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The issue of women's empowerment has been a topic of ongoing discussion in developing countries, considering the complex socio-demographic and cultural factors at play. Women tend to face disadvantages compared to men across various human development indicators. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly examine the different factors that influence women's economic empowerment within the specific context of Ethiopia. This study examines the factors that contribute to the economic empowerment of women in rural areas of Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. The research employed multi-stage probability sampling techniques to achieve its objectives, resulting in a sample of 382 rural women randomly selected from seven selected kebeles. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the collected data. The study found that more than half of the women achieved a medium level of economic empowerment. The results revealed that age, educational status, income contribution, and ownership of property positively influenced rural women's economic empowerment. In addition, opening a savings account, information access, mobile phone accessibility, and membership of women's associations positively and significantly affect women's economic empowerment in the study area. Conversely, marital status, hours spent on unpaid work, and early age at marriage negatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender equality is a prevailing global discourse and is particularly critical for Africa a continent drowned in patriarchy. Attempts are continually being made especially by gender inequality-conscious leadership in Africa to adopt international policies and implement national policies to promote gender parity. While African countries attained different levels of progress towards gender parity with these policies, the coronavirus pandemic that began in 2019 introduced another dimension to the gender equality debate globally. This study using the qualitative research method through pieces of literature analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on gender equality in Africa. It explored the potential for attaining gender equality in Africa by the years 2030 and 2063, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, respectively It examined how COVID-19 exacerbated the inequalities amongst genders in comparison with the state of gender equality before COVID-19. The study further evaluated the role of COVID-19 in the state of affairs of gender roles, especially in attaining gender equality. The paper went ahead to discuss how gender equality can be improved during a crisis. The paper argued that the pandemic had magnified and exacerbated gender disparities in Africa, affecting various aspects of women’s lives. Furthermore, it was discovered that this effect has caused setbacks in the advancement towards SDGs 2030 and Agenda 2063. Issues such as gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, and maternal mortality rates have experienced a notable increase. Therefore, in addressing these disparities, the paper recommends countries build equitable healthcare systems, create gender-disaggregated data production, implement policies to support women in the formal sector in managing remote work while balancing their domestic responsibilities and adopt gender budgeting practices.

Multinational corporations (MNCs) are increasingly involved in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative to enhance the quality of life in host countries. Gender equality (SDG 5) is the key focus. This study examines how MNCs in the male-dominated mining industry in Thailand and Laos promote gender equality through their policies and practices. Using a qualitative approach, we investigated the experiences of stakeholders in the mining sector. Our findings reveal significant gender disparities in employment, health, and vocational opportunities. While MNCs are making efforts to address these issues, the complex interplay of stakeholders and cultural factors influences progress. To effectively advance gender equality, this research suggests a shift in focus towards strategies that actively engage women in diverse business roles. Providing women with the necessary skills and knowledge is essential for their growth and empowerment within the mining industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative research study explored the impact of early marriages on women in Malang Regency and examined strategies for preventing such marriages by empowering women. Utilizing data collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGD), the research investigated the complex web of social, economic, and generational consequences resulting from child marriages in rural areas. The study highlights the significant role played by Women's Leadership Houses (RKP) in the Singosari and Karangploso regions, where community mobilization is employed to foster gender equality and empower women. RKP's community engagement approach allows members to dissect the underlying factors driving early marriages and adolescent interactions within their communities. The research uncovered a diverse range of issues associated with early unions, each uniquely shaped by the local environment. RKP's methodology places a strong emphasis on problem identification and potential recognition, encompassing human and natural resources while challenging prevailing social norms that perpetuate early marriages. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of empowering women and promoting gender equality as key strategies in preventing early marriages. Through qualitative research methods and community engagement via FGDs, we can aspire to create a future where early marriages become a historical relic and women attain the agency and opportunities they rightfully deserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender equality is a prevailing global discourse and is particularly critical for Africa a continent drowned in patriarchy. Attempts are continually being made especially by gender inequality-conscious leadership in Africa to adopt international policies and implement national policies to promote gender parity. While African countries attained different levels of progress towards gender parity with these policies, the coronavirus pandemic that began in 2019 introduced another dimension to the gender equality debate globally. This study using the qualitative research method through pieces of literature analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on gender equality in Africa. It explored the potential for attaining gender equality in Africa by the years 2030 and 2063, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, respectively It examined how COVID-19 exacerbated the inequalities amongst genders in comparison with the state of gender equality before COVID-19. The study further evaluated the role of COVID-19 in the state of affairs of gender roles, especially in attaining gender equality. The paper went ahead to discuss how gender equality can be improved during a crisis. The paper argued that the pandemic had magnified and exacerbated gender disparities in Africa, affecting various aspects of women's lives. Furthermore, it was discovered that this effect has caused setbacks in the advancement towards SDGs 2030 and Agenda 2063. Issues such as gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, and maternal mortality rates have experienced a notable increase. Therefore, in addressing these disparities, the paper recommends countries build equitable healthcare systems, create gender-disaggregated data production, implement policies to support women in the formal sector in managing remote work while balancing their domestic responsibilities and adopt gender budgeting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper explores the multifaceted dimensions of women's economic empowerment and the evolving landscape of women's work in today's world. It delves into the significance of women's economic empowerment for achieving gender equality and inclusive economic growth. Furthermore, it examines the shifting dynamics of women's work, including their increasing participation in traditionally male-dominated sectors, advancements in technology facilitating flexible work arrangements, and the recognition of the value of unpaid care work. Through a comprehensive analysis of scholarly literature and empirical evidence, this paper provides insights into the challenges, opportunities, and policy implications surrounding women's economic empowerment and the changing world of women's work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study implied bibliometric methods to investigate the research conducted on women’s empowerment in Malaysia from 1995 to 2023. Its main objective is to explore key trends and evidence in the field of women’s empowerment in Malaysia. This incorporates publication trends, identifying the most influential authors, evaluating the influential institutions, determining highly cited documents, and uncovering the most common keywords implied in the study in the field of women empowerment. Eventually, this study anticipated to provide a comprehensive idea of research encompassing women’s empowerment in Malaysia within a specified period. This knowledge will be useful to foster policies and initiatives pertaining to gender equality advancement and women empowerment in Malaysia.

This study explores the interplay between social media, gender inequality, and women's empowerment, highlighting the significant influence of socio-cultural, economic, and other barriers. Utilizing a survey methodology, data were collected from 550 university students in Lahore, Pakistan, to gauge gender perceptions and experiences. The researchers employed a feminist theoretical framework to guide the analysis. The study aims to evaluate the role of e-journalism in raising awareness about gender inequality and women's empowerment among both men and women in Pakistan. Additionally, it seeks to identify the socio-cultural, political, economic, and technological barriers that contribute to gender inequality in the country. The findings reveal that e-journalism effectively disseminates awareness by showcasing successful stories of women. Nevertheless, political, technological, economic, and socio-cultural obstacles remain significant contributors to gender inequality in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempts to analyze the level of women's empowerment across India based on the recently released NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey) dataset. To delineate interstate disparities in women's empowerment, the Women Empowerment Index has been constructed using six dimensions and eighteen variables. A correlation matrix has also been used to evaluate the relationships between the chosen variables. The study reveals that Goa, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, and Sikkim have comprehensive levels of women's empowerment, while Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar have significantly lower levels. The study further discloses that the persistency of low women empowerment is not only concentrated across the so called ‘BIMARU’ (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) states but also in several other states including Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tripura. Surprisingly, Kerala, frequently cited for its high status of women, is not among the top fifteen states whereas, a relatively underdeveloped state like Chhattisgarh claims third place in women empowerment index. The study recommends that along with all other government initiatives, there should be a strong focus on women's empowerment, particularly their ability to make decisions and participate economically in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multinational corporations (MNCs) are increasingly involved in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative to enhance the quality of life in host countries. Gender equality (SDG 5) is the key focus. This study examines how MNCs in the male-dominated mining industry in Thailand and Laos promote gender equality through their policies and practices. Using a qualitative approach, we investigated the experiences of stakeholders in the mining sector. Our findings reveal significant gender disparities in employment, health, and vocational opportunities. While MNCs are making efforts to address these issues, the complex interplay of stakeholders and cultural factors influences progress. To effectively advance gender equality, this research suggests a shift in focus towards strategies that actively engage women in diverse business roles. Providing women with the necessary skills and knowledge is essential for their growth and empowerment within the mining industry.

Background. Indonesian state-owned companies have the potential to increase Gross Domestic Product by USD 135 billion by 2025 if they can improve the status of gender equality in the world of work. Purpose. The Ministry of SOEs seeks to increase women's representation in the Board of Commissioners, Management Board and one level below the Management Council, with a target of 15% in 2021 and 25% in 2023. Method. The methodused by researchers in this study is descriptive analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Results. The results obtained in this study are the leadership of women MSME owners who receive higher BUMN support than those who do not receive. While the novelty of this study is the leadership and empowerment of women in MSMEs within State-Owned Enterprises (MSMEs) Conclusion. There has also been an increased focus on the representation of young people within the Board of Directors, and below levels, from state-owned enterprises to 5% in 2021 and 10% in 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the research growth, collaboration trends, and performance of the author, organization, and countries and to identify the trending research topics on gender equality and women empowerment research in BRICS countries. This study employed Scientometric tools to evaluate the research publications for ten years (2012- 2021). A total of 1,558 bibliographic records were downloaded from the Scopus and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Tableau statistical tools. Moreover, the network visualization and scientific mapping analysis was done using the open-source data visualization tools VOSviewer, and Biblioshiny. It was found that BRICS countries were actively involved in research on gender equality and women's empowerment in the last decade as the publication was growing by 20.45% Annual Growth Rate (AGR) and research outputs shared 16.18% of global publications. India contributed the most publications (n=683) and received the highest citations (TC=2,798), while South Africa was the most significant collaborator with different countries across the globe. The study also identified the most prolific authors, organizations, and journals based on the number of scientific publications and citations. It is indispensable to highlight that most prolific authors and organizations were affiliated with South Africa. In recent years research has been trending in topics related to women's education, women empowerment, entrepreneurship, gender equality, and sustainability. Furthermore, the study identified the most influential articles based on the citation burst. The findings of this study will benefit contemporary society, the scholarly community and other key stakeholders in the field by providing an understanding of the development and trends of research in the domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women empowerment is crucial for a country's development as it unlocks the full potential of half the population, fostering inclusive growth and social progress. When women are empowered through education, economic opportunities, and equal participation in decision-making, societies benefit from a broader talent pool, diverse perspectives, and increased innovation. Women's economic empowerment, in particular, leads to improved family welfare and community development. Moreover, by ensuring equal access to education and healthcare for women, a nation invests in the well-being and productivity of future generations. Empowered women also contribute to political stability and social cohesion. In essence, women's empowerment is not just a matter of gender equality; it is a strategic imperative for sustainable and comprehensive country development. Institutions play a pivotal role in women's empowerment by shaping the legal, social, and economic frameworks that either facilitate or impede gender equality. Establishing and enforcing laws that guarantee equal rights and opportunities for women is essential. Moreover, institutions can promote inclusive policies, such as affirmative action measures, to address historical disparities. Economic institutions, including financial systems and businesses, can contribute by providing equal access to resources and opportunities, fostering women's economic independence. Educational institutions play a critical role in dismantling gender stereotypes and ensuring that girls have the same educational opportunities as boys. Furthermore, institutions can create support networks and spaces for women's voices to be heard, fostering a culture that values and promotes gender equity. By actively engaging and reforming institutions, societies can create an environment conducive to women's empowerment, enabling them to contribute fully to social, economic, and political development. This study examines the role of institutions in Pakistan, challenges and opportunities for the development of women and suggests suitable measure to empower the women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of microcredit programmes in sub-Saharan Africa provides opportunities for rural households to acquire agricultural inputs and consumer goods. This study analysed gender differences in investment behaviour and repayment performance using a unique dataset—the complete client database (21,386 clients) of a microcredit programme operating in Western Kenya. Products purchased via the microcredit programme include seeds, fertilisers, post-harvesting technologies (drying sheets, storage bags, and pesticides), chicken feed packages, and different solar panel products. A machine learning-based basket analysis identified combinations of products purchased by male and female clients. Our results showed that female farmers usually made smaller investments, had higher repayment rates, and purchased more post-harvesting technologies than male farmers. In addition, female farmers used their loans to purchase less expensive products, whereas male farmers usually purchased more fertiliser and expensive solar panel products. The basket analysis revealed that female farmers purchased multiple products simultaneously more often than male farmers did. Finally, households without mobile phones had low repayment capabilities. Collectively, our findings show that microcredit programmes serving smallholder farmers can capitalise on their business data to learn about their clients' gendered investment preferences and repayment behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to achieving gender equality and overcoming gender discrimination in the Republic of South Africa. The analysis of the scientific literature on this issue attests to the variety of problems that negatively affect gender equality in society. The urgency of solving this scientific problem lies in the fact that to improve the situation; it is necessary to accumulate financial and intellectual resources to expand the rights and opportunities of women. For the needs of this study, the methods of conceptual analysis were chosen, which involve a careful study of rational relationships between terms, concepts, variables, definitions, constructions, hypotheses, theories and statements, as well as categorization of their consequences and assumptions. The collection of information for the office study lasted 3 months. The Republic of South Africa was chosen as the case of the study because, starting in 1994, a democratic regime was established in the country, which helped to overcome the problems of racial inequality and discrimination. The normative basis for ensuring gender equality is determined by the second chapter of the International Bill of Human Rights and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The issue of protecting gender inequality in the workplace is also regulated. The study empirically confirms and theoretically proves that despite the legislative regulation of the problem of gender equality and the strengthening of the international community to this issue, women still cannot take on strategic roles and leadership in management decision-making due to gender disparity in both political and administrative positions. To ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men, which are defined at the legislative level, it is necessary that the top management of companies is aware of the gender equality programs that can be implemented in their respective divisions and that gender awareness is integrated into the organizational culture and processes monitoring. The work emphasizes the need to change the paradigm from a gender-biased to a gender-oriented society. The study results can be helpful for policy makers to implement a gender mainstreaming strategy to promote gender equality.

The conversion of mangroves into shrimp ponds occurred in the coastal area of Kampung Beting, Pantai Bahagia Village, Bekasi Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, in the period 1990–2010. High income from shrimp ponds makes people ignore the ecological functions of mangrove forests, one of which is to prevent abrasion. However, since 2010, the destruction of hundreds of hectares of mangrove forests, worsened by climate change that hits almost the whole world, especially island countries like Indonesia, has submerged the shrimp ponds in Pantai Bahagia Village with sea water. Now, not only the shrimp ponds as their major income have disappeared, but also their living space is also threatened by severe abrasion. Gender inequality and the marginalized role of coastal women also make the socio-economic conditions of the community become worse. This study observes the role of women in Pantai Bahagia Village in responding to environmental and socio-economic problems in their area. This study uses a phenomenological approach, data is collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results of the study show that women's empowerment plays a role in conserving critical land. Women's responses to environmental problems in their area include: 1) creating changes in women's awareness and behavior as an effort to repair and restore damaged mangrove land, and 2) carrying out activities to protect mangrove plants. Women's responses to socio-economic problems include 1) women's active involvement in productive economic activities 2) Utilization of non-timber mangrove products in processed food and crafts. Finally, this study recommends a concept to address critical coastal land issues, namely by involving women in various activities, both nature conservation and empowerment activities.

Copyright of Sexuality, Gender & Policy Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Gender equality and women's empowerment are essential for sustainable development, yet several constraints make achieving them difficult. A strategic management tool is required to address these challenges and manage objectives and goals effectively. This study aims to redesign Balanced Scorecard (BSC), a strategic management tool for gender equality, to enable the strategic management of goals and indicators related to the fifth sustainable goal (SDG 5) proposed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The BSC for gender equality was developed through a comprehensive literature review on gender-specific targets and indicators and the restructuring of the traditional architecture of the BSC to include new dimensions, guiding questions, and objectives to achieve this study's goals. Moreover, a strategy map was constructed to illustrate the strategy and cause-and-effect relationships across the BSC dimensions. This research provides concrete gender strategies that help organizations implement a management tool to measure and manage their performance related to gender equality and sustainable development. The findings suggest that the BSC for gender equality can contribute significantly to a clearer understanding of how organizations can measure and promote gender equality. The implications of this study are significant for promoting and advancing gender equality, helping organizations, researchers, and civil society translate this goal into practical terms, and applying the concepts discussed for sustainable development and women's empowerment in practical circumstances. Ultimately, using the BSC for gender equality is expected to result in social and economic benefits for current and future generations, making it a valuable tool for organizations and policy makers to promote sustainable development and gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender equality is recognized as a fundamental human right and a catalyst for sustainable development. To effectively navigate the journey towards gender parity, adopting the balanced scorecard approach is crucial. This article explores the concept of "Scorecarding Gender Equality" as a strategic tool for measuring progress, setting objectives, ensuring alignment, fostering accountability, and facilitating adaptation in the pursuit of sustainable development. The balanced scorecard offers a comprehensive pathway to achieve economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, and peace and stability while promoting gender equality. Embracing this approach holds the potential to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method often entails a number of steps, such as identifying the decision problem, defining the criteria, calculating the weighting of the criteria, assessing the alternatives against the criteria, and finally choosing the best alternative based on the overall evaluation. In this paper, the essential factor for sports, politics, journalism or media, and technological empowerment of women in India are found by MCDM techniques, which may also be utilized to examine the key factors influencing women’s empowerment. The uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) MCDM methodologies are taken to discover the optimal criteria for empowerment. The decision-making for finding the factors is done by taking multi experts’ opinions. First, determined the best criteria among the six criterion’s, such as Family Support (C1), Financial Support (C2), Cultural and Religious Barrier (C3), Child Marriage (C4), Nutrition (C5), and Shame and concealment (C6). The weights are calculated by the AHP method. According to the importance of the criteria, select a significant alternative for empowering women in many fields. Also take six possibilities into consideration, which are Empowerment in Sports (A1), Empowerment in Politics (A2), Empowerment in Administrative Service (A3), Empowerment of Journalism or Media (A4), Empowerment for Social Work (A5)and Empowerment of Technological (A6)and they are ranked by TOPSIS method. To verify the validity and robustness of our result, sensitivity analysis is performed by removing some criteria to make sure the procedure is reliable and a comparative study using a fuzzy environment.

This systematic literature review aims to collect and uncover the various types of tools and materials available—digital and traditional—for tackling gender equality in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Considering the various facets of gender-equality, this review provides an overview of different tools and materials used in the wider academic and industrial community for supporting or empowering women to enrol or remain active in STEM fields. Published manuscripts between 2001 and 2021 were searched electronically with an eye to retrieve the relevant published literature on the topic. Traditional and digital gender-sensitive tools and materials were identified, classified and described together with their benefits and drawbacks. This review demonstrates the variety of gender-sensitive materials and tools employed in higher education institutions to empower women to enrol and remain active in the field of STEM. Industrial and instructional design recommendations were drawn from the review as well as implications for professionals and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender equality and women empowerment have been on the top of the agenda globally. Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls has been mentioned by the United Nations in its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-5) as a target. Various efforts and initiatives have been taken at global, regional and local level to eliminate gender inequality. Women in India have been stereotyped and discriminated since ancient times due to the patriarchal mindset. Social evils such as sati, purdah system, female foeticide, female infanticide, dowry, domestic violence have been faced by women. Various constitutional and legal provisions have been framed to eliminate such evils. In contemporary times, women have become sensitised about their rights and have come a long way in terms of women empowerment. Various schemes have been launched by central and state governments for emancipation of women. However, the patriarchal mindset still exists and gender biasness is still experienced by women both in public and private space. The paper attempts to analyse the level of women empowerment in different states of India. The study is based on the secondary data collected from various government sources. An analysis of the reasons responsible for the trends has also been done. It has been found in the study that female literacy has a positive bearing on the health and decision-making of females. Also, government support in the from of infrastructure and schemes act as a catalyst in women empowerment. Women-centric organisations and Self Help organisations have promoted economic empowerment and decision-making of females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development is a significant concern for practitioners, researchers, and activists. Literature on this area has shown that gender inequality is one of the biggest hurdles in the process of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Business leaders, policymakers, politicians, practitioners, and researchers from all fields should understand the significance of gender equality, without which it is impossible to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The UN gives a call to countries and individuals to make some effort to achieve gender equality. It directly refers to the target of SDG5 and indirectly the other dimensions, including poverty, girl-child education, economy, child death ratios, forced marriage, violence against women, etc. Gender equality is an axiological appraisal to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. For that, this paper tries to determine the necessity of gender equality in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. It mainly focuses on two objectives first one is the necessity of gender equality, and the second one is the role of business organizations in achieving gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to achieving gender equality and overcoming gender discrimination in the Republic of South Africa. The analysis of the scientific literature on this issue attests to the variety of problems that negatively affect gender equality in society. The urgency of solving this scientific problem lies in the fact that to improve the situation; it is necessary to accumulate financial and intellectual resources to expand the rights and opportunities of women. For the needs of this study, the methods of conceptual analysis were chosen, which involve a careful study of rational relationships between terms, concepts, variables, definitions, constructions, hypotheses, theories and statements, as well as categorization of their consequences and assumptions. The collection of information for the office study lasted 3 months. The Republic of South Africa was chosen as the case of the study because, starting in 1994, a democratic regime was established in the country, which helped to overcome the problems of racial inequality and discrimination. The normative basis for ensuring gender equality is determined by the second chapter of the International Bill of Human Rights and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The issue of protecting gender inequality in the workplace is also regulated. The study empirically confirms and theoretically proves that despite the legislative regulation of the problem of gender equality and the strengthening of the international community to this issue, women still cannot take on strategic roles and leadership in management decision-making due to gender disparity in both political and administrative positions. To ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men, which are defined at the legislative level, it is necessary that the top management of companies is aware of the gender equality programs that can be implemented in their respective divisions and that gender awareness is integrated into the organizational culture and processes monitoring. The work emphasizes the need to change the paradigm from a gender-biased to a gender-oriented society. The study results can be helpful for policy makers to implement a gender mainstreaming strategy to promote gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some harmful practices are sustained by social norms-collective beliefs about what people expect from each other. Practitioners and researchers alike have been investigating the potential of social norms theory to inform the design of effective interventions addressing these practices in low- and middle-income countries. One approach commonly used to facilitate social norms change is community-based dialogs and trainings. This approach has often been criticized for not being cost-effective, as it usually includes a relatively small number of direct participants and does not allow for scaling-up strategies. In spite of some evidence (as for instance, the SASA! Program) that community dialogs can achieve social norms change, little exists in the literature about how exactly participants in community dialogs engage others in their networks to achieve change. In this paper, we look at the potential of "organized diffusion" as a cost-effective strategy to expand the positive effects of community-based interventions to participants' networks, achieving sustainable normative shifts. We provide quantitative evidence from three case studies-Community Empowerment Program in Mali, Change Starts at Home in Nepal, and Voices for Change in Nigeria-showing that participants in community-based interventions can be effectively empowered to share their new knowledge and understandings systematically with others in their networks, eventually facilitating social norms change. Future community-based interventions intending to achieve social norms change would benefit from integrating ways to help participants engage others in their network in transformative conversations. Doing so has the potential to generate additional impact with little additional investment.

Copyright of Agroalimentaria is the property of Alejandro Antonio Gutierrez Socorro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The fundamental characteristic of democracy is the equal involvement of men and women in politics. But in the twenty-first century, women's political participation is extremely low in almost all the countries in the world. The majority of parliaments continue to have an average of 25.1% women, dominated by men and women MPs are frequently underrepresented in the decision-making bodies. If women play no meaningful role in the decision-making process, it is only a partial democracy. Full and equal political involvement for women is a fundamental human right and a sign of substantial benefits for society and democratic integrity. The quickest method seems to be quotas to ensure that men and women participate equally in politics. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of India provides 33% reservation of seats for women in local elected bodies. As a result, the proportion of women representatives has significantly increased. In recent years, this has led to more women taking part in making decisions at lower levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to determine the awareness level of the students’ at the University of Malaya (UM) towards gender equality in achieving SDG5. A set of survey questionnaire established on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) was distributed through an online Google survey form to all UM students’, and 123 responses were collected to evaluate the awareness level (95% confidence interval with ± 5% margin of error). Data analysis was conducted through SPSS software. The results revealed that the respondents have a higher knowledge level with lower attitude and practices levels. Spearman’s Rho coefficient correlation was used to evaluate the relationship level within variables (between knowledge and practices and attitude and practices). The results reported a weak positive correlation within knowledge and practice levels (r= .275, N= 123, p=

In South Africa, the population composition reveals more females than males. However, the workforce participation data affirms a more male-dominated outlook. Such disparity between male and female workforce participation is especially evident in the law enforcement institutions like police departments. Although the prevailing laws have ensured access to employment opportunities, advancement in leadership roles by female police officers (FPOs) is found to be lacking. In this regard, this study examines the challenges faced by South African women in attaining leadership roles in policing. Furthermore, the study develops a leadership development framework for ensuring the advancement of women in policing. To accomplish this aim, the study acquired information from 8 male and 100 female police officers through questionnaire and interview methods, respectively. Queries were made to understand the experiences, challenges, and ways forward. Results elucidate that there is a lack of strategic policy in place that can ensure the advancement of women as leaders in the policing field in South Africa. Moreover, the overall outlook of male police officers is affected by stereotypical assumptions about females' strengths and abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why did France experience the demographic transition first? This question remains one of the greatest puzzles of economics, demography, and economic history. The French pattern is hard to reconcile with elucidations of the process as found in other countries. The present analysis goes back to the roots of the process and offers novel ways of explaining why people started to control their fertility in France and how they did so. In this paper, I track the evolution of marriage patterns to a point before the premises of the demographic transition. I identify two distinct phases. Next, I rely on exploratory methods to classify French counties based on their discriminatory features. Five profiles emerge. I discuss these profiles through the lens of the French Revolution, one of the greatest events that ever occurred in French history, which irretrievably altered its society. In particular, the results show that the fertility transition was not as linear, but more complex than previous research had argued. They show the importance of accounting for cultural factors and for individuals' predispositions to adapt more or less quickly to societal changes. Yet cultural factors are not all. They can help to explain the timing of the transition and the choice of methods used to control fertility, but modernity and gender equality are also needed to describe the mechanisms in play behind the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the United Nations has long implemented strategies to tackle deep-rooted gender-based inequalities and discrimination in its programmes and policies, there is limited evidence on successful strategies to foster institutional structures and practices that promote gender equality or institutional gender mainstreaming. This paper explores and analyses the experience of institutional gender mainstreaming within UN Agencies working on global health, highlighting potential areas for learning. Overall, progress on institutional gender mainstreaming has been modest, with slow increases (if any) in investments in financial and human resources. The findings highlight the importance of well-established strategies, such as enforcing accountability, a robust gender architecture, and a cohesive capacity-building policy. Drawing on the experiences of gender experts, the paper shows that equally or more critical to the success of institutional gender mainstreaming were approaches such as leveraging strategic internal and external support and identifying strategic entry points for gender mainstreaming. There is considerable scope for strengthening gender mainstreaming within UN Agencies by reviewing and learning from UN system successes. In addition to learning from practice, the way forward lies in making visible and developing strategies to challenge embedded patriarchal organisational norms and systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is an endeavor to contribute to the impact developing social circumstances regarding land ownership among women and its relation to gender equality. The purpose of this research debunks the factors effecting women land ownership and their impact on socio-economic equality. A survey was done among 100 women of a remote village, in southern Lalitpur regarding land ownership, with relation to variables such as level of education of women, ethnicity, age, presence of legal documents, knowledge of government policies, and family structure. Factors such as occupation of women, role in household decision making, and involvement in social and political spheres were also studied in relation to their land ownership. The survey was done with purposive and proportional stratified sampling among ethnic communities of Brahmin/Chhetri and Janajati. A questionnaire survey, key informant survey, focus group discussion and in-depth case study were done. Twenty-one percent of the females interviewed had land on their own and this data also had a variation with ethnic communities. It was found that women with land feel confident in the social and economic sphere of society. Brahmin community was found to be more aware of the government policies encouraging female land ownership than the Janajati community. This study aims to add knowledge on the conversation in gender equality and its relation to land and property ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Sport for Development (SFD), sport is used as a cost-effective tool to facilitate the objectives of various organizations, not limited to increasing access to education, youth development, social cohesion, and gender equality. This review aims to systematically analyze SFD programs that contribute to gender equality and women empowerment under Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5). The PRISMA methodology was used to guide the screening and selection process. Fifteen studies were identified from the Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases, the Journal of Sport for Development, forward–backward reference searches, and manual searches on four prominent sport, gender, and development researchers. The findings indicated that there was evidence of micro-level outcomes in every study and three achieved meso-level impact; however, none of these studies' suggested changes have reached the macro-level of impact when the outcomes were reported in these articles. There was a lack of intervention studies that investigated the mechanisms and reported outcomes through a validated monitoring and evaluation process. This review provides significant insights into: (a) identifying future SFD research areas, (b) refining SFD program evaluations, (c) developing indicators of outcomes for sport programs contributing to SDG 5, and (d) reproducing sustainable development outcomes under SDG 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper highlights the essential requirement of women in agricultural practices and emphasizes gender equality and their contribution to household productivity and food security. The paper discusses the various stages of the value chain and identifies entry points for interventions aimed at enhancing women's participation and benefits and also evaluates the efforts meant to empower women within the agriculture sector, especially to determine women's involvement in the Agricultural Value Chain (AVC). Evaluation of women's empowerment using diverse approaches such as the REBT Framework, and WEAI in various countries was analyzed by using the PRISMA framework and concluded with the emerging new methodology of PRO-WEAI developed by IFPRI to focus on the empowerment of women relevant to the value chain. WEAI-type tools allow for direct comparison between men and women in the same households. This approach offers additional advantages, such as having an explicit link to empowerment theory and using both qualitative and quantitative data to develop and validate the Index. The paper concludes that the emergence of pro-WEAI offers a streamlined and improved tool for analyzing intrahousehold characteristics. It incorporates a gender parity index, enhancing the measurement process. This index is also utilized for calculating GDP per capita, providing a more accurate assessment of economic conditions. Overall, pro-WEAI's concise structure and comprehensive approach make it a superior choice for measuring women's empowerment in the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]