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The present plight of the world as a victim to a plethora of environmental setbacks ranging from global warming, ozone layer depletion to an alarming increase in world pollution levels is threatening the existence of the most intelligent species on earth. This has been enough for both environmentalists and laymen to wake up to the indisputable importance of environmental education. Almost every sphere that man has forged into has undergone a major demarcation from what it was before to suit the needs and greed of man better. Yet this Midas touch that came into major force in the last century was not quite the answer to the big question that it put on the sustainable development of our future generations.

This study investigates gender disparities in the Spanish workforce's distribution in international and industry collaborative publications, highlighting common issues and potential differences. The work provides detailed information not only by gender but also by research field, research career, author position, and number of co-authors. The findings show a lower presence of women in both types of collaboration, even in 'Biomedical & Health Sciences', although there are more women in the total number of publications of this field. Women are under-represented in relevant authorship positions (first, last or corresponding author), possibly due to their concentration in the early career stages. A greater number of co-authors is associated with a decreased likelihood of holding relevant authorship positions, with some exceptions for women in international collaboration. This article aims to encourage responsible metrics by suggesting changes in evaluation policies to avoid indirect biases affecting gender and career progression.

The research paper studied higher education in Pakistan from a sociological perspective. It examines how social factors affect higher education, with a focus on how higher education can either promote social mobility or lead to social reproduction. The study addresses how sociological theories may help us comprehend higher education challenges such as access to quality and efficiency, the importance of education, insufficient research activities, and discrepancies in educational attainment and retention based on class, race, and gender. This study aims to analyze the education system in Pakistan and identify the challenges that hinder the achievement of higher education opportunities. It investigates the historical, cultural, and institutional contexts that shape these fields and their interrelationships. This study draws material from the literature that has already been published. This research aims to emphasize how sociology and education can complement each other in advancing our understanding of human behavior and society.

Background: Despite advancements in the global dialog surrounding sex and gender equity, an important gap persists with women markedly underrepresented in major roles within health care leadership. Objectives: We examined the extent of women's representation in prominent positions within parenteral and enteral nutrition (PEN) societies worldwide over a span of 2 decades. Design: This retrospective analysis explored the sex distribution of society chairs, conference presidents, and editor-in-chief positions across 64 PEN societies between 2003 and 2022. Additionally, data on the first and last authors of endorsed clinical guidelines were collected from the 2 leading societies. Results: Over the past 20 y, women held society chair positions in 34.4% of cases. The representation shifted from 30% during the decade from 2003 to 2012 to 40.5% from 2013 to 2022. Throughout these years, the numbers consistently ranged from 0 to 10; however, the median shifted upward from 1 during the first decade to 4 in the subsequent decade (P = 0.04). Of 420 congress presidencies, ∼30% were women. In endorsed guidelines, women were the first authors in 27.1% of cases (P < 0.001) and the last in 28.9% (P < 0.001) compared with men. Of the 123 journal editor-in-chief positions, women occupied 23 (18.7%). Conclusion: Over the last 2 decades, women have been consistently underrepresented in prominent leadership roles in PEN societies globally. Although there has been a noticeable shift toward more women in chair positions, true sex equality remains elusive. Moreover, sex disparities are even more pronounced in positions, such as conference presidents, authors of major guidelines, and editors-in-chief of society-affiliated journals. These data underscore the pressing need to enhance efforts toward sex equality across these domains.

In the comprehensive assessment of societal well-being, education emerges as a pivotal factor. This study, framing education as a transformative process crucial for enhancing overall societal welfare, zeroes in on examining disparities in the utilization of educational services among diverse social strata. This scrutiny is crucial as it has the potential to perpetuate economic inequities. Key focal points of this study address gender and regional disparities in illiteracy, gross enrolment ratio, and educated unemployment within Indian states. This paper deals with two hypotheses, the first one being that woman from disadvantaged backgrounds in rural areas and states with lower GDP, experience diminished access to education compared to other economic and social segments while the second hypothesis is that economic growth has influenced regional disparities, leading to educational gaps between rural and urban areas, as well as economically advanced and backward regions. Through a meticulous analysis of data encompassing different income groups, genders, fields of education, and regions, this research seeks to elucidate the evolving patterns of educational access. The findings from this study hold significant policy implications. The insights gained are expected to inform the allocation of public resources, with a specific focus on higher education, addressing the educational needs of women and marginalized populations throughout India. In summary, this research contributes substantively to the ongoing discourse surrounding educational reform and equity within the dynamic educational landscape of India.

This article aims to investigate the factors influencing the closure of informal businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on the differences between businesses led by women and men. The research employed a logistic regression approach and utilized the matching method to evaluate the pandemic’s impact. The study relied on a database created by the Development Policy Analysis Laboratory, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, which encompassed 923 informal businesses operating in diverse sectors in Dakar. The findings demonstrate that businesses managed by women experienced a more severe impact from the pandemic, leading to a higher likelihood of temporary closure. These results underscore the disproportionate effect of the crisis on women entrepreneurs within the informal sector and emphasize the necessity for tailored measures to support this vulnerable population during and after the pandemic. Such measures should address the unique challenges faced by women-led informal businesses and help foster their recovery and long-term sustainability, El objetivo de este artículo es examinar los factores determinantes del cierre de empresas informales durante la pandemia COVID-19, centrándose en las diferencias entre las empresas dirigidas por mujeres y las dirigidas por hombres. Para ello, se utilizó un enfoque de regresión logística, junto con el método de emparejamiento para evaluar el impacto de la pandemia. El estudio se fundamenta en una base de datos elaborada por el Laboratorio de Análisis de Políticas de Desarrollo, Universidad Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, que comprende 923 empresas informales de diversos sectores en Dakar. Los resultados revelan que los negocios manejados por mujeres se vieron más afectados por la pandemia, con una mayor probabilidad de cierre temporal. Estos resultados subrayan el impacto desproporcionado de la crisis sobre las mujeres empresarias del sector informal, y ponen de relieve la necesidad de medidas específicas para apoyar a esta población vulnerable durante y después de la pandemia.

Purpose: Women have traditionally been underrepresented in MD and MD-PhD training programs. Here, we describe the changing demographics of an MD-PhD Program over three distinct time intervals. Methods: We designed a 64-question survey and sent it to 47 graduates of the McGill University MD-PhD program in Montréal, Québec, Canada, since its inception in 1985. We also sent a 23-question survey to the 24 students of the program in 2021. The surveys included questions related to demographics, physician-scientist training, research metrics, as well as academic and personal considerations.Results: We collected responses from August 2020 to August 2021 and grouped them into three intervals based on respondent graduation year: 1995–2005 (n = 17), 2006–2020 (n = 23) and current students (n = 24). Total response rate was 90.1% (n = 64/71). We found that there are more women currently in the program compared to the 1995–2005 cohort (41.7% increase, p<0.01). In addition, women self-reported as physician-scientists less frequently than men and reported less protected research time. Conclusions: Overall, recent MD-PhD alumni represent a more diverse population compared with their earlier counterparts. Identifying barriers to training remains an important step in ensuring MD-PhD trainees become successful physician-scientists.

BACKGROUND: Procedural training is a required competency in internal medicine (IM) residency, yet limited data exist on residents experience of procedural training. OBJECTIVES: We sought to understand how gender impacts access to procedural training among IM residents. METHODS: A mixed-methods, explanatory sequential study was performed. Procedure volume for IM residents between 2016 and 2020 was assessed at two large academic residencies (Program A and Program B: 399 residents and 4,020 procedures). Procedural rates and actual versus expected procedure volume by gender were compared, with separate analyses by clinical environment (intensive care unit [ICU] or structured procedural service). Semistructured gender-congruent focus groups were conducted. Topics included identity formation as a proceduralist and the resident procedural learning experience, including perceived gender bias in procedure allocation. RESULTS: Compared with men, women residents performed disproportionately fewer ICU procedures per month at Program A (1.4 vs. 2.7; P < 0.05) but not at Program B (0.36 vs. 0.54; P = 0.23). At Program A, women performed only 47% of ICU procedures, significantly fewer than the 54% they were expected to perform on the basis of their time on ICU rotations (P < 0.001). For equal gender distribution of procedural volume at Program A, 11% of the procedures performed by men would have needed to have been performed by women instead. Gender was not associated with differences in the Program A structured procedural service (53% observed vs. 52% expected; P = 0.935), Program B structured procedural service (40% observed vs. 43% expected; P = 0.174), or in Program B ICUs (33% observed vs. 34% expected; P = 0.656). Focus group analysis identified that women from both residencies perceived that assertiveness was required for procedural training in unstructured learning environments. Residents felt that gender influenced access to procedural opportunities, ability to self

Indian education system promotes social equality, embraces an inclusive learning environment, and adheres to a heterogeneous classroom. Besides, social equity in the education system could occur due to gender disparities and inadequate funding. In addition, the Indian government, in terms of providing social equity, aimed to significantly rectify the historical, cultural, and gender inequalities to promote equal educational opportunities for all structures regardless of their background. Furthermore, the digital divide amplifies existing disparities, as socioeconomically disadvantaged children face little or no access to online educational resources during the pandemic. Addressing these difficulties necessitates the implementation of comprehensive policy reforms, augmented financial allocation, active involvement of the community, and an unwavering dedication to the principles of social justice.

This study examined the challenges regarding access to higher education among rural women in Punjab, Pakistan, and explored the impacts and implications of these challenges. The study examined the role of socioeconomic factors, family size and distance to educational institutions in shaping access to higher education for rural women. A sample of 384 participants from the region was surveyed using a well-structured questionnaire. The analysis revealed that household income and the perceived difficulty in paying school fees significantly influenced access to higher education with greater financial resources increasing the likelihood of educational opportunities for women. The size of a family has become another factor that affects educational outcomes because there are not enough resources and attention available for girl’s higher education. Moreover, the distance of educational institution from home presented a significant barrier, hindering access to higher education for rural women. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling showed that these factors were important to effect the rural women's ability to attend the institute. The study showed the need for targeted interference and policies to promote higher education and enhance access to higher education for rural women in Punjab, Pakistan.

The paper aims at providing an overview on how students of a technical faculty which educates students in the field of business and information technologies (IT) and business and management observe the calling of a statistician and data analyst. To assess the students’ perception and opinion a survey will be conducted, and the statistical analysis of the results will especially focus on exploring the differences and similarities between male and female students. Some of the antecedents we will include are previous results in quantitative subjects (such as Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, and Probability Theory), Perceived usefulness of statistics, as well as Interpretation anxiety. We consider conducting hypothesis testing as well as structural equation modelling multigroup analysis. The obtained results could indicate whether or not additional presentations and activities should be taken to encourage young female students to place interest in the field of statistics.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka mäns ensamhet med perspektiv från yrkesverksamma på kriscentrum för män. Studien avser också undersöka hur och om dessa centrum arbetar med problematiken och om det går att identifiera kopplingar mellan den rådande mansnormen och mäns ensamhet. Sju kvalitativa semistrukturerade forskningsintervjuer genomfördes med yrkesverksamma på fem olika kriscentrum för män belägna i fem olika orter i Sverige. I studien används Connells maskulinitets teori och Hirdmans genusteori som teoretiskt verktyg. Studien identifierar i sitt resultat en koppling mellan mansnormen och ensamhet. Den enskilda orsak som enligt studien leder till ensamhet är separation från en kärlekspartner. Resultatet visar även att de yrkesverksamma på kriscentrum för män uppfattar att många av männen de möter i sin profession har en ensamhetsproblematik., The aim of this study was to examine the issue of men’s loneliness through the perspectives of employees at crisis centers for men. The purpose of this study also relates to an inquiry into if and how these centers work with this issue and if it is possible to make a connection between the loneliness and the current norms concerning masculinity. Seven qualitative semi-structured research interviews were conducted with employees at five different crisis centers for men, located in five disparate towns in Sweden. Connell’s theory regarding masculinity and Hirdman’s theory on gender are both utilized as the theoretical framework for the study. The result section of the study identifies a connection between the norms associated with masculinity and loneliness. The primary cause which, according to this study, leads to loneliness is the separation from a romantic partner. Furthermore, the results show that the employees at crisis centers for men perceive that a majority of the men they come into contact with through their work struggle with issues surrounding loneliness.

Criteria for assessing candidates are essential elements for the functioning of evaluation practices in academia. This article addresses a relevant issue of academia: the preference for evaluation criteria for tenure and promotion, as reported by female and male academics employed at Spanish universities. We use survey data from 4,460 faculty members, testing whether there are differences in the evaluation criteria that women and men prefer and exploring the factors that account for such preferences. Our focus is on bibliometric evaluation criteria. We propose an analytical model that considers the influence of career and quality factors, values about universalism and the mission of universities, and beliefs about meritocracy in the context of the academic evaluation system. We use a binary logistic model to explain the preference for bibliometric criteria and develop the comparisons by gender using predicted probabilities and marginal effects for estimating the difference. We find that female academics do not have the same preferences as men and report lower preferences for bibliometrics. However, women at the highest research quality levels have similar probabilities than males to prefer bibliometric criteria for evaluation.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a progressive and degenerative disease that necessitates valve replacement through either surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Various studies have shown that, unlike for TAVR, SAVR is associated with an elevated risk for women as compared to men. The aim of this review is to better understand the risks and their possible causes, associated with the use of both TAVR and SAVR in female patients. Our systematic review included studies published between 2012 and 2020, identified through specific searches of PubMed. Compatibility of publications, determined by the use of pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria, resulted in 15 articles being used in our review. Overall, more men than women undergo SAVR, but our findings confirmed that SAVR is associated with worse outcomes in women in the short-term. Reasons for a higher 30-day mortality post-SAVR in women include an increased age, higher in-hospital mortality and, possibly baseline comorbidities and anatomical differences. There was no difference observed in 30-day mortality between men and women undergoing TAVR. Female patients appear to have a better longer-term survival post-TAVR than their male counterparts. Understanding the reasons why women have worse outcomes post-SAVR is essential for ensuring appropriate treatment selection for patients with AS, as well as for achieving the best possible long-term and safety outcomes for these patients.

Although women make up a significant portion of the workforce in dermatology, they remain underrepresented in academia. This study investigates the number of male and female symposium speakers at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meetings over a three-year period and compares research productivity and academic rank between the men and women invited to speak. The results demonstrate a steady increase in the representation of female symposium speakers at the conference from 2016 to 2018, although a higher proportion of invited male speakers hold professorships and leadership positions. This upward trend in women's representation may translate to more opportunities for female engagement in academic dermatology. Although women make up over 60% of residents in dermatology, they are not proportionally represented in this conference sample. This imbalance in representation demonstrates that further interventions to increase the representation of female professors and chairs may be necessary.

The mechanism of gender disparity in cutaneous melanoma incidence remains unclear. Steroid hormones including estrogens have long been implicated in the course of melanoma, but the conclusion is controversial. Estrogen receptors (ERs) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) show extensive crosstalk in cancer development, but how the ER/IGF1R network impacts melanoma is currently unclear. Here we studied the melanoma associations of selected SNPs from the ER/IGF1R network. Part of the International Genes, Environment, and Melanoma (GEM) cohort was used as a discovery set, and the Gene Environment Association Studies Initiative (GENEVA) dataset served as a validation set. Based on the associations with other malignant disease conditions, thirteen single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants in ESR1, ESR2, IGF1, and IGF1R were selected for candidate gene association analyses. The rs1520220 in IGF1 and rs2229765 in IGF1R variants were significantly associated with melanoma risk in the GEM dataset after Benjamini-Hochberg multiple comparison correction, although they were not validated in the GENEVA set. The discrepancy may be caused by the multiple melanoma characteristics in the GEM patients. Further analysis of gender disparity was carried out for IGF1 and IGF1R SNPs in the GEM dataset. The GG phenotype in IGF1 rs1520220 (recessive model) presented an increased risk of melanoma (OR = 8.11, 95% CI: 2.20, 52.5, p = 0.006) in men but a significant opposite effect in women (OR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.018, 0.86, p = 0.045). The AA genotype in IGF1R rs2229765 (recessive model) showed a significant protective effect in men (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.64, p = 0.008) and no effect in women. Results from the current study are warranted for further validation.

Gender disparities exist in academic emergency medicine (EM). We developed and implemented a female EM physician group – Women in Academic Emergency Medicine (WAM) – to support female EM residents, fellows, and faculty. The goal of WAM is to provide a support system through mentorship, education, and outreach. A targeted needs assessment was completed to identify goals and objectives specific to our department. In the first full year of implementation, WAM hosted eight events, including three topical dinners and one formal panel. Of 42 female faculty and residents, 40 (95%) attended at least one WAM event, and all (20/20) of the female faculty strongly supported WAM. WAM advocated for increased female physician representation on the department’s Physician Executive Leadership Group and preservation of dedicated lactation space in the emergency department. Using a needs assessment, the process of developing WAM can be replicated in any department to create a female physician group.

Chile has been benefited from a commodity boom in the copper industry during the first decade of the 21st century. Does a mineral boom increase local labour opportunities? Can women get benefit from a resource boom? Can the mineral boom have indirect effects in non-mining sectors? The present paper attempts to explore and measure the impact of an exogenous increase in copper global prices between 2003 and 2011, on Chilean labor market, with a particular focus on gender disparities. To do that, I exploit the temporal and spatial variation of the raise in copper production, that differ between Chilean communes. For the discussion of the results, I employed the framework of local labor demand shocks on tradable sectors and its multipliers effect explained by Moretti (2011). The results obtained by Linear Probability Models show a reduction on the overall probability of working for women living in communes with at least one active copper mine after the boom in copper. By exploring the impact of the copper boom on the probability of working in different occupations, it is suggested that the local multipliers effect from the resource boom are weak in women labor markets.

Gender inequality has become a global concern as it involves the denial of opportunities and equal rights based on ones’ gender. Namibia is no exception to this global phenomenon. The country’s labour force is characterised by inequalities based on gender, despite the various government interventions to address such disparities. Like many governments across the globe, the Namibian government through its Employment Equity Commission enacted the Affirmative Action (employment) Act No. 29 of 1998 to ensure that all Namibians enjoy equal employment opportunities and benefits. This paper examines the trends on Affirmative Action (employment) Act in the mining sector - one of the gendered sectors. It utilises data from Affirmative Action Act annual reports of 2011/2, 2012/3, 2013/4, and 2014/5 provided by the Employment Equity Commission. The paper concluded that the country’s mining sector is still dominated by prejudice, stereotypes, and discriminatory practices based on gender orientation. As a result, the participation of women in this sector is still minimal. The paper makes recommendations on innovative practices adopted by other countries in the retention and attraction of women into the gendered sector

In 2008, Sweden introduced a cash-for-care benefit consisting of a flat-rate sum paid by municipalities to parents whose children were between the ages of one and three and who did not use publicly subsidised childcare. The main object of the reform was to increase parents' freedom to choose', but the policy was criticised because of its potentially negative effects on gender equality and mothers' employment. This study focuses on the effects of cash-for-care on female employment in Sweden. The study shows that the adoption of this policy had negative effects on female employment, although primarily in rural areas. Cash-for-care was abolished in Sweden in 2016. To evaluate the effects that the policy had on female employment during the time it was in place is important as it indicates what may happen if the policy is introduced again.

Purpose: Gender disparities within academic promotion have been reported in several medical specialties. Female representationin association with research productivity has not been reported among academic dermatologists. As research productivity is a heavily weighted factor in determining promotion, we sought to determine whether gender disparities in academic rank and scholarly impact, measured by the h-index, exist in academic dermatology.Methods: In 2015, the authors determined gender and academic rank using academic dermatology department websites. H- index and publication range were determined using the Scopus database. Rank, h-index, and publication range were compared between male and female academic dermatologists.Results: The h-index of academic dermatologists increased with successive academic rank from Assistant Professor through Professor (p<0.001), although no significant difference existed between Chairs and Professors. Publication range also increased with each successive rank from Assistant Professor through Professor (p<0.001), with no statistical significant difference between publication range of Chairs and Professors. Overall, men had higher h-indices than female colleagues (p<0.001). This difference was maintained when controlling for academic rank among Assistant Professors, Professors, and Chairs and when controlling for publication range in years.Conclusion: Women in academic dermatology are underrepresented among senior academic ranks. The difference in scholarly productivity between male and female academic dermatologists may contribute to this disparity. Recommendation for earlyinvolvement in research activities may help minimize this gap.

Females are still vastly underrepresented in math and science careers. This may be partly due to continued gender disparities in math and science motivation (i.e., the cognitions and emotions that drive math and science related choices and behaviors). Yet the effect of school contexts on these disparities is still unclear. School effects research has mostly focused on schools' role in achievement outcomes, while research on student motivation, including gender differences in math motivation, has primarily studied the contribution of individual-level factors to motivation. There are numerous policy and practice implications that can emerge from the finding that schools impact motivation even after controlling for student and family characteristics. Determining what school features are related to gender disparities could inform classroom and school-wide reforms to improve girls' math and science motivation. Therefore, this study not only adds to the school effects and motivation literatures, but it could also shape education policy and practice by examining the school context of gender disparities in math motivation. To study school contributions to student motivational outcomes, data from the National High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 were analyzed. The survey tapped into students' and teachers' perceptions of their schools, significant school features (e.g., school sector and teaching quality) as well as students' 1) beliefs about their math ability, 2) interest in math 3) perceived usefulness of math, and 4) intentions to take math in the future. Multi-level modeling was used to assess school-level features that contribute to gender disparities in math motivation. Results suggest student perceptions of teachers are strongly associated with between-school differences in math motivation, as well as gender disparities in motivation. For schools in which females were strongly motivated for math compared to males, students reported highly positive relationships wit

This study investigated predictors of emergency department quality of care using the indicator of wait time to see a health care provider. Prior evidence shows that quality of care may vary by patient characteristics, with poorer outcomes among women and minority populations. Given as well the burden of acute coronary syndrome and the need to treat it quickly, the aim of this work was to study whether the amount of time patients waited in the emergency department varied by patient characteristics, with specific attention to patient gender and presenting with symptoms of coronary heart disease. Primary research hypotheses tested whether women and patients with minority population status had longer wait times compared to men and non-minority patients, while controlling for the contextual factors related to the patient visit. Study research questions were addressed using a large-scale population-based survey, the Emergency Department dataset of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey collected in 2008. Predictors of emergency department wait time were selected based on prior research. Development of the conceptual model that guided the study analysis applied the theoretical perspective of social stratification with focus on health disparities. Study findings revealed that the length of time patients must wait to see a physician in a hospital emergency department can be predicted from a cluster of factors descriptive of the patient visit. In general, patient wait time is associated with the situational nature of the visit, structural characteristics of the hospital, as well as the characteristics of the patients themselves. Patients who wait a longer time are more likely to be women, African American, and poor. Among patients with coronary heart disease diagnoses at the time of visit to the emergency department, the amount of time people wait is associated with situational characteristics of the patient visit, and structural characteristics of the hospital

AimsA paucity of studies in implantable cardioverterdefibrillator (ICD) patients has examined gender disparities in patient-reported outcomes, such as anxiety and quality of life (QoL). We investigated (i) gender disparities in anxiety and QoL and (ii) the magnitude of the effect of gender vs. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (III/IV), ICD shock, and Type D personality on these outcomes. Methods and resultsImplantable cardioverterdefibrillator patients (n 718; 81 men) completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) at baseline and 12 months post-implantation. The magnitude of the effect was indicated using Cohens effect size index. Multivariate analysis of covariance for repeated measures showed no differences between men and women on mean scores of anxiety (F(1,696) 2.67, P 0.10). Differences in QoL were observed for only two of the eight subscales of the SF-36, with women reporting poorer physical functioning (F(1,696) 7.14, P 0.008) and vitality (F(1,696) 4.88, P 0.028) than men. With respect to anxiety, effect sizes at baseline and 12 months for gender, NYHA class, and ICD shocks were small. A large effect size for Type D personality was found at both time points. For QoL, at baseline and 12 months, the effect sizes for gender were small, while the influence of NYHA class and Type D personality was moderate to large. ConclusionsMen and women did not differ on mean anxiety or QoL scores, except for women reporting poorer QoL on two domains. The relative influence of gender on anxiety and QoL was less than that of NYHA functional class and Type D personality.

The textile industry in Kenya was once an important sector in the country but due to theliberalisation of trade and the second hand industry’s impact, the industry has declined inrecent years. The increased competition from import has boosted the costs of raw material andoutrivaled the local textile production. Further, the government’s lack of investments in thecountry’s electric power supply has also contributed to the current situation. Consequently,the domestic textile entrepreneurs are today facing a complex and competitive marketplacebut despite these obstacles there are women that have managed to overcome the entrancebarriers.It is an unfavourable climate for being a woman entrepreneur in Kenya since the socioculturalnorms restrain women to work outside their homes and in some business sectors. Though, ourfindings have shown that the Kenyan women have the handicraft skills but lack access tofinancial resources as well as management skills to start-up businesses in the textile industry.Access to credit is regarded as one of the main obstacles to establish a firm. There are lendinginstitutes but the interest rate is high and the collateral requirements hard to fulfil. Moreover,there are micro-loan institutes but the loans are not sufficient to companies with growthpotential.The purpose of this study was to map-out key success factors for becoming a womanentrepreneur in the competitive textile marketplace in Nairobi, Kenya. We aimed tounderstand how some entrepreneurs have managed to overcome the obstacles women face intheir social- and cultural context and how mapping of their shared supportive variables canencourage other females to become entrepreneurial.Our results find that there is not one way to handle difficulties along the dynamic andcompetitive textile market in Kenya. The respondents come from different social- and culturalcontexts that in diverse ways have influenced their management ways. We have though beenable to map out shared factors that have b, Program: Textilekonomutbildningen

Obesity prevalence among inmates in the United States is unknown. Since incarceration disproportionately affects minorities, excluding inmates from surveys may bias national obesity estimates. Including inmates may also help explain racial obesity disparities among men. This descriptive study summarizes obesity prevalence among US male inmates and analyzes the effect of incarceration on national prevalence estimates. Data for male inmates came from the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails and the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities. Data for the non-incarcerated US adult male population came from the 2004 National Health Interview Survey. Self-reported weight and height data were analyzed from men aged 25-59 years for all surveys (obesity equaled BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m(2)). Pooled inmate obesity prevalence was less than non-incarcerated estimates across all race/ethnic-education subgroups. However, unlike non-incarcerated estimates, inmates had obesity disparities between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites. Merging inmate and non-incarcerated estimates lowered obesity prevalence among men aged 25-39 with lower education levels. Merged estimates showed a positive obesity gradient within Whites by education. This study indicates that the exclusion of inmates from national obesity estimates leads to overestimates in obesity prevalence, particularly for low SES White and Black men.

This dissertation contributes to our understanding of the ‘class’ and gender dimensions of educational inequality. In doing this, it uses a “structure-disposition-practice” model that is rooted in Bourdieu’s theory of cultural and social reproduction but also draws from the theoretical formulations of subsequent sociologists to elaborate on the core concept, habitus, and make it more amenable to quantitative analyses. Habitus is a socialized set of dispositions that shapes how individuals orient to the social world, including their perception of their life chances and corresponding styles of thought and behaviour. The model posits that students’ habitus is a formative influence on how they react to their educational environments and affects their academic achievement. Furthermore, students’ habitus is affected by both their social ‘class’ and their gender, and these ‘class’ and gender differences help explain ‘class’ and gender disparities in educational achievement. Working with multilevel Canadian data from the linked PISA-YITS surveys, this study uses structural modeling to examine the relationships between family socioeconomic status, sex, habitus, academic practices, and academic achievement. As well, school contextual effects are included. A number of the findings were consistent with hypotheses. Most notably, the results provide some evidence that students’ family SES significantly affects their habitus and that their habitus significantly affects their academic achievement. For the most part gender differences in the model were modest, but a few differences were evident: the boys outscore the girls in math and science while the girls excel in reading, students’ SES has a relatively stronger effect on the girls’ academic achievement than on the boys’ achievement, while students’ habitus affects the boys’ academic achievement more strongly than the girls’ achievement. Finally, the average SES of the schools students attend affects both the boys’ and the girls’

In this paper we confront a paradox in the evolution of China’s stratification system. On the one hand, income inequality has newly emerged as the most important dimension of inequality in people’s life chances. As recently as the mid-1980s, bureaucratic allocation of commodities such as housing and health care seemed to have more importance than income. By the 1990s, however, real incomes of urban residents doubled and income inequality rose by 50 percent. In fact, a substantial literature has appeared, asking how these changes are linked to the transformation of China’s economic institutions since 1978 under market reform.