Journal Description
Societies
Societies
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on sociology, published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access — free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), RePEc, EconBiz, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q2 (General Social Sciences)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 32.6 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.1 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
1.8 (2022)
Latest Articles
To Retire or Not to Retire? A Comprehensive Examination of Retirement Decision Dynamics in Italy
Societies 2024, 14(5), 63; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14050063 - 06 May 2024
Abstract
The concept of active aging has become central to the public debate in many Western countries, given the increasing aging of the population and the future challenges associated with it. This phenomenon is tightly intertwined with choices regarding the retirement period, which can
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The concept of active aging has become central to the public debate in many Western countries, given the increasing aging of the population and the future challenges associated with it. This phenomenon is tightly intertwined with choices regarding the retirement period, which can be postponed for different reasons by individuals in a society. The purpose of this paper is to understand the personal and family characteristics that influence future choices about retirement date in Italy. Utilizing data provided by the Bank of Italy in the Survey on Household Income and Wealth (SHIW), a logistic regression is performed to observe the impact of different covariates on the hypothesized retirement date of individuals close to retirement, i.e., over the age of 50 who are still in working status. The results show that the decision to delay retirement has increased in recent years, and is influenced by personal (e.g., matrimonial status), work, and economic factors. In addition, these factors have different impacts between males and females.
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Open AccessArticle
Beyond the Walls: Patterns of Child Labour, Forced Labour, and Exploitation in a New Domestic Workers Dataset
by
Zoe Trodd, Catherine Waite, James Goulding and Doreen S. Boyd
Societies 2024, 14(5), 62; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14050062 - 03 May 2024
Abstract
The new Domestic Workers Dataset is the largest single set of surveys (n = 11,759) of domestic workers to date. Our analysis of this dataset reveals features about the lives and work of this “hard-to-find” population in India—a country estimated to have
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The new Domestic Workers Dataset is the largest single set of surveys (n = 11,759) of domestic workers to date. Our analysis of this dataset reveals features about the lives and work of this “hard-to-find” population in India—a country estimated to have the largest number of people living in forms of contemporary slavery (11 million). The data allow us to identify child labour, indicators of forced labour, and patterns of exploitation—including labour paid below the minimum wage—using bivariate analysis, factor analysis, and spatial analysis. The dataset also helps to advance our understanding of how to measure labour exploitation and modern slavery by showing the value of “found data” and participatory and citizen science approaches.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Trafficking and Human Rights)
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Open AccessArticle
The Effect of Product Placement in Animation on Generation Z Consumers
by
Zitong Cheng and Yukari Nagai
Societies 2024, 14(5), 61; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14050061 - 02 May 2024
Abstract
In recent years, the animation market in China has flourished, and many brands use animation as a popular promotional platform to showcase their products and brands through product placement, benefitting from this marketing approach. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate the
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In recent years, the animation market in China has flourished, and many brands use animation as a popular promotional platform to showcase their products and brands through product placement, benefitting from this marketing approach. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate the impact of product placement on Generation Z consumers—the primary audience for animation. In this study, we used popular Chinese animation to investigate Generation Z consumers’ cognition, attitude, and purchase intention regarding product placement. The results show a significant correlation between brand cognition, attitude, and purchase intention. Low-profile brands achieve better product placement effects in animation than high-profile brands. This study also established a mathematical model of participants’ post-cognition, post-attitude, and post-purchase intention regarding product placement in animation through factor analysis. This mathematical model intuitively shows that the effect of product placement in animation is primarily determined by the audience’s post-attitude.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical Issues in Social Cognition and Consumer Preferences)
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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Inclusion of Refugee Students in Greek Schools: Pre-Service Teachers’ Views about Distance Learning
by
Eleni Samsari, Nektaria Palaiologou and Georgios Nikolaou
Societies 2024, 14(5), 60; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14050060 - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
Over the last two years, the prolonged massive school closure due to COVID-19 has provoked significant constraints for refugee children. The present study aimed to investigate the perceptions of Greek pre-service teachers on refugee education during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire was addressed
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Over the last two years, the prolonged massive school closure due to COVID-19 has provoked significant constraints for refugee children. The present study aimed to investigate the perceptions of Greek pre-service teachers on refugee education during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire was addressed to 32 native university students (n = 32) who attended Education Departments in Western Macedonia in Greece. The results showed that the prevalence of distance education affected pre-service teachers’ perceptions. The access to devices with internet capability as well as the cultural barriers was considered to be crucial factors for the school attendance of refugee children. Participants’ perceptions of the level of teacher preparation in a distance learning environment were related to their level of self-efficacy for supporting refugee students. The findings suggest that in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic, the international community should make efforts to ensure the school attendance of all refugee students.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Verification Agencies on TikTok: The Case of MediaWise and Politifact
by
Antonio Díaz-Lucena and Pablo Hidalgo-Cobo
Societies 2024, 14(5), 59; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14050059 - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
This research aims to analyse the work of two international information verification agencies on TikTok—MediaWise and Politifact—according to their evolution, approach, content, and format. To this end, a quantitative approach has been used with an inductive content analysis with nominal variables,
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This research aims to analyse the work of two international information verification agencies on TikTok—MediaWise and Politifact—according to their evolution, approach, content, and format. To this end, a quantitative approach has been used with an inductive content analysis with nominal variables, which offers specific nuances adapted to the unit of analysis. In a first phase, an empirical analysis was carried out, focusing on the measurement and quantification of the number of publications and interactions of the audience, from the time Fthey started operating on this platform until 31 December 2023. The total number of posts extracted was N > 704, which generated N > 4,166,387 user responses. In a second phase, an in-depth content analysis of all the posts published by these two agencies in four months (October and November 2021 and October and November 2023) was carried out, allowing us to analyse their evolution, but also to compare the two agencies in terms of approach, themes, and style. The most important findings show that both agencies adapt the style and narratives to this social network through the use of dynamic resources, a casual and informal tone, and elements of humour. In addition, both contribute to public reason through different strategies: MediaWise focuses on media literacy and Politifact on verification, using resources, effects and content in line with that purpose. Finally, we observe a downward evolution in terms of reach and impact on the audience, as well as a lower dynamism in 2023 than in 2021, which opens the door to future lines of explanatory research that delve deeper into possible causes.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Social Networks and Mediatization)
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Socially Innovative Initiatives in Deprived Rural Areas of Germany, Ireland and Portugal: Exploring Empowerment and Impact on Community Development
by
Gabriela Christmann, Ariane Sept and Ralph Richter
Societies 2024, 14(5), 58; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14050058 - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
In many (remote) rural areas of Europe and the world, rural communities are facing various challenges. One response is residents leaving their communities. However, there are also many empirical examples of residents staying, launching project initiatives, developing new solutions and experimenting with new
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In many (remote) rural areas of Europe and the world, rural communities are facing various challenges. One response is residents leaving their communities. However, there are also many empirical examples of residents staying, launching project initiatives, developing new solutions and experimenting with new practices. This is what we call social innovation. What experiences do actors have in these processes? Can we speak of empowerment? To what extent can such initiatives have an impact on community development? In this article, we explore these questions, for which there is little related empirical research. By applying a multi-sited individualising comparison to case studies in three European countries (Germany, Ireland and Portugal), we obtain empirical evidence of the following dimensions of empowerment that Avelino et al. outline conceptually: the achievement of autonomy, competence and relatedness and also impact, meaning and resilience. Often, however, it is not the individual actors for whom such effects can be reported. Rather, the social initiative as such or the local administration has acquired new skills and autonomy. Regarding community development, ‘pathways to impact’, such as infrastructure improvements and/or the creation of new employment opportunities and/or the influx of new residents, could be identified. However, this development often depended on both opportunity and the cooperation and goodwill of many stakeholders.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Innovation in Urban and Rural Areas: Empowerment, (Disruptive) Transformative Processes and Impact on Community Development)
Open AccessArticle
Ethnic Variation in the Link between Women’s Relative Employment Positions and Entry into Parenthood in Belgium
by
Layla Van den Berg and Karel Neels
Societies 2024, 14(5), 57; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14050057 - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study investigates the association between women’s relative employment positions and the transition to parenthood, focusing on women of Maghrebi, Turkish, and Southern European origin in Belgium. Whereas gender specialization is associated with higher chances of entering parenthood in the older literature, the
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This study investigates the association between women’s relative employment positions and the transition to parenthood, focusing on women of Maghrebi, Turkish, and Southern European origin in Belgium. Whereas gender specialization is associated with higher chances of entering parenthood in the older literature, the economic preconditions to parenthood have shifted and more recent studies indicate that couples where both partners work are more likely to start a family. However, whereas this shift has been extensively studied among majority populations, we lack insight into whether similar patterns can also be found among population subgroups with a migration background. This paper uses Belgian census data from 2011–2015 to explore how women’s relative employment positions are linked to the likelihood of entering parenthood and whether this association varies by women’s age, generation, and origin of the male partner. The results indicate that couples in which both partners are employed are more likely to enter parenthood regardless of migration background. However, the results for women of Maghrebi or Turkish background suggest that single-earner couples and couples where both partners are unemployed delay entry into parenthood to a similar extent.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Unfolding of Life Courses Amongst Migrants and Their Descendants in Europe)
Open AccessArticle
The Role of News Media in Reducing Traffic Accidents
by
Antonio Javier Lucas, Francisco Alonso, Mireia Faus and Arash Javadinejad
Societies 2024, 14(5), 56; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14050056 - 23 Apr 2024
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Traffic accidents represent a major problem worldwide. Public and private entities launch communication campaigns in order to educate the population about this problem. The aim of this study is to analyze the evolution of the presence of road safety in the Spanish media
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Traffic accidents represent a major problem worldwide. Public and private entities launch communication campaigns in order to educate the population about this problem. The aim of this study is to analyze the evolution of the presence of road safety in the Spanish media and its influence on the reduction of road accidents. A content analysis of six major Spanish newspapers between 2000 and 2008 (an important period in the reduction of the accident rate in Spain) was carried out in which the presence of news related to traffic accidents and the intensity of them were quantified using a set of criteria designed for this study. Furthermore, the correlation between the accident rates and the presence and intensity of news in the same time frame was measured. There has been an evident increase in the news related to traffic accidents during the analyzed period, both in terms of the presence of such news in general and in terms of intensity. The correlation analysis also shows a strong relationship between the increase in news presence and intensity and a sharp fall in accident rates in Spain. Although correlation analysis is not enough to establish a causal relationship between the variables studied here, the findings suggest that informative campaigns had a positive effect on encouraging pro-social behavior, were successful in disseminating related information, and, therefore, contributed significantly to lowering accident rates, although that was not the only reason.
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Open AccessArticle
Exploring Narratives of Teachers Working with Culturally Diverse Students: Any Insights about Inclusion?
by
Eleni Samsari, Nektaria Palaiologou and Georgios Nikolaou
Societies 2024, 14(4), 55; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040055 - 21 Apr 2024
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to capture the teachers’ reflections and lived experiences on the inclusion of culturally diverse students in Greek school settings. Through a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, teachers share their personal accounts and stories about their efforts, initiatives,
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The aim of the present study is to capture the teachers’ reflections and lived experiences on the inclusion of culturally diverse students in Greek school settings. Through a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, teachers share their personal accounts and stories about their efforts, initiatives, and moves towards more inclusive schooling, as well as the barriers they face in the school environment. Five (n = 5) primary school teachers were recruited purposefully because of their work experience with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students in mainstream, integration or reception classes. Narrative-discursive analysis unravels the effectiveness of inclusive practice in Greece for culturally diverse students according to specific aspects of inclusive pedagogy such as progressive education, transformative learning, innovative practices, and strategies, as well as school–family partnership. Teachers’ experiences revealed their complex work to handle the increasing diversity in schools and to respond to all students’ needs in a context of slow but steady measures towards inclusion.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Multilingual Education: An Intercultural Perspective)
Open AccessArticle
Unveiling the Complex Facets of Poverty: Unidimensional and Multidimensional Insights from Rural Areas of Suri Sadar Sub-Division, Birbhum District, Eastern India
by
Ranajit Ghosh and Prolay Mondal
Societies 2024, 14(4), 54; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040054 - 17 Apr 2024
Abstract
Poverty, particularly in developing regions, is a complex, multifaceted issue deeply embedded in various interrelated factors. It extends beyond mere financial insufficiency, encompassing limited access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and overall living standards. This study examines both the unidimensional and
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Poverty, particularly in developing regions, is a complex, multifaceted issue deeply embedded in various interrelated factors. It extends beyond mere financial insufficiency, encompassing limited access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and overall living standards. This study examines both the unidimensional and multidimensional aspects of rural poverty in Suri Sadar Sub-Division, located in Eastern India. For the unidimensional aspect, this study employs the poverty headcount ratio and the Poverty Gap Index to gauge the incidence and intensity of poverty. In contrast, the multidimensional approach utilized three dimensions and 12 indicators to assess the incidence, severity, and multidimensional poverty index utilizing the Alkire–Foster (AF) methodology. The unidimensional analysis, focusing on income and consumption, highlights significant economic disparities, particularly in the western Community Development Blocks, namely, Khoyrasole, Md. Bazar, and Rajnagar. The highest levels of multidimensional poverty are generally consistent with the unidimensional findings, particularly in the western blocks. These results underscore the need for comprehensive poverty reduction strategies that address both economic and broader aspects of poverty. In areas like the western blocks, where both income-based and multidimensional poverty rates are high, strategies should integrate economic development, improved healthcare access, enhanced educational quality, and living standards improvement. Therefore, this study serves not only as an academic endeavor but also as a vital tool for informed policymaking in poverty alleviation, providing planners, administrative officials, and researchers with essential insights to develop effective, localized, and sustainable poverty reduction strategies.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Social Sciences and Intelligence Management)
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What Are the Current Directions in the Local Marketplaces Fiscalization? The Online Media Content Analysis
by
Stefan Denda, Marko D. Petrović, Zlata Vuksanović-Macura, Milan M. Radovanović and Edna Ely-Ledesma
Societies 2024, 14(4), 53; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040053 - 17 Apr 2024
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Local markets have been a special setting throughout human history. Apart from their important social role, they had immeasurable economic importance as primary forms of exchange of goods (trade). Nonetheless, they experienced numerous transformational changes that affected their functioning. Like other countries, Serbia
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Local markets have been a special setting throughout human history. Apart from their important social role, they had immeasurable economic importance as primary forms of exchange of goods (trade). Nonetheless, they experienced numerous transformational changes that affected their functioning. Like other countries, Serbia has a long tradition of market activity. However, several novelties have been introduced in recent years. Among many, the process of e-fiscalization is the main issue. Therefore, the focus of our research is based on a qualitative analysis of online media content (news and comments) related to the fiscalization of market activity. The attitudes of different categories of participants (state authorities, vendors, and customers) were analyzed. LIGRE open-access software was used for this purpose. The results of the analysis showed conflicting parties. Legislators emphasize the exclusive positive effects, while vendors point to the negative side of fiscalization. As a third party, customers (service users) have an undefined attitude in relation to fiscalization (pros/cons/neutral). There is an agreement to introduce market activity into legal flows. However, the key prerequisite is the prior resolution of a number of problems (working conditions, business costs, market monopoly, etc.).
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Open AccessArticle
Medical Students’ Views on Cannabis Use in Recreational Contexts Are Related to Their Own Consumption Intention
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Anca-Livia Panfil, Simona C. Tamasan, Lucretia Marin-Bancila, Bianca Matei, Minas G. Musca, Claudia C. Vasilian, Alina Petrica and Diana Lungeanu
Societies 2024, 14(4), 52; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040052 - 11 Apr 2024
Abstract
Health professionals are regarded as important sources of information and guidance for healthy living. Knowing health determinants and risks, and invested with credibility in society, many struggle with their own human limits to apply these principles. A cross-sectional study was conducted among advanced
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Health professionals are regarded as important sources of information and guidance for healthy living. Knowing health determinants and risks, and invested with credibility in society, many struggle with their own human limits to apply these principles. A cross-sectional study was conducted among advanced medical students to assess their attitude towards recreational cannabis consumption, intention to use it, and their opinion of its legal status. Secondary objectives were to explore the relation of these primary outcomes to: (a) potentially addictive habits (such as smoking and drinking); (b) individuals’ disturbances in self-organization (DSOs), defined in the ICD-11 as pervasive chronic effects of traumatic experiences or stressful events. An anonymous online questionnaire active in November 2022 collected data from 171 medical students, of which almost 56% were in favor of recreational cannabis legalization. In a logistic regression analysis, each additional point of own consumption intention (on a scale from 1 to 5) was found to increase the odds of a positive opinion of legalization by three times, when controlling for gender, age, smoking, drinking, onset age of smoking, and DSO: OR = 2.918, 95%CI (1.893–4.497). In conclusion, health professionals’ personal beliefs and practices regarding substance use have a significant subjective component.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
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Vulnerability to Sex Trafficking: Adult Women’s Experiences While They Were Adolescents
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Karla Lorena Andrade-Rubio, José Moral-de-la-Rubia and Simón Pedro Izcara-Palacios
Societies 2024, 14(4), 51; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040051 - 11 Apr 2024
Abstract
The concept of vulnerability to sex trafficking has been the subject of intense academic debate. It is well documented in the literature that child sex trafficking is facilitated by the abuse of a position of vulnerability, though limited research has focused on children’s
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The concept of vulnerability to sex trafficking has been the subject of intense academic debate. It is well documented in the literature that child sex trafficking is facilitated by the abuse of a position of vulnerability, though limited research has focused on children’s order of birth as an element of vulnerability to sex trafficking. The objective of this article, based on a sample of 112 Central American women smuggled to the United States for the sex trade before they had attained the age of eighteen years, is to examine whether the order of birth constitutes an element of vulnerability to sex trafficking. Trafficked minors had vulnerabilities linked to structural-level and individual-level factors. We conclude that sisters occupying the first place in the order of birth are the most susceptible to being recruited by an international network that smuggles women for prostitution. On the contrary, the youngest and middle sisters are less at risk due to the protection and guidance of the other sisters.
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Open AccessArticle
Enhancing Productivity at Home: The Role of Smart Work and Organizational Support in the Public Sector
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Barbara Barbieri, Marina Mondo, Silvia De Simone, Roberta Pinna, Maura Galletta, Jessica Pileri and Diego Bellini
Societies 2024, 14(4), 50; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040050 - 10 Apr 2024
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In recent years, Italian Public Administrations (PAs) have swiftly adapted to flexible work arrangements due to the impact of COVID-19. The flexible work has led to addressing new challenges including the need to balance work demands with family commitments, a lack of social
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In recent years, Italian Public Administrations (PAs) have swiftly adapted to flexible work arrangements due to the impact of COVID-19. The flexible work has led to addressing new challenges including the need to balance work demands with family commitments, a lack of social support, struggles with inadequate technology, and managing home interruptions that negatively affect home performance. Based on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, the present study aims at examining the negative impact of home interruptions on smart working performance and the moderating role of two potential job resources: organizational support and perceived quality of the smart working. A convenience sample of 301 Italian public employees engaged in smart working completed an online questionnaire. Multivariate regression analysis results showed that organizational support plays a moderating role in reducing the negative effect of interruptions on home performance. However, the findings did not support a moderating role for the perceived quality of smart working. Overall, these findings highlight the critical role of social factors in buffering the negative effects of smart working, as compared to the quality of the technological arrangements. This information could be valuable for organizations looking to enhance the effectiveness of smart working by focusing on organizational support.
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From Scientific Journals to Newspapers in Spain: Interest in Disinformation (2000–2023)
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Beatriz Catalina García, María del Carmen García Galera and Mercedes Del Hoyo Hurtado
Societies 2024, 14(4), 49; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040049 - 09 Apr 2024
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As disinformation has become a topic of conversation in the media in recent years, the theory of agenda setting is once again making its presence known. The aim of this research is to verify the degree of interest in disinformation by the media
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As disinformation has become a topic of conversation in the media in recent years, the theory of agenda setting is once again making its presence known. The aim of this research is to verify the degree of interest in disinformation by the media (mainstream press) and in academic writing (scientific communication journals) according to frequency and whether or not such disinformation can be observed in the field of science. The primary research has been carried out through quantitative content analysis of three Spanish newspapers (El País, Abc, El Mundo) and 32 Spanish scientific communication journals included in the SJR-SCImago Journal Rank database from the year 2000 to 2023. The results were 732 units of analysis. From those, it can be concluded that once again, the pandemic represents a before and after. Firstly, a general increase in disinformation has been observed, as well as a corresponding rise in false information in certain fields of science, especially that of health. Secondly, a gradual increase in public interest in disinformation has also been detected, which indicates that the issue is on the agenda of both the media and citizens.
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Open AccessArticle
Toward Gender Understanding: Examining Ambivalent Sexism among University Students and Its Impact on Faculty Evaluation
by
Amaia Yurrebaso Macho, Raquel Guzmán-Ordaz, Eva Picado-Valverde and Álvaro Jáñez González
Societies 2024, 14(4), 48; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040048 - 08 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study examines gender differences in levels of sexism among university students and evaluates variations in assessing sexist attitudes toward professors. The aim is to analyze potential disparities between men and women regarding ambivalent sexism (both hostile and benevolent) and to determine if
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This study examines gender differences in levels of sexism among university students and evaluates variations in assessing sexist attitudes toward professors. The aim is to analyze potential disparities between men and women regarding ambivalent sexism (both hostile and benevolent) and to determine if these differences influence the evaluation of specific behaviors by teaching faculty. Additionally, the present study seeks to validate the variability hypothesis, asserting that men are over-represented in the extremes of distributions compared to women concerning analyzed sexist attitudes. Eighty university students participated voluntarily and anonymously, completing three questionnaires on ambivalent sexism, neosexism, and the assessment of sexist behaviors by their instructors. Consistent with prior research, the results reveal higher levels of sexism among men in this context. Despite these differences, both men and women align in evaluating specific behaviors in teaching faculty, irrespective of their individual levels of sexism. Finally, the data presented support the variability hypothesis, indicating greater variability in sexist attitudes among men than women. These findings suggest that general attitudes assessed in most questionnaires might not be representative of the behaviors and attitudes that people display in real specific situations. This could change how future research and interventions approach these issues.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical Thinking, Gender, and Education)
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Open AccessConcept Paper
Taking Back Control: Human Rights and Human Trafficking in the United Kingdom
by
Todd Landman, Ben Brewster and Sara Thornton
Societies 2024, 14(4), 47; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040047 - 03 Apr 2024
Abstract
Modern slavery and human trafficking are well recognized as significant problems in need of legislation, policies, and actions from a wide range of stakeholders in the United Kingdom. The passage of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 is a hallmark of these concerns
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Modern slavery and human trafficking are well recognized as significant problems in need of legislation, policies, and actions from a wide range of stakeholders in the United Kingdom. The passage of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 is a hallmark of these concerns and has made the UK a world leader in the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking, a legislative development that is in line with the country’s broader formal commitment to the international and European human rights regime. In the post-Brexit period, however, there has been an increasing de jure conflation of modern slavery and human trafficking with efforts to curb immigration, leading to a significant questioning of the UK’s commitment to human rights. This article locates the consideration of human rights and human trafficking within these broader political trends in order to understand the prospects for meaningful measures to combat modern slavery and human trafficking in the future.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Trafficking and Human Rights)
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The Perspectives of Māori and Pasifika Mate Kirikōpū (Endometriosis) Patients in Aotearoa New Zealand
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Katherine Ellis, Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith, Deborah Munro and Rachael Wood
Societies 2024, 14(4), 46; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040046 - 30 Mar 2024
Abstract
Experiences with endometriosis have been understudied in indigenous and people of colour populations. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of Māori and Pasifika endometriosis patients in Aotearoa New Zealand. Twenty-seven Māori endometriosis participants from 21 iwi (tribes), and 10 Pasifika participants from
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Experiences with endometriosis have been understudied in indigenous and people of colour populations. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of Māori and Pasifika endometriosis patients in Aotearoa New Zealand. Twenty-seven Māori endometriosis participants from 21 iwi (tribes), and 10 Pasifika participants from 8 different island nations participated in online, asynchronous, anonymous text-based discussions about their endometriosis journeys. Their explanations were analysed qualitatively with an inductive thematic approach. The average delay from symptom onset to a confirmed or suspected endometriosis diagnosis was 11.6 ± 7.8 years in the Māori cohort and 12.4 ± 6.2 years in the Pasifika cohort. There were high levels of dissatisfaction with the availability of treatment, with 66.7% of Māori participants and 60.0% of Pasifika participants feeling that endometriosis treatment was not readily available to them. Poor experiences with the medical profession might dissuade Māori and Pasifika patients from seeking care, exacerbating a culture of distrust and perpetuating healthcare inequities. This could potentially be improved by increasing the capacity to take time for relationship building within general practice or through the incorporation of cultural advisors to support relationship establishment that emphasises holistic consideration of patient well-being and culturally safe care.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Diversity Competence and Social Inequalities)
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Informing the Design of an Accessible Arabic Typeface: A Visual Analysis to Identify Letterform Features of Dyslexia-Friendly Typefaces
by
Muneera Mohamed Hejres and Amanda J. Tinker
Societies 2024, 14(4), 45; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040045 - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Dyslexia-friendly typefaces for the Latin script have been proliferating during the past decade. The typefaces are designed to tackle the challenges faced in a dyslexic reading experience by manipulating their letter forms and typographic attributes; several studies reported a positive effect on the
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Dyslexia-friendly typefaces for the Latin script have been proliferating during the past decade. The typefaces are designed to tackle the challenges faced in a dyslexic reading experience by manipulating their letter forms and typographic attributes; several studies reported a positive effect on the reading experience. To this date, no working dyslexia-friendly Arabic typefaces are available for the public. The present study is part of a larger practice-based research, where a novel dyslexia-friendly Arabic typeface is designed using a user-centred design approach. The current visual analysis marks the developmental phase, identifying the letterform features of dyslexia-friendly Latin typefaces that can be mapped to the Arabic script. This article explores the typographic features of dyslexia-friendly Latin typefaces by conducting a qualitative visual analysis; a proposed modified version of Leeuwen’s Typographic Distinctive Features Framework is employed. The results are discussed considering the Arabic script’s visual implications in a dyslexic reading experience. The findings of this study are used to create a list of design considerations for a dyslexia-friendly Arabic typeface.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Visual Arts and Design: Practice-Based Research)
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Open AccessArticle
Social Justice Profiles: An Exploratory Study towards an Empirically Based Multi-Dimensional Classification of Countries Regarding Fairness of Participation in Higher Education
by
Pepka Boyadjieva, Kaloyan Haralampiev and Petya Ilieva-Trichkova
Societies 2024, 14(4), 44; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/soc14040044 - 25 Mar 2024
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The aim of this article is to suggest a better—theoretically and empirically grounded—understanding of the complex character of social justice in higher education. Theoretically, this article conceptualises social justice in higher education as mediating participation in, completion of and outcomes from higher education.
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The aim of this article is to suggest a better—theoretically and empirically grounded—understanding of the complex character of social justice in higher education. Theoretically, this article conceptualises social justice in higher education as mediating participation in, completion of and outcomes from higher education. It introduces the concept of composite capability for achieving higher education that captures capabilities to participate in, complete and gain outcomes from higher education. This study also develops a methodology for building an empirically based classification of countries regarding social justice in participation in higher education, taking into account the assessed inequality in students’ pathways to higher education as well as inequality in their social conditions, associated with students’ social origin. In so doing, it develops three indices: the index of inequalities in students’ pathways, the index of inequalities in students’ social conditions and the index of participation in higher education. Using microdata from the EUROSTUDENT VII survey (2019–2021) for 12 European countries, it applies the developed methodology to classify countries, for which data are available, by the degree of fairness in participation in higher education. This study’s results demonstrate the social embeddedness of social justice in higher education in different economic and political contexts.
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