Search Results (578)

This article uses Clavicular, a controversial livestreamer who became a prominent public face of looksmaxxing in early 2026, as a trace-supported case study of fringe diffusion under platform conditions. Using public media traces, platform snapshots, and public visibility indicators, it examines how a niche masculine self-optimization culture becomes broadly legible. The article introduces diagnostic masculinity—a platformed style of masculine authority built on naming, ranking, and promising correction of bodily lack—as a working concept to explain why looksmaxxing resonates with boys and men beyond platform affordances alone. Drawing on scholarship on digital masculinity, platformization, and meme circulation, it argues that Clavicular’s rise depended on the alignment of coded vernacular, high-volume livestreaming, clipping infrastructure, controversy, monetization, and mainstream media translation. The article proposes a five-stage model of containment failure—vernacular incubation, infrastructural assembly, controversy acceleration, mainstream translation, and parodic consolidation—through which fringe masculine self-optimization becomes culturally portable without becoming fully normalized. The case shows how platform systems do not merely amplify fringe masculinities but package them into forms that can circulate across media environments that would otherwise remain separate. Full article

Marriage remains a central social institution among the Vatsonga, functioning not merely as a union between individuals but as a cultural institution through which gender identities, kinship relations, ritual obligations, and communal belonging are constructed and transmitted across generations. While scholarship has extensively explored marriage and gender in African societies, limited attention has been paid to the genealogical processes through which Vatsonga marriage rituals have historically shaped gender identities within changing social, political, and religious contexts. This article examines marriage as a site of gender construction by analysing the relationship between ritual practices, identity formation, and social belonging among the Vatsonga of Southern Africa. Using the genealogical approach of Michel Foucault and the theories of African feminists and decolonials, this study employs interpretive qualitative methodology, which entails the analysis of interdisciplinary literature in African philosophy, anthropology, gender studies, theology, and ritual studies. As a result of this analysis, it becomes evident that marriage rituals continue to play a great role in constructing masculinity and femininity, as well as kinship and community. At the same time, however, these rituals are dynamic and have undergone changes in light of colonialism, Christianity, urbanization, migrations, constitutional democracy, and modern concerns regarding gender equality. This article does not present marriage rituals of Vatsonga as static and monolithic practices, but rather shows their historical contingency, cultural dynamism, and continuous negotiation amid social change. Therefore, this study calls for critical engagement with marriage rituals in order to protect culture as well as to ensure gender equality and the dignity of all parties involved. With regard to the application of genealogy to marriage practices of Vatsonga, this article brings new perspectives to current debates on ritual, gender construction, African epistemologies and the decolonisation of marriage studies. Full article

Social activity is considered a primary factor in prolonging health and independence in later life, alongside physical activity. While population ageing reflects increasing life expectancy, the risk of living longer in poor health remains. In response to this risk, the United Kingdom developed extra-care schemes, introducing a housing and care model that combines social activities with flexible support to promote healthy and independent living in later life. Despite these potential benefits, observations that male tenants engage less with social opportunities than female tenants highlight a gap in understanding the social needs of men in care environments. This study explores how male social engagement is understood and influenced in extra-care schemes through a dual-perspective approach, combining service–user and service–provider viewpoints. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six male tenants (mean age = 84 years) and five scheme managers across four extra-care schemes. Reflexive Thematic Analysis revealed barriers to male social engagement related to gender imbalanced environments, poor health, social identity disruption, and widowhood. Conversely, group membership and reliable family involvement function as protective resources that sustain identity roles and support networks for men living in a care environment. Developing male-oriented community links and peer support initiatives within extra-care, alongside appropriate training and psychoeducation for staff and tenants, may be effective when supporting men in care settings. Future research would benefit from broader multi-stakeholder samples to address the limitations of this study. Full article

The classical Chinese poem The Ballad of Mulan and Riyoko Ikeda’s iconic shōjo manga series The Rose of Versailles are two important East Asian cultural texts that are compared in this article to examine feminist resistance and gender negotiation. The protagonists of both stories are women who work in very patriarchal environments while also opposing, subverting, and eventually overcoming traditional gender norms. This paper argues that both texts enact what could be called a “dialectics of compliance and resistance”—that is, a simultaneous negotiation between conformity to institutional norms for survival and resistance through exposing and challenging those same norms in which heroines must adopt masculine codes to survive institutional structures, but in doing so reveal those structures as arbitrary and historically contingent—through the analytical lenses of feminist literary criticism, queer theory, postcolonial gender studies, and Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity. The article explores the mechanics of cross-dressing as a political act, the ideological ambivalence ingrained in narrative closure, the construction of female heroism, and the divergent yet convergent ways in which each text positions itself relative to its own socio-political moment. They do this by drawing on close textual reading and cultural-historical contextualisation. In the end, the paper argues that The Ballad of Mulan and The Rose of Versailles share a feminist imaginary that resonates strongly with current discourses on gender, identity, and resistance, even though they come from different cultural and generic traditions and are separated by more than fourteen centuries. Full article

How do the frameworks of religion and spirituality influence perceptions of what it means to be a Black man and a family man? This study explores how increases in religiosity and spirituality influence Black masculinity and fatherhood among 33 Black Christian couples (n = 66). Qualitative interviews and analysis examine how religious beliefs and practices may facilitate shifts from independence-centered views of masculinity to family-oriented, spiritually grounded ideals. Participants described how deepened religiosity and spirituality were perceived as assisting with greater marital fidelity, fatherly involvement, and relational commitment, regardless of denominational affiliation, socioeconomic status, or education. Key mechanisms included (1) personal crises and faith community engagement, (2) divine interventions, (3) scripture study, and (4) recovering traditional religious masculinity roles. Findings suggest that religion and spirituality may provide an alternative framework for Black masculinity, one that emphasizes relationality, moral integrity, and family leadership. These processes are interpreted through Ryff’s six-factor model of eudaimonic well-being and mapped onto positive psychology constructs such as resilience, meaning-making, and the sanctification of family roles. Full article

Background/Objectives: The current study explored the relationship between cognitive distortions and alexithymia in 214 Saudi adults aged 20 to 45. Methods: Participants completed the Cognitive Distortions Scale and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Results: Results showed a significant positive correlation between cognitive distortions and alexithymia. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that cognitive distortions were independently associated with overall alexithymia and difficulty identifying feelings after controlling for demographics, but not with difficulty describing feelings or externally oriented thinking. Gender moderation was non-significant across all outcomes, suggesting a similar cognitive–emotional pattern for both males and females. However, cognitive distortions partially accounted for the higher alexithymia scores observed in males, though this mediation finding should be interpreted cautiously given the unequal gender subgroup sizes. Culturally, these findings reflect norms in Arab societies, where emotional restraint—particularly among men—is often reinforced by values associated with honor and traditional masculinity. Such norms may inhibit emotional expression and contribute to higher levels of alexithymia. Additionally, collectivist orientations may foster cognitive styles that intersect with maladaptive cognitive distortions. Conclusions: These results highlight the need for culturally adapted cognitive-behavioral interventions that consider local beliefs about emotions and gradually enhance emotional awareness. Future research should examine the interplay of cultural, social, and religious factors with cognitive and emotional processes over time. Full article

In the silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), the sex determination cascade is regulated by the cooperative actions of P-element somatic inhibitor (BmPSI) and Masculinizer (BmMasc), which control the sex-specific splicing of doublesex (Bmdsx). However, the functional interplay between these two critical factors remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the cooperative roles of BmPSI and BmMasc through transgenic overexpression and pull-down assays coupled with mass spectrometry. Co-overexpression of BmPSI and BmMasc resulted in female-specific lethality, whereas overexpression of either gene alone caused no lethality. Pull-down coupled with mass spectrometry identified 52 common interacting proteins of BmPSI and BmMasc, including Lethal(3)neo18, a mitochondrial respiratory chain Complex I core subunit, suggesting a potential link between sex determination and mitochondrial function. Transcriptome analysis of previously generated Bmdsx knockout mutants (Bmdsx^M, Bmdsx^F, and Bmdsx^C) revealed 703 commonly dysregulated genes, which were predominantly expressed in gonads and enriched in cytoskeletal and metabolic pathways. Notably, the oxidative phosphorylation pathway was enriched in both the Bmdsx mutant transcriptome and the BmPSI/BmMasc common interactome. Collectively, these findings indicate that BmPSI and BmMasc cooperate to regulate sex determination, and raise the possibility that synergistic disruption of mitochondrial function may underlie the female-specific lethality observed upon their co-overexpression. This study provides new insights into the molecular crosstalk between sex determination and mitochondrial metabolism in insects. Full article

This study examined how attachment to parents influences attachment to God across Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Grounded in attachment theory and extending prior work on parental correspondence, participants from the United States and India completed measures of attachment to mothers, fathers, and God. Consistent with the correspondence hypothesis, parental attachment patterns mirrored attachment to God. For Christian participants, both avoidance and anxiety toward fathers predicted attachment to God, reflecting Christianity’s paternal conception of the divine. For Muslim participants, both avoidance and anxiety toward mothers predicted attachment to God, consistent with the maternal role in transmitting Islamic faith. Among Hindu participants, avoidance toward mothers predicted avoidance toward God, and anxiety toward both parents predicted anxiety toward God, reflecting the balance of masculine and feminine divine representations in Hinduism. These findings underscore cultural differences in spiritual attachment and highlight the importance of parental influences in understanding cross-religious variations in faith development. Full article

Background: Male nurses form a minority group in many healthcare institutions and can face gender-based stereotypes, patient refusal, gender role assignment, marginalization in the workplace, and questioning of their suitability for working in caring professions. This scoping review examines the literature on gender discrimination, psychological well-being, and adaptation in professional contexts among male nurses and male nursing students. Methods: This scoping review was performed according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were performed in Scopus and Web of Science databases and complemented with the use of pre-designed Google Scholar keyword searches. Included studies had a focus on male nurses, men in nursing, or male nursing students and were concerned with gender discrimination, stereotypes, discrimination, psychological well-being, emotional labor, professional identity, burnout, job satisfaction, adaptation, education, organizational support, or retention. Data were extracted and analyzed using narrative and thematic approaches. Results: Forty included studies were identified. Four major themes were revealed: (1) gender discrimination and stereotyping; (2) psychological and professional effects; (3) coping strategies and professional adaptation; and (4) organizational responses and support mechanisms. The included studies reported patient refusal, discomfort in intimate care, gendered role assignment, workplace marginalization, and masculinity-related stereotypes. These experiences were discussed in relation to emotional labor, identity conflict, reduced sense of belonging, burnout, job dissatisfaction, work engagement, and turnover intention. Conclusions: Gender discrimination against male nurses should be understood as both an interpersonal and organizational issue. Full article

A Orhan Pamuk’s first novel, Cevdet Bey and His Sons (Cevdet Bey ve Oğulları), published in 1982, follows three generations of an Istanbul bourgeois family from the late Ottoman period to the 1970s. Set during the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Turkey, the novel explores the social and cultural tensions accompanying Turkish modernization. This article examines father–child relationships in the novel through the theoretical framework of multiple modernities. Rejecting the assumption that modernization follows a singular Western model, the study approaches Turkish modernization as a historically specific and layered experience shaped by local social and cultural dynamics. Within this context, the article focuses on paternal authority, masculine identity, intergenerational expectation, and memory across three generations of the family. The study further analyzes how photographs, domestic spaces, rituals, and everyday narratives preserve the symbolic presence of the father after death, allowing paternal authority to persist across generations. The article argues that the novel presents a representative portrait of an Istanbul bourgeois family negotiating the tensions between tradition and modernity during the Ottoman–Republican transition. Full article

The induction of staminate flowers in genetically female Cannabis sativa is widely used for feminized seed production, yet its anatomical and ontogenetic basis remains poorly understood. This study examined silver thiosulfate (STS)-induced masculinization in genetically female plants of C. sativa cv. ‘Pasionaria S’ using stereomicroscopy, light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, pollen viability assays, and open-pollination tests. STS redirected floral sexual identity within the conserved architecture of the female reproductive shoot. Staminate floral meristems were first detected at 7 days post-treatment, while previously initiated pistillate flowers persisted; by 21 days, the reproductive apex was dominated by staminate structures. Induced male flowers corresponded to type II unisexual flowers, with early staminal primordia and no evidence of gynoecial primordia. Three trajectories were identified: fertile male flowers with normal anther development and viable pollen, sterile flowers with collapsed anthers and disrupted microsporogenesis, and occasional mixed flowers with localized androecial expression. Pollen viability reached 54%, and open pollination confirmed seed formation. These results show that STS-induced masculinization is a staged and heterogeneous redirection of floral meristem identity. Full article

Men’s incarceration disrupts their intimate relationships by destabilising their masculine identity built on autonomy, virility, and the role of the provider. This article examines how incarcerated men respond to this destabilisation within their intimate relationships and how penal policies shape these responses. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in prisons in France and Spain, this article combines participant observation with semi-structured interviews involving incarcerated men and prison professionals. The analysis shows that incarceration initially produces jealousy among incarcerated individuals and drives attempts to control female partners, as men seek to reassert their threatened masculine position within the relationship—a trend observed across both countries. However, these dynamics develop differently in each country over time. In France, the state’s limited and inconsistent implementation of policies addressing gender and violence against women allows control-oriented practices within couples to persist, often taking the form of coercive control. In Spain, by contrast, gender-focused prison policies and rehabilitation programs aim to foster emotional reflexivity and self-regulation, leading to incarcerated individuals seeking to gain control over their self rather than their romantic partners. These findings suggest that prison policies shape men’s intimate relationships and may contribute to reducing violent behaviours and fostering more respectful forms of intimacy. Full article

Background and Objectives: Facial gender-confirmation surgery (FGCS) has expanded rapidly but remains uneven across procedures, specialties, and outcome domains, limiting clinically useful interpretation for surgeons. The aim is to characterize how FGCS evidence has developed and to identify gaps relevant to surgical reporting and patient-centered outcome evaluation. Materials and Methods: Systematic searches were conducted without date restriction in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LiLACS, and EBSCOhost through June 2025. Eligible studies included original clinical research, systematic reviews (SR), technical notes, and economic evaluations. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data. PROSPERO: CRD420251041192. Results: Among 338 included studies, the literature was concentrated on feminization procedures (78%) and hard-tissue interventions (51%). Outcome reporting was dominated by surgical technique (36%) and complications (29%); patient-centered domains were less represented, including satisfaction (25%), preferences (7%), recovery (2%), and ethics (3%). Masculinization and soft-tissue procedures were less frequently studied. Methodological quality of the 36 included SRs was predominantly critically low (72%) or low (28%). Conclusions: Procedural reporting in FGCS has developed asymmetrically relative to standardized patient-centered outcome measurement, a pattern consistent with the formative stages observed in other surgical fields. For surgeons, this limits comparability across procedures and weakens the evidence base for counseling, multidisciplinary planning, and postoperative evaluation. Future research should prioritize more consistent and validated patient-reporting frameworks. Full article

Robotics is a useful tool for learning programming, a key skill in STEM education. However, robotics is often perceived as a masculine activity for boys. This study investigated the impact of a robotics intervention on adolescents’ interest, self-efficacy, and expectations in STEM, with a focus on gender differences. Using a between-subjects randomized controlled design, 109 adolescents aged 11 to 16 years (40 boys, 69 girls) were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control condition. In the intervention condition, they participated in a robotics activity involving programming, while in the control condition, they engaged in a storytelling activity. Participants completed a questionnaire following the activity, with the entire procedure lasting approximately 45 min. Separate multivariate analyses of covariance were conducted for interest, self-efficacy, and expectations, with age included as a covariate. The robotics intervention was associated with higher interest in robotics and programming for boys and was associated with higher expectations of mathematics use for both boys and girls. No significant differences were observed for girls’ interest between conditions. Additionally, boys demonstrated higher self-efficacy in robotics and programming than girls. These findings have implications for designing gender-inclusive STEM interventions and addressing gender stereotypes in STEM education. Adolescence is a critical stage for shaping career interests, and interventions may support STEM motivation and diverse career expectations. Full article

This qualitative study explores perceptions of gender equity and leadership in three higher education institutions in Eswatini. The research involved nine senior management members—deans, registrars, and bursars—and eighteen lecturers (nine women and nine men). Employing narrative inquiry, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, capturing rich individual stories and social dynamics. The study explores how gender influences access to leadership roles, the barriers faced, and potential strategies for fostering inclusive environments. Guided by social role theory, the analysis was deductive, examining how cultural norms and stereotypes shape perceptions of leadership and reinforce gender disparities. Women occupy only 22% of senior management roles, while among lecturers, women constitute 50% of the workforce but only 30% of leadership positions, illustrating persistent under-representation. Findings reveal that despite existing policies, cultural norms rooted in hegemonic masculinity continue to impede gender equity, with organisational biases and societal stereotypes maintaining male dominance in leadership. Participants emphasised that policies must be actively enforced, and cultural change initiatives are essential to challenge stereotypes and reshape societal narratives about gender roles. The study underscores the importance of institutional support, mentorship programmes, and visibility initiatives to empower women and promote gender-inclusive leadership. Engaging men as allies is also critical in transforming organisational culture. These findings contribute to advancing understanding of gender dynamics in Eswatini’s higher education sector and highlight the need for comprehensive, context-specific interventions. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts involving policy enforcement, cultural transformation, capacity building, and ongoing evaluation to ensure sustainable progress toward gender equality in academic leadership. Full article