Journal of Advanced Research in Social Sciences
Journal of Advanced Research in Social Sciences (JARSS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that provides rapid publication of articles in all areas of Social Sciences. JARSS is an international, scholarly and peer-reviewed journal (online) published Quarterly by Diamond Scientific Publication, Lithuania.
Mokslinės Leidybos Deimantas (Diamond Scientific Publication)
School Education and the Transformation of Traditional Knowledge Structures in Late Qing China
The late Qing period (1840-1912) was a significant era of transition for Chinese society from traditional to modern forms. Following the Opium Wars, when the Qing government was compelled to pay indemnities and open treaty ports, the influx of Western natural sciences impacted China, disrupting the Confucian ethical and moral foundations that shaped the traditional academic structures of late Qing China. Under the influence of the eastward transmission of Western learning, China’s traditional knowledge structure—long centered on Confucian classics and historical texts—was reshaped and diversified as Western disciplinary systems, introduced through new schools, brought new subjects and methods. This study analyzes historical documents on the late Qing school curricula to examine how educational subjects were used to organized and classified Chinese and Western knowledge. It further investigates the evolution of discipline-centered education within modern academies and traces the broader transformation of China’s knowledge structure, ultimately revealing how it gradually integrated into the modern epistemic system.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lujia Wang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Bridging Policy and Public Perception: A Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Elderly Urban Mobility in Amman, Jordan
In rapidly urbanizing cities with aging populations, aligning transport policy with the lived needs of older adults is both a social imperative and a planning challenge. This paper presents the findings of a field-based empirical study conducted in Amman, Jordan, aimed at evaluating stakeholder priorities related to elderly urban mobility. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the study compares preferences of two key groups: transport decision-makers (n = 28) and a demographically representative sample of elderly residents aged 60 and above (n = 384), proportionally distributed across Amman’s urban districts. Data collection was conducted between February and April 2024 through structured, face-to-face interviews, stratified household surveys, and facilitated AHP pairwise comparison exercises. Participants evaluated five core criteria: Accessibility and Infrastructure, Affordability, Safety and Security, Service Availability and Reliability, and Comfort and Convenience. Results reveal a significant misalignment in criteria prioritization. While policymakers placed the greatest emphasis on infrastructure and network expansion, elderly residents prioritized personal safety, financial accessibility, and everyday usability. The study highlights the critical role of participatory, multi-criteria decision tools in age-inclusive mobility planning. It offers concrete recommendations to close the perception gap between institutional frameworks and user realities, positioning Amman as a case for transferable lessons across Middle Eastern cities experiencing demographic transition.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Thaher https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Translation of Transparent Scientific Terms from English to French and Vice Versa
Transparent terms are words that share the same spelling and the same meaning in different languages, such as: robot, hotel, zoo… All those words are the same both in French and English for example. Those words seem to be easy to translate both ways; However, some terms don’t apply to this rule, which are scientific terminology. In mathematics, ‘natural numbers’ in English refers to all the positive numbers starting from 1 to infinity, but in French, the set of ‘nombres naturels’ also includes 0. This example shows two terms that are similar in spelling but different in meaning, which may lead to a wrong translation if the translator doesn’t have a scientific background. Transparent terms are not reliable in scientific translation; translators should always know exactly the meaning of every term. Moreover, bilingual readers and scientists should be careful and never assume the meaning of these words based on their similarity, especially in exact sciences. This paper explores the different types of transparent words and the pitfalls of assuming their meaning based on their similarities, It also includes some difficulties and strategies of their translation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rania Ziouziou https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Argentine political instability is a subject of ongoing study in the scientific literature. Argentina is seen as a paradox, a nation that does not exhibit political stability in accordance with its level of socio-economic development. This paper demonstrates that the primary cause of political instability is a widespread contempt for authority throughout Argentine society, originating during the period of the Spanish conquest and colonization of the Americas and passed down from generation to generation to the present day. This claim is substantiated through a meta-analysis of historical, genetic, and legal information, where a set of propositionally logical statements derived from factual analyses is used to establish the causality of mathematical relationships between groups of genetic and legal data. The study is complemented by a set of solutions based on the entire analysis, taking into account social factors for each specific case.
Copyright (c) 2025 Carmelo José Felice, Gabriel Alfredo Ruiz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reflective Practice in Pre-Service Educational Leaders
Providing opportunities for future school leaders to reflect and assess their communicative skills, their data leadership, and their ability to adjust and grow is critical to the development of strong school leaders. While the need for reflection is often linked to excellence in teaching (Schon, 1983), the building of professional competence and excellence in related educational roles, such as leadership, can also be linked to reflective practices. In recognition of the landscape of diverse schools and communities across the United States, cultivating leaders who stand ready to serve as reflective practitioners may be more critical now than ever before (Roberts, 2008). In addition, online programs, while often criticized for a lack of opportunity to practice speaking skills, stand in a good position to lead the integration of needed skills into reflective experiences. This study focused on such an opportunity within an entirely asynchronous online leadership program, and explored student perceptions on the impact of their leadership growth and the potential of reflective practice while using video capture and peer feedback.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Dixie F. Abernathy, Dr. Patrice D. Petroff https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Need of Feminist Movement in the 21st Century: An Exploration Based on Islam
Feminism advocates for the equal rights of women—referred to as "The Second Sex"—across all spheres of life, including education, politics, religion, economics, society, culture, and ethics. The roots of feminist thought can be traced back to 14th-century France, where Christine de Pisan (1364–1430), regarded as the first feminist philosopher, boldly challenged societal norms by advocating for female education. Since then, feminism has evolved through various waves, each addressing specific gender-based injustices according to the needs of its time. This paper examines the premise that Islam, when properly understood and implemented, inherently upholds the principles that feminism seeks to achieve, regardless of religious or political identity. It raises the critical question: Is there still a need for feminist movements if Islamic principles concerning women's rights are genuinely practiced in modern society? The study further explores the root causes of the continued suffering, exploitation, and marginalization of women, identifying the key forces responsible for these injustices. Through a qualitative research approach employing textual, thematic, and content analysis, this research draws upon feminist theories of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712), Mary Wollstonecraft (1759), Begum Rokeya (1880), Simone de Beauvoir (1907), and Malala Yousafzai (1997). These feminist perspectives are critically compared and contrasted with Islamic teachings regarding women’s rights to evaluate whether feminism remains a necessary movement in the 21st century. The study concludes by offering potential solutions to bridge the gap between theoretical rights and lived realities, aiming for a just and equitable society for women.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Mozammel Haque, AL Farook Md Abdullah, Tasmia Moslehuddin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention: Its Evolution, Current Practices, and the Need for Reform
The 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention laid the foundations of the modern international asylum regime and provided the most comprehensive legal framework to protect refugees. However, today, global migration dynamics and state security-focused policies have made the effectiveness and relevance of the Convention debatable. This article critically evaluates the historical development of the Convention, its fundamental articles, and its impact on today's asylum regimes. In the scope of the article, the fundamental articles of the Convention, 1 and 33 will be examined and the definition of refugee, the principle of non-refoulement, and the obligations of the party states will be analyzed through country examples. In addition, the sociological, legal, and political (theoretical) dimensions of the refugee definition, which are missing in the literature, will be addressed together and the existing gaps will be tried to be filled. Today, the emphasis on exclusionary migration policies and safe third-country practices instead of international protection mechanisms limits the capacity of the Convention to secure the individual. In this context, the capacity of the Convention to respond to the current global migration crises and the need for reform will be discussed. Finally, the need for updating the Convention will be evaluated in light of the current deficiencies and possible solutions will be presented.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zeynep Naz Oral https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Corpus-based Analysis of Covid-19 Vaccine Metaphor in Egyptian Newspapers
This paper aims to investigate how the Covid-19 vaccine is metaphorically represented in English-language Egyptian online newspaper articles. It studies the main metaphors with their entailments, and seeks to uncover the hidden ideologies behind them. A web-derived newspaper corpus of +209000 tokens, collected from articles published between January 2020 and December 2023, has been compiled to provide a comprehensive view of a metaphorical representation of COVID-19 vaccine in Al-Ahram Weekly and Egyptian Gazette newspaper articles. To provide both quantitative and qualitative findings, Charteris-Black’s (2004) three-step corpus-based approach of critical metaphor analysis (CMA) has been employed as a framework to identify, interpret, and explain the metaphors in the corpus. The quantitative results show that the race metaphor permeated the analyzed corpus. Qualitative findings suggest that the race metaphor presents the COVID-19 vaccine as a competitive effort, a race against the virus, an unfair playing field, and a symbol of global solidarity and inequality. Moreover, it reflects the high stakes, complex challenges, and competing priorities in vaccine rollout. Research shows that the metaphors of war and journey are also used primarily to persuade people. The war metaphor creates a sense of urgency and places the vaccine at the center of a high-stakes battle. The journey metaphor, in contrast, has a more optimistic and collaborative tone. It acknowledges the task’s difficulty but frames it as a united effort with an achievable destination in sight. The widespread use of these persuasive metaphors in the vaccine corpus demonstrates the importance of the vaccine, mobilizes public support, and fosters a sense of hope and resolve in the face of the pandemic.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shaimaa Ibrahim Mustafa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Bridging the Gap between Social Sciences and Defense Studies
This paper argues that, despite a robust interdisciplinary connection between social sciences and defense studies, a significant omission exists: the absence of social sciences in analyzing actual military operations and belligerents’ capabilities during high-intensity warfare. It emphasizes the importance of constructed identities and perceptions given to adversaries and one’s self-representation in relation to them. It combines an exploration of potential reasons for this absence and an exploratory theoretical constructivist framework applied to specific cases from the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. It posits that such an approach can yield more accurate assessments of belligerents’ capabilities, ground realities, and enhance strategic decision-making. The analysis focuses on discourses surrounding “human wave tactics” and “combined arms”, suggesting they may have been distorted by identity perceptions, affecting capability assessments. This distortion may arise from the tendency to demonize adversaries while idealizing one's own capacities. Recommendations include integrating identity analysis tools in operational assessments.
Copyright (c) 2025 Samuel Vinck https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Echoes of Liberation: Mujibur Rahman’s Enduring Legacy in Bangladesh’s Contemporary Political Tapestry
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–1975) played a pivotal role in shaping Bangladesh’s political landscape during its liberation movement. This paper examines the contested legacy of his political vision in the context of Bangladesh’s current political scenario. Mujib’s vision for modern Bangladesh is rooted in four core principles: nationalism, secularism, socialism, and democracy, which remain foundational values in the country’s Constitution, despite numerous challenges. The study explores how Mujib’s concept of Bengali nationalism has evolved over the last five decades amidst internal and external challenges, including communal, extremist, and ethnic tensions in the context of South Asian and global politics. In August 2024, a student-led uprising led to the fall of the Awami League government under Mujib’s daughter, Sheikh Hasina. This uprising sparked significant discontent among political activists in Bangladesh regarding Mujib’s legacy. However, this paper argues that underlying values shared by Mujib’s vision and the goals of the uprising, particularly a commitment to liberal political ideals, are evident. The objectives of the new regime seeking to “reconstitute” Bangladesh can be traced back to Mujib’s foundational vision of a modern nation. By analyzing the connection between Mujib’s legacy and contemporary political developments, the paper seeks to enhance the understanding of Bangladesh’s political trajectory. The study is based on content analysis of reliable primary and secondary texts, including statements by leaders of the July 2024 uprising. The primary aim is to explore the relevance of Mujib’s ideals in today’s political landscape and identify common aspects between his political vision and current trends in Bangladesh’s political environment.
Copyright (c) 2025 Amit Saha, Nayandeep Sardar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Convergence in Nutritional Interventions in India: Enablers and Inhibitors
Malnutrition is a multifaceted problem needing a multisectoral response to draw upon synergies across policies and programs. It remains one of the most serious public health challenges. Decades of policy and programmatic efforts have been made to tackle the continuing challenge of malnutrition. However successful implementation of these programs needs inter-departmental convergence, especially at the village level. Therefore, research was undertaken using a mixed method design with the objective of exploring the existing convergence through Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Days (VHSNDs) in selected tribal blocks of Maharashtra. Data was collected from frontline workers (FLWs), with service users and VHSNDs were observed. The study provides evidence-based practices of convergence among health and nutrition department and assess the applicability of the strategies formulated under the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) in tribal areas from the state of Maharashtra in India. It would inform policy makers about the enablers and inhibitors of implementing nutritional interventions to address systemic gaps.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shelley Saha Sinha https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Folklorist Extraordinaire: Pertev Naili Boratav, a Pioneer in Turkish Folklore Studies
Born in 1907 in Istanbul, Boratav's journey into the realm of folklore studies began at an early age, as he was deeply fascinated by the cultural narratives, customs, and beliefs that permeated Turkish society. After completing his education in Turkey, he went on to pursue further studies in France, where he earned his doctorate in Slavic linguistics from the Sorbonne University in 1933. Pertev Naili Boratav was a renowned Turkish folklorist, anthropologist, and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Turkish culture, traditions, and oral literature. His extensive research, publications, and efforts to preserve and analyze Turkish folklore have had a profound impact on the academic landscape of Turkey and beyond. Boratav's work spanned a wide range of topics, from the collection and analysis of folktales, proverbs, and myths to the examination of cultural practices and belief systems. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Department of Folklore at Ankara University and mentored countless students, inspiring them to continue the legacy of preserving and disseminating Turkey's rich cultural heritage. Given Boratav's significant contributions to the study of Turkish anthropology and folklore, is he recognized as a pioneering anthropologist in Turkey?
Copyright (c) 2025 Onur Hayirli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Shifts in Moral Decision-Making Among College Students: A 15-Year Successive Independent Samples Study Utilizing a Real-Life Dilemma
This study examines shifts in moral decision-making among college students over a 15-year period. Using a real-life ethical dilemma presented annually in an introductory child and adolescent development course at a U.S. college, the research explores how students respond to a scenario in which lawyers withhold information about an innocent man’s wrongful imprisonment to protect their careers. The objectives were to assess changes in students' ethical attitudes and behaviors, as well as the underlying reasons for those changes. Methodologically, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected to track trends in students' willingness to speak out against injustice. The results indicate a significant decline in students’ readiness to challenge ethical wrongdoing, mirroring broader societal shifts in moral priorities. This transformation reflects not only a change in moral decision-making but also in the rationale behind students’ choices. The findings suggest a need for further research to explore the societal influences and motivational factors driving these changes. The study’s implications call for targeted interventions aimed at fostering ethical behavior and promoting integrity within educational and professional environments.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kee Jeong Kim https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From Islamophobia to Neo-Islamophobia: An Analytical Review of Muslim Representations in Cinema Following 9/11
This article examines the shift from Islamophobia to neo-Islamophobia in the portrayal of Muslims in post-9/11 cinema. The research explores the evolution of themes such as fear, antagonism, and prejudice via analysing diverse cinematic representations, especially those related to emerging discourses on feminism, LGBTQ rights, and Western cultural standards. The study emphasizes the internalization and externalization of Islamophobia in Western and Arab cultures, highlighting its significant effects on identity, self-esteem, and international relations. This study is a deep dive into the transition in the depiction of Muslims in post-9/11 films from Islamophobia to neo-Islamophobia, offering a comprehensive understanding of the societal implications of this shift.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nour Bajuwaiber https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Contemporary Features and Challenges of Democratic Governance of the European Union
This article describes the structure of the economic and political system of the European Union through the prism of democracy. It analyses the notion of democratic governance of the European Union, grounded on its key institutions - the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament. The author highlights the complexity of the EU as a supranational organisation where legislative, executive and judicial powers are intertwined. Consequences of the 2024 European Parliament elections and the growing influence of far-right parties, leading to increased political polarisation, are highlighted. While reviewing methods and theories, the paper examines reforms such as the direct election of the President of the European Commission, the strengthening of the Parliament and digitalisation that could strengthen the EU's democracy and effectiveness. The paper in its approach provides a robust foundation for further research and a deeper exploration of EU democracy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Andraž Konc https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Borders, Boats and Barges: A UK Post-Election Analysis
This paper considers policy and rhetoric surrounding the United Kingdom’s stance on asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. This is considered from a discourse analytic perspective by examining a corpus of data drawn from three sources at critical time points in recent months. One source of data is drawn from the record of a key debate in January 2024 in the House of Commons on the Rwanda Plan Cost and Asylum System. Another data source is the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill itself and explanatory notes, presented in April 2024. The final data source is news media reporting of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants as an issue in the May-through July UK election campaign period and immediately post-election as the new Labour administration took office. The analysis reveals the different political stances taken on the issue of asylum seekers and the ways in which these are bound up with rhetorical constructions of deterrence, human rights, and practicality.
Copyright (c) 2025 James Moir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Mulheres Tech: Flipped Classroom for the Digital Inclusion of Domestic Workers in Brazilian Cities
The Mulheres Tech project longs to promote digital inclusion and socio-emotional development among domestic workers in five Brazilian cities, addressing a group often excluded from technological advancements. With a focus on reducing inequalities, the project targets approximately 200 domestic workers who lack digital literacy skills. The methodology applied is an adapted version of the flipped classroom approach, where university students from five higher education institutions deliver basic digital literacy lessons under the supervision of professors. The language used during the classes are clear and value-neutral, avoiding biased; The project not only aims to equip domestic workers with essential digital skills for greater autonomy and better access to employment opportunities, but also to foster a sense of social responsibility among the students who taught the classes to the workers. Results demonstrate that 87.4% of domestic workers were very satisfied participating with the initiative, which highlights the effectiveness of empowering a marginalized demographic and contributing to their professional and personal development. The project demonstrates how academic collaboration can play an important role in bridging digital divides and fostering social inclusion.
Copyright (c) 2025 Samara Soares Leal, Rafaela Priscila Cruz Moreira, Vinicius Juranic Cassol, Millena Xavier Gimarães, Cristiano Lopes Amorim, Ana Paula M Tortorelli, Kassio Mikhael Achucarro dos Santos, Camila Moura Ferreira dos Santos, João Daniel da Purificação dos Santos, Rodrigo de Melo Grego https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Function of the Plural Marker -lAr in Turkish from the Construction Morphology Perspective
This study aims to investigate the properties of the -lAr construction in Turkish within the framework of Construction Morphology (CxM). According to CxM, constructions are signs which are conventionalized pairings of form and meaning. As an output-oriented theory, it is argued that CxM enables us to account for the various but still relatable semantics of one construction. The plural construction -lAr in Turkish is quite productive and it can be motivated by various semantic relations in addition to its plurality denotations. It will be argued that our grammar is composed of a lexical network consisting of constructional schemas. The existing literature consists of research on its scopal features, its associative meaning, and whether its reading is inclusive or not; however, the additional functions such as its usages in greetings, making wishes are disregarded. There are also descriptive analyses which list several connotations of the morpheme but which fail to account for the systematicity of the relationships among these meanings. This paper thus accounts for both core grammar and the so-called peripheral usages of the -lAr morpheme and displays how production of different connotations is structured and enabled.
Copyright (c) 2025 Müge Gedik https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Remembrance, Rebellion, or Racism: Associations between Beliefs about the Confederate Flag’s Symbolism and Political Affiliations, and Racist Attitudes
Purpose: this research examines the extent to which beliefs that the Confederate flag stands for remembrance, rebellion, or racism are associated with political affiliations and racial attitudes (Study 1) and patriotism and beliefs about social hierarchies (Study 2). Methods: A nation-wide sample of White adults in the United States were recruited and completed a series of questionnaires about their beliefs about the Confederate flag, political affiliations, and racial attitudes (Study 1, N = 180) and patriotism and beliefs about social hierarchies (Study 2, N = 192). Results: We found that those who believe the Confederate flag stands for remembrance or rebellion had more positive feelings about the flag, had more conservative beliefs, were more patriotic, had more negative attitudes toward Black Americans, and were more likely to adhere to beliefs about social hierarchies. Implications: Findings of these studies have important implications for race relations in the United States.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jessica L McManus, Anna White, Sarah Harmon, Cameron Herriges https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Learning Spaces for Wellbeing, Flourishing, Innovation and Creativity: The Maltese Students’ Perspective
Learning spaces can be conducive to student wellbeing. The study presents the perspectives of students in Malta about present and possible learning spaces. Previous research focuses on the importance of including students in the design of learning spaces. It also presents schools as one of the most central spaces for positive holistic development, thus suggesting participatory designing of learning spaces. The research presented in this paper is based on three principles as outlined by Barrett et al. (2015) which are naturalness, individualisation and stimulation, which make a difference on the impact of the learning space. For the research about learning spaces in Maltese state schools, I made use of an interpretivist paradigm guiding the qualitative methodology. The research included sixteen focus groups, held during Personal, Social and Career Development (PSCD) subject, with students attending Maltese primary (aged 8-10years) and secondary schools (11-16years), chosen through purposive sampling. In total, there were six classes with primary school students and ten classes with students from middle and secondary schools. All students who participated were given an information sheet and their parents or guardians signed a consent form ensuring that they are not subject to harm, their identity would remain anonymous and that they can stop their participation. Results from this research show that students were negative about existing learning spaces. This research confirmed the importance of the dimensions presented in the study by Barrett et al. (2015) and identified another dimension – innovative learning spaces. Evidence from this research also shows that a learning space should have adequate lighting, sound, temperature, relaxing surrounding colours, link to nature and should allow ownership, flexibility, and connection. This paper is particularly inspiring for policymakers as it demonstrates the significance of learning spaces in influencing the happiness and wellbeing of students.
Copyright (c) 2025 Amanda Bezzina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Role of Ethnic Leaders in the Political Developments of Afghanistan During the Republic Period (2001-2021)
Research problem: This article examines the role of ethnic leaders in Afghanistan's political developments during the Republic period (2001-2021) and highlights their influence in various areas. Ethnic leaders, representing diverse ethnic groups in Afghanistan, played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape and balancing traditional power structures with modern state institutions. Methodology: Based on data collected through semi-structured interviews, this research was coded, categorized, and analyzed using grounded theory. Key findings: Ethnic leaders' footprints can be observed in most of the country's political, economic, and social transformations and challenges in recent decades. Corruption, factionalism, ongoing insurgencies, financial dependency on foreign aid, and the illegal drug trade were among the major issues that weakened the Afghan government, problems directly linked to ethnic leaders' actions. Implications: This study concludes that sustainable economic development, good governance, democracy, and genuine political reforms are essential for political stability in Afghanistan. Its findings contribute to a deeper understanding of Afghanistan’s political complexities and offer insights into nation-building and resolving both national and international conflicts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Resat Acikgoz, Abdullah Delawari, Shakib Zarbighalehhammami, Ahmad Zaki Frogh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
First Generation Married Pakistani Women’s Perspectives on Paternalistic Dominance, Family Values and Traditional Gender Roles in Australia
This paper employs a case study using familial patriarchal framework to contribute to the literature of first generation married Pakistani women’s experiences in Pakistani diaspora in Western Australia. Through a qualitative interpretive phenomenological approach, it highlights how these women navigate selective assimilation, striving to fulfill their marital aspirations while balancing familial and cultural expectations. Theoretically, this study builds on Gerda Lerner’s Paternalistic Dominance (PD) concept. The study’s aims were to: 1) emphasize on learned and cultural context of performing gender roles, 2) explain women’s divergent perspectives on PD, and 3) stress the importance of culturally competent social services for Pakistani immigrant women in diaspora. The study employed Braun and Clark’s (2021) thematic analysis to arrive at themes from the data that clustered in three sections: Traditional gender roles, Family values, and PD. The analysis was conducted from a feminist standpoint, which revealed that patriarchal ideologies, culture, and expected future and present securities through marital union influenced many women to reproduce gendered inequality. Women’s narratives indicate that they consider themselves informed moral agents responsible for continuing traditionality and collective identity. The culturally learned patriarchal beliefs take shape as neopatriarchy after encountering Australian society. We argue that neo-patriarchy is like an old wine in a new bottle. Women reproduce patriarchal norms, giving privileges to male authority and legitimising institutionalised gendered domination through family and marriage. This case study aims to shed light on women’s role in reproducing gender inequality in marital and family institutions. It also aims to present nuances about women’s religiosity, personal attitudes and real practices and how religious and personal perspectives are culturally constructed.
Copyright (c) 2025 Safia Iftikhar, Vicki Banham, Elizabeth Reid Boyd, Shajimon Peter https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reconstructed Southeastern European Identities in the Tourist Western World: Phenomenological Research
The article analyzes the experiences of modern Southeastern Europeans regarding social and economic mobility in Western tourist areas. It aims to investigate Southeastern European seasonal workers who have not remained silent, even after their visas expired in developed countries. This study seeks to understand how these Southeastern European identities are constructed while working as immigrant students, conceptualizing language learning, and contributing as multicultural members in a service-oriented tourist society. In higher education, within a democratic paradigm, the content of ethnographic and global sociolinguistic literature is supported by cultural capital, where constructed identities are understood from a critical perspective. This study uses qualitative data underpinning Husserl’s phenomenology. Qualitative methods include interview protocols, ethnographic observations, and individual narratives. Overarching themes from seven semi-experienced individuals in Southeastern Europe who faced accountability, intercultural adaptation, and educational integration reflect the progressive education that evolved from home to the new tourist world abroad. The findings revealed three main themes: individual acculturation, evolved identity view, and social incisiveness in a multicultural society. Furthermore, Southeastern European immigration rises daily and collaboratively, opening new global perspectives in educational policies, global citizenship education, and social justice curricula within the hospitality industry, where tourists' identities seek protection for their initial Western jobs. These findings suggest that, through an experiential curriculum, ESL learners integrate Southeastern potential tourist workers and become students to understand social and economic perspectives while incorporating them into corporate higher education. The implications contemplate how tourist identity is formed, transformed, and plays a significant role in modern society, with limited potential in the Western tourist world. The policy challenges of higher education for immigrants, such as those from Southeastern Europe affected by the brain drain phenomenon, emphasize social injustice, language barriers, and cultural anxiety. Therefore, higher education policy acknowledges this vulnerable group of Southeastern individuals and creates educational pathways for social and emotional support.
Copyright (c) 2025 Aleksandar Chonevski https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Violent Crime and Enrollment Trends: A Quantitative Analysis Reassessing the Impact at Public Postsecondary Institutions in the United States
This study examines the relationship between rates of reported violent crime and public institutional enrollment in postsecondary education between 1980 and 2020 in the United States. Focusing on violent crimes such as aggravated assault, forcible rape, and homicide, this research employs descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and regression analysis to examine the influence of rates of reported violent crime on public institutional enrollment in postsecondary education. The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between violent crime and public institutional enrollment, with forcible rape demonstrating a significant impact. These results challenge the hypothesis that higher crime rates prevent enrollment in postsecondary education suggesting instead that the rates of reported violent crime could be associated with increased student enrollment in public institutions. This research contributes to ongoing debates about the impact of reported violent crime on institutional enrollment in postsecondary education.
Copyright (c) 2025 Richa Bhattarai https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Advancing Accessibility: A Systematic Review of Healthcare Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities and a Proposed Collaborative Partnership Model
Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other policy efforts, healthcare facilities in the U.S. often fail to provide adequate accommodations for individuals with disabilities, resulting in preventable health issues and diminished quality of life. This study aims to synthesize existing literature on healthcare disparities faced by disabled individuals, focusing on barriers such as insufficient physical accommodations, communication challenges, and a lack of disability awareness among healthcare providers. A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines, with 23 research papers selected from 2006 to 2022. The analysis identified recurring themes of inadequate accessibility, with legal frameworks like the ADA being insufficient in addressing the complexity of these challenges. Key gaps include a lack of scalable, collaborative interventions and insufficient research on disability populations. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel partnership model that integrates academic institutions, advocacy groups, and healthcare education providers to promote inclusive healthcare environments. The findings highlight the critical need for collaboration across sectors to improve healthcare accessibility for all individuals with disabilities.
Copyright (c) 2025 Moumita Roy, Susmita Roy Shoshi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Decoding the Ghanaian Coat of Arms: A Semiotic Analysis of Its History, Language, Ideology, Denotation, and Connotation
The impact of colonialism on the economic development, education, language, and religious systems of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Ghana, is a critical area of study. This semiotic analysis of the Ghanaian Coat of Arms aims to decode the symbols and signs to shed light on how colonial legacy shapes modern Ghana and other African nations. The Coat of Arms, found on official government documents and currency, is often overlooked in terms of its symbolic significance in post-colonial and contemporary Ghanaian history. Guided by the research questions, the study explores how the semiotic concepts of denotation and connotation apply to the symbols and elements of the Ghanaian Coat of Arms, revealing insights into Ghanaian history and culture. Furthermore, it examines how the use of color in the Coat of Arms, as well as historical flags, functions as a semiotic tool to convey messages about Ghana’s wealth, political authority, and cultural heritage. The research findings indicate that the Coat of Arms encapsulates elements of Western imperialism and the assimilation of European culture by Ghana, evident in the adoption of foreign languages, educational policies, and religious structures. The research findings further demonstrate that Ghana’s Coat of Arms integrates historical and ideological aspects, representing both its colonial history and its journey toward independence. Additionally, the study highlights that many African nations, including Ghana, continue to experience elements of colonization in the post-colonial era, as evidenced by the persistent use of colonial symbols and signs. This study enhances the understanding of how national symbols, such as the Coat of Arms, convey broader socio-political and historical narratives. It includes a comparative analysis of the Coats of Arms of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, exploring their similarities and differences to provide a more comprehensive perspective on how these symbols reflect and negotiate the complexities of colonial and post-colonial identities across the region.
Copyright (c) 2025 Daniel Appiah Gyekye https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From Indigenous Resistance to the Contemporary Argentine Contempt for Authority
The political stability of a modern democracy, excluding environmental or external causes, is determined by multiple factors, all influenced by human behaviour. One indicator of political stability that takes the human factor into account is the time in office of a ruler. The stability of a ruler can be directly affected, for example, if they are killed, or indirectly, if the laws issued by the ruler are not followed. Non-compliance is dependent on the level of contempt for authority among citizens. A post-hoc hypothesis from a previous publication suggests that indigenous contempt for the authority of the white conqueror and coloniser is seen as a primary causal factor of political instability in Argentina. In this work, indigenous contempt has been shown to have originated from the mistreatment of indigenous peoples by the conqueror and coloniser, and it is expressed in practice by laws and norms being violated as a covert form of resistance. This behaviour has been spread throughout Argentine society due to extensive genetic mixing between Amerindian and Eurasian peoples, initially encouraged by the Spanish Crown. It is observed that these behaviours persist in the 21st century, partly because mistreatment and discrimination against indigenous peoples continue, and partly because pigmentocracy exists, a social system where wealth and status depend on skin colour. It is therefore crucial to understand that a large part of the causes of Argentina's political instability can be traced to the non-compliance with laws and regulations, which originated as forms of indigenous resistance to the Spanish conqueror and coloniser. Public policies aimed at improving compliance should be designed to integrate indigenous cultures into Argentine identity, ensuring that all citizens wish to comply with the laws because they now see them as their own.
Copyright (c) 2024 Carmelo Felice, Gabriel Ruiz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Finding Meaning in Life for Human Flourishing and Wellbeing: A Mixed Method Research Exploring the Benefits, Possibilities and Challenges of the “On Our Journey” Cards
The “On Our Journey” cards are an innovative resource and an accompaniment to live a happy life, helping individuals to identify, express and regulate their feelings, reflect, make healthy choices, validate their values/principles, and calibrate their life compass. The resource presents a process map where one can find meaning in one’s own actions and life and develop positive mental health which may not only change one’s life but create positive energy that will spread to people who play together with the “On Our Journey” cards, creating a sense of wellbeing and peace. The cards were developed by the Happy Life (Relationships are Forever Foundation) in Malta, together with a team of professionals. Through a set of questionnaires answered by participants who attended a three-day workshop training on the use of the “On Our Journey” cards, and a focus group with seven participants, four main themes emerged that explored the possibilities and the challenges of the cards. These are: the search for meaning in life and spirituality, positive mental health, wellbeing, and present-moment awareness. Results highlight the importance of understanding how to use the cards and the importance of being prepared for potentially challenging initial reactions. Mastery of card usage and allowing time to trust in their effectiveness can lead to significant improvements in human flourishing, mental health, well-being, spirituality, self-awareness, and meaning in life. This paper provides a valuable opportunity for educators and professionals to consider integrating the "On Our Journey" cards into their personal lives and professional practices.
Copyright (c) 2024 Amanda Bezzina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
‘Mapping’ China’s Art Industry: Understanding Contemporary China Through Qiu Zhijie’s Maps as a Medium of Cultural Relations
Deeply ingrained in the fabric of Chinese society, calligraphy originated as an ancient art form and is known as the chief of all traditional arts in China. In the current artistic context of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), calligraphy has merged with contemporary art forms to reflect the dynamic changes and realities of the country. Addressing gaps in academic literature focusing on China’s soft power and cultural diplomacy, this paper focuses on cultural relations to develop a people-centered pathway that flows “organically” and enables the understanding of current-day China. Inspired by Anne Marie-Slaughter’s conceptualization of a “web” of networks, this paper employs a case study analysis of specific contemporary artworks by Chinese contemporary artist Qiu Zhijie. Indeed, this paper finds that Qiu’s maps reflect nuances of contemporary Chinese society, showcasing the intricate relationship between calligraphy, contemporary Chinese art forms, and Chinese culture and society. Further, due to the unique combination of Chinese characters and English text, woven together through cartography and Chinese calligraphy, Qiu’s maps provide international audiences with basic tools for understanding cross-cultural nuances and contemporary realities. In the context of international relations, Qiu’s maps may act as a medium for improving the international community’s understanding of current-day China.
Copyright (c) 2024 Jood Ghazwan Sharaf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Framing Child Abuse: Analyzing Media Coverage of CSA in Lahore's Newspapers (2020-2023)
Media coverage significantly influences public understanding and policy responses to child abuse. This study examines the portrayal of child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse (CSA), in Lahore’s newspapers from 2020 to 2023. Findings reveal distinct patterns in coverage frequency, framing, and narrative presentation across English and Urdu newspapers. The analysis highlights issues such as sensationalism, lack of sensitivity, and politicization. Despite these challenges, media coverage remains essential for raising awareness and fostering societal dialogue on child protection. The study emphasizes the need for ethical reporting practices, improved journalist training, and stronger collaboration between media, government, and civil society to effectively address child abuse.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mudassar Ahmad Tahir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0