Social Sciences

22 pages, 504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Seniors’ Anxiety in Using ICT

by Mike Reid, Torgeir Aleti, Bernardo Figueiredo, Jacob Sheahan, Larissa Hjorth, Diane M. Martin and Mark Buschgens

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090496 - 19 Sep 2024

Abstract

The ability of older adults to engage with information and communication technologies (ICT) is crucial in today’s more digital and connected world. Anxiety about and failure to adopt and engage with ICT is increasingly likely to be a barrier in daily living for [...] Read more.

The ability of older adults to engage with information and communication technologies (ICT) is crucial in today’s more digital and connected world. Anxiety about and failure to adopt and engage with ICT is increasingly likely to be a barrier in daily living for older adults, potentially reducing their freedom as consumers, quality of life, independence, and wellbeing. It may also be a significant factor in social and economic exclusion. Drawing on consumer behaviour, ICT theories and frameworks, and a quantitative survey of 706 older Australian adults, this paper examines factors influencing anxiety in engaging with ICT. Our findings show that perceived anxiety was associated with increased subjective norms or when others placed pressure on older people to engage more with ICT and when older adults perceived increased risks associated with ICT engagement. Conversely, reduced levels of perceived anxiety were correlated with a positive attitude towards ICT and when older people had the technical and cognitive resources to adopt and engage with ICT. The results highlight the importance of building, renewing, and reinforcing digital competencies in older consumers. Understanding factors associated with ICT-related anxiety means that organisations will be better placed to develop campaigns, products, programmes, and policies for older consumers that actively reduce anxiety, increase their use of ICT, and reduce the digital divide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Connecting Older Adults to the Digital World)

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12 pages, 239 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Black Lives in Limbo: Liberian Refugees, Migrant Justice, and the Narration of Antiblack U.S. Border Politics

by Yatta Kiazolu

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090495 - 18 Sep 2024

Abstract

The Trump administration’s attacks on immigrant communities, especially undocumented people, produced major policy reversals on temporary humanitarian relief programs, such as the termination of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). While these policies have had wide-reaching impacts across communities of color, within the broader immigration [...] Read more.

The Trump administration’s attacks on immigrant communities, especially undocumented people, produced major policy reversals on temporary humanitarian relief programs, such as the termination of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). While these policies have had wide-reaching impacts across communities of color, within the broader immigration debate, the experiences of Black migrants have often been overlooked. This paper asks the following questions: How did extremist policies impact Black migrants under the Trump administration? What vulnerabilities did these policies produce or exacerbate? What do these efforts tell us about the “turn” toward authoritarianism in U.S. politics? Applying antiblackness as a theoretical framework, this paper conducts a content analysis of media outlets to examine the impact of extremist policies on Liberian DED beneficiaries. The ramifications of these policies intensified pre-existing antiblack dynamics of belonging and exclusion within the state by reinforcing racial hierarchies, producing social exclusion and vulnerability to state violence, and maintaining constrained access to citizenship. In assessing the many ways that antiblack racism manifests for citizens and non-citizens alike, we can extend our understanding of migrant justice, racial justice, and anti-imperialism as interdependent struggles in the face of rising authoritarianism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from 54th NCOBPS Annual Conference: Democracy on the Brink: Are We Headed into an Era of Authoritarianism?)

12 pages, 223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Migrant Women in the UK’s Digital Economy: The Elimination of Labour Market Barriers in the Digital Labour Market

by Miray Erinc Oztas

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090494 - 18 Sep 2024

Abstract

This research paper delves into the complexities migrant women face within the UK labour market, with a specific focus on the digital economy’s role as both a barrier and a conduit for employment opportunities. Migrant women in the UK encounter dual barriers to [...] Read more.

This research paper delves into the complexities migrant women face within the UK labour market, with a specific focus on the digital economy’s role as both a barrier and a conduit for employment opportunities. Migrant women in the UK encounter dual barriers to labour market entry: systemic challenges rooted in migration and gender biases, and the digital divide that exacerbates access and inclusion issues within the burgeoning digital economy. Through an exploratory descriptive analysis, this study explores how digitalism—defined as the integration of digital technologies into economic and societal practices—circumvents traditional labour market entry barriers such as languages barriers. By setting out the grounds for a potential hypothesis and further research in the era of AI, this paper underlines how through the implementation of AI tools, traditional barriers such as language barriers are eliminated in the digital labour market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Globalization and International Migration to the EU)

17 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Intersections between Migration and Disability: Narratives by EU Migrants to the UK, Disabled British People and Disabled EU Migrants

by Eva A. Duda-Mikulin

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090493 - 18 Sep 2024

Abstract

This article lies at the intersection of migration studies and disability studies and aims to contribute to redressing the considerable gap in knowledge regarding disabled voluntary migrants. These two areas, migration and disability, respectively, have rarely been considered together, a significant gap given [...] Read more.

This article lies at the intersection of migration studies and disability studies and aims to contribute to redressing the considerable gap in knowledge regarding disabled voluntary migrants. These two areas, migration and disability, respectively, have rarely been considered together, a significant gap given the situation faced by disabled migrants and crosscutting issues confronting disabled people and migrants. Dynamics of exclusion are viewed as a shared experience of migrants, disabled people and disabled migrants. This paper is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with voluntary EU migrants to the UK, disabled British people and disabled EU migrants, which are supplemented by key informant interviews. All were conducted in 2019 in the north of England. The findings highlight that when migration and disability are considered concurrently, barriers multiply and result in a nuanced disadvantage and experiences of social marginalisation. Migrant and disability experience translates into social vulnerability and is a contributing cause of exclusion in relation to social expectations and mainstream services. This paper concludes that there is an urgent need to change the narrative and perception that migrant and disabled people are less worthy of attention and bring their needs to the fore. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration, Labour and Health: Unravelling the Links between Labour Exploitation and Health Disparities of Migrant Workers)

14 pages, 306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beatriz Nascimento and the Erotics of the Quilombo in Times of Peril

by Katherine Cosby

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090492 - 17 Sep 2024

Abstract

In October 2018, the election of an extreme right-wing politician as president of Brazil laid bare the histories of antidemocratic practices that guided the policies and rhetoric of the newly elected government. Black, poor, Indigenous, Northeastern, and LGBTQIA+ people were positioned as threats [...] Read more.

In October 2018, the election of an extreme right-wing politician as president of Brazil laid bare the histories of antidemocratic practices that guided the policies and rhetoric of the newly elected government. Black, poor, Indigenous, Northeastern, and LGBTQIA+ people were positioned as threats to the stability of the nuclear family and public safety that the government claimed it would protect. The subsequent COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 also put into stark view the antidemocratic practices and the blatant disregard for life in Brazil, which was particularly acute for people who had been marked as a threat. “Beatriz Nascimento and the Erotics of the Quilombo in Times of Peril” revisits the work of Beatriz Nascimento, a Black Brazilian thinker and scholar who lived through the repressive and antidemocratic period of the military dictatorship (1964–1985). Nascimento’s work offers perspective to the current extreme right-wing project and underscores the significance of Black scholars’ interventions when the lives of marginalized people are at stake. Specifically, her concept of the quilombo (maroon communities) uncovers the histories, relations of power, and the possibilities of social relations for Brazilians living in precarity that antidemocratic governments have attempted to diminish and erase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from 54th NCOBPS Annual Conference: Democracy on the Brink: Are We Headed into an Era of Authoritarianism?)

15 pages, 314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“We Owe It to Those Who Shall Come After Us”: Considering the Role of Social Work Education in Disrupting Carceral Complicity

by Carly Mychl Murray, Samantha A. Martinez, Alexa Cinque, Yejin Sohn and Grace Newton

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090491 - 17 Sep 2024

Abstract

Reflecting upon Mary Richmond’s early call for formalized social work training to address the historical struggles of the field, this analysis examines how American social work education has addressed the paradoxes of help and harm present in the field for more than a [...] Read more.

Reflecting upon Mary Richmond’s early call for formalized social work training to address the historical struggles of the field, this analysis examines how American social work education has addressed the paradoxes of help and harm present in the field for more than a century. We examine how, under the guise of benevolence and care, social work has exerted social control and contributed to gendered criminalization. We use the term carceral complicity to extend the concept of carceral social work, illustrating how carceral complicity has contributed to women’s criminalization through the embedding, enacting, and invisibilizing of carceral logics in social work. In addition to describing how carceral complicity has been addressed in social work education, we illustrate the gendered nature of carceral complicity, highlighting how women have historically and contemporarily been positioned as both the proprietors and the recipients of carceral complicity. In line with recent scholarship, we suggest that through a transformative approach to social work education we may disrupt carceral complicity and support liberatory futures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Between Criminalization and Care: Reimagining Social Work's Role in the Carceral State)

10 pages, 1669 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“To Change the World, We Must First Change the Way the Babies Are Being Born”: Childbirth Activism in Europe

by Dulce Morgado Neves

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090490 - 15 Sep 2024

Abstract

(1) Background: “To change the world, we must first change the way the babies are being born”, said Michel Odent, the famous French obstetrician and pioneer of the “natural birth” movement. This quotable phrase has been widespread in activism campaigns, and it refers [...] Read more.

(1) Background: “To change the world, we must first change the way the babies are being born”, said Michel Odent, the famous French obstetrician and pioneer of the “natural birth” movement. This quotable phrase has been widespread in activism campaigns, and it refers to a project for social change that goes beyond birth. Conceiving childbirth in the broader social context, it is not surprising that this emblematic quote inspires emancipatory struggles around birth. This paper results from a study of childbirth activism in different European contexts, where the author explores the emergence and modes of action of social movements advocating for the humanization of childbirth and women’s rights in pregnancy and childbirth. (2) Methods: Starting from the analysis of the main characteristics of childbirth activism, in this paper the author briefly analyzes the cases of organizations from Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands, as well as a campaign promoted by the European Network of Childbirth Associations (ENCA). The author mobilizes empirical data resulting from a triangulation approach, essentially based on documentary analysis, complemented by conversations and participant observation in different settings. (3) Results: Preliminary results show how childbirth activism is contributing to the construction of alternative conceptions of birth, challenging established paradigms. (4) Conclusion: In its differences and similarities, childbirth activism assumes distinct features, but it also has the ability to adapt and promote changes, depending on the specificities of the contexts where it operates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Justice in Sexual and Reproductive Health: An Intersectional Approach)

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12 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Motivations, Choices, and Constraints of Italian Transgender Travelers: A Study of Tourism Dynamics within the Rainbow

by Salvatore Monaco, Elisa Cisotto, Antón Freire Varela and Fabio Corbisiero

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090489 - 15 Sep 2024

Abstract

This study explores the motivations, choices, and constraints shaping tourism behavior among transgender individuals living in Italy. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research begins with quantitative data collection and analyses, followed by qualitative insights to uncover the multifaceted reasons that drive transgender individuals [...] Read more.

This study explores the motivations, choices, and constraints shaping tourism behavior among transgender individuals living in Italy. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research begins with quantitative data collection and analyses, followed by qualitative insights to uncover the multifaceted reasons that drive transgender individuals to engage in tourism. These motivations range from seeking personal authenticity to cultural exploration and community connection. This study also examines the intricate interplay of choice and constraint in shaping transgender travelers’ tourism experiences, highlighting the challenges they face and the strategies they use to cope with the obstacles they face within the tourism context. Given Italy’s persistent stereotypes and prejudices against gender and sexual minorities, this research provides a critical examination of the intersectionality of gender identity and tourism within a challenging cultural and legal landscape. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of transgender travelers’ tourism experiences and offer valuable implications for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and scholars. By amplifying the voices of Italian transgender travelers, this study aims to foster greater inclusivity and recognition of their diverse needs and experiences within the tourism sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gender Knowledges and Cultures of Equalities in Global Contexts)

19 pages, 1817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Educational Measures on Emotional Adjustment in Students with and without Specific Learning Difficulties according to Gender

by Isaías Martín-Ruiz, María-José Robles-Sánchez and Agustín Wallace

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090488 - 14 Sep 2024

Abstract

The prevalence of mental health problems in adolescence is high, and it would appear that certain conditioning factors such as having a Specific Learning Disability (SpLD), the application of educational measures (repeating a school year), or gender can have an impact on the [...] Read more.

The prevalence of mental health problems in adolescence is high, and it would appear that certain conditioning factors such as having a Specific Learning Disability (SpLD), the application of educational measures (repeating a school year), or gender can have an impact on the socioemotional development of adolescents. However, we do not yet have a clear picture of the role played by each variable or whether there are interactions between them. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyse the effect of these independent variables on internalising problems (anxiety and depression) and on personal resources (self-esteem, social competence, and awareness of the problem). The sample is composed of 80 students, 40 with SpLD and 40 control, aged between 12 and 17 years old, matched in terms of age and gender. The results indicate that the variables Specific Learning Disabilities and educational measures have a negative impact on internalising problems and personal resources of adolescents, while there is no significant effect with respect to gender. In addition, we identified interactions between having SpLD and being held back a year. We therefore call into question the negative impact of repeating a school year according to the condition. Full article

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14 pages, 251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Turkish Government’s Ambivalent Policy Response to the New Influx of Afghan Migrants through the Public Policy Tools

by Sevinç Bermek

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090487 - 14 Sep 2024

Abstract

Turkey has been a hub for migrants since the Syrian crisis and has been home to 3.7 million refugees. The literature on migration focusses largely on Turkey’s response to refugees from Syria, host country citizens’ attitudes towards Syrians and their integration challenges, the [...] Read more.

Turkey has been a hub for migrants since the Syrian crisis and has been home to 3.7 million refugees. The literature on migration focusses largely on Turkey’s response to refugees from Syria, host country citizens’ attitudes towards Syrians and their integration challenges, the EU–Turkey refugee deal, and its political implications for the EU and Turkey. Nonetheless, there has been a sharp rise in the number of Afghan migrants to Turkey since the complete withdrawal of US military forces from Afghanistan in 2020. Both scholarly and grey literature highlights that Turkey has recently been an attractive hub for Afghan migrants and other ethnic minorities, following Pakistan and Iran. Nonetheless, this literature has not substantially explored the Turkish government’s attitude towards the new influx of migrants. For this purpose, the article draws upon qualitative research based on secondary and grey literature (including semi-structured interviews with representatives from migration-related NGOs in Turkey). The article underpins its findings from the public policy framework of NATO (nodality, authority, treasure, organisation) by demonstrating how Turkey’s ambivalent response to the refugee inflow is shaped by limited information (nodality), weak legal mechanisms (authority), exploitation of new inflow as cheap labour (treasure), and migration system restructuring (organisation, treasure) after the withdrawal of external actors like the EU and UNHCR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Globalization and International Migration to the EU)

12 pages, 264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Breaking Siloed Policies: Applying a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) to Homelessness during Pregnancy in Canada

by Barbara Chyzzy, Sepali Guruge, Kaitlin Schwan, Joon Lee and Stacia Stewart

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090486 - 13 Sep 2024

Abstract

Amongst women and gender diverse (WGD) populations experiencing homelessness in Canada, one of the most vulnerable and understudied subgroups are those who are pregnant. A key barrier to accessing housing for this population are policies that lead to siloed sector work and complicated [...] Read more.

Amongst women and gender diverse (WGD) populations experiencing homelessness in Canada, one of the most vulnerable and understudied subgroups are those who are pregnant. A key barrier to accessing housing for this population are policies that lead to siloed sector work and complicated and inaccessible services. Frequent relocation and fragmented access to essential prenatal and postnatal support are the result. Experiences of homelessness for WGD people are distinct from that of cisgender men; the former tend to experience ‘hidden homelessness’ and are more likely to rely on relational, precarious, and sometimes dangerous housing options. The homelessness sector, its policies, and services tend to be cis-male-centric because of the greater visibility of homelessness in cis-men and fail to meet pregnant WGD people’s needs. This paper describes the findings from a one-day symposium that was held in Toronto, Canada, in June 2023 that aimed to address the siloed approach to housing provision for pregnant WGD people experiencing homelessness. A key focus was to understand how to incorporate a gendered and intersectional discourse into practice and policy. Adopting a gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) approach within policymaking can help illuminate and address why certain groups of WGD people are disproportionately affected by homelessness, including Indigenous Peoples, recent immigrants, racialized people, and those experiencing intimate partner violence, poverty, and substance use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from Housing Studies Association Annual Conference 2023)

14 pages, 240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Virtuality and Solidarity: Exploring the New Frontiers of Social Love in the Sign of Collective Wellbeing

by Luisa Nardi

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090485 - 12 Sep 2024

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the concept of love and solidarity in human relationships, especially in their manifestation within virtual communities. Solidarity, understood as the highest feeling of connection between individuals, finds new forms of expression in the digital age, where physical distances [...] Read more.

This paper aims to investigate the concept of love and solidarity in human relationships, especially in their manifestation within virtual communities. Solidarity, understood as the highest feeling of connection between individuals, finds new forms of expression in the digital age, where physical distances are overcome by the ability to communicate and share experiences in an immediate and simplified way. The aim is to analyze the renewed sociological perspective on how to explore human interactions as a practical implication of the transition from physical to digital space, which, in spite of divergences, does not seem to reduce the quality of social ties but rather offers new ways of connection and interaction. Indeed, digital technologies can positively influence social dynamics by fostering the construction of community networks that act as catalysts for collective intelligence and knowledge sharing in the pursuit of collective wellbeing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalyzing Change: Social Love, Emotions and Transformations of Social Relationships)

19 pages, 306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Returnees’ Perspectives of the Adverse Impact of Forced Displacement on Children

by Itunu O. Ilesanmi, Jasmine D. Haynes and Florence O. Ogundimu

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090484 - 12 Sep 2024

Abstract

Conflict-related forced displacement, characterized by the experiences of witnessing violent acts, bombing, torture, separation, and the execution of family members, can severely and negatively impact a child’s social determinants of health (SDOH). These experiences are both direct and indirect forms of adverse childhood [...] Read more.

Conflict-related forced displacement, characterized by the experiences of witnessing violent acts, bombing, torture, separation, and the execution of family members, can severely and negatively impact a child’s social determinants of health (SDOH). These experiences are both direct and indirect forms of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and urgent attention is needed to understand the impact of forced displacement on children, who are a vulnerable group, and to develop interventions for all systems that influence the child. This phenomenological qualitative study involved in-depth interviews based on the experiences of returnees (n = 20), who are parents of children who experienced forced displacement. This study underscores the direct and indirect impacts of forced displacement on children, with two key themes identified from the data analysis, by concluding that forced displacement: (i) disrupts the positive SDOH of children, and (ii) children’s coping mechanisms are influenced by primary and secondary exposure to trauma. The direct effects are visible through the impact of forced displacement on children’s mental health as a result of exposure to traumatic material. In contrast, the indirect effects of forced displacement on children are influenced by its subsequential effect on their parents and their community. The study also illuminates systemic inequalities, with participants recommending steps that governmental and non-governmental bodies can take to address this phenomenon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring the Systemic Causes of Adverse Childhood Experiences)

16 pages, 319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Media Creations of Community and Gender Minority Stress in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adults

by Zoë Aldridge, Hilary McDermott, Nat Thorne, Jon Arcelus and Gemma L. Witcomb

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090483 - 12 Sep 2024

Abstract

Social media is used by many Transgender and Gender-Diverse (TGD) people to access queer communities and social support. However, TGD users are also at a higher risk of online harassment than their cisgender peers. There are few studies which explore the role that [...] Read more.

Social media is used by many Transgender and Gender-Diverse (TGD) people to access queer communities and social support. However, TGD users are also at a higher risk of online harassment than their cisgender peers. There are few studies which explore the role that social media plays in TGD people’s lives. In this study, a qualitative online survey examining online experiences was completed by 52 TGD participants, and the data were analysed using deductive template analysis. The results identified that online communities provided spaces within which participants could experience community-specific support, the validation of their identities, and find much-needed healthcare information. However, the use of social media also exposed participants to transphobia, and the participants described both proactive protective and reactive mitigation behaviours used to deal with these. Key findings highlight the pivotal role that online communities can have for improving wellbeing but also the potential for unintended exposure to transphobia through these communities. The importance of improving online moderation/reporting tools to combat harassment is discussed, as is the need to develop accessible information resources for healthcare professionals so that they may better provide support for TGD patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

9 pages, 4915 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The (Epistemological) Power of Love: From Pitirim A. Sorokin’s Integralism to a ‘Space for the Heart’ in Scientific Methods

by Licia Paglione

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090482 - 12 Sep 2024

Abstract

In the contemporary epistemological debate, it is possible to identify approaches whereby rational and sensory human faculties are not the sole essential dimensions in the knowing process. With its intuitional and empathic nature, love emerges as a specific way through which scientists may [...] Read more.

In the contemporary epistemological debate, it is possible to identify approaches whereby rational and sensory human faculties are not the sole essential dimensions in the knowing process. With its intuitional and empathic nature, love emerges as a specific way through which scientists may also know the world. In the 20th century, the Russian–American sociologist Pitirim A. Sorokin (1889–1968) was one of the scholars who highlighted the epistemological power of love. In his integral epistemology, the relevance of Altruistic Creative Love within the cognitive process is underlined. Love appears as an energy—linked to a specific intuitional human dimension called supraconscious—through which to know reality, which could integrate the empirical–sensory and rational–mindful dimensions. Following this line of thought, this article presents the thought of this scholar, outlining his general theory of knowledge and, in particular, highlighting the function of Altruistic Creative Love in the scientific method and analysing an original scientific dissemination activity embedded in the Sorokinian perspective that makes use of the arts, which can open new “eyes” and stimulate individual and social transformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalyzing Change: Social Love, Emotions and Transformations of Social Relationships)

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23 pages, 401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indigenous Education in Brazil—The Case of the Bare People in Nova Esperança: Transition to Work and Sustainability

by Giovanna Campani

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090481 - 11 Sep 2024

Abstract

The paper presents the institutional framework of the Indigenous Schools in Brazil it raises the issues presented by the relationship between school as institution and patterns of indigenous culture transmission, given the complex structure of the indigenous population in Brazil, divided into more [...] Read more.

The paper presents the institutional framework of the Indigenous Schools in Brazil it raises the issues presented by the relationship between school as institution and patterns of indigenous culture transmission, given the complex structure of the indigenous population in Brazil, divided into more than 306 ethnic groups, and the historical intercultural relations established with the European colonizers. The second part describes a specific Indigenous school located in the community of Nova Esperança, whose members belong predominantly to the Baré ethnic group. The village overlooks the Cuieiras River—a tributary of the Rio Negro—and is 80 kilometers (km) away from Manaus, the capital of the State of Amazonas. Nova Esperança is called “Pisasú Sarusawa” in Nheengatu, Ñe’engatu o Ñeengatu, known as the “general language” of the Amazonas. An interview with Joarlison Garrido, the school director, deals with the question of the usefulness of indigenous education in the school-to-work transition. According to Joarlison Garrido, indigenous education can promote community development, employment, and sustainability. This positive result is possible thanks to the special location of Nova Esperança within the Puranga Conquista Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS), managed by the government of the State of Amazonas. In this precise context, indigenous education represents a tool to ensure the new generations of Baré have a successful transition from school to work and an employment, namely through the projects of sustainable development that are foreseen for the area. Moreover, as Joarlison points out, sustainability is currently a global issue: consequently, the experience of Nova Esperança is at the same time local and part of a global trend. The Indigenous schools represent a great potential to develop original pedagogical practices in the field of intercultural education that can impact the transition from school to work not only in Brazil but in various contexts where Indigenous Peoples live. The case of the community of Nova Esperança is an example of this direction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Stratification and Inequality)

18 pages, 662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Cognitive Map of Sexual Violence Victims’ Decision-Making: Understanding the Preference for Social Media over Formal Legal Avenues—Insights from Media Consultants

by Hila Nadav-Carmel and Azi Lev-On

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090480 - 10 Sep 2024

Abstract

This study delves into the complex decision-making processes of sexual violence survivors regarding public disclosure of their experiences. By constructing a cognitive map from interviews with ten media consultants, this research highlights that survivors often prefer seeking justice through social media rather than [...] Read more.

This study delves into the complex decision-making processes of sexual violence survivors regarding public disclosure of their experiences. By constructing a cognitive map from interviews with ten media consultants, this research highlights that survivors often prefer seeking justice through social media rather than legal channels. This study was conducted in Israel, and it underscores the importance survivors place on the disclosure process itself, valuing voice and respect over the outcome. This research, part of a larger project that includes interviews with victims, focuses on the choice between social media and institutional channels, analyzing cognitive processes through the lens of media consultants. While the constructed cognitive map provides a clear framework for understanding the decisions made by survivors of sexual violence, it simplifies complex emotional and psychological factors. Future research may enhance this map by incorporating a deeper analysis of survivors’ internal conflicts and the interplay between emotional coping mechanisms and external pressures to disclose their experiences. From background conversations with survivors, it was understood that two main factors influence their decision: the process versus the outcome and whether to turn to social media or institutional channels. This nuanced approach provides valuable insights into the specific choices made by survivors when determining where to disclose their assaults. By designing this cognitive map, this study helps understand the needs and priorities of the survivors, such as the importance of voice, respect, and the nature of the disclosure process, and aims to aid future research and decision makers in better understanding and supporting the decision-making processes of sexual violence survivor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Social Media on Health and Well-Being)

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19 pages, 1773 KiB

Open AccessReview

Constructing a Socio-Legal Framework Proposal for Governing Large Language Model Usage and Application in Education

by Mirela Mezak Matijevic, Barbara Pisker and Kristian Dokic

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090479 - 9 Sep 2024

Abstract

Due to the fast-changing environments caused by artificial intelligence development, the socio-technical challenge in contemporary educational systems focuses on the need for more regulative measures guiding system stakeholders’ behavior. In fulfilling the present legal gap, enacted soft law regulation has been laid out, [...] Read more.

Due to the fast-changing environments caused by artificial intelligence development, the socio-technical challenge in contemporary educational systems focuses on the need for more regulative measures guiding system stakeholders’ behavior. In fulfilling the present legal gap, enacted soft law regulation has been laid out, and a detailed systematic literature review was conducted in the paper presented. The specific methodological approach was selected to deal with two crucial research tasks: to reveal and recommend fundamental governing mechanisms regarding the use and application of generative artificial intelligence; more precisely, large language models in educational systems. Three systematically guided layers of quantitative and qualitative content analysis of central policy, legislation, and regulatory mechanisms in governing AI in education were extracted from the 142 Scopus Database and Web of Science research papers analyzed and presented. These research findings benefit policymakers, regulatory and legislative bodies, and agencies in constructing governing frames for using and applying generative artificial intelligence in education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

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17 pages, 447 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Australian Non-Resident Fathers’ Relationship and Ongoing Engagement with Their Children: A Critical Focus on Power

by Dominic Violi, Peter Lewis, Cannas Kwok and Nathan J. Wilson

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090478 - 9 Sep 2024

Abstract

Non-resident fathers are rarely researched from a critical perspective. Becoming a non-resident father often results in major dislocation, presenting challenges and hindrances to a meaningful relationship with children. Dislocation is increased by the involvement of the family court, legal issues, false abuse allegations, [...] Read more.

Non-resident fathers are rarely researched from a critical perspective. Becoming a non-resident father often results in major dislocation, presenting challenges and hindrances to a meaningful relationship with children. Dislocation is increased by the involvement of the family court, legal issues, false abuse allegations, and ex-partners. Changing family configurations may marginalize non-resident fathers, with their own perspectives, voices, and lack of power remaining largely unmapped. This paper identifies what hinders non-resident fathers’ relationships with their children from a critical and Australian perspective. In-depth interviews using open-ended questions with 19 non-resident fathers were used to collect data, followed by a five-step critical thematic analysis to focus on the locus of power. Non-resident fathers’ perceptions included a lack of agency and decision-making power; the mother, legal obstacles, and agencies hindered their desired relationships with children. Hindrances were magnified by descriptions of false allegations and IPV from the ex-partner and/or her agents, resulting in a sense of marginalization, silencing, and disempowerment. Australian non-resident fathers in this study identified that desired relationships with their children were hindered by the roles of legal and welfare services, policing, and their ex-partners. The highlighting of these issues points to ways that non-resident fathers with similar experiences of a lack of agency and decision-making power might be better supported by more streamlined and balanced legal processes. Full article

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