to their homes after losing their jobs with the onset of the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe research draws from a qualitative study that was conducted employing field surveys and in-depth interviews with the women entrepreneurs in four important handloom clusters in Nadia, West Bengal (India) in 2022. The empirical evidence is gathered from five months of extensive ethnographic study with 66 home-based women entrepreneurs belonging to 26 handloom family enterprises. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews and the following narrative analysis have been used to comprehend the complex and dynamic conception of female entrepreneurship and women's agency to pivot business strategies during the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsAs a result of the abrupt suspension of the textile industry and the partial or total closure of the traditional and contemporary markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic, women from family handloom enterprises are taking steps to strengthen their entrepreneurial resistance. Although women entrepreneurs had spent years running the family business in the absence of their husbands, the pandemic exacerbated the deep-seated gender disparities within the family when social norms threatened to undo the hard-won progress made by them. However, their sense of agency enables them to plan well and resist the patriarchal onslaught with a variety of potentials, utilising tools of active and/or passive resistance within an environment of concrete limits and oppressions.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature on women's entrepreneurial capacity by focusing on how the COVID-19 crisis and changing market demands enable gendered reactions in family enterprises. While men, back home after losing their jobs, choose to strengthen their individual identities and power positions by trying to retain control over the family business, women contribute to collective actions for enhancing the resilience of the community by pivoting their business strategies and implementing new ideas to suit new market conditions. Women thus play a central role in fostering social cohesion, helping build and maintain relationships, promoting empathy, and creating a sense of belonging, which strengthen community bonds and cooperation. The paper shows how women's entrepreneurial resilience and responsibility provide an important basis for organizing sustainable collective action for the survival of the artisanal community during crisis situations.

Refocusing on Gender Roles in Agriculture and their Impact on Household Food Security: An in-depth Analysis of Chosen Wards within Kisarawe District, Tanzania

The research conducted in selected wards of Kisarawe, Tanzania, aimed to examine the interplay between gender dynamics, agricultural endeavors, and household food security. The study objectives encompassed identifying gender-based roles in ensuring food security, evaluating the contribution of agricultural activities to food security, and elucidating the intricate relationship between gender, agricultural practices, and household food security. Employing a descriptive correlational design, data was gathered from a randomly chosen sample of 308 respondents. Data collection involved the use of researcher-designed questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The analysis encompassed descriptive statistics, which included frequency counts and means, as well as Pearson linear correlation coefficients. The research findings underscored a significant relationship between gender roles, agricultural activities, and household food security. Consequently, it was deduced that the primary factors contributing to food insecurity in Kisarawe, Tanzania, encompassed unequal ownership of productive assets, the burden of women's domestic responsibilities, limited decision-making opportunities for women, an absence of labor division, suboptimal technology utilization, limited access to capital, a lack of crop diversification, and inadequate information about modern farming methods. Based on these findings and conclusions, the study suggests several recommendations. These include advocating for equitable resource ownership, promoting gender-balanced decision-making processes, fostering an equitable division of labor, providing access to ample information, encouraging crop diversification, and advancing technological capabilities in the pursuit of enhanced food security in Kisarawe, Tanzania. Keywords: Gender, Agricultural Activities, Household and Food Security

Explaining sex discrepancies in sterilization rates in the United States: An evidence-informed commentary.

With abortion no longer deemed a constitutional right in the United States (US), the importance of effective contraceptive methods cannot be overstated. Both male sterilization (vasectomy) and female sterilization (tubal ligation) have the lowest failure rates of available means of contraception. Despite the less invasive and reversible nature of vasectomy compared to tubal ligation procedures and even though some healthcare professionals dissuade certain women, especially those who are white and/or economically advantaged, from undergoing a sterilization procedure, female sterilization is approximately three times more prevalent than male sterilization in the US. We suggest that the discrepancy in sterilization rates is attributable to the burdens of pregnancy and birth experienced by women, beliefs that pregnancy prevention is a woman's responsibility, a dearth of sex education that results in lack of knowledge and poor understanding of contraception, perceptions of masculinity in which contraception is viewed as feminizing, and the increase in long-term singlehood that shapes the desire of individuals to avoid unwanted pregnancy that may result in single parenting. Recent reports suggest that court rulings restricting abortion access and looming threats to contraceptive legality and accessibility may be prompting a national increase in male sterilization.

Women's Vulnerability on Household Water Management During COVID-19 Pandemic

Human population growth, the rapid development of urban areas, and climate change were causing a scarcity of freshwater resources. Providing water and sanitation is important to protect the health during a pandemic. However, North Jakarta still faces problems in meeting the water demands of its residents. The COVID-19 pandemic expands the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals living in poverty and without access to health services, water, sanitation, and adequate housing, especially for women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, woman's responsibilities became even heavier; aside from paying attention to their safety and health, women were often burdened with domestic roles towards their families and their responsibility for collecting water supplies for the household. This study examines the situation of women's vulnerability in household water management in the urban environment of North Jakarta, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative approach with descriptive statistical analysis was used in this study. The result of this study portrays women's vulnerability in household water management during the COVID-19 pandemic in North Jakarta in two categories, 49.26% have a high level of vulnerability, and 50.74% have a low level of vulnerability. The level of exposure, sensitivity, and response capacity assessed the vulnerability components. This study is expected to be a reference for sustainable water management, considering gender roles and conditions in urban environments, especially during disasters.

Employment Opportunities and Social Networks of Indonesian Women Migrant Workers at the Border

Purpose: Migration of Indonesian women abroad and the challenges they face have become an interesting topic recently. There has been a shift in migration rates, where women have begun to dominate this phenomenon known as the feminization of migrants. Despite risks such as violence and fraud attached to the work of migrant women, many Indonesian women still choose to work abroad due to limited employment opportunities, limited education, poverty and heavy family responsibilities. Several factors drive women's migration, such as limited job opportunities in the area of origin, changes in agricultural systems, and competition for low-paid jobs. Method: The pull factor in the destination area also plays a role in offering better job opportunities. Social networks support Indonesian women's migration, both through legal and illegal channels, providing information and assistance during the migration process. Results: Transit areas such as Tanjung pinang in the Riau Archipelago are also important exit points for women migrant workers. Research has highlighted employment opportunities and shifting migration patterns in Indonesia, with unequal employment conditions, limited employment opportunities in the agricultural sector, and economic and social changes as driving factors for migration. Conclusions: The shift from male migration to female migration is also influenced by poverty, gender equality, and women's responsibilities towards the family. This article provides a better understanding of the phenomenon of migration of Indonesian women abroad, the challenges they face, and the factors that influence their decision to migrate.

Do governments account for gender when designing their social protection systems? Findings from an analysis of national social protection strategies

AbstractThe negative impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on women's employment, care responsibilities, and access to services have motivated an unprecedented level of advocacy around strengthening national social protection systems from a gender perspective. Yet very little empirical evidence exists about what a gender‐responsive social protection system entails in practice. This paper addresses this gap through a comparative analysis of 52 national social protection strategies from primarily low‐and middle‐income countries. To analyse the gender responsiveness of these strategies, we developed an analytical framework based on international human rights standards and social policy, gender and development literature. Through presentation of the framework and our findings, this paper makes several contributions to scholarship and practice. First, our framework―the first of its kind―offers a novel conceptual and methodological contribution by enabling a systematic, comparative assessment of national approaches to social protection from a gender perspective. Second, the framework enables the systematisation of empirical evidence on the degree to which gender is integrated into social protection systems. By applying it to national social protection strategies, we identify which gendered risks and vulnerabilities are most commonly acknowledged and addressed in countries' efforts to create gender‐responsive social protection systems. We also highlight a concerning gap between rhetoric and response when it comes to gender equality in the strategic plans that governments lay out for these systems. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic cross‐country assessment of such documents. We conclude with future directions for research and practice, including the gap between recognition and action.

Invisible, Responsible Women in Sweden – Planning Pregnancies, Choosing Contraceptives

ABSTRACT In this study I explore discourses of contraception and reproduction, which are drawn upon and reproduced in Swedish official online sources on contraceptive advice, through the theoretical frameworks of biomedicalization and reproductive justice. The analysis yielded three interwoven themes: 1) women in need of contraceptives have to balance discourses of exogenous hormones as both an “unnatural” threat to their bodies and as desirable, effective regulators of the same “naturally unruly” body; 2) in search of a “perfect contraceptive fit”, it is the woman who needs to accommodate to available methods, rather than the other way around; 3) women are made discursively invisible, while simultaneously being constructed as individually responsible for reproduction. Underpinning all these themes is the discourse of rational, responsible choices, of exerting agency by choosing the right contraceptive. In the era of biomedicalization, finding a “contraceptive fit” becomes a moral and gendered health practice demanding thorough self-surveillance. The rational woman, exercising control over her reproduction and body, by planning her pregnancy with safe contraceptives, emerges as the only possible position. Recognizing that women’s and fertile person’s reproductive choices are made amid a societal context, with differing personal resources and experiences, would bring us even closer to reproductive justice.

Jinekolojik Kanser Farkındalığının Sağlık Sorumluluğu ve Sağlık Okuryazarlığı ile İlişkisinin İncelenmesi

Objective: Women's awareness of gynecological cancers is important for early diagnosis and screening. Health responsibility and health literacy can affect gynecological cancer awareness. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between women's gynecological cancer awareness and health responsibility and health literacy. 
 Methods: The study was designed as cross-sectional. Data were collected from 409 women aged 20-65 working in university units in Turkey between February 2021 and May 2021. In data collection, demographic information, obstetric, gynecologic, and general health characteristics of women, the Gynecological Cancer Awareness Scale (GCAS), the Turkish Health Literacy Scale (THLS-32) and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II/ Health Responsibility Subscale were used. Descriptive, comparative and multiple regression analyzes were conducted. 
 Results: The total mean score of GCAS was 158.65±16.01 and 8.3% of the participants had insufficient health literacy. A significant regression model, F (df1=14, df2=394) =10.849, p< .001, and 25% of the variance in the dependent variable (R2adjusted = .25) was found to be explained by the independent variables. In the model, the variables that predict and contribute most to women's awareness of gynecological cancer are health responsibility (β= .21, t (394) = 4.35, p< .01), and THLS-32 (β= .20, t(394)= 4.33 , p< .01). 
 Conclusions: As a result, it is important to consider especially health responsibility and health literacy levels while developing intervention programs for women's awareness of gynecological cancer.

Perspectives of women on availing antenatal services in urban poor areas of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.

Background Antenatal care (ANC) is the essential regular care of women that prevents potential health problems during pregnancy. In India, the proportion of women who received four or more antenatal visits was only 51% (National Family Health Survey, 2015-2016). An even worse situation prevails in urban areas where women from poor communities face greater health risks. We assessed various barriers women residing in these areas come across in availing ANC services. Methods This study is a part of a mixed-methods, community-based study, and we report its qualitative component. We conducted the study at the residence of the study participants in September-October 2019. The study participants were women who had less than four antenatal visits throughout the pregnancy. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted based on data saturation. Data were transcribed and themes were drawn concerning the gender analysis framework. Results Through this study, we found how gender relations affect the utilization of antenatal services concerning access to resources, division of labour, social norms including the belief of husband and other family members towards pregnancy and decision-making power of women. Conclusion Our findings underline the importance of making the urban health system gender-sensitive and responsive to the needs of women during pregnancy. There is a need to educate men regarding maternal health so as to allay such social norms that label pregnancy as a woman's responsibility and encouraging them to accompany their wives during pregnancy visits, thus making men a part of antenatal services.

Female Characters in Chinese New Year Pictures of Ming and Qing Dynasties: Focusing on Taohuawu New Year Pictures

This article analyzes the female characters in Taohuawu ( 桃花坞 ) New Year’s pictures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties from the perspective of human nature. The objective is to re-examine the beauty of the women in these pictures and to provide innovative ideas and aesthetic directions for the creation of new female-themed New Year’s pictures in the future. Among those with the theme of family life, the number of works focusing on women is significantly greater than that of men, which indicates that women played very important roles in family life. However, the essential connotation of the New Year’s paintings in the Ming and Qing Dynasties can be seen as a microcosm of the real life of women in an authoritarian society. They are often situated in a position of being bound and oppressed, with their behaviors strictly restricted behind the scenes, filled with happiness and richness; thus, their human nature of human being weakened and imprisoned. Many paintings depict women educating their children or doing housework to strengthen the quality of ancient women's hard work and responsibility while they had almost little right in political life. Although there are also powerful female characters in the New Year’s pictures, such characters only exist in fictional myths and historical stories, having nothing to do with real life, which was more like spiritual hypnosis for ancient females. Therefore, the author believes that in the process of the inheritance and development of New Year’s pictures, Instead of the ancient aesthetic orientation, it is crucial to create content from a perspective of humanity. It is necessary to fully respect women's personalities and spiritual independence so as to better inherit and develop Chinese New Year’s pictures.

Representasi Superioritas Tokoh Perempuan dalam Novel Tango dan Sadimin Karya Ramayda Akmal

This study aims to describe the superiority of female characters in the novel Tango and Sadimin by Ramayda Akmal. The approach used in the study is the approach of radical feminism which emphasizes the superiority of women in the reality of literary works. The data source of this study is the novel Tango and Sadimin by Ramayda Akmal. The research data is in the form of story units or story sequences related to the superiority of female characters in the novel. Data analysis technique is done by content analysis through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing stages as the final stage of the study. The results of the study are as follows. First, the form of superiority of women in the public sphere is characterized by all the activities carried out outside the home that are earning a living to make ends meet, establishing cooperation to build a business, being able to live independently, and becoming the backbone of the family. Secondly, the superiority of women in the domestic realm is illustrated through women's responsibilities in taking care of the household, caring for and giving love, and being able to guide their children to become a better person.