Abstract: The rapid proliferation of digital technologies has transformed the landscape of gen-der-based violence globally. This quantitative study used an online survey to explore the experiences of women with disabilities in relation to technology facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in South Africa. Findings from 204 participants highlight patterns across age, province, education, employment, income, disability type, and forms of TFGBV experienced. They show that cyberbullying, hacking, and hate speech were the most prevalent forms of TFGBV, disproportionately affecting women with various disa-bilities. The study further reveals how socioeconomic disadvantage manifested in limited access to secure technologies, digital literacy, and support systems intensifies exposure to harm and constrains access to justice. The study calls for inclusive, power-conscious ap-proaches to research, policy and interventions that centre lived experiences of women with disabilities. Addressing TFGBV in LMICs therefore requires not only legal reform and digital safety initiatives but also broader strategies for socioeconomic empowerment and systemic transformation to end gendered-disability violence in both the material and virtual world.

Abstract: This study examines structural patterns in the governance of non-normative gendered bodies in China across distinct historical and contemporary contexts. Rather than asserting a direct causal lineage, we analyze recurring regulatory mechanisms that characterized the governance of imperial eunuchs and are discernibly present in the contemporary governance of transgender individuals, two populations separated by time and circumstance but subject to comparable logics of moral classification, familial surveillance, and institutional scripting. We introduce Confucian biopolitics as an analytical lens to describe governance that operates through li (ritual propriety) and xiao (filial piety) rather than solely through juridical or biomedical systems. This lens does not propose a new totalizing theory; rather, it reorients existing biopolitical frameworks toward the kinship-based, morally-inflected power structures that have historically characterized Chinese governance of bodies. Drawing on three complementary methods (archival analysis of Qing legal and administrative sources, exploratory GIS spatial analysis of institutional distributions, and computational text analysis of Ming Shilu chronicles and Chinese Wikipedia articles on transgender and LGBT topics), we identify structural regularities rather than claim continuity of intent or transmission. Comparative cases from the Ottoman Empire and Tokugawa Japan help distinguish China-specific features from more general patterns. Findings indicate that both eunuchs and transgender individuals were governed through mechanisms centered on familial legitimacy, bodily classification, and moral-ritual normalization. Spatial analysis of contemporary LGBTQ+ NGOs reveals significant geographic clustering (I = 0.735, p < .001) in coastal metropolitan areas, mirroring the spatial isolation mechanism identified in imperial eunuch governance, with Beijing functioning as the dominant institutional hub. Computational text analysis identifies discursive resonance: the term 妖 (demon/monster, χ²(1) = 0.07, p = .788, n.s.) and 欺骗 (deception, p = .863, n.s.) appear at statistically indistinguishable rates across six centuries of text, while terms for psychiatric pathology (精神病, p < .001) and discrimination (歧视, p < .001) are exclusively contemporary—evidence of diagnostic translation within a persistent moral register. The study contributes to gender history, comparative sociology, and digital humanities by offering a multi-method framework for identifying structural recurrences in governance logics across historical ruptures. We conclude with policy implications focused on familial and linguistic mechanisms of stigma, which historical analysis identifies as the most durable sites of governance.

Abstract: (1) Background: The non-consensual dissemination of intimate images constitutes a severe form of online gender-based violence (OGBV) that inflicts profound harm on victims' sexual privacy, psychological well-being, and social functioning. Taiwan enacted comprehensive legislative reforms in 2023—commonly referred to as the "Four Acts on Sexual Violence Prevention"—to strengthen criminal responses and expand victim protection mechanisms. However, the extent to which these reforms have translated into effective frontline practice remains insufficiently examined. (2) Methods: This qualitative study employed reflexive thematic analysis to investigate frontline professionals' experiences with enforcing intimate image offence legislation and delivering victim support services. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 practitioners—including social workers, police officers, prosecutors, and lawyers—between August and November 2024. (3) Results: Three superordinate themes emerged across macro, meso, and micro structural levels. At the macro level, limited public awareness and persistent victim-blaming attitudes undermine prevention and reporting. At the meso level, legislative fragmentation, digital evidence challenges, and inter-agency coordination gaps constrain enforcement capacity. At the micro level, procedural delays, risks of secondary victimization, and perceived inadequacies in compensation mechanisms weaken victims' trust in institutional responses. (4) Conclusions: While Taiwan's legislative reforms represent a significant institutional advancement, legal reform alone is insufficient to address digital sexual violence effectively. Comprehensive responses require integrated public education initiatives, enhanced inter-agency coordination, strengthened digital investigation capacity, and trauma-informed victim protection practices across all structural levels.

Abstract: ABSTRACTIntimate partner violence is a serious public health issue with detrimental consequences on the victim's health. This study explores the perspectives of mental health professionals on their role in supporting women who seek help following the experience of intimate partner violence in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The findings highlight the association between the experience of violence, poverty, lack of access to health services, and rural women's limited ability to escape abuse and recover. These structural factors contribute significantly to poor health outcomes, as this study found barriers preventing rural women from receiving counselling following the traumatic experience of abuse. Most notably, our findings uncover the impact of the shortage of shelters in rural areas, which often forces mothers to separate from their young children as they try to rebuild their lives after escaping the abuse. This unique insight distinguishes this study from previous work on this topic. The findings reveal a major gap in the public health response to intimate partner violence in rural areas of the Eastern Cape, particularly regarding the lack of accessible shelters for rural women. The study concludes that addressing the major shortcomings in the public health response to abuse of women in rural areas is critical to address poor health outcomes for women. We recommend increasing the quantity of shelters across the Eastern Cape and making them accessible to rural women and their children.

Abstract: Sexual objectification is the treatment of a person as a body or a collection of body parts that are valued primarily for their sexual appeal. The main purpose of this study was to determine the relevance of sexual objectification to women's health and well-being across the life cycle, from middle adolescence to old age. Additionally, the relevance of age and education to sexual objectification and its association with traditional gender role attitudes was examined. The study was cross-sectional and the sample consisted of 6,112 Spanish women between the ages of 16 and 85, who were assessed using seven questionnaires and scales. The results showed that lower age and lower number of children were associated with greater importance of sexual and physical attractiveness and with a more sexualized image, although there were no differences between adolescent and emerging adult women. Greater importance placed on sexual and physical attractiveness, as well as total sexual objectification, was associated with greater mental distress, lower psychological well-being, lower life satisfaction, and lower self-esteem at every life stage. Greater importance placed on sexual and physical attractiveness was associated with more traditional gender role attitudes among all age groups, except for older women. We conclude that sexual objectification is a threat to women's mental health and well-being.

Abstract: Heavy drinking is prevalent in young adulthood, yet its relationship with psychosocial well-being remains com-plex. This study examines the association between heavy drinking and social isolation among young adults and tests whether this relationship varies by sexual orientation. Using pooled, nationally representative data from the 2022 and 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), we analyzed adults aged 18–29 (N = 723). Perceived social isolation was measured using the PROMIS Social Isolation Short Form. Weighted multivariable linear regression models assessed interactions between sexual orientation and heavy drinking occasions (0 vs. 1+), adjusting for sociodemographics and psychological distress. 45.5% reported heavy drinking. Lesbian/gay (B = 5.39, p < .001) and bisexual (B = 1.49, p < .001) young adults reported higher isolation than straight peers; heavy drinking was inversely associated with isolation (B = −1.34, p < .001). A significant interaction indicated that among lesbian/gay young adults, heavy drinking was associated with lower perceived isolation (B = −5.90, p < .001). These findings suggest that alcohol-centered social spaces may play a distinct role in fostering community belonging for lesbian/gay young adults. Interventions should account for the social meanings of alcohol use to avoid unintentionally increasing isolation among sexual minoritized populations.

Abstract: The role of women in conflict and peacebuilding has been insufficiently explored, despite their substantial contributions. Women’s experiences during conflict frequently strengthen communities in post-conflict settings, where they play a crucial role in mediation, reconciliation, and transitional justice, drawing on their social capital and knowledge of international law. This paper examines the intersection of religion, gender, and development through a case study of Guinea-Bissau, a paradigmatic example within the Lusophone world. It analyses women’s participation in political power from the struggle for independence to the present, highlighting their evolving social and political roles. The family institution, which is central to Guinean society, assigns women significant responsibility and commitment, reinforcing their leadership through long-standing traditional alliances. Using a historical approach complemented by a gender perspective, the study identifies both progress and regression in the country’s development, closely linked to women’s participation in public spaces as an indicator of democratic quality and social advancement. The analysis focuses on four key outcomes: food security; improved access to basic services such as health, education, and nutrition; enhanced resilience of rural communities—particularly women and youth—to climate and socio-economic challenges; and the strengthening of social protection systems. These priorities align with Guinea-Bissau’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, and 4, and inform emerging approaches to international cooperation centered on resilience and vulnerability.

Abstract:

As high rates of sexual violence worldwide have increasingly been met with educational initiatives promoting sexual consent as a core preventive strategy, it becomes crucial to understand how consent is actually conceptualized in specific sociocultural contexts. This study examines how adult women in Chile conceptualize sexual consent and how their understandings align with, expand or diverge from the definition promoted by the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), one of the more wide-spread accounts. Using a therapeutic writing methodology designed to support emotional safety and reflective depth, 34 women completed a collective writing workshop. For this paper, the main writing exercise was analyzed through thematic analysis. Results show three overarching themes: sexual consent as a self-directed and desire-aligned experience; the intricacies of giving in to sexual encounters as shaped by social expectations, emotional pressures, and relational considerations; and the tensions when differentiating consent from giving in, a distinction experienced as meaningful yet fluid and learned over time. Together, these findings reveal that Chilean women’s conceptualizations of sexual consent extend beyond normative international models, highlighting the need for attuned consent frameworks and educational approaches designed to prevent sexual violence.

Abstract: Although Palestine ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2014 without reservations, women’s participation in the labor force has stagnated over the past fifteen years, fluctu-ating between 16% and 20%. In light of the explicit commitments under Article 11 of the CEDAW regarding employment, it is essential to assess the extent to which these commitments are aligned with the national legal frameworks and institutional practices to recognize their role in achieving SDGs 5 (gender equality) and 8 (decent work). This study employs a mixed-method design, where quantitative findings reveal a widespread, albeit superficial, awareness of Article 11, with one-third of respondents reporting they did not attempt to review reliable sources to learn about it. In contrast, self-learned respondents showed significantly higher levels of knowledge. Qualitative results highlight the symbolic nature of reform, fragmented advocacy efforts, limited enforcement capacity, wage inequality, and the fragility of the private sector. Overall, the findings reveal a persistent gap between international commitments and domestic implementation. Strengthening legal rights, enforcement mechanisms, inter-institutional coordination, and civil society partnerships at the national level are essential to translating the normative commitments of CEDAW into tangible improvements in women’s employment outcomes and to promoting gender-responsive and sustainable reforms.

Abstract:

Stunting continues to be a significant public health issue in Indonesia, with a countrywide frequency of 21.6% reported in 2022. Rural regions like Madura encounter exacerbated hazards stemming from cultural dietary prohibitions, gendered domestic dynamics, and restricted access to reliable health information. Mothers, young brides, and children are crucial to nutritional practices but frequently hindered by patriarchal standards and digital disparities. This study examines the efficacy of gender-sensitive serious games as novel communication instruments for nutrition education and stunting prevention in rural areas.The research used a qualitative exploratory design, incorporating over thirty respondents, including mothers of children under five, brides-to-be, cadres, midwives, community leaders, and social media influencers from various villages in Bangkalan, Madura. The data were evaluated topically, emphasizing gender roles, perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI), and prospects for digital health innovation. Research indicates that although mothers pursue advice and youth exhibit eagerness for digital tools, implementation necessitates endorsement from credible sources and cultural adjustment. Serious games, augmented with gamification and nudging techniques, were recognized as especially beneficial in promoting intergenerational learning, enhancing mother–child co-play, and empowering brides-to-be in pre-parenting scenarios.The research presents a framework that amalgamates feminist communication theory, health-oriented serious games, and technological acceptance paradigms. Essential design components are localized narratives, visual gamification indicators, offline functionality, and the incorporation of religious and cultural principles. Instead than supplanting conventional networks, serious games ought to augment the roles of cadres, midwives, and religious leaders within a hybrid communication framework.The results indicate that gender-sensitive serious games can connect traditional trust-based communication with digital innovation, providing a culturally relevant approach to expedite stunting reduction and promote equitable public health outcomes in rural Indonesia.

Abstract: Gender discrimination is a pervasive and multifaceted phenomenon rooted in cognitive, emotional, and social mechanisms that operate across individual, interpersonal, and structural levels. This umbrella review synthesizes systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between 2013 and 2024 examining the relationship between gender, stereotypes, and discrimination. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searches were conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, yielding 22 eligible reviews after screening 684 records. Thematic synthesis identified two overarching domains: manifestations of discrimination and health and professional outcomes. Discrimination emerged as structural, interpersonal, and implicit, operating through institutional barriers, microaggressions, and stereotyping mechanisms. These dynamics were found to significantly affect mental health, and particularly anxiety, depression, and psychological distress, as well as physical health, including cardiovascular outcomes and maternal morbidity. Professional and social functioning were also impaired, with gender-based inequalities documented in pay, promotion, and role allocation across multiple occupational contexts. Despite consistent evidence of harm, the literature revealed limited consensus in conceptualization and a lack of longitudinal and intervention research. Collectively, findings underscore that gender discrimination constitutes both a public health concern and a systemic social mechanism that shapes individual cognition, emotion, and behaviour, demanding multi-level psychological and policy responses.

Abstract:

This quantitative study explores the attitudes toward feminism and gender equity among male university students in Bangladesh. A sample of 128 participants from STEM, business, and humanities majors rated their agreement with 12 feminist-attitude statements on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). Reverse-coded items were transformed so that higher scores correspond to stronger feminist orientation. The mean Feminism Attitude Score (FAS) was 3.74 (SD = 0.62). Slight differences emerged across academic discipline (Humanities M = 3.82; Business M = 3.70; STEM M = 3.68) and political orientation (Left M = 3.79; Center M = 3.72; Right M = 3.67). Cronbach’s alpha = 0.86 indicated high internal consistency. The results suggest moderate feminist support among educated Bangladeshi men, with minimal variation by discipline or ideology. These findings align with the alternative hypothesis that feminist attitudes are present but not uniformly realized. Implications for gender education and policy in Bangladesh are discussed.

Abstract: This review synthesizes the latest evidence on whether and how gender responsive disaster management improves disaster resilience and reduces impact, identifies mechanisms and barriers, and highlights best practices and research gaps. A systematic literature method was adopted to identify, select, assess and synthesize research related studies. Following the literature search in tow major databases, 1,050 potentially relevant papers were identified and 50 most relevant and high-quality papers were eventually included in the review. This literature review has shown that gender-responsive disaster management is a proven strategy for improving resilience and reducing disaster impact, but further research and action are needed to address persistent gaps and ensure truly inclusive and effective disaster risk reduction.

Abstract: In this paper we describe and present the Subnational Gender Development Database. This database contains for the period 2000-2023 the national and subnational values of the Subnational Gender Development Index (SGDI), the male and female values of the Subnational Human Development Index and the underlying gender-specific education, health and standard of living indices. The subnational values of the indicators were computed on the basis of data from statistical offices and from the Area Database of the Global Data Lab, which contains indicators aggregated from household surveys and census datasets. These subnational values were computed in such a way that their population-weighted national averages are equal to their official national values, as presented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in their Human Development Reports. Subnational values for missing years have been calculated by using interpolation and extrapolation on the basis of real values. The SGDI Database contains values for the SGDI and underlying indicators for 1810 subnational regions in 166 countries.

Abstract: Drag performance, while often seen as entertainment, serves as a transformative and political act within academic settings. This study investigates the lived experiences of drag queens in a public university, focusing on the socio-educational effects of their visibility. Grounded in Queer Theory, the research explores how drag intersects with identity formation, resistance against institutional norms, political expression, and the need for community and institutional support. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive-phenomenological method and online written interviews, four major themes emerged: engaging in drag for personal development, challenging restrictive academic structures, using drag for cultural and political advocacy, and seeking peer and institutional support. These findings reveal that drag is more than performance—it is a tool for empowerment, activism, and educational inclusion. The study underscores the need for academic institutions to move beyond symbolic gestures toward genuine structural change. When drag is embraced within education, it transforms schools into inclusive spaces that affirm gender diversity and challenge oppressive norms.

Abstract: Humans, since the consciousness developed, have had been looking for and acting according to the existing differences in the nature. It has been the nature of the society to look into these differences and then assign roles accordingly. All this has resulted into emergence of social issues in society. The same dictum is reflected in the economic system of management, wherein the tasks are being given, assigned or run according to the naturally existing distinctions among the task force. Considering, Gender as one of the main ingredients among these differences, many social issues stemming from Gender Biases and Gender Inequality have raised their heads in the economic system. “Gender refers to socially constructed characters and opportunities available to men and women based on cultural beliefs or norms which are different from their biological characters” (Adegbite and Machethe 2020). It is viewed as “an ideological and cultural construct” which “is reproduced within the realm of material practices and which in turn also influences the outcomes of such practices” (Adegbite and Machethe 2020). Gender differences, hence, have had been governing the nature of economic activity since the time of realization of such differences. The studies so far confirm the relationship between Gender and economic activity across the globe and consider economics as a gendered process (Bertay, Dordevic, and Sever 2020). Same is true for the United States. Women are a driving force in the American economy, as their labor market gains and spending increased in 2023. However, there are still gender-related economic inequalities in the US which greatly impact the US economy. “In 2022, working women lost more than $1.6 trillion due to the gender wage gap, which is equivalent to 6.3% of the US GDP. Women also make up 67.9% of workers earning the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 since 2009”. Further, “the gender wealth gap” is more than “the gender wage gap, with families headed by women having 55 cents in median wealth for every dollar owned by families headed by men” (Keka 2025). These figures reflect a general scenario of existence of issues stemming from gender linked differences for the American economy. Research has been following these issues since the realization of their existence and trying to study the channels through which they impact the American economy. The most of the research is directed towards examination of gendered income inequalities in various fields however, little literature has explored or linked gender with artistic careers. This research is aimed at bridging this Gap.

Abstract: Discrimination and harassment (DH) against women are topics of broad concern to gender equality advocates. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of DH among women in Nigeria, based on seven specific forms of DH captured in the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), and to identify key socio-demographic factors associated with an aggregated DH outcome variable. Drawing upon data from 38,806 women aged 15-49, we used descriptive statistics to summarize the prevalence of DH across seven reasons and the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, followed by chi-square analysis to test bivariate associations and binary logistic regression to identify predictors. Results showed that DH prevalence among Nigerian women (18.9%) was significantly associated with socio-demographic factors such as age, education level, wealth index, marital status, and ethnicity. At the individual level, women who felt very unhappy had higher odds of experiencing DH (OR = 3.101, 95% CI: 2.393–4.018, p < 0.001) compared to those who felt very happy. In contrast, women with higher/tertiary education (OR = 0.686, 95% CI: 0.560–0.842, p < 0.001) were 31.4% less likely to face DH than those with no education. Regionally, respondents living in Zamfara (OR = 5.045, 95% CI: 3.072–8.288, p < 0.001) were over five times more likely to experience DH than those in Kano state. The findings underscore the need for policy interventions and support systems to address DH among women in Nigeria.

Abstract: Taboos reinforce socially constructed gender and sexual hierarchies that affect the expe-riences of all people- women, men, queer, heterosexual, and transgender people. In Delhi, India, institutions of heteropatriarchy, buttressed by colonial history, reproduce and naturalize limits to the agency and economic autonomy of women and queer people. How do individuals and groups simultaneously question and enlarge gendered cate-gories and experiences? Interviews with middle-class people are discussed in the context of scholarship that considers the social, political, and economic histories of the region. Interview responses are triangulated with ethnographic participation in Delhi-based events that examine and confront aspects of heteropatriarchal regulation of people re-garding categories of gender and sexual expression. Themes emerge regarding access to knowledge, economic autonomy, relationships, and family formation. The conclusion reveals ways in which the erosion of taboos and changing roles and identities affect the hierarchal gender binary, producing social tensions and paradoxes.

Abstract: With most individuals in the U.S. having regular access to internet connection and/or owning smartphones, digital communication has become an inevitable part of daily life for adults and adolescents. Consequently, forming, maintaining and ending relationships via digital media is a widespread phenomenon, however, there also is an ongoing risk of technology facilitated intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization. The current paper conducts a traditional narrative review to synthesize extant research on the nature and scope of technology facilitated IPV among Generation Z individuals. The study endeavors to find key patterns in technology facilitated IPV and examine any reciprocal association between online and offline violence victimization and perpetration. In view of the international recognition of intimate partner violence (IPV) as an important public health concern, and the further complexity presented by the rapid digitalization of communication and interaction, the paper investigates any existing association between offline and online dating violence perpetration and victimization to improve violence mitigation programs and support services for younger victims.

Abstract: Given the difficulty of measuring gender gaps in STI and research due to access to comparable information, this research aimed to measure the gender gap in research and the Gender Parity Index for the Department of Cauca, Colombia, in the calls for proposals for Minisciences 2013-2021. This approach is unique to date. The goal of the mixed-methods approach was to determine the gender parity index (GPI) and the gender gaps in research in four fundamental aspects: research area, level of training, classification of researchers and age groups. The results of the measurement were contrasted with the perceptions obtained from a focus group composed of recognized researchers from the region. The triangulation of the information indicates that the gender gaps are high and the GPI is low, whereas the researchers do not perceive the existence of the gaps, a situation that is detected in the field of administrative management and the scarcity of financial resources for research.