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In dieser Studie soll untersucht werden, ob sich belastende Alltagsereignisse auf die Dynamische Komplexität der Urin-Neopterinkonzentration einer Probandin mit systemischem Lupus erythematodes (SLE) auswirken. Neopterin ist ein Stoffwechselprodukt der zellulären Immunreaktion und Indikator für Krankheitsgeschehen bei SLE (Lim et al., 1994). Die Dynamische Komplexität wird zur Identifikation von Veränderungen nicht-linearer Prozesse eingesetzt (Weihrauch & Honermann, 2010). Im Rahmen dieser integrativen Einzelfallstudie wurden verschiedene Methoden kombiniert, um komplexe Wirkzusammenhänge erfassen zu können. Die Erhebung der Daten fand über einen Zeitraum von zwei Monaten statt und wurde bestmöglich in das alltägliche Leben der Probandin integriert. Die Probandin sammelte ihren Urin für jeweils 12 Stunden und entnahm im Anschluss an jedes 12-Stunden-Intervall eine Probe. Daraus wurde im Labor die Neopterinkonzentration bestimmt wurde. Zweimal täglich beantwortete die Probandin Fragebögen zu psychologischen Variablen, körperlichen Symptomen und Alltagsereignissen. Einmal pro Woche wurden mit der Probandin Interviews über die erlebten Alltagsereignisse geführt. Die Interviewdaten wurden qualitativ nach Mayring (2015) ausgewertet. Aus den Neopterinwerten, psychologischen Variablen und dem durch die Probandin eingeschätzten Krankheitsgeschehen wurde die dynamische Komplexität berechnet und Zeitreihen erstellt. Durch Korrelation der Zeitreihen konnten Ähnlichkeiten in den Fluktuationsmustern festgestellt werden. Die Komplexitätsreihen der Neopterinkonzentration, der Stimmung, der Gereiztheit sowie des subjektiven Krankheitsgeschehens korrelieren positiv. Die Betrachtung der Zeitreihen in Kombination mit den belastenden Alltagsereignissen geben Hinweise darauf, dass sich Alltagsbelastungen in den Komplexitätsreihen von Neopterin und weiteren Variablen widerspiegeln. Die Verläufe der Komplexitätsreihen unterscheiden sich in ihrer Dynamik von vergleichbaren Studienergebnis, This study aims to investigate whether stressful daily incidents affect the dynamic complexity of urine neopterin concentration of a subject with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Neopterin is a metabolite of the cellular immune response and an indicator of disease activity in SLE (Lim et al., 1994). Dynamic complexity is used to identify changes in non-linear processes (Weihrauch & Honermann, 2010). As part of this integrative single-case study, various methods were combined to capture complex interactions. The data was collected over a period of two months and the data collection was integrated into the subject's everyday life in the best possible way. The subject collected all her urine for 12 hours each and took samples after every 12-hour interval, from which the neopterin concentration was determined in the laboratory. Twice a day the subject answered questionnaires about psychological variables, physiological symptoms, and daily stressful incidents. Once a week, interviews were conducted with the subject about the daily incidents she experienced. The interview data was evaluated qualitatively according to Mayring (2015). The dynamic complexity was calculated from the neopterin values, psychological variables and the disease activity assessed by the subject. Time series were created. By correlating the time series, similarities in the fluctuation patterns could be determined. Looking at the time series in combination with daily stressful incidents provides evidence that everyday stress is reflected in the complexity series of neopterin and other variables. The dynamics of the complexity series differ from comparable study results (Schiepek & Strunk, 2010; Schubert & Schiepek, 2003). Investigating the dynamic complexity can give patients and those treating them important information about the disease activity and possible influencing factors., eingereicht von Louisa Müller, in englischer Sprache, Masterarbeit Universität Innsbruck 2024

Simon David Härtinger, Masterarbeit Universität Innsbruck 2024

Ezidis are an ethno-religious group in Iraq. Their population does not exceed one million persons, and most live in the Shingal region in northwest Iraq. On 3rd August 2014, the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) committed genocide against the Ezidi community in the Shingal region, resulting in killing thousands, kidnapping thousands, and forcibly displacing hundreds of thousands of people. This mass violence resulted in division and mistrust between the Shingal communities because some of them participated in the Ezidi genocide and between the Ezidi community and the Iraqi government and Kurdistan Regional Government, as they left Ezidis unprotected. Through focusing on women's participation in transitional justice, this study is trying to find possible solutions by centering victims in the transitional justice process in the Shingal region. The study focuses on Ezidi women who survived ISIL captivity and their perspective on justice and reconciliation. It is trying to understand, through in-depth interviews, what transitional justice those women want for the Ezidi genocide., author: Zozan Saeed Hasan, Masterarbeit Universität Innsbruck, Universitätslehrgang Peace Studies 2024

eingereicht von Sarah Sophie Müller, B.Sc., in englischer Sprache, Masterarbeit Universität Innsbruck 2024

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe psychiatric health condition. The illness is characterized by heterogenous symptoms like a depressed mood, a loss of pleasure and interest, and a reduction in energy which results in fatigue and lower activity. While the psychological and social risk factors for developing and maintaining a MDD are already largely known, the underlying biological mechanisms are not yet fully understood. The interdisciplinary field of psychoneuroimmunology aims to address this problem. It deals with the interaction of the psyche, the nervous, endocrine, and the immune system. Accelerated cell aging in form of premature immune cell telomere length shortening has already been shown to be associated with depression. Furthermore, the upcoming approach of metabolomics is involved to uncover biological pathways in psychiatric disorders. In this study both approaches were combined by investigating the association between blood serum metabolites and telomere length (TL) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and T cell subsets in 44 women with and without MDD. Correlation analyses showed that a total of n = 13 endogenous and exogenous metabolites were significantly associated with TL measured in one of the five different immune cell types. Additionally, the association between these metabolites and depressive symptoms were investigated in the total sample as well as in the MDD group separately. The current findings could provide a deeper understanding of the metabolic processes driving the relationship between depression and immune cell TL., submitted by Amelie Katinka Hildenbrand, Masterarbeit University Innsbruck 2024

Artikel zweisprachig erschienen: Englisch und Niederländisch

In dieser Masterarbeit wird untersucht, wie wohnungslose Frauen die COVID-19-Pandemie erlebt haben. Mittels der Methode des narrativen Interviews wurden gezielt Interviews mit be-troffenen Frauen durchgeführt. Diese Gespräche werden daraufhin gemäß den Prinzipien der Reflexiven Grounded Theory systematisch analysiert und interpretiert. Die qualitative Erhebung zeigt, dass wohnungslose Frauen aufgrund eingeschränkter ökonomischer, gesundheitlicher und sozialer Handlungsspielräume Schwierigkeiten haben, die pandemiebedingten Herausforderun-gen zu bewältigen. Ihre Lebenssituation wird durch die Verschärfung bereits bestehender Prob-leme weiter prekarisiert. Trotz Bemühungen, sich vor einer Infektion zu schützen, sind diese aufgrund der schwierigen Lebensbedingungen oft schwer umsetzbar. Die Pandemie führt zu erhöhtem Stress und einer Zunahme psychischer Probleme, verstärkt aber auch resignative Ten-denzen, da die Krise der Pandemie die gesellschaftliche Teilhabe dieser Frauen stark einschränkt und damit ihre bereits marginalisierte Position verstärkt. Zudem erhöht die Pandemie die Risiken für häusliche und partnerschaftliche Gewalt und verschärft die Barrieren für den Zugang zu Schutz und Unterstützung. Die COVID-19-Pandemie und die Wohnungsnot von Frauen sind zwei sich überschneidende Krisen. Wohnungslose Frauen sind verstärkt mit ökonomischen, gesundheitlichen und sozialen Herausforderungen konfrontiert, was einen dringenden Bedarf an bedürfnisorientierter Unterstützung dieser vulnerablen Gruppe während der Pandemie unter-streicht., This master’s thesis investigates how homeless women experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. Through narrative interviews, targeted interviews are conducted with the affected women and systematically analyzed and interpreted according to the principles of Grounded Theory. The qualitative survey reveals that the interviewed women face difficulties in coping with pandemic-related challenges due to limited economic, social, and health capacities. Their living situation has been made more precarious by the exacerbation of existing problems. Despite efforts to pro-tect themselves from infection, these are often difficult to implement due to challenging living conditions. The pandemic has led to increased stress and a rise in mental health issues but has also reinforced resignative tendencies, as the crisis has barely changed their already marginalized status. The social participation of these women had already been severely limited before the pandemic. Additionally, the pandemic has increased risks of domestic and partnership violence and has intensified the barriers to access protection and support. The COVID-19 pandemic and women's housing insecurity present two intersecting crises. Homeless women face increased existential, health, and social challenges, underscoring an urgent need for needs-oriented support during the pandemic., Sophia Dohr, in englischer Sprache, Masterarbeit Universität Innsbruck 2024

Seit 2000 wird am 25. November der Internationale Tag zur Beseitigung der Gewalt gegen Frauen begangen. Er sollte ein Zeichen setzen, "Rechte und Freiheiten im Falle von Gewalt gegen Frauen zu schützen und zu fördern." Die Autorinnen des BICC-Kommentars sehen die Welt von diesem Ziel immer noch weit entfernt. Denn wenn es um empirische Analyse der Zusammenhänge von Gender-Balance, Militarisierung und Gewalt gegen Frauen geht, gibt es ein Riesenproblem: Es fehlen die Daten!

La representación en la contemporaneidad posee una innegable centralidad en la cultura occidental, en la cual se relaciona lo visto con la verdad. Actualmente, los productos audiovisuales son los encargados de recrear y representar visualmente espacios y culturas del mundo a los que generalmente sólo se puede acceder mediante las pantallas, con las connotaciones y filtros que ello implica. En la dicotomía entre Occidente y el mundo árabe musulmán los medios de comunicación han sustituido a otros actores como ventana de aproximación y producción de la imagen de esa parte del mundo. Las mujeres han sido parte de los elementos diferenciadores más recurridos a la hora de representar a las culturas árabes musulmanas y el choque entre los valores occidentales y de Oriente. Este capítulo propone un recorrido a través de las contribuciones teóricas y elementos contextuales que configuran e influyen en la representación de mujeres árabes musulmanas en largometrajes y series de ficción españoles de la segunda década del siglo XXI. Estos factores constituyen la base para el posterior diagnóstico del papel de los medios de españoles en la reducción de desigualdades y a favor de la equidad de género a través del discurso social del entretenimiento.

The post-Bonn government of Afghanistan shifted the violence curriculum of the Taliban into a peace curriculum in education. This study's mixed-method approach shows that despite facing security, corruption, resource, and cultural barriers to education, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan made significant progress both in terms of passing theoretical documents and practical achievements. The efforts that had been initiated and introduced began to encounter fragility following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Banning girls from education above grade six has resulted in negative psychological and emotional effects on them. Continuing to limit academic freedom has started to hit the Afghan society. Ultimately, Taliban-led approaches to curriculum design prepare the way for closemindedness and neo-Taliban nation-building. Those would convey state ideology and justifications from the classrooms to the homes. The socio-economic consequences of depriving large strata of the population, including though not exclusively, women from qualitative education makes it impossible for Afghanistan to break out of its status as a country of low level of development.

Electoral authoritarian regimes have sought to use a variety of tactics to remain in power even as they have opened themselves up to competition through multiparty elections. These tactics have included an array of measures targeting opposition women. They became significant in Africa after the 1990s as most countries adopted multiparty systems and ruling parties needed to maintain vote share. Ruling parties in African authoritarian countries strengthened their patronage networks by promoting women as leaders. At the same time, women in opposition parties have fared poorly compared to women in ruling parties and male opposition candidates. This has been the case even where one finds the special dispensation of a gender quota in the form of reserved seats. This article looks at how Uganda's ruling party has used various tactics to advance women leaders, responding to pressures from both the women’s movement and international actors while seeking to ensure its continued dominance. It reveals an essential feature of authoritarianism in Africa today, namely the instrumental use of women leaders to entrench the ruling party in power.

This thematic issue provides the first comprehensive overview of women opposition leaders and their performance. Setting the stage for a new research agenda, this editorial piece integrates theoretical and empirical insights at the intersection of three distinct research areas: political opposition, political leadership, and gender and politics. It discusses various notions of opposition leaders and identifies three main lines of inquiry: (a) career pathways and trajectories, (b) patterns of selection and de-selection, and (c) the actual and perceived performance of women's oppositional leadership. Applying a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches, this collection of original articles captures the diversity of women opposition leaders, their career trajectories, and their exercise of leadership across different political regimes and world regions.

Parliaments in the Pacific Islands are among the most male-dominated in the world. Yet despite the odds, there is a cohort of women who have been elected and won senior roles. This article adds to an emerging literature that examines the gendered pathways to political influence in the region by focusing on the hitherto overlooked role of the opposition leader. It uses a biographical approach to consider the pathways in and through this role by four women opposition leaders: Fiame Naomi Mata’afa (Samoa), Hilda Heine (Marshall Islands), Dame Carol Kidu (Papua New Guinea), and Ro Teimumu Kepa (Fiji). We parse out factors that explain the success of these leaders while also identifying barriers that have prevented their emergence in other Pacific states. We identify two main ways in which women politicians have used the position of leader of the opposition: first, the conventional understanding of the role as a path to power; and second, the less well-understood role of defending and protecting democratic norms and institutions. The latter can be interpreted as a version of the “glass cliff” phenomenon where women leaders assume key positions in times of crisis. Our findings thus highlight that while in the Pacific the role of leader of the opposition can be a path to power, the relatively few women leaders who have taken on this role have used it in diverse and varied ways.

While women have increasingly gained access to the position of opposition leader, we still know very little about their pathways to that office. Therefore, this article seeks to uncover the dynamics and patterns that distinguish the ascendency of women politicians to the office of opposition leader from a comparative perspective. In this article, opposition leaders are understood as the parliamentary party group leaders of the largest non-governing party in a given legislative assembly, which marks the closest equivalent to the Westminster understanding of leaders of the opposition that continues to dominate international notions of opposition leaders and oppositional leadership in parliamentary democracies. We draw on data from opposition leaders in 28 parliamentary democracies between 1996-2020 to identify opportunity structures that allow women opposition leaders to emerge across countries. In addition, we test how factors on the individual level (e.g., previous experience in party and parliament as well as in government) and at the party level (e.g., ideology) affect the likelihood that a parliamentary opposition leader is a woman. Our analyses demonstrate that the share of women in parliament significantly increases the likelihood that at least one of the parliamentary opposition leaders of the past 25 years was a woman. Moreover, opposition leaders in leftist parties are more likely to be women than their more rightist counterparts. Surprisingly, and contrary to our expectations, previous political experience does not shape the probability of women becoming opposition leaders. Thus, overall, the institutional and ideological contexts of selecting parliamentary opposition leaders seem to matter more than the experience and qualifications of individual candidates.

The European Parliament (EP) is an intriguing arena to study the nexus between gender, speech-making, and leadership performance, as it simultaneously challenges and confirms gender-based hierarchies in legislative contexts. While the EP has a higher level of women's representation than national parliaments, women's access to top-level positions nonetheless remains limited. Yet the EP is a special case of a legislature. Lacking a right of initiative, it often acts collectively as an inter-institutional opposition to the EU core institutions. In this article, through a software-assisted analysis of EP debates following the president's State of the Union Address, we investigate party group leaders' evaluations of the Commission's proposals and their charismatic rhetoric from a gender angle. Focusing on the three most recent legislatures (2009-2021), our analysis shows that while collective inter-institutional opposition is present in the EP, women leaders generally show higher levels of rhetorical skillfulness and voice either approval or opposition toward the Commission more emphatically than their male counterparts. Supplementary Files: https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/downloadSuppFile/6172/3090

Leaders often weigh ethical against monetary consequences. We experimentally study such a dilemma where leaders can benefit their groups at the expense of moral costs. First, we measure individual dishonesty preferences and, second, leaders' reporting decisions for a group by using payoff-reporting games. We focus on an endogenous leadership setting, where subjects can apply for leadership. Women have less pronounced dishonesty preferences than men, but increase dishonesty as leaders. The increase disappears when leadership is randomly assigned. A follow-up study reveals that women leaders behave dishonestly when they believe their group members prefer dishonesty.

The confluence of entrepreneurship, gender, sustainability and especially the social dimension is intricate and underestimated. This book analyses social entrepreneurship through a gender lens by portraying German female social entrepreneurs and their political, social and economic contexts. Within a descriptive qualitative research design, a secondary analysis of different dimensions of the social entrepreneurship system and twenty-five in-depth interviews with social entrepreneurs and experts were conducted. The author shows that this sector entails potential to re-do gender and reframe the economy, challenging norms and borders towards systemic change. Attending to the call for more research in this field, the main goal of this study is to portray female social entrepreneurs in Germany. Focus is set on describing their perspectives through an analysis of the gendered profile of German social entrepreneurs as distinctive and contextually influenced as well as on assessing structural limitations and individual agency. To achieve this, the book proposes a descriptive and a cross-sectional qualitative research design. A conceptual and theoretical frame was developed based on a social constructionist and poststructuralist epistemological approach. Moreover, a secondary analysis of female social entrepreneurship in Germany was undertaken. Key results include, among others, the development of an integrative frame for the analysis of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem, insights into social entrepreneur’s personal paths, as well as their enterprises purposes and management practices, ideas to promote the sector and discussions around its potential. Additionally, practices of doing gender are described, which show that a diverse spectrum of discourses on gender is utilized. Through the secondary analysis mainly political and economic policies and the forms and contents of initiatives that support and promote social enterprises are illustrated. Finally, recommendations f