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Sociocultural Impediments to the Economic Empowerment of Women: An Analysis of the Toy Industry in Etikoppaka
Full text linkResearch indicates that women’s involvement in income generation does not always result in gender equality or empowerment. With this understanding in mind, this qualitative study delves into the socioeconomic changes created by the highly regarded toy industry in Etikoppaka village in India, which predominantly relies on women’s labor. Exploratory research was designed to gather information from forty primary respondents who are women actively employed in the industry. We applied Hakim’s preference theory and Malhotra’s model of empowerment to construct comparison criteria for theoretical underpinning. The study’s outcomes reveal that a significant number of women in the village are employed in the toy industry. However, this employment does not guarantee their socioeconomic empowerment, as these women have limited control over financial resources and decision-making, possess lower literacy rates compared to men, and face restricted social mobility. The prevailing sociocultural norms often outweigh the opportunities that remunerative employment should ideally bring to women. We conclude that effective empowerment programs can only be successful when they consider local cultures and collaborate with grassroots and civil society organizations
Bama’s Sangati: A Collective Resistance to Oppression and Attitudinal Ambivalence towards Dalit Women
Full text linkOriginally published in Tamil in 1994 and translated into English by Lakshmi Holmström in 2005, Bama’s[1] Sangati: Events is a collection of life narratives from Dalit women of the Paraiya community in Tamilnadu, South India. Each narrative depicts an event of exploitation from the perspective of an adolescent girl, Sevathi. Her myriad questions to her grandma uncover Dalit problems in India. These agonized questions relating to injustice, caste-based discrimination, and violence mirror Dalit women’s vulnerability in Indian society. This study analyzes the narratives of strife, anger, and forced negotiation in a caste/class-ridden patriarchal society. Premised on gender-caste-class dynamics, this paper will concentrate on a thorough textual analysis to explore the varied and subtle forms of resistance that Paraiya women use to fortify their collective presence. Bama’s book depicts a society reaching for equality, inclusivity, and solidarity, which is a fitting resolution to the life narratives of resistance that emphasize taking an inclusive, intersectional standpoint by addressing the diverse needs of marginalized groups. Through my allyship with the Dalit population in India, I contend that the struggles that marginalized women face should never be dismissed as trivial. The global feminist movement and transnational feminist collaborations continue to recognize the importance of collaboration in addressing the numerous issues women face in different cultures and societies. Our localized research on Bama’s Sangati contributes to this larger global feminist effort
Policy Considerations of Open-Source Intelligence: A Study of Bellingcat\u27s Online Investigation Patterns (2014-2024)
No full textWith the proliferation of social media and digital information tools, more and more internet users can participate in intelligence collection through open-source investigations – an area previously reserved for government agencies with access to classified information. The availability and easy access to open-source information, however, has raised some policy and ethical issues over time. Arguments were expressed in the literature, according to which, some of the most popular open-source investigation platforms collect and use information sometimes at the expense of the safety of users who posted the information online, unaware of how it was going to be utilized. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the elements of open-source investigations by one of the most popular open-source investigation platforms – Bellingcat. Specifically, the following variables are considered in the compiled dataset: year of the investigation, issue it focuses on, whether any pictures/videos are mentioned, and which is the primary source of information for the investigation. The results from our analysis are discussed and policy implications are provided. This study’s findings help to better understand the context of open-source investigations and their impact on intelligence agencies and the safety of users
Two Decades of Climate Monitoring in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca Reveal El Niño\u27s Role in Elevation-Dependent Warming
No full textDriven by climate change, elevation-dependent warming (EDW) has become a critical issue in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru. This study focuses on gathering evidence of EDW and determining the relationship between El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events and micrometeorological forcing in two proglacial valleys. A climate monitoring network was maintained through a 20-year collaboration between Bridgewater State University (BSU), Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo (UNASAM), and the Autoridad Nacional de Agua (ANA). Fieldwork in June 2023 and June 2024 included repairing weather stations, installing Lascar sensors, and downloading data loggers to sustain and improve the climate record. Data analysis revealed that El Niño amplifies EDW which raises freezing level heights, hence accelerating glacial melt. These results provide evidence that informs climate resilience and adaptation strategies for mountain communities, particularly concerning water resources. This research acts as a catalyst for expanding efforts to address climate-related disparities in vulnerable and understudied regions globally
Exploring the Town Management and University Partnership Impact on Community and Economic Development in Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Full text linkThis research investigates the town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, using a mixed approach. It explores the underlying elements of community and economic development and Bridgewater\u27s efforts to improve these factors. A key cornerstone of this study is analyzing the Town of Bridgewater Master Plan (2022) to explore what Bridgewater prioritizes and has provided efforts for community and economic growth while highlighting barriers and opportunities the town has encountered. In addition, the unique characteristics of Bridgewater, being a university-town, will be examined to understand how this relationship affects its community. Moreover, small local businesses are provided with a platform to discuss their perspectives on the benefits and drawbacks of operating in the town of Bridgewater
Miss USA Meets Feminism: A Qualitative Study Exploring Contestants’ Thoughts on Feminist Ideals
Full text linkThis qualitative study explores pageant contestants’ views on feminism. A total of twelve state titleholders, aged 22-29, from the 2020 Miss USA Competition were interviewed about their motivations for participating, their own views on feminism, and their opinions about whether beauty pageants align with feminist ideals. The initial analysis of the interview transcripts revealed sixteen coding categories. A secondary analysis of these coding categories identified three overarching themes: “Pageants are Empowering,” “Swimsuit is Complicated,” and “Pageantry Has Evolved.” This study revealed that participants had many reasons for entering pageants, the least common of which related to beauty. Most felt pageantry supported feminist ideals and personally identified themselves as a feminist, yet all had experienced being told by outsiders that their participation was anti-feminist and that they were not feminists. Much of the outside criticism centered on the swimsuit competition; however, most of the titleholders found the swimsuit portion to be empowering. Participants also felt pageants had evolved and they did not see the term “beauty pageant” as an appropriate descriptor. Implications for the study’s findings are discussed, including ways in which pageants might better support feminist ideals
