Structural Gender Inequality and Mental Health among Chinese Men and Women

Little is known about the association between structural gender inequality and health in patriarchal China.This study employed a sample from the Chinese Women’s Social Status,consisting of 26,139 participants aged 18 and 70 years(13,494 women and 12,645 men).Structural gender inequality was assessed at the macro-,meso-,and micro-levels.Mental health was measured by the summed scores of eight questions on depressive symptoms.Multilevel linear regression was applied for analysis.Results showed that total sex ratio at birth was associated with poorer mental health among women and men but sex ratio at birth of the second-born child predicted better mental health.Gender inequality at meso-level resulted in poorer mental health and gender inequality at micro-level was associated with poorer mental health both for men and women.Eliminating structural gender inequality promotes populations’mental health in China.

The Myth of Women’s Fates Under Patriarchal Crisis Control:A Case Study on Heroine’s Characterization in Mid-COVID 19 Chinese TV Series

2018 witnessed some unprecedently strict regulations on national media content production and distribution by the Chinese National Radio and Television Administration(NRTA).On its annual recommended lists of excellent national TV series,there is a noticeable increase in historical series in line with core socialist values.Since late 2019,there has been a strict home-quarantine policy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Accompanied by the newly introduced three-child birth policy in the context of the country’s low fertility rate and significant ageing,a re-emphasis on traditional Confucian ideologies incented by the Chinese authorities emerged:the primary identity of women being an understanding wife and loving mother.Furthermore,thus,a manifestation of such enforced patriarchal ideologies and cultural values is visible in the country’s strictly regulated media content.This study sets off from a corpus of national recommended TV lists to investigate the myth of women’s fates in amid-pandemic Chinese TV series that are appraised and supported by authorities to explore how their identities are constructed and potentially abused under patriarchal media production.

Are gender inclusiveness and rural transformation interlinked?The case of Bangladesh

Gender inclusiveness is important in the rural transformation process of Bangladesh as rural women play key roles in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.Gender inclusiveness also leads to gender equity.We empirically evaluate relationships between rural transformation and gender inclusiveness in Bangladesh.We consider three rural transformation indicators:high-value commodities’share in agricultural output values,non-farm employment’s share in rural labor employment,and non-agricultural GDP’s share in total GDP.Indicators capturing gender inclusiveness include the per capita rural income of males and females,ratio of investments into gender programs,female access to education,access to healthcare,employment participation,land ownership,and asset ownership.We test the effect of the difference in per capita rural income of males and females and the ratio of their incomes and check for the robustness of the gender variables across different model specifications.Analyzing 128 district-level observations from 32 districts of Bangladesh across four time periods(2000,2005,2010 and 2016),we use both ordinary least squares and fixed effects panel regression models.We find that female land and asset ownership and access to education and healthcare are robust determinants of various stages of rural transformation.Thus,our results suggest that improving women’s ownership of land and assets and investing in women’s education and healthcare will likely contribute to a more inclusive rural transformation.

The Rise of China’s Women’s Basketball Team:An Exploration of Gender Equality in Professional Basketball

This article explores the rise of the Chinese women’s basketball team in professional basketball and its relationship to gender equality issues.In view of the gender differences in salary,market value,social status,and other aspects,the article proposes a series of strategies to promote the realization of gender equality for female basketball players in professional basketball.This article points out that the rise of the Chinese women’s basketball team will lead the process of gender equality and lay the foundation for a more equitable and inclusive future.To achieve this goal,this article highlights the importance of improving the competitive level of female athletes,improving basic education,promoting basketball culture,and promoting gender equality.

Women Awareness on the Importance of Agriculture Technologies Using ICT-Based Training Programs

Awareness policy intended to contribute to changing rural women realities to urgent needs of information and gain knowledge was to be demonstrated through in-depth information and communication technology-based(ICTs-based)training program that focused on the importance of advanced agricultural technologies in the production chain in developing countries like Egypt through access and use of the ICTs.Women are becoming well trained on the detailed steps of improved technologies applied in supply chain.Their increased awareness of the necessity of quality management to be followed during their work in the postharvest handling system helped them to produce high-quality products to meet the export requirements of foreign markets and add value to the export quality.Women have been able to reduce the extremely high losses that occurred due to improper handling in particular.The outcomes of proper and healthy procedures,precautions and personal protection were gained by rural women and technicians working in the supply chain.Moreover,women themselves became more confident in their know-how and more comfortable in transgressing cultural norms that inhibited their progress.

Closing the Gap: Boosting Women’s Representation in Cybersecurity Leadership

The research consistently highlights the gender disparity in cybersecurity leadership roles, necessitating targeted interventions. Biased recruitment practices, limited STEM education opportunities for girls, and workplace culture contribute to this gap. Proposed solutions include addressing biased recruitment through gender-neutral language and blind processes, promoting STEM education for girls to increase qualified female candidates, and fostering inclusive workplace cultures with mentorship and sponsorship programs. Gender parity is crucial for the industry’s success, as embracing diversity enables the cybersecurity sector to leverage various perspectives, drive innovation, and effectively combat cyber threats. Achieving this balance is not just about fairness but also a strategic imperative. By embracing concerted efforts towards gender parity, we can create a more resilient and impactful cybersecurity landscape, benefiting industry and society.

Women＇s speech in variation studies

It is demonstrated by sociolinguistic variation studies that women are more likely than men to use standard speech. This paper reviews the operational methods and analytical means of classic quantitative studies in this field, intending to provide guidance and enlightenment for relevant studies and verifications in the context of Chinese culture.

Prioritization of factors related to mental health of women during an earthquake:A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: According to the fact that women account for the highest rate of victims of mental health loss during disasters, prioritization of their requirements is of remarkable signifi cance. Therefore, the present study was carried out with the aim to prioritize factors related to women's mental health during an earthquake. METHODS: This study was conducted using the Delphi method in 2017. Participants consisted of experts including psychologists, counselors and psychiatrists, social medicine specialists, and psychiatric-mental health nurses with experience in service and disaster awareness, especially earthquake. They were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The Delphi method was used in 2 rounds with 21 components and the fi nal attendance of 19 participants and the collective agreement of 75%. RESULTS: Of the 21 factors related to women's mental health during the earthquake, the following components were, respectively, preferred by the participants: psychological well-being training, group relationships and support of women in emergency situations, fair treatment in the provision of rights and services to women, crisis awareness and management of behavior and diffi cult conditions, and social security during disasters with the total mean standard deviation (SD) of 13.4 (2.4), 13.0 (2.4), 12.7 (2.5), 12.5 (2.4), and 12.3 (2.2), respectively. CONCLUSION: Training in the fi eld of psychology and disasters, and social and cultural factors were prioritized among factors related to women's mental health during an earthquake. Therefore, the results of this study can be applied by the planners and executives of mental health, women and disasters, and the women's community itself.

Peanut consumption and reduced risk of colorectal cancer in women:A prospective study in Taiwan

AIM： To examine whether peanut consumption is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in a prospective cohort with a 10-year follow-up. METHODS： In 1990-1992, residents （12026 men and 11917 women aged 30 to 65 years） in 7 townships, Taiwan, were interviewed and recruited into a cancerscreening cohort and annually followed up. Colorectal cancer cases in this cohort were identified from cancer registry and death certificates. Incidence rates of this disease by the end of 2001 were calculated by gender for the primary study variable and covariates. The dietary intake was assessed by means of weekly food frequency measures, including frequently consumed food groups and folk dishes including sweet potato, bean products, peanut products, pickled foodstuffs, nitrated or smoked foodstuffs. RESULTS： During the study period, 107 new colorectal cancer cases （68 men and 39 women） were confirmed. The multivariate Cox＇s proportional hazard model showed that the relative risk （RR） of peanut consumption was 0.73 [95% confidence interval （CI） = 0.44-1.21] for men and 0.42 （95% CI = 0.21-0.84） for women. However, frequent intake of pickled foodstuffs was harmful for women （RR= 2.15, 95% CI=0.99-4.65）. The risk of colorectal cancer was also elevated among cigarette smokers but not significant （P〈 0.05）.CONCLUSION： This study suggests that frequent intake of peanut and its products may reduce colorectal cancer risk in women, demonstrating the anti-proliferating effect of peanut intake.

Quality of life in women with cervical precursor lesions and cancer:a prospective, 6-month, hospital-based study in China

The overall survival of patients with cervical cancer has improved due to detection at an early stage and availability of comprehensive treatments in China. As patients' lives prolonged, it is important to understand their health-related quality of life(QoL) during and after treatment. We used the EQ-5D questionnaire to assess QoL of 194 patients with cervical lesions at Sichuan University West China Second Hospital between May 2010 and January 2011. Patients were surveyed before primary treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after primary treatment. Results showed a consistent decline in EQ-5D scores in the spectrum of cervical lesions at each time point after treatment(all P < 0.05). For patients with precursor lesions, there was an increasing trend along the timeline of treatment(P < 0.01). For patients with early-stage cervical cancer, EQ-5D scores declined in the first month(P = 0.01) and gradually increased to higher levels at 6 months post-treatment than those before treatment(P < 0.01). EQ-5D scores followed a similar trend in patients with advanced cervical cancer(P = 0.04), though they did not statistically rebound after 6 months(0.84 ± 0.19 vs. 0.86 ± 0.11, P = 0.62). Regarding advanced cervical cancer, EQ-5D scores for women above 40 years of age appeared to recover more rapidly and reached higher levels than those for women below 40 years(P = 0.03). Caution and extra care are recommended in the early period of cervical cancer treatment given the slight deterioration in the QoL, and in particular, for younger cervical cancer patients. Our study implies that health care providers may need to improve the health-related QoL of cervical cancer patients.

Women's Language or Powerless Language:A Study of Couples' Talk

The purpose of this essay is to study whether the linguistic behaviour of adult women using hedging and tags as indicative of an intrinsically tentative gender identity or of the effects of male dominant position through analyzing daily conversations of the heterosexual couples.The small scale study employs the methodology,namely,recording spontaneous and natural spoken conversation from authentic interaction with the permission of the ten male-female couples.Digital record pen with an omnidirectional microphone are placed in the central living area of each couple's home.Then discourse analysis provides data making it possible to support Fishman's claim that women use tag questions and 'you know' not because women are not being really sure of themselves,or are looking to the addressee for confirmation,but because men in a dominant position often refuse to take responsibility for the smooth conduct of interpersonal relations,women use tag questions and 'you know' to elicit and maintain conversations.

Gender and rural transformation:A systematic literature review

Rural transformation can improve poverty reduction,living standards,and health outcomes in developing countries.However,impacts associated with rural transformation vary by region,household,and individual trait(including gender).While research on rural transformation has been increasing over the last decade,there has been no comprehensive review conducted on the relationships between gender and rural transformation.Here,we conduct a systematic literature review to investigate the impacts of rural transformation on gender and the influence of gender inclusiveness on rural transformation.We reviewed 82 studies from 1960-2021 that explore the relationships between rural transformation and gender.We then developed a framework that captures incidences and flow directions between indicators.Results show that most studies examined the impacts of rural transformation on women and between gender indicators.Few investigated the role of women and the influence of gender inclusiveness on rural transformation.Overall,studies showed that rural transformation typically leads to positive outcomes for women regarding employment,income,and empowerment.However,negative impacts on women’s control over income,stability of new income sources,and access to healthy food are also common.Tailoring future development policies and programs to explicitly account for gender inclusiveness can lead to more successful rural transformation.

Gender Sensitive STIs/HIV/AIDS Prevention Policies: A Qualitative Study

Background: The global incidence of STIs is rising. It is estimated that 499 million new cases of curable STIs occur every year. The existence of more than one million reported cases of STIs annually in Iran shows that addressing this issue must be a priority for Iranian health authorities. While recognition of the importance of gender issues to reproductive health (RH) programs has grown significantly in the past several years, major challenges remain in implementing gender-sensitive programs. Gender mainstreaming in Iranian reproductive health program is a relatively new issue, so this study aims to explore gender sensitive STIs/HIV/AIDS prevention policies. Method: This study employed a qualitative research design. Participants were health managers, health policy makers and reproductive health providers. They were selected purposefully and then continued by snowball sampling method. 43 semi-structured in-depth interviews with 37 key informants were done. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data were analyzed by content analysis method. Trustworthiness of the data was achieved by using credibility, trans-ferability and conformability. Results: Key informants clearly explained the gender sensitive STIs/ HIV/AIDS prevention policies in three main categories: 1) advocacy, 2) collaboration between different sectors and 3) community empowerment to gender sensitive STIs/HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Conclusion: Changing gender neural STIs/HIV/AIDS prevention policy to more complete gender sensitive policy needs advocacy, collaboration of sectors and community empowerment.

Experience of, and Perception on Gender Based Violence (GBV) by Pregnant Women in South Eastern Nigeria

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a common women’s sexual and reproductive right violation. Pregnancy could be associated with an increased risk of GBV. Objective: To determine the experience of, and perception on GBV by pregnant Nigerian women. Methodology: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study involving 250 pregnant women from six selected health facilities in Anambra, Southeastern Nigeria was conducted to elicit their experience of, and perceptions on gender based violence. Data analysis employed statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Statistical comparison of variables employed Chi-square test, with significance levels comprising of p Results: Only 80 (32.0%) of the respondents were aware of GBV while 17 (6.8%) and 20 (8.0%) had experienced it in the index and previous pregnancies respectively. Physical violence was the most commonly experienced 18 (58.1%), while marital quarrel and drunkenness were the most commonly perceived causes, 21 (26.3%) apiece. Up to 33.7% of the respondents would report GBV to the law enforcement agencies;22.5% would seek medical attention and only 2.5% would do nothing. The most common source of information on GBV was public lecture (32.5%) followed by media (26.3%). As high as 49 (61.3%) of the respondents that are aware of GBV (N = 80), thought that GBV could be prevented while up to 53 (66.3%) were aware of the strategies for its prevention. Conclusion: Awareness of GBV in this study is low (32.0%) while experience is even lower at 6.8%, and 8.0% for the index and previous pregnancies respectively. Information on prevention strategies for GBV is also low. The need to develop comprehensive reproductive health (RH) policy that incorporates GBV and its management, to be taught in educational institutions is highlighted. The importance of public health lectures and the employment of various media platforms as reproductive right enlightenment modalities, towards creating awareness on the prevention and combat of GBV are also highlighted.

Birth outcomes and pregnancy complications of women with uterine leiomyoma—a population-based case-control study

Objective Uterine leiomyoma is not a rare pathological condition in pregnant women;thus the aim of the study was to evaluate the recent progress in the treatment of these pregnant women on the basis of the association of leiomyoma in pregnancy (LP) with pregnancy complications and birth outcomes including structural birth defects, i.e. congenital abnormalities (CA) in the offspring. Design Cases with CA and matched controls without CA in the population-based Hungarian Case-Control Surveillan- ce System of Congenital Abnormalities (HCC SCA) were evaluated. Only women with prospectively and medically recorded LP in prenatal maternity logbook and medically recorded birth outcomes (gestational age, birth weight, CA) were included to the study. Setting the HCCSCA, 1980-1996 contained 22,843 cases with CA and 38,151 matched controls without CA. Population Hungarian pregnant women and their informative offspring: live births, stillbirths and prenatally diagnosed malformed fetuses. Methods Comparison of birth outcomes of ca- ses with matched controls and pregnancy com- plications of pregnant women with or without LP. Main outcome measures Pregnancy complications, mean gestational age at delivery and birth weight, rate of preterm birth, low birthweight, CA. Results A total of 34 (0.15%) cases had mothers with LP compared to 71 (0.19%) controls. There was a higher incidence of threatened abortion, placental disorders, mainly abruption placentae and anaemia in mothers with LP. There was no significantly higher rate of preterm birth in the newborns of women with LP but their mean birth weight was higher and it associated with a higher rate of large birthweight newborns. A higher risk of total CA was not found in cases born to mothers with LP (adjusted OR with 95% CI = 0.7, 0.5-1.1), the spe- cified groups of CAs were also assessed versus controls, but a higher occurrence of women with LP was not revealed in any CA group. Con- clusions Women with LP have a higher risk of threatened abortion, placental disorders and anaemia, but a higher rate of adverse birth outcomes including CAs was not found in their offspring.

Women as a Key to Agriculture and Food Security in Sudan： The Case Study of Northern Kordofan State

In the rural areas where most of the world＇s hungry people live, women produce most of the locally consumed food. Their contribution could be much greater if they had equal access to essential resources and services, such as land, credit, and training. In Sudan, women have always been active in agriculture and food security, constituting 17% to agricultural labor force. However, culture coupled with imperfections of official data underestimates their contribution. Accordingly, this study was carried out in the western part of Sudan, namely, North Kordofan State in order to identify and assess the role of women in agriculture and food security and identify the main factors and constraints affecting their contribution to agricultural production in the state. The findings confirm that women contribute 74% to the monthly agricultural income, 65% to total income, 62% to the labor work, and 65% to the household activities. Their average daily working hours are 14, while, those of men are only 8. The study suggests that the removal of the obstacles those women face could increase their contribution to and enhances the livelihood of the people in the state. Hence, a review to the relevant government policies is needed, so that women are empowered by improving their access to resources and credit.

Colleges for Women’s Torah Study (Midrashoth) as Change Agents in Women’s Role Within Religious Zionism in the Past and Present in the Postmodern Era

Torah study by women has been a point of dissension over the years.Side by side with partial support,the subject has aroused resistance within the religious community.In recent years,Torah-oriented study settings for women have greatly expanded,concurrent with the rise in the value of Torah study as part of religious women’s life.One option that has become more available for women in religious Zionist society in recent years,as part of the moratorium,is colleges for Torah study by women,called“Midrashoth”(single:Midrasha).The purpose of the current study was to examine whether and to what degree full-program Midrashoth constitute change agents for their students by shaping the image of women within religious Zionist society.The first Torah-oriented Midrashoth were opened in the 1990s,with one main aim to enable women to study Torah and Talmud and thus attempt to reach an equal level as men in this area.Previously,the study of“Torah Lishmah”(i.e.,Torah for its own sake)was less customary and not perceived as part of the role of women in religious Zionist society.Since the opening of the Midrashoth and until the present,several interesting developments have occurred.The first was the significant increase in Torah-oriented Midrashoth for women,particularly full-program Midrashoth.At present,there are 25 full-program Midrashoth.Another development is the timing of studies at the Midrasha.In the past,some women would study at Midrashoth after completing their national service,particularly when a full program was involved.But at present,there is an increase in full-program Midrashoth even before national service.The current study found that nearly half the respondents had studied a full program before their national service.Another interesting change that is occurring in recent years involves women’s motives for studying at the Midrashoth.As stated,the main purpose for which Torah-oriented Midrashoth were established was for women’s Torah study.This purpose has remained valid,but it has been joined by other more conspicuous motives related to constructing one’s personal identity and self-focus.This study hypothesized that an association would be found between the growth process of Torah-oriented Midrashoth and the enhanced status of women in religious Zionist society.Moreover,it was hypothesized that an association would be found between the motives of students to study in the Midrashoth and current-day postmodern processes.Torah-oriented Midrashoth were found to have an important role in enhancing the status of women in religious Zionist society,by means of a comparison between the results of a previous survey on women’s status and the current results.In most aspects,an increase was found in the present compared to the past.Women now perceive Torah studies for women more positively,with a rise of more than 30%in answer to the question to what degree Midrashoth have a very positive impact on the life of religious women today,and these seem to serve as change agents for enhancing women’s status in religious Zionist society.In addition,it appears that the postmodern approach is currently manifested in respondents’motivation to study in the Midrashoth.The main reasons seem to be the desire to shape one’s personal and religious world view and,in general,an increased focus on oneself and less on Torah study or attempts to resemble men’s Torah study.

Diagnosis of voiding dysfunction by pressure-flow study in women

Pressure-flow study(PFS) of micturition is the best method to quantitatively analyse voiding function. It allows us to distinguish voiding lower urinary tract symptoms and low urine flow rate caused by bladder outlet obstruction(BOO) from those caused by detrusor underactivity(DU). Voiding dynamics are significantly different in men and women and the established criteria for urodynamic diagnosis in men do not apply to women. Basic principles of voiding mechanics and voiding patterns in asymptomatic women are analyzed. Although attempts have been made to establish a consensus for diagnosis of BOO in women with pressure-flow cutoff, video-urodynamics criteria and nomograms, currently there is no consensus. There is no standard urodynamic test to diagnose and quantify DU in women for which further investigations are needed. Modified projected isovolumetric pressure(to assess detrusor contraction strength) and pressure-flow cutoff criteria have been used. The diagnosis of voiding dysfunction in women is challenging, requiring PFS with very good quality control and often involves integrating clinical and radiographic data to make the final assessment.

THE STUDY ON RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BREAST CANCER AMONG WOMEN IN TIANJIN, CHINA AND ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

To explore the possible explanation of the marked difference in the incidence of breast cancer between Chinese and Australian women, the authors have compared and analysed the results of two case-control studies completed recently in Tianjin, China and Adelaide, Australia. Of 10 known risk factors for breast cancer 9 were significantly higher in level in Adelaide women than in Tianjin women, i.e., women in Adelaide were much taller, heavier, more obese, earlier at menarche, later at first full-term pregnancy, more nulliparous, less parity, more in history of breast cancer in first degree relatives, more educated. From the 7 risk factors analysed by use of logistic regression model 5 factors, i.e., earlier age at menarche, later age at first full-term pregnancy, less parity, history of benign disease, and history of breast cancer in first degree relatives, were associated significantly with the increased risk for breast cancer in the Tianjin study, but not in Adelaide study. These factors being not associated with breast cancer in Adelaide women were unexpected. The explanation of the indefinite findings in Adelaide study was due to the fact that the level of the risk factor is universally high, relatively uniform and lack of categories. The difference in the risk factor distribution between cases and controle would not be seen in case-control studies, and significance of the risk factor therefore may not be found. According to data on diet survey in these two cities, the calories from fat was significantly higher in Adelaide women than in Tianjin women. The marked difference in incidence in women in the two cities resulted from the summing-up effect of a number of factors. The important role of fat intake in geographical incidence difference and in the development of breast cancer was also discussed.