Gender Perspectives on National and Nation-State Animal Symbolism

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 889-907
Author(s):  
Enrique Alonso García

The aim of this article is to revisit the significance of national and nation-state animal symbolism within the context of modern constitutionalism and its democratic emphasis on equal rights, regardless of gender. I discuss the problematic conveyance of gender inclusiveness through the animal sign, and how both at a linguistic and at a visual level (through sexual monomorphism and dimorphism), gender politics may become inscribed within the anthropomorphized animal and its body. I then turn to examine recent examples in which women’s inclusion within the animal symbol has been debated or once again dismissed through a reinstatement of patriarchal expectations. I close the article with a few questions regarding how (and/or whether) the type of gender equality desired and proclaimed by modern nation-states could potentially become encrypted within the animal body.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5582
Author(s):  
Daniele Conversi

This article argues that we need to look at living examples provided by non-state communities in various regions of the world that are, perhaps unwittingly, contributing to the maintenance of the Earth’s optimal thermal balance. These fully sustainable communities have been living outside the mainstream for centuries, even millennia, providing examples in the global struggle against the degradation of social–ecological systems. They have all, to varying degrees, embraced simple forms of living that make them ‘exemplary ethical communities’ (EECs)—human communities with a track record of sustainability related to forms of traditional knowledge and the capacity to survive outside the capitalist market and nation-state system. The article proceeds in three steps: First, it condenses a large body of research on the limits of the existing nation-state system and its accompanying ideology, nationalism, identifying this institutional–ideological complex as the major obstacle to tackling climate change. Second, alternative social formations that could offer viable micro-level and micro-scale alternatives are suggested. These are unlikely to identify with existing nation-states as they often form distinct types of social communities. Taking examples from hunter-gatherer societies and simple-living religious groups, it is shown how the protection and maintenance of these EECs could become the keystone in the struggle for survival of humankind and other forms of life. Finally, further investigation is called for, into how researchers can come forward with more examples of actually existing communities that might provide pathways to sustainability and resistance to the looming global environmental catastrophe.


Exchange ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 360-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abamfo Atiemo

AbstractA revolutionary development that resulted from Africa's experience of colonialism was the emergence of the nation-state made up of previously separate ethnic states. By the end of the colonial period the rulers of these ethnic states — the chiefs — had lost most of their real political and judicial powers to the political leaders of the new nation-states. But in spite of the loss of effective political power the chiefs continued to wield moral influence over members of their ethnic groups. The limited reach of the nation-state in the post-colonial era has also meant a dependence on the chiefs, in many cases, for aspects of local governance. This, for example, is the case of Ghana. However, in the modern context of religious pluralism the intimate bond between the chiefs and the traditional religion exacerbates tension in situations of conflict between people's loyalty to the traditional state and their religious commitment. In some cases, chiefs invoke customary laws in attempt to enforce sanctions against individuals who refuse to observe certain customary practices for religious reasons. But this has implications for the human rights of citizens. This article discusses the implications of this situation for the future of chieftaincy as well as prospects for the protection of the human rights of citizens who for religious reasons choose to stay away from certain communal customary practices.


Author(s):  
Liudmyla Perevalova ◽  
Ganna Gariaieva

Problem setting. Gender policy today is one of the decisive factors in building civil society, reaching consensus between different branches of government, the successful implementation of democratic reforms in Ukraine, its integration into the European Union. The observance of gender equality in the state demonstrates how civilized and democratic it is. The purpose of this article is a general study of the main directions of state gender policy, analysis of international norms in the field of gender equality and compliance of current Ukrainian legislation with international legal standards. Analysis of recent researches and publications. Issues of legal support for gender equality in Ukraine are studied by scientists in various aspects, as indicated by the scientific works of Kobelyanska L., Hrytsyak N., Hrytsai I., Grabovska I., Melnyk T., Honyukova L., Pedchenko N., Kresina I. and others. Article’s main body. However, some aspects related to further improvement of the state gender policy, bringing the current legislation in line with international and regional legal standards remain unresolved. The implementation of these tasks has not only theoretical but also significant practical significance and, accordingly, requires further research. Problems of studying the state policy of Ukraine in the field of gender equality remain relevant, as evidenced by the analysis of international norms and current Ukrainian legislation in the field of equality of rights of men and women, elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, combating domestic violence. The article considers both the positive and negative aspects of the state gender policy; the necessity of further improvement of the current legislation, bringing it in line with international legal standards, which is especially important in connection with the European integration processes of Ukraine, is substantiated. Conclusions and prospects for development. Thus, it should be noted that gender policy remains an important area of public policy, but unfortunately, despite significant advances in gender equality, public policy is reduced to such separate areas as assistance to families with children, social protection of women, protection of women in sphere of labor, etc. These areas of state social policy are very important, but they are not exhaustive. In addition, the legal framework for state gender policy needs to be further improved. Not all legal documents are perfect, unambiguous and can be fully applied in practice and therefore need further refinement. The Law on Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men, adopted in 2005, needs to be updated because it does not meet modern needs. In addition, Ukraine lacks a National Strategy in the field of gender equality, which would promote the further development of the principle of gender integration in all spheres and branches of public administration. The problem of equal rights for women and men in a democratic society is proclaimed as one of the main tasks in solving today’s social problems.


2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Tisdale Driskill ◽  
Paige LeForce DeFalco ◽  
Jill Holbert Lang ◽  
Janette Habashi

AbstractThe study of children's images as delineated in constitutional documents highlights the historical transitions that have occurred within and among countries, as manifested in the Convention of the Rights of the Child. As such, content analysis was administered to examine constitutional and amendment documents of 179 nation-states listed and recognized by the United Nations Development Programme in the Human Developmental Index. This analysis produced quantitative and qualitative data in which it described the ranking of each country and it's postulation toward children's protection, provision and participation as outlined by CRC. The findings provide greater understanding of the nation-state posture towards children as active rights bearers.


2011 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1423-1463 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL EILENBERG

AbstractPost-independence ethnic minorities inhabiting the Southeast Asian borderlands were willingly or unwillingly pulled into the macro politics of territoriality and state formation. The rugged and hilly borderlands delimiting the new nation-states became battlefronts of state-making and spaces of confrontation between divergent political ideologies. In the majority of the Southeast Asian borderlands, this implied violent disruption in the lives of local borderlanders that came to affect their relationship to their nation-state. A case in point is the ethnic Iban population living along the international border between the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan and the Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. Based on local narratives, the aim of this paper is to unravel the little known history of how the Iban segment of the border population in West Kalimantan became entangled in the highly militarized international disputes with neighbouring Malaysia in the early 1960s, and in subsequent military co-operative ‘anti-communist’ ‘counter-insurgency’ efforts by the two states in the late 1960–1970s. This paper brings together facets of national belonging and citizenship within a borderland context with the aim of understanding the historical incentives behind the often ambivalent, shifting and unruly relationship between marginal citizens like the Iban borderlanders and their nation-state.


1968 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans O. Schmitt

The expectation that a customs union in Europe will ultimately lead to political unification is based on the so-called spillover effect. This effect operates whenever any step toward integration creates new needs and fresh demands to proceed further in the same direction. Thus a customs union may create pressures to integrate not only commodity markets but capital markets as well. An integration of capital markets in turn may necessitate currency unification for its effective functioning, and a unified currency finally may imply a pooling of sovereignties sufficiently complete to destroy the separate identities of the participating nation-states. The process could also work in the opposite direction: from an insistence on the integrity of the nation-state to an ultimate rejection of the customs union itself.


Author(s):  
Kateryna Levchenko

Gender policy, i.e. the policy for ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men, is recognized as one of the priorities of the Ukrainian Government activity, which is confirmed by practical steps taken by the Ukrainian state. At the same time, in Ukraine, the manipulations around gender policy, gender terminology, legislative initiatives on protecting women’s rights and counter violence, are becoming more active and spreading. They deform the content and directions of the state activities, as well as the perception of the importance of gender transformations by society, which threatens the country's movement towards European integration. The article analyzes the logical tools that are used by adherents of anti-gender movements using the examples of theses voiced by the participants of the round table «Scientific and medical approaches to the problem of gender equality» held on November 9, 2018 by the Committee on Health Protection of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The article shows the fallacy of their conclusions and recommendations, by analysing the main inferences that can be used in activities to expose the manipulations of public consciousness and disseminate fake information as a type of organizational weapon of the hybrid war against Ukraine. Key words: gender policy, gender equality, anti-generational movements, logical mistakes, manipulation around gender policy, tools for hybrid warfare.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 123-127
Author(s):  
Umesh Prasad Acharya

Gender equations in any society are more or less anchored to cultural legacies. Nepali cosmologies constructed based on Hindu religious tradition, manifests the provision of Vedic societies in its present-day social structure, especially in gender. In the ancient times, women enjoyed equal rights and privileges as men, but with the rise of nation states, incidents of wars and conflicts multiplied for territorial expanse and security. This put male on the preference as martial and warring gender, and women started being confined to domestic responsibilities. This slowly crept into the social structure, and women have been suffering since then for lack of basic rights. The status is, however, changing because of recent political developments, that not only educated women vis-à-vis their rights, but also empowered them for various economic and social activities that contributed to their self-reliance. This article critically analyses changing value systems in the Nepalese society and the corresponding social and political transformation that has greatly altered the status of women. Much is yet to be done to bring the two genders in an equitable footing, but the gradual changes are a welcome sign towards gender equality and self-reliance.


2021 ◽  
pp. 303-328
Author(s):  
Lotta Snickare ◽  
Eva Amundsdotter ◽  
Øystein Gullvåg Holter

Abstract: From Resistance to Change? Processes for Change Within an Organization Management is often identified as the key to success when changing an organization. In chapter ten, the role of the management team in gender equality work is analysed, as well as what the team needs in order to address these issues. But has the faculty management team’s commitment to gender equality work had any effects on the organization? Has the discourse changed? Are things done differently? This chapter analyzes the effects of the management team’s efforts by studying a seminar series for PhD supervisors. The series consists of two parts: five seminars before the management team embarked on gender equality work, and seven seminars after. The data show that when the management team clearly stated that gender-related challenges remained within the faculty and offered a theoretical approach and method for the organization’s gender equality work, the seminar discussions moved from resistance, denial and ambivalence, to an interest in understanding one’s own role and potential for improving gender equality. When the management team contributed to the knowledge base through education in gender perspectives and offered a method for the organizational work that all employees could apply in their everyday activities, this opened opportunities for change at all levels in the organization.


2019 ◽  
pp. 150-162
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Jakubowska

This article provides an insight into the contemporary level of gender equality that characterizes Swedish news programs. The study is based on available data and reports regarding women’s status in the newsroom, as well as their opportunities and access to the process of making news. The study analyses Swedish public service channels’ policy concerning women’s and men’s equal rights in the newsroom and the reflection of this in practice. The main aim of the article is to explore whether Swedish news is really as gender neutral as expected and what needs to be improved to achieve actual gender balance.


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