1993 research outputs found
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Cultivating Compassion for Mother Earth: Can Tonglen Offer a Path Towards Environmental Healing?
Get PDFThis study explores the viability of the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Tonglen as a mainstream eco-consciousness activity. While a substantial body of literature suggests Buddhism offers a potential environmental ethic, some even claiming that it is inherently eco-friendly, the perspectives of contemporary Buddhist teachers are largely underrepresented in the academic debate. Drawing on qualitative research with tonglen practitioners, this paper investigates how they engage with the nonhuman world in their practice and whether tonglen might contribute to meaningful community action on the eco-crisis. The study also examines the points of convergence between tonglen and Council of All Beings ritual through an autoethnographic account of the ritual, exploring shared themes, such as interdependence and notions of Self. While this study concludes Tonglen has potential as a path to eco-healing for Tonglen practitioners, it is questionable whether it would be accessible to a broad cross-section of the community. Although this is something that can be explored in further studies, this current study suggests that Tonglen requires a grounding in Buddhism’s core concepts, such as the Two Truths. This study found that Council of All Beings rituals share common themes with Tonglen and might be considered as manifestations of Tonglen, or valuable and accessible alternative to Tonglen
The Coquetterie of Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s Translator’s Note in Selections from Paroles
Get PDFLawrence Ferlinghetti’s translation of selected poems from Jacques Prévert’s Paroles was first published by City Lights in the Pocket Poet series in 1958. This, and subsequent editions published in 1965 and 1990, all contain a paratext written by the translator. Part One of this dissertation contains a detailed comparative textual analysis of the three published versions of this preface, and other elements of the publisher’s peritext. This examines the versions for any textual variations, and acts as a springboard in Part Two to unlock the potential of Ferlinghetti’s Translator’s Note, potential which can be found both inside and beyond any preconceived boundaries of the paratext. Gérard Genette’s thesis that a ‘paratextual element is always subordinate to “its” text’ is also called into question.
In examining the mythology which both Ferlinghetti and Prévert construct around their work, similarities in their narrative are uncovered, and their shared pairing of strong self-belief and relaxed indifference comes to the fore. Despite a hesitancy to credit Ferlinghetti as a reliable narrator, the story of finding Prévert’s words of resistance scribbled on a tablecloth at the close of World War II adds value and cultural significance to his translations. Ferlinghetti’s extended metaphor of occupation and resistance allows him to justify and promote his own ideology in the suggestion that writers of dissent can be seen as freeing or liberating forces. Despite the elasticity of its borders, the Note is littered with clues leading back to the ‘text’. However, the definition of ‘text’ can also be considered as elastic, not limited simply to the poems translated in this volume, but also encompassing Ferlinghetti’s work as a poet and publisher of works of ‘international, dissident, insurgent ferment.
Healthcare Disparities Among Ethnic Minorities in the UK
Get PDFBackground:
Healthcare disparities among ethnic minorities in the UK represent a significant public health concern. These disparities can manifest in various ways, such as differences in access to healthcare services, the quality of care received, and health outcomes. While these ethnic minority groups migrate to developed, high-income countries like the United Kingdom (UK), the challenges in accessing services such as GP and hospital care remain unchanged. In the UK, ethnic minorities face disparities in access to healthcare due to a complex interplay of causes, including socioeconomic status, language barriers, cultural implications, and past experiences with healthcare (NHS England, 2023). These disparities often manifest themselves in poorer health outcomes, delayed diagnosis and less positive experiences with healthcare services. The NHS Race and Health Observatory highlighted specific areas of concern, such as access to healthcare services and specialist testing.
This systematic review examines disparities in access to healthcare services among ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom and understands the underlying causes contributing to inequalities. Although there is a vast supply of literature available on disparities in healthcare services, there remains a significant gap in understanding the specific services suggested to ethnic minorities in the UK.
Methods:
This systematic review was conducted to gather material from existing research. According to the PRISMA statement, an electronic database search was performed using ProQuest and Google Scholar from 2013 to 2025. The search terms included “ethnic minorities,” “BAME,” “healthcare access service,” and “disparities in healthcare.” Also, the relevant studies were identified and critically analysed. The search encompassed various databases and included qualitative and quantitative methods.
Results:
This systematic review demonstrated a disadvantage in accessing healthcare services because certain ethnic minority groups experience significant disparities in healthcare access, leading to worse health outcomes compared to the white British population. On the other hand, disparities in healthcare access for ethnic minorities in the UK also resulted in poorer health outcomes, including higher rates of certain diseases and increased mortality. Factors like structural racism, poverty, language barriers, and cultural differences influence these disparities.
Conclusion:
The dissertation highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms to address disparities in accessing healthcare among ethnic minorities in the UK. By exploring the complexity of inequalities in accessing primary care, specialist services, and overall healthcare experiences, this research provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by ethnic minorities in their healthcare access. Culturally competent healthcare services, training for healthcare professionals, and community based interventions are essential to promote health equity for all ethnic minorities, regardless of ethnicity or background
Demonic possession and the holy spirit: insights into the contested debate of ecstatic religious experiences in Brazil
No full text‘Demonic possession’ is an ambivalent topic. While the belief in the power of spirits – including the Holy Spirit, spirits of the dead, angels, African deities, Satan and demons – is widespread, Christian theologians including Pentecostals argue that Christian cannot be demonized, and demonology is therefore irrelevant for the theological practice. However, deliverance from demons is core practice of many neo-Pentecostal churches in Brazil today. This article focuses on the experience of ‘demonic possession’ which is seen as an increasingly popular sub-category of religious ecstasy. In addition to the experience itself, the article discusses the impact of a diagnose of demonic possession, in particular when healing does not happen. While an improvement of the exorcised person is regarded as a successful exorcism, a failed improvement is interpreted as the ongoing presence of the demons. Everyone who is not healed is seen as either still under the influence of the demons or having insufficient faith. This leads to a wider discussion of the term possessão (spirit possession) and its usefulness in the ethnographic context of Brazil. The paper argues that while the term ‘spirit possession’ is an accepted academic category it has limited usefulness in the field. Inspired by fieldwork carried out in Brazil among communities of African derived religions, Spiritism, and Charismatic Christianity, the author reflects on criticism against the term possessão among religious practitioners
The Saussurean architecture of meaning in Kövecses's Extended Conceptual Metaphor Theory
Get PDFFerdinand de Saussure’s lasting impact on modern linguistics has been extensively explored, particularly his structural semiotic model, a model where arbitrary signs gain meaning through relational differences within a socially constructed system. However, the connection between this model and recent approaches to figurative meaning remains underexplored. The present study addresses this gap by examining Zoltán Kövecses’s Extended Conceptual Metaphor Theory (ECMT) through a Saussurean lens. The argument is that ECMT treats figurative meaning as motivated by bodily experience, yet not predetermined, remaining open to contextual and culturally shaped variation–thus retaining a role for a Saussurean notion of arbitrariness, but at the level of selection and interpretation rather than at the level of conceptual grounding. ECMT further reinterprets the langue-parole distinction in cognitive terms: rather than treating langue as an abstract linguistic system, it emphasises the existence of entrenched conceptual patterns that function as shared resources for meaning construction. Parole is recast as a dynamic, online semiotic process, whereby speakers construct mental spaces in real time, selectively
activating and integrating these shared patterns to make sense of situated experience. Through repeated use in discourse, some locally constructed metaphors may stabilise and become entrenched, feeding back into the shared cultural conceptual repertoire
Determinants of fish consumption among older adults in the UK
No full textBackground: Eating fish regularly can lower the risks of heart disease, brain disorders, and overall mortality, especially in older adults. Even with these benefits, older people tend to eat less fish than younger people, and the reasons behind these eating habits are not well understood. Aim: This study investigated the determinants of fish consumption among older adults in the UK. It focused on what they see as helpful or limiting factors and their beliefs about health. Methods: The study used a qualitative approach with two focus group discussions involving 12 participants aged 60 and older, recruited from a local religious organisation in Wolverhampton, UK. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews based on available literature and expert advice. The transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis to find key themes. Rigour was maintained through reflection, the use of different moderators, and repeated coding. Results: Participants explained that their fish consumption is influenced by cultural traditions, religious beliefs, family habits, and personal tastes. Helpful factors included taste, health beliefs, and convenience. Barriers included cost, difficulty in preparation, and availability. Many participants acknowledged the physical and mental health benefits of eating fish, but they also expressed concerns about quality, authenticity, and misconceptions regarding frozen fish. These results show how dietary choices are affected by a mix of personal, social, and environmental factors. Conclusion: Although older adults acknowledge the nutritional and health benefits of fish, practical barriers such as affordability, accessibility, and preparation challenges continue to limit intake. Addressing these barriers and promoting lifelong positive habits may support improved consumption and healthier ageing
Contextualising the Experiences of Mature Women Entrepreneurs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Get PDFEntrepreneurship research and international development discourses are growingly stressing
the burgeoning ageing population globally as a result of increased life expectancy. This is
believed to disrupt the demand for state social welfare systems in the coming years, which will
likely warrant significant policy adjustments to ensure sustainability. Furthermore, the ageing
population poses challenges to employment as scholars have found that corporate reluctance
to hire older individuals may lead to unemployment, poverty and social welfare dependency.
Consequently, governments worldwide are confronted with the question of how to balance the
financial pressures of supporting an ageing population. Entrepreneurial scholars have proposed
that one of the solutions is to encourage and support entrepreneurship among older adults to
alleviate the socio-economic issues presented by this increasing demography. This proposition
has influenced the emergence of a separate academic research field termed the “Mature
Entrepreneurship Literature”, also known by various terminologies within the literature as
discussed in Chapter Two.
Despite the acknowledgement of the challenges posed by this demography, the field of mature
entrepreneurship remains under-explored, especially in developing countries. Much of the
knowledge on mature entrepreneurs stems from the entrepreneurial experiences of individuals
in Western Countries, with only a few studies from non-Western Contexts. Accordingly, there
is a need to contextualise the experiences of mature entrepreneurs in developing countries to
capture the socio-cultural, political and economic contexts that are significantly unique from
the developed nations. This contextualisation is critical for adjusting policies and international
development agendas that reflect the actual needs of older adults from developing countries.
Parallel to the gap above, women’s entrepreneurship research stresses that gender and culture
significantly influence the entrepreneurial experiences of women worldwide. Mature
entrepreneurship scholars add another layer to this, arguing that age is another social identity
marker that influences the entrepreneurial experiences of women. The argument here is that
there is a generational disparity between older women and younger women that may influence
their socio-cultural world differently; hence, this heterogeneity in experience must be explored.
Likewise, studies have ignored the intersectionality of social identities, such as age, culture,
gender, etc, in exploring the nuanced experiences of mature women in business. Furthermore,
it is widely acknowledged that there are limited studies exploring the experiences of mature
women entrepreneurs in both developed and developing countries. While some of these
discussions have begun in the developed countries, in the developing countries, there is a
significant gap in research.
In light of the above gaps, this study sought to contextualise the entrepreneurial experiences of
mature women in a developing country context, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The research
employed a purposive sampling strategy to target mature women entrepreneurs aged 50 and
above alongside institutional gatekeepers representing relevant organisations. Guided by an
interpretive research paradigm, the study utilised qualitative methods, including in-depth
interviews with mature women entrepreneurs and structured interviews with the institutional
gatekeepers, supplemented by participant observations and field photography. Secondary data
was collected from a variety of credible sources, including books, journal articles, conference
proceedings, and reputable online platforms. The methodological framework adopted for this
study was grounded theory, which facilitates the development of a data-driven, context-specific
understanding of the experiences of mature women entrepreneurs in Dar es Salaam to formulate
relevant conceptual frameworks. Data analysis and interpretation were conducted thematically,
yielding several key themes.
The findings culminated in the formulation of three conceptual frameworks: the Life-Course
Intersectionality Motivation Framework, the Hierarchy of Institutional Influences and
Institutional Needs and an An Integrative Framework of MWEs’ Motivations, Challenges,
Strategies, and Policy Implications. These frameworks provide a comprehensive understanding
of the lived experiences of mature women entrepreneurs within the specific context of Dar es
Salaam. This research contributed to the field in five principal ways: Contextually (exploring
entrepreneurship in a developing country), Conceptually (constructing a conceptual framework
to explain experiences), Methodologically (using qualitative research methods), Theoretically
(adding concepts to theories like life course and Intersectionality), and Practically
(recommending policies for mature female entrepreneurship development). Furthermore, the
study offered recommendations for the SDGs, including the ageing population, especially from
a developing economic context. This study then suggested avenues for future research to
enhance the understanding of this critical demographic in various contexts.
KEYWORDS: Ageing Population, Entrepreneurship, Mature Women Entrepreneurs,
Entrepreneurial Experiences, Gender, Women’s Entrepreneurship, Culture, Developing
countries, Life-course Theory, Intersectionality Theory, and SDG goals
Brand Perception and Customer Retention of Small Medium Enterprises Clients Mediated by Service Quality: A Case Study of a Global Accounting Firm in Malaysia.
Get PDFSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Malaysian economy, yet global accounting firms face persistent challenges in retaining them, as clients often switch providers in search of value, trust, and service quality. This study addresses this practical issue by examining how brand perception influences customer retention among SME clients, with service quality acting as a mediating factor, within the context of GD Associates (a pseudonym for a global accounting firm in Malaysia).
A mixed-method design was adopted. Quantitative data were collected through a survey of 348 SME clients, while qualitative insights were obtained from semi-structured interviews with senior management of the case study organisation and selected key SME clients. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, multiple regression, and structural equation modelling (SEM). The cross-sectional design enabled testing of hypothesised relationships at a single point in time.
Findings indicate that brand perception significantly affects both service quality and customer retention, while service quality directly enhances retention. Mediation analysis confirmed that service quality partially mediates the relationship between brand perception and retention, underscoring its central role in sustaining long-term
client relationships. These results highlight that SMEs’ loyalty is shaped not only by
perceptions of brand trust and value but also by the quality-of-service delivery.
The study contributes to knowledge by situating customer retention research within a developing-country SME context, an area underrepresented in prior literature, and by integrating brand perception and service quality into a single explanatory framework. Methodologically, the application of SEM offered a rigorous test of both direct and indirect effects. Practically, the findings provide accounting firms with actionable insights to strengthen client retention strategies by leveraging service quality to reinforce brand perception. The study is limited by its cross-sectional design and single case focus, suggesting future research using longitudinal and multi-case approaches
Demands and Strategies: The Impact of Immigration on the Public Educational System in Caxias do Sul, Brazil
Get PDFGlobal patterns of displacement, driven by economic, political, and increasingly climate-related crises, have led to rising migration flows across borders. In Brazil, the recent and growing influx of Venezuelan immigrants has significantly impacted public education, particularly in the municipality of Caxias do Sul. This study investigates the educational challenges and opportunities arising from this new reality through a case study conducted in a local public school. Using a mixed-methods approach, which incorporates both qualitative and quantitative data collection, the research captures the perspectives of families, educators, and policymakers. Findings highlight the primary challenges faced by the educational system, such as linguistic barriers, teacher preparedness, and pedagogical practices, while also identifying potential strategies to support migrant integration. The literature review explores how political ideologies influence educational models and learning outcomes, as well as the potential cognitive benefits of promoting bilingualism. The study suggests that implementing a Two-Way bilingual education model—successfully used in other countries—could benefit both Brazilian and Venezuelan students by fostering inclusive and linguistically responsive education
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