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    8411 research outputs found

    The Global Anxiety Crisis in Teenagers and a Proposed School-Based Preventative Intervention Plan Focusing on Building Resilience in Children

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    The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change have significantly influenced teenagers, creating a global anxiety crisis. This paper discusses why and how the pandemic and climate crisis increased anxiety in teenagers and the ways that prevent anxiety disorders like building resilience in children. While there is much literature on the negative effects on mental well-being, few propose solutions. This paper discusses the urgent need for preventative interventions to decrease the risk of developing an anxiety disorder along with proposing a framework for a school-based intervention focusing on building resilience skills in children. The paper used a mix method approach as it used data gathered through quantitative and qualitative research methods. The study includes information collected through interviews and through the analysis of peer-reviewed research journals found using Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. The findings highlight the importance of building resilience skills in children along with examples of how caregivers, communities, and the outdoors can promote and teach them. These strategies were then combined with ideas from the Inner Development Goals framework to create an idea of a school-based preventative intervention. This intervention hopes to decrease anxiety disorders in teenagers by teaching resilience skills and increasing mental well-being in children

    The Role of Worker-Driven Regulation in the Global Fashion Industry

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    The global fashion industry continues to exploit workers at the bottom of its supply chains. Multinational brands pressure manufacturers to churn out products at increasingly fast rates for increasingly cheaper costs. Severe problems persist in enforcing labor standards in these factories, and methods like voluntary corporate social responsibility are aspirational at best. A newer method of enforcement, worker-driven regulation (WDR), shows promise in its improved enforceability methods and focus on worker voices. The main research question of this paper is: What are the conditions that trigger and sustain worker-driven regulation at the factory level in the apparel industry? Research methods include secondary source review from journals and grey literature and primary research through three interviews with experts. Findings show that two main conditions that trigger and sustain WDR are crisis events and stakeholder ownership, respectively. Further, findings show that these factors vary depending on context, making it difficult to draw absolute conclusions from examples. Thus, this paper offers illustrative examples to outline possible determining factors in the creation and sustainability of worker-driven initiatives, but by no means a comprehensive list. This research contributes to the ongoing pursuit of ensuring adequate and dignified jobs for all garment workers

    Local Traditions, Global Influences, National Belonging: Conditional Acceptance of Cross-Gender Dance in Central Java, Indonesia

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    Indonesia has a long and rich history of cross-gender performance in which males embody femininity onstage. Until recently, these diverse, locally-specific traditions were a widely accepted cultural practice. However, modern negative associations with the LGBTQ+ community and, by extension, the West, threaten the survival of traditional Indonesian cross-gender dance. By investigating feminine male gender performance in Java, I will uncover how Indonesians draw from localized cultural traditions, as well as globalized practices like Western-style drag, to destabilize restrictive national constructions of gender. I posit that traditional cross-gender dance serves as a culturally- sanctioned outlet for male expressions of femininity that exist outside of both the stigmatized Indonesian category of waria (transgender woman) and Western queerness. However, modern-day acceptance of traditional cross-gender dance is tenuous at best, hinging on the incorporation of humor and an emphasis on local tradition which distances Indonesian cross-gender dance from its Western counterpart, drag

    Sunan Kalijaga: The Birth of a Self-Actualized Pilgrimage Culture

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    Javanese Islam is incredibly unique in its style and practice. Despite boasting a Muslim population larger than the entire Middle East, Indonesia and its Islamic cultural practices are largely unknown in academic circles. This has made an introduction to Islam in the archipelago even more difficult for the rare interested Western reader. Frustratingly, what is lost on the rest of the world is basically second nature to 155 million Javanese Muslims, who learn from their families, schools, and pilgrimages about the Wali Songo, a group of nine semi-mythical figures credited with spreading Islam to Java. When we stop casting a value judgment on oral histories, we see they allow us into the ethos and nuance of Javanese society (even if their methods do not have the rigid fact-based approach that scholars are used to). In place of textbook history, the Wali, such as Sunan Kalijaga, offer a compromise: an origin story for the Muslims of Indonesia that aligns their faith with indigenous cultural values. It cannot be confirmed whether they lived at the same time or if they ever existed at all, but their social “footprints” validate the differences in Indonesian religious practice and fasten Java sturdily to the family of the Prophet Muhammad, recentering an ancient history into the fold of Islam. Much like the characters in his wayang puppet shows, the Wali Sunan Kalijaga has achieved immortality in the retelling of his stories. This essay attempts to use personal travels around Central Java and interviews, visits to makams and mosques (masjids), and collected oral histories to formulate a basic narrative and historically contextualize the so-called Bandit saint, Sunan Kalijågå. Most importantly, it presents a depiction of the Wali not as he really was, but as Java remembers him today, and considers why he remains essential to a thorough understanding of Islam on the island

    Organism Communities on Giant Clam Shells as Compared to the Surrounding Substrate in Reefs Around Lizard Island, Queensland

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    Coral reef ecosystems are facing destruction at the hands of anthropogenic climate change. Therefore, it is essential that we move to better understand the ecosystem functions of the organisms present in reefs. One such family whose ecosystem function we are unfamiliar with are the giant clams (family Cardiidae). As unique and abundant macrofauna, they have the potential to play an important role in their environment. The goal of our study was to determine how giant clams function as settlement substrata. We conducted 151 observational surveys of epibionts residing on living giant clam shells and of the organism communities in the surrounding substrate, in reefs around Lizard Island, Queensland. From our surveys, it was clear that the surrounding substrate had higher percent cover of corals, but giant clam shells had higher percent cover of non-coral organisms. Most notably were ascidians, which were found on over 50% of surveyed clams. Additionally, clam shells were able to support different epibiont communities depending on the surrounding substrate type; clams in non-living substrate had higher percent organism cover than clams in hard coral dominated areas, clams in sandy habitats had the highest percent non-coral organism cover, and clams residing in rubble had the highest percent hard coral cover. While this is only one way in which giant clams contribute to their ecosystems, their ability to support other organism communities is meaningful. Perhaps, if we are unable to mitigate coral reef habitat destruction, giant clams can be used in restoration efforts to increase biodiversity of non-coral organisms and rejuvenate reef ecosystems

    Hygiene behavior changes of Syrian early adolescent students in Jordan in the context of COVID-19 considering parents and teacher’s perception

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    This study delves into the hygiene behavior change among Syrian adolescent students in the context of COVID-19, examining the perspectives of parents and teachers. The qualitative analysis revealed three main themes: Hygiene Behavior Development, Water Shortages and Coping Strategies, COVID-19 Impact, and Displacement Experience and Vulnerability Impact. Parents actively engage in teaching hygiene habits from a young age, with mothers serving as crucial role models. NGO-led initiatives and school-based educational sessions contribute positively to hygiene behavior development, emphasizing the importance of sustained efforts. Water shortages pose a significant challenge, impacting hand washing practices, particularly in areas with intermittent water delivery. Coping strategies, including borrowing water from neighbors, underscore the resourcefulness of parents in mitigating these challenges. The study aligns with existing literature on the importance of early childhood interventions, parental influence on hygiene habits, and the role of NGOs in disseminating hygiene knowledge. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily heightened hygiene practices, driven by increased awareness and anxiety. However, the data suggests a decline in habits post-pandemic, emphasizing the need for continuous awareness initiatives. The study correlates with literature on the transient nature of behavior changes during crises and the importance of sustained health education efforts. Displacement experiences and vulnerability impact hygiene behaviors, with overcrowded living conditions and economic struggles hindering optimal practices. While displacement itself may have a limited impact on hygiene habits, poverty emerges as a significant determinant. The study aligns with research emphasizing the socio-economic factors influencing health practices in displaced populations. This study underscores the interconnected factors shaping hygiene behavior among Syrian adolescent students. It advocates for context-specific interventions, sustained awareness efforts, and the importance of addressing socio-economic challenges to promote lasting positive hygiene practices in vulnerable populations

    A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Cork versus Traditional Shoe Insole Material

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    Shoes are conventionally produced from materials like plastic or rubber that have detrimental impacts on the environment such as exacerbating existing waste accumulation, increasing global amounts of greenhouse gasses, or releasing toxic chemicals into soils and groundwater. These impacts have pushed footwear companies to introduce more sustainable and ecologically-friendly materials in their products. Roughly half of all cork production occurs in Portugal. The present work employs a comparative life cycle assessment approach between traditional plastic and rubber insole material and cork insole material to investigate the environmental impact of each. Results show that during each stage of the insole life cycle, cork had less environmental impact, resource use, and emissions and thus functions as a feasible sustainable alternative to plastic and rubber

    Inclusión Cultural en FONASA: Parto aymara como un estudio de caso

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    Los primeros años de la década de 2000s sirven como un período legal transformador en Chile, debido al auge de los grupos de representación indígena y la introducción de la ley 20.584 que asegura un modelo de interculturalidad en los servicios de salud. El objetivo de esta investigación es comprender los factores que impactaron en la priorización de la inclusión cultural en el sistema público de salud (FONASA), utilizando el parto aymara en Arica como un estudio de caso. Esta investigación toma forma en un diseño de investigación cualitativa y exploratoria utilizando 5 entrevistas y 5 observaciones, así como las bases de investigaciones anteriores. La investigación anterior describe el rol de la interculturalidad en el sistema de salud de Chile y sus influencias políticas. Para dar más forma a esta investigación, el estudio se guía por los subtemas de identificar las definiciones de salud como un derecho, describir las formas de partos apoyadas por FONASA y, en última instancia, el rol de las partes pertinentes en la integración de la inclusión cultural en los servicios de salud pública. Los principales resultados del estudio muestran que la definición intercultural no se ve ni se trata de la misma manera que la definición de salud menos holística y aceptada internacionalmente. Debido a esto, la atención culturalmente inclusiva, como el parto aymara, son más difíciles de acceder. Los resultados demuestran que si bien el marco legal bien intencionado proporcionó esperanza para esta atención intercultural, el gobierno no brinda el apoyo necesario en la implementación y estructura de responsabilidad de esta atención. Por lo tanto, las entrevistas revelan que la presentación de atención intercultural se está convirtiendo en una carga y responsabilidad de los médicos, las embarazadas, los activistas y los grupos indígenas. Este sistema crea una dinámica en la que los médicos usan su discreción personal en lugar de tener un forma y comprensión de la atención institucionalizada. Además, estos resultados resultan significativos ya que la salud es un derecho en Chile. Sin embargo, esta atención intercultural inconsistente no respeta la definición reconocida de salud intercultural que se promete como un derecho. Por lo tanto, la falta de implementación y responsabilidad gubernamentales a menudo conduce a una violación de los derechos de salud y, a veces, inclusio a daños. The early 2000s serve as a transformative legal period in Chile, due to the rise of indigenous representation groups and the introduction of law 20.584 which ensures a model of interculturality in health services. The objective of this research is to understand the factors that impacted the prioritization of cultural inclusion in the public healthcare system (FONASA), using aymara birthing practices in Northern Chile as a case study. This research takes form in a qualitative and exploratory research design using 5 semi-structured interviews and 5 observations, as well as the basis of past research. The past research outlines the role of interculturality in Chile’s health system and its political influences. To give more form to this investigation, the study is guided by the subtopics of identifying the definitions of health as a right, describing the forms of birthing practices supported by FONASA, and ultimately the roles of relevant parties in the integration of cultural inclusion in public health services. The main results of this study show that the intercultural definition of health is not viewed or treated equally to the internationally accepted, less holistic definition of health. Because of this, culturally inclusive care, such as aymara birthing practices, are harder to access. The results demonstrate that while the well intentioned legal framework provided hope for this intercultural care, the government fails to provide necessary support in the implementation and accountability of this care. Therefore, the interviews reveal that the provision of intercultural care is becoming a burden and responsibility of the medics, birthing people, activists, and indigenous groups. This system creates a dynamic where medics use their personal discretion rather than having an institutionalized form and understanding of care. Furthermore, these results prove to be significant as health is a right in Chile. However, this inconsistent intercultural care does not respect the recognized definition of health that is promised as a right. Therefore, the lack of governmental implementation and accountability often leads to a violation of health rights and at times even harm

    No Integration Without Employment: Asylum-Seekers in Serbia and their Search for Employment

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    Employment is traditionally viewed as an integral component of refugee integration. Previous research suggests that for refugees, employment benefits psychological well-being, provides economic security, and develops social networks. The current research explores the dynamic between integration and employment for asylum-seekers and refugees in Serbia. It seeks to understand the difficulties these displaced populations face finding employment and why they remain in a country which is traditionally viewed as a transit country into the European Union. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured, qualitative interviews with asylum-seekers, refugees, and Key Informants in Serbian CSOs (Civil Society Organizations). The data shows that employment is a top priority for refugees and asylum-seekers in Serbia. It is an immediate need upon arrival, providing an income, cultural exchange opportunities, and overall stability. Due to waiting periods imposed by the Serbian government, and a general institutional lag, asylum-seekers are unable to fully participate in the Serbian labor market when it would benefit them most. Those who do find stable employment are most likely to remain in Serbia and build a life. The current research discovered that the reciprocal relationship between integration and employment in Serbia is currently fractured. Only by shifting public policy and investing in refugee integration can this relationship be mended

    Un análisis de los programas de asistencia para varones que han ejercido violencia de género en la Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA). An analysis of programs of assistance for men who have committed gender violence in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires.

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    La violencia de género es una forma de opresión que tiene graves consecuencias para mujeres, niños y niñas y personas LGBTQ+ tanto en Argentina como en el resto del mundo. Históricamente, las iniciativas de prevención en este tema se han centrado en la asistencia destinada a las víctimas de situaciones de violencia, incluyendo apoyo económico y legal. Sin embargo, el hecho de que casi todos los casos de violencia están cometidos por varones ha iniciado una nueva discusión en las últimas décadas sobre los vínculos entre la masculinidad hegemónica y la violencia, junto con estrategías preventivas con el objetivo de acortar el ciclo de violencia a las raíces, principalmente, las socializaciones del patriarcado sobre distintos temáticas de género. Una de esas estrategías es la implementación de los espacios o programas de asistencia para varones que han ejercido violencia. Debido a la novedad relativa de tales iniciativas, no existen muchas investigaciones sobre la efectividad de estos espacios. El presente estudio pretende caracterizar las funciones y los efectos percibidos de varios programas de asistencia en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires desde las perspectivas de cuatro profesionales que están involucrados en estas intervenciones. Se realizaron entrevistas virtuales y los datos recogidos se organizaron en un análisis cualitativo con cinco códigos que abordan los objetivos de investigación. Los resultados de la investigación indican similitudes en las experiencias de los profesionales que trabajan con varones que han ejercido violencia de género, especialmente con respecto a la estructura de los espacios, la coordinación de los grupos y la implementación de estrategias multidisciplinares. Asimismo se reportaron algunas diferencias, especialmente, entre las organizaciones gubernamentales y las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, en los temas de financiamiento y acceso a los recursos. Todos los espacios utilizan un abordaje integral que considera los complejos factores que motivan comportamientos y actitudes violentas en todos los niveles de socialización, desde la cultura y las comunidades hasta las historias de vida de un individuo. A través de una variedad de métodos y actividades, los profesionales facilitan un intercambio entre los participantes para trabajar y sensibilizar temas de género como la identidad masculina, las relaciones interpersonales y la regulación de las emociones en situaciones de conflicto. Aunque ha habido mucho progreso en el fortalecimiento de los espacios que trabajan con varones, todavía los equipos enfrentan desafíos con el acceso a recursos económicos y humanos y la promoción del trabajo para aumentar la visibilización. Podemos concluir que a pesar de esas limitaciones los programas de asistencia son un aspecto muy importante en la prevención de violencia de género, por su capacidad única de abordar las complejidades de violencia de manera transdisciplinaria y multidimensional para reducir los comportamientos y actitudes agresivos en varones y acortar el ciclo de violencia desde la raíz. Gender-based violence is a form of oppression that has profound consequences for women, children, and LGBTQ+ individuals, both in Argentina and around the world. Historically, prevention initiatives in this area have focused on assistance for victims of gender violence, including economic and legal support. However, the fact that almost all cases of violence are committed by men has sparked new discussions in recent decades about the links between hegemonic masculinity and violence, along with preventive strategies aimed at addressing the root causes, particularly the socializations of patriarchy on various gender-related issues. One such strategy is the implementation of assistance programs for men who have perpetrated violence. Due to the relative novelty of such initiatives, there is not much previous research on the effectiveness of these spaces. This study aims to characterize the functions and perceived effects of various assistance programs in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires from the perspectives of four professionals directly involved in the interventions. Virtual interviews were conducted and the collected data was organized into a qualitative analysis with five emerging themes that address the research objectives. The results of this study indicate similarities in the experiences of professionals working with men who have perpetrated gender-based violence, especially regarding the structure of the spaces, group coordination, and the implementation of multidisciplinary strategies. Some differences were also reported, particularly between governmental organizations and civil society organizations, regarding funding and access to resources. All spaces use a comprehensive approach that considers the complex factors that motivate violent behaviors and attitudes at all levels of socialization, from a macro perspective of culture and communities to the micro level of an individual\u27s life experiences. Through a variety of methods and activities, professionals facilitate an exchange among participants to work on and raise awareness of gender-related issues such as male identity, interpersonal relationships, and the regulation of emotions in conflict situations. Although there has been much progress in strengthening spaces working with men, teams still face challenges with access to economic and human resources and promoting work to increase visibility. In conclusion, despite these limitations, assistance programs are a crucial aspect of gender-based violence prevention, given their unique ability to address the complexities of violence in a transdisciplinary and multidimensional manner to reduce aggressive behaviors and attitudes in men and break the cycle of violence from its roots

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