Women's Sense Research Articles

Religious monoglossia/heteroglossia and discourses of women leadership in Pakistani higher education

A growing body of literature reveals how women in higher education are either excluded from leadership roles or face challenges when they take such responsibilities. The role of religion in Muslim societies is vital to understand Muslim women's sense of “self” and their academic leadership roles and engagement in social and political activities. This study uses Bakhtin's writings as well as a feminist perspective in Islam to unpack how religious discourses shape and construe Muslim women's leadership roles in a public university in Pakistan. Data in this study was drawn from two sources: (a) semi-structured interviews with women academic leaders and academics and (b) focus group discussions with postgraduate students. Findings suggest that discourse around women's leadership in higher education in Pakistan is influenced by a male-centric religious monoglossia characterized by discourses on the hijab, masculinist religious epistemologies, and male-centric divine imagery. In addition, the study points to heteroglossic de-centering of the religious monoglossia by suggesting heteroglossic fluidity in Pakistani religious ethics that favors women's roles as leaders in higher education. A heteroglossic fluidity is characterized by how Islam is viewed as a national project, interpreted along sectarian and gendered lines, and often misused to discourage women from assuming leadership roles.

Do gender quotas increase political knowledge?

AbstractDo gender quotas increase political knowledge? While some studies suggest that quotas can positively impact women's political engagement and participation, others find null or negative effects. This paper focuses on Western Europe and argues that the implementation of quotas serves as an attention and consciousness‐raising event, potentially enhancing awareness of the political sphere. To investigate this, I propose a novel research design that capitalizes on the (quasi) exogenous shock resulting from the introduction of gender quotas. By influencing symbolic representation, quotas may enhance women's sense of empowerment, equality and willingness to engage in politics. Furthermore, the impact is expected to be more pronounced among younger women due to the heightened political socialization experienced during adolescence. Thus, the institutional change brought about by quotas is anticipated to particularly boost political knowledge among (younger) women and subsequently narrow the gender gap. To examine this hypothesis, I analyse data from 1992 to 2018 from 12 countries, of which six implemented gender quotas. Using a hierarchical Bayesian model, I assess respondents' answers to knowledge questions. The findings indicate that the introduction of gender quotas in parliamentary systems has a positive effect on reducing the gender gap in political knowledge among younger individuals, while the effects are statistically insignificant for older citizens.

Much more than a biological phenomenon: A qualitative study of women's experiences of brain fog across their reproductive journey.

Whilst 'brain fog' is mostly considered a biological problem little is understood about an individual's experience. This qualitative study explored women's experiences of brain fog focusing on those at the start (aged 18-25; n = 10) and end (aged 45-60; n = 10) of their reproductive journey. Descriptive thematic analysis described three themes: (i) 'daily disruptions' describing cognitive dysfunctions and the main triggers; (ii) 'the cycle of impact' with a focus on women's emotional experiences and how these can exacerbate brain fog; (iii) 'taking control' highlighting the use of self-care, physical prompts and Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) to manage brain fog. Transcending these themes was the notion of 'crisis of identity' illustrating the negative impact of brain fog on the women's sense of self with some older women describing acceptance and finding it less challenging. Brain fog is much more than a biological phenomenon and has broader implications for a woman's sense of self.

Reflections of the Soul: A Cinematic Trilogy of Forceful WomenThe Assassin, the Writer, and the Worker

Abstract: When the film and television work in the form of a "big heroine" appears, it is known that a strong female image; the woman at the peak of life, even at the top of the world, is shaped as a "sense of power woman". But the life logic of these women, the ruling logic, and the fundamental victory of the narrative logic battle can all be attributed to the space of male logic. Therefore, the representation of women's sense of power in the films and documentaries examined by the author today does not involve women who merely simulate strength through male narrative logic. Instead, it focuses on women who authentically follow their own realities. These are women who are secretive and composed assassins, talented writers, and resilient workers. They are allowed to be emotionally vulnerable, have the right to make their own choices, and genuinely embody a sense of power.

Hydrotherapy During Labor and Birth in Water: A Review of Current Researches

Hydrotherapy is one of the most nonpharmacological methods for pain management in labor, where water at different temperatures is used to treat diseases and reduce pain. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that hydrotherapy can be used in the first stage of labor, but there is insufficient evidence on the outcomes of water birth. When the effects of hydrotherapy were examined according to the stages of labor, it was determined that it had an effect on pain, anxiety, comfort level, sympathovagal balance, parenting behavior and active phase duration in the first stage of labor. In the second stage of labor; epidural and opioid use, maternal pain, episiotomy use, intact perineum, shoulder dystocia and duration of labor. In the postpartum period, it has been reported to have an effect on the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, birth satisfaction and women's sense of autonomy, shorten the duration of hospitalization and increase the rate of breastfeeding. When the effects of water birth on the newborn are examined, it is determined that it has an effect on body temperature, arterial and venous pH, while it has no effect on Apgar. Although there are various studies on water birth in the literature, more studies are needed to obtain evidence-based results. The aim of this review is to examine the current research results of hydrotherapy applied in the first stage of labor and the second stage of labor in water (water birth) in the last 5 years.

Impact of Rumination, and Dyadic Coping on Parenting Sense of Competence Among Puerperal Women in China: A Cross-sectional Study

This study aimed to explore the potential categories of parenting sense of competence and to analyze the influence of rumination and dyadic coping on the potential categories of parenting sense of competence. A total of 199 postpartum women who met the criteria were surveyed from a tertiary grade-A hospital in Shanxi (China) from May 2023 to August 2023. The instruments included the general demographic characteristics, Chinese version of parenting sense of competence scale, Chinese event related rumination inventory, and Chinese version of dyadic coping inventory. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to classify the parenting sense of competence in postpartum women, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors. The characteristics of parenting sense of competence in postpartum women can be divided into two potential categories, namely, easy-to-satisfy group (39.3%) and strict-demand group (60.7%). Logistic regression analysis showed that years of marriage, place of residence, deliberate rumination, and dyadic coping were the influencing factors of the potential categories of parenting sense of competence in postpartum women (p<.05). Through Latent profile analysis (LPA) analysis, it was found that postpartum women's parenting sense of competence exhibits different characteristics. Clinical workers should identify the characteristics and influencing factors of different categories of women and adopt targeted intervention strategies to promote the level of parenting sense of competence.

Why Women Get Divorced in Bangladesh: Exploring Individualism and Other Factors

Globally, marriage breakup or divorce has become a significant issue, and Bangladesh is no exception. The divorce rate among urban women has dramatically increased in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka City. This study aims to uncover the factors contributing to the rising divorce rate among women in Dhaka. Utilizing desk-based research and expert interviews, it critically examines the causes of marriage breakdown. The study argues that industrialization, women's empowerment, and feminist movements have fostered a rise in individualism among women in Dhaka, making them more educated and empowered compared to those in other Bangladeshi cities. This individualism serves as a deterrent against physical and mental abuse, extramarital affairs, authoritarian attitudes, and other forms of discrimination traditionally faced by women. Women's sense of individualism also fosters intolerance toward unhappy marriages, allowing them to pursue independent lives due to their financial solvency. Additionally, the study identifies other factors negatively impacting divorce-seeking behavior, including drug addiction, marital dissatisfaction over infertility or impotence, extramarital affairs due to partner absence, and the influence of social media.

"A mini home far away from home." The Thai temple and women's sense of safety in Finland.

This article explores the significance of the Thai Buddhist temple for Thai women's sense of safety in Finland. Despite the growing popularity of Buddhism in the country, research literature and media have largely ignored the religiosity of Thai women, focusing instead on negative stereotypes. The article highlights the importance of Buddhism and the temple in the lives of Thai women who have migrated to European countries and challenges biased portrayals of Thai women in previous research. Based on ethnographic research at the Thai temples in Finland and life story interviews with twelve Thai women. The article argues that the temple plays a crucial role in promoting a sense of safety among Thai women by providing a sense of home, belonging, and meaning. The temple's material and symbolic characteristics, in addition to its communality and relationality, work together to connect individuals with the temple's religious significance, contributing to the women's sense of security. These findings speak for the fact that when facing the challenges of Thai women or other religious and ethical minorities, it is necessary to also look to their religion as a source of mental and spiritual well-being.

Partner's problematic social media use, woman's time perspective, and prenatal depression.

Using social media can have negative consequences. The present study aimed to examine how the partner's problematic social media use (SMU) was related to the pregnant woman's time perspective and prenatal depression. The study included 30 pregnant women and their 30 male partners. Research was conducted twice: in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. Women completed online measures: the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory Fatalism scale (ZTPI-Fat), the Dark Future Scale (DFS), and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Men completed the online Social Media Addiction Questionnaire (SMAQ). The woman's depressive symptoms were positively associated with fatalism (r = .35, p < .01 in the first trimester; r = .49, p < .01 in the third trimester) and future negative perspective (r = .33, p < .05 in the first trimester; r = .77, p < .001 in the third trimester). Moreover, in the third trimester, women's depressive symptoms correlated positively with their partners' problematic SMU (r = .36, p < .05) and negatively with their financial situation (r = - .37, p < .05). The results of the mediation analyses showed that the more intensive the partner's problematic SMU, the stronger the pregnant woman's fatalism and, consequently, the stronger her future negative perspective, resulting in more severe prenatal depressive symptoms in the third trimester (indirect effect: β = .16, SE = .09, 95% CI [.021, .393]). Our findings show how important the behavior of the partner is for the mental health of the pregnant woman. The results suggest a possible mechanism explaining the relationship between the partner's problematic SMU and the woman's prenatal depressive symptoms. This mechanism probably consists in increasing the woman's sense of helplessness and loss of control over life, which leads to intensified future anxiety and, consequently, to depressive symptoms. Moreover, we interpreted the results to mean that the partner's time-consuming preoccupation with SMU may make the woman feel emotionally neglected. The lack of support from the partner may give rise to feelings of powerlessness, and may cause depressive symptoms.

Novel grouping of planned coping strategies for managing the intensity of labour: A survey study of Australian nulliparous women

BackgroundIt is common for women to explore and plan strategies to cope during labour. These strategies are usually focused on pain control and described as either pharmacological or non-pharmacological. As labour is an individual experience, each woman should be enabled to choose strategies that best suit them, and that reflect what they feel influences their sense of capacity to cope. AimBy exploring women's intentions and choices of strategies, this study aimed to understand how coping strategies can better reflect women's individual needs and expectations. MethodsFifty-six primiparous women were recruited from one tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia between February and May 2021. Data were collected via a survey in late pregnancy using open-ended questions. Content and thematic analyses were used to analyse responses. ResultsThemes related to how women frame the intensity of labour, how they strive for a relationally safe environment and a need to be prepared and knowledgeable. Strategies chosen by women could be grouped into two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic strategies could be self-generated by women (such as breathing techniques and movement), while extrinsic strategies required either equipment (such as a bath) or others to administer (such as epidural analgesia). ConclusionsWomen value having a range of intrinsic and extrinsic strategies that enable autonomy or require external support. This moves beyond the ‘pharmacological and non-pharmacological’ categorisation of strategies, and we propose that reframing strategies as intrinsic and extrinsic could have a number of benefits on women's sense of autonomy and utilisation of strategies. The findings provide a foundation for more targeted research into how women can be supported to individualise and implement these coping strategies in labour.

Women's Representation in Hamidullah's and Chughtai's Selected Short Stories: A Psycho-feminist Study

Even though staunch feminist writers take up responsibilities to represent them, the question of identity remains unresolved because of insufficient understanding of women’s psyche and sensitivity. This study focuses on the psychoanalytical behavior of women in phallocentric society to investigate how gender discrimination depends on the social identities of interacting parties. This study examines women’s identities in the selected short stories by Ismat Chughtai and Zaib-Un-Nisa Hamidullah to explore how women’s gender and their inhibitions create difficulties in self-representations for them. This research takes into account the South Asian socio-cultural settings in which Chughtai and Hamidullah's works are placed. Both writers have addressed the core issues related to women’s life going deep into their psychology. Employing the theoretical underpinnings of Chandra Talpade Mohanty, this research would engage with the lived experiences of the women of the sub-continent and highlight the debates and remedies to resolve their issues. The study seeks to clarify how patriarchal systems, power dynamics, and psychoanalytic processes affect women's sense of self and agency through an analysis of the women’s experiences. The findings shed light on more general concerns of gender, identity, and empowerment as well as feminist literary criticism.

The Influence of Paternal Absence During Childhood on Women's Self-esteem and Self-efficacy: A Perspective Paper

This paper explores the potential impact of paternal absence on women during their childhood by examining literature and contemporary theories. Paternal absence refers to children lacking paternal love and care due to factors such as illegitimate birth, divorce, or death. In today's society, diverse marriage concepts have led to an increase in single-parent families, resulting in a growing prevalence of paternal absence. This paper comprehensively examines the influence of paternal absence on female self-esteem using theoretical frameworks from psychoanalysis, social learning, social comparison, cognitive development, and attachment. Additionally, it highlights the significance of fathers' presence during childhood in establishing women's sense of competence through Bandura's concept of self-efficacy. The results of the study revealed that the absence of a father figure may exert detrimental effects on women's self-perception, interpersonal bonding, and development of emotional and creative competence.

The experience of bearing a child: implications on body boundaries and their link to preterm birth.

Preterm birth, which occurs when a baby is born before 37 weeks, has enormous implications for public health. It is the leading cause of infant death and mortality in children under the age of five. Unfortunately, the multifaceted causes of preterm birth are not fully understood. One construct that has received increasing attention in women's transition to motherhood is body boundaries, i.e., the metaphorical barriers that separate the self from the outer, surrounding "not self." This study aims to examine the role of well-defined and disturbed body boundaries in predicting preterm birth. A sample of 655 Israeli pregnant women reported their sense of body boundaries (BBS, as measured by the Sense of Body Boundaries Survey) pre- and postnatally. We performed a General Linear Model (GLM) testing the effect of the BBS total score on the days women delivered before their due date and controlling for whether it was the women's first child. Our GLMs controlling for whether it was the women's first child showed that the BBS total mean exhibited a significant predictive effect on the number of days delivered before the due date (F(57,313) = 3.65, p < .001). These results demonstrate heterogeneity in women's sense of body boundaries during pregnancy and are the first to disentangle a link between disturbed body boundaries and preterm birth. Mediating mechanisms in this relation, e.g., psychosocial stress, as well as clinical implications are discussed in detail.

WOMEN BEHIND WHEELS EXPLORING THE CLAY POTTERY FROM THIRUCHIGADI, NILGIRIS, TAMIL NĀDU

Black pottery made by the women of Kota tribe of Nilgiri Hills holds a unique identity of their craft and craftmanship. A group of these women potters are names as “Kov” by the natives.This research study on Black pottery focuses on the traditional art of clay pottery in Thiruchigadi, a small town in Tamil Nadu's gorgeous Nilgiris region. This study strives to reveal the historical significance, cultural context, and modern relevance of the age-old trade by focusing on the often-overlooked role of women potters. The extraordinary artistry, its evolution over ages and relevance of preserving the art and craft for the modern age. Adding lights on the sophisticated, unique, environmentally sustainable processes, designs, motifs, and the ritualistic essence that passed down through generations of female craftspeople through ethnographic observations, interviews, news articles, archival data, and research.The research shows these women's strong sense of individuality, strong spirit, added contribution to the cultural skillset and a contribution towards retaining a thriving craft legacy by examining the socioeconomic dynamics and obstacles they encounter.

Running women or women runners: Does identity salience affect intention to exercise outside and feelings of safety?

AbstractSafety concerns for women are prevalent and influence their likelihood to exercise outside. While some women modify their exercise behaviour due to safety concerns, others exercise outside more freely. In this paper, two experiments are reported with women runners to examine whether making their identity as a runner or a woman salient changed their self‐reported likelihood of exercising outside, sense of safety and personal safety anxiety. While study 1 (n = 153) found no significant experimental effect, it revealed a trend: women whose runner identity was made salient were more likely to self‐report their willingness to exercise outside than those in the gender identity condition. Study 2 (n = 236) was conducted to examine this trend further. The second study employed a larger sample size and a more robust manipulation of social identity salience. A significant effect of the experimental condition on women's sense of safety was observed. Specifically, women in the runner identity salience condition had significantly greater feelings of safety than women in the gender identity salience condition. A similar trend emerged for self‐reported likelihood to exercise outside. These findings corroborate prior research on the impact of identity salience on intention to engage in health behaviours. They contribute to the existing body of literature on the intricate interplay between women's physical activity intentions and safety concerns. Furthermore, these findings could aid in the development of interventions to increase women's physical activity levels. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

VALIDATING PRACTICES AND MESSAGES THAT PROMOTE MINORITIZED WOMEN’S ENGINEERING CLASSROOM BELONGINGNESS: AN INTERSECTIONAL APPROACH

Establishing and sustaining a sense of belonging is a necessary motivation with particular implications for student learning, including in engineering. Validation is a crucial component of the learning process, as it helps individuals feel a sense of belonging and purpose within their educational environment. Yet, there is a dearth of literature that speaks to practical classroom practices that validate women's sense of belonging without putting the onus directly on them. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine validating practices and messages that contributed to women's engineering classroom belongingness. This study used survey data of engineering students collected from nine 4-year institutions. Multiple regression analysis with interaction effects was used to understand how practices and messages differentially validated classroom belongingness when considering an intersectional lens. Our findings identified strategies that could help remedy classroom belongingness for women based on racial/ethnic representation in engineering, parents' level of education, transfer status, and institution type. Instructors have a crucial role to play in fostering student belongingness, but it must be done with attention to the different practices and messages that speak to students about their fit in engineering. Identifying specific validating mechanisms practiced by both instructors and peers can provide engineering educators with concrete strategies to continue supporting women's sense of belonging in the engineering culture. We conclude with recommendations of how to enact validating messages and teaching practices to promote classroom belongingness.

'n Interseksionele ondersoek: Godsdiens, feminisme, identiteit en behoort in geselekteerde

Religion is a common theme in Afrikaans literature. Religious references are used in many ways-during the anti-apartheid struggle it was (for instance) employed to protest the actions of the government in literary texts such as poetry. Similarly, women poets use religion, which is usually associated with patriarchy, as a metaphor for struggles with identity and belonging. Spirituality and organised religion are also shown to be differing concepts with organised religion being the product of society which influences the position of different genders within its stuctures. Spirituality refers to something inherently human related to the individual's personal belief system. In this article, religious reflections in poetry by three very different female poets will be explored as musings on how religion and belonging to a religious tradition are experienced. This will be done from the perspective of postsecular feminism, which does not revert to binary oppositions when discussing religion, but grapples with it in an intersectional way, as argued by Nandini Deo. An intersectional feminist approach will therefore be utilised to analyse selected poems of Lynthia Julius in Uit die kroes (From the kroes) (2020), of Corné Coetzee in nou, hier (now, here) (2017) and of Radna Fabias in Habitus (2018). Julius, a young black woman, and Coetzee, an older white woman, are Afrikaans poets whose work can be viewed as containing feminist ideas while also exploring the role of religion. Fabias, a black Dutch poet from Curaçao, represents a transnational example where similar themes are explored as in the work of the two Afrikaans poets, albeit from a very different intersectional position. In this article, intersections of, not just gender and race, but also culture, language, politics, nationality, age, ethnicity and identity are considered when understanding a woman's sense of belonging to a religion.

The Mediating Role of Dark Personality Traits in Explaining the Structural Relationships Between the Desire to Control Others and Women's Sense of Happiness

The Mediating Role of Dark Personality Traits in Explaining the Structural Relationships Between the Desire to Control Others and Women's Sense of Happiness

Women's perceived working conditions in the mining industry: A qualitative study.

Women's status in society has been contested over the years, with arguments centred on the deliberate marginalisation of women by ancient policies and legislations, which compelled women to assume secondary status in society. This study aimed at exploring and describing the perceptions of women on working conditions in the mining industry. A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design was followed. The study was conducted at a mining industry based in Mpumalanga Province. Ten women were purposively selected to participate in the study. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Data were analysed using Tech's method of qualitative analysis. Three themes and categories emerged from data analysis. The themes that emerged were: Benefits for women in the mining industry, work conditions-related challenges for women in the mining industry and opportunities for growth and development of women in the mining industry. Despite the employment of women in the mining industry, the women echoed that mining remains a male-dominated place of employment. The study revealed that although the mining industry is still a male-dominated environment, women are generally content to be working at the mines. A lot of transformation should take place to make mining a women-friendly place of employment. The relevance of this study for mental health is that gender equality is a risk factor for gender-based violence. Furthermore, facing discrimination can also result in anxiety and psychological trauma that can negatively affect a woman's sense of well-being and success.

Based on the Existential Feminism-Interpretation of Kim Ji Young, Born in '82

Kim Ji-Young, Born in '82 is a classic work that portrays the experiences of the main character Kim Ji-Young. The work has been turned into a film and has raised concerns about the situation of women. This paper provides an in-depth interpretation of Kim Ji-Young, Born in '82, from the perspective of existential feminism and uncovers the existentialist connotations embedded in the work. Through the analysis, this paper finds that the female body and the othering strategy of patriarchal society are the situations that women face when they engage in self-transcendence, and these two situations pose a greater threat and limitation to women's becoming a self-made beings. On the other hand, the strength of women's sense of subjectivity is also an important factor affecting women's self-realization, as evidenced by the different fates of the four women in the novel. The central theme of the novel is to answer the question of how women can achieve self-actualization, to which the novel gives two answers: the affirmation of women's existence by society; and the awakening of women themselves. Through the experiences of the heroine, Kim Ji-young, at different stages of her life, the novel shows the unfair treatment of women in different fields and roles in Korean society.