scholarly journals Pandemic politics – an introduction

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ewa Latecka ◽  
◽  
Jean du Toit ◽  
Gregory Morgan Swer
Keyword(s):  
Political Discourse ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Political Authority ◽  
Gender Justice ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Global Reach

The outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 and the various measures taken subsequently, either by individual countries or by government and non-government bodies with a global reach, have had a profound effect on human lives on a number of levels, be it social, economic, legal, or political. The scramble to respond to the threat posed by the rapid spread of the virus has, in many cases, led to a suspension of ordinary politics whilst at the same time throwing into sharp relief the profoundly political nature of the pandemic. In addition to the new issues that have arisen regarding detection and treatment of the COVID-19 virus, perennial political issues regarding the limits of political authority, racial and gender justice, and populism and demagoguery have thrust themselves to the forefront of mainstream political discourse.

scholarly journals Feminist critical friends: dilemmas of feminist engagement with governance and gender reform agendas

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Chappell ◽  
Fiona Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Social Economic ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Gender Justice ◽  
Governance Structures ◽  
Critical Friends ◽  
Military Institutions ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Political Economic

This article advances the concept of ‘feminist critical friends’ as a descriptor for those studying the efforts of ‘insider’ gender justice advocates working to transform governance structures and advance gender reform agendas within political, social, economic and military institutions. In refining the concept of feminist critical friendship, we reject perspectives that overstate the failures and ‘co-option’ that comes with engagement, while also resisting voluntarist versions that cede too much influence to feminist insiders. We pay attention to, and take seriously, the small wins that are achieved against the gendered, institutional and political odds, and recognise that sometimes, though not always, these can align to produce significant shifts in the gendered status quo. The article seeks to unpack the who, what, why and how of feminist critical friendship in order to advance this as a productive standpoint for feminist researchers interested in analysing processes of institutional stasis and change.<br /><br /><ul>Key messages<br /><li>Feminist critical friends – who are they? What do they do? Read about the ‘entangled’ relationship between feminist academics and gender insiders.</li><br /><li>We offer a productive standpoint for feminist academics wanting to assess those re-gendering political, economic and social institutions.</li><br /><li>Engaged feminism and critical feminism do not constitute a dichotomy. ‘Critical friends’ can be engaged and critical.</li></ul>

THE SINS OF THE FATHER: GENDER- BASED VIOLENCE IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyn Snodgrass
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Black Women ◽  
South African ◽  
African Women ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
South African Women

This article explores the complexities of gender-based violence in post-apartheid South Africa and interrogates the socio-political issues at the intersection of class, ‘race’ and gender, which impact South African women. Gender equality is up against a powerful enemy in societies with strong patriarchal traditions such as South Africa, where women of all ‘races’ and cultures have been oppressed, exploited and kept in positions of subservience for generations. In South Africa, where sexism and racism intersect, black women as a group have suffered the major brunt of this discrimination and are at the receiving end of extreme violence. South Africa’s gender-based violence is fuelled historically by the ideologies of apartheid (racism) and patriarchy (sexism), which are symbiotically premised on systemic humiliation that devalues and debases whole groups of people and renders them inferior. It is further argued that the current neo-patriarchal backlash in South Africa foments and sustains the subjugation of women and casts them as both victims and perpetuators of pervasive patriarchal values.

«Get in Your Theatres; the Street is Not Yours»: The Struggle for the Character of Public Space in Tunisia

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-69
Author(s):  
Heather Harrington
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Hip Hop ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Social Scientist ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
And Gender

Abstract How people move and appear in public spaces is a reflection of the cultural, religious and socio-political forces in a society. This article, built on an earlier work titled ’Site-Specific Dance: Women in the Middle East’ (2016), addresses the ways in which dance in a public space can support the principles of freedom of expression and gender equality in Tunisia. I explore the character of public space before, during, and after the Arab Spring uprisings. Adopting an ethnographic and phenomenological approach, I focus on the efforts of two Tunisian dancers – Bahri Ben Yahmed (a dancer, choreographer and filmmaker based in Tunis, who has trained in ballet, modern dance and hip hop) and Ahmed Guerfel (a dancer based in Gabès, who has trained in hip hop) – to examine movement in a public space to address political issues facing the society. An analysis of data obtained from Yahmed and Guerfel, including structured interviews, videos, photos, articles and e-mail correspondence, supports the argument that dance performed in public spaces is more effective in shaping the politics of the society than dance performed on the proscenium stage. Definitions and properties of everyday choreography, site and the proscenium stage are analysed, along with examples of site-specific political protest choreography in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia. I engage with the theories of social scientist Erving Goffman, which propose that a public space can serve as a stage, where people both embody politics and can embody a protest against those politics.

"You Can't Just Say That the Only Ones Who Can Speak Are Those Who Agree with Your Position": Political Discourse in the Classroom

1993 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda Fine
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Social Differences ◽  
Classroom Dynamics ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
School Classroom ◽  
Teachers And Students

In this article, Melinda Fine describes the classroom dynamics surrounding the discussion of controversial issues in a middle school classroom. Through observation and interviews, she creates a detailed portrait of the interactions among teachers and students, revealing that while discussions of emotionally charged social and political issues are often heated and difficult, they can still be constructive. Fine maintains that students are more resilient and able to handle disagreement than is often believed. She concludes by arguing that education in a democracy requires that teachers and students learn to deal constructively with political and social differences.

Gender justice discourse in the educational system of Afghanistan during the Marxist period (1978–1992)

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 632-644
Author(s):  
M Davood Sokhanwar ◽  
Seyed Mahdi Sajjadi ◽  
Yahia Baiza ◽  
Mohsen Imani
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Party ◽  
Gender Justice ◽  
Access To Education ◽  
Hegemonic Discourse ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
Effective Role ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Political Agents

This study examines women’s access to education (‘gender justice’) during the rule of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan from 1978 to 1992, using a qualitative research methodology and discourse analysis at the operational level from the perspective of Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. The data collected in this research were extracted from textual sources concerning the role of women in education in Afghanistan in the Marxist era: the importance of the data concerns an understanding of the intellectual and political atmosphere, particularly with regard to women’s education, in the government of the time. It is concluded that several factors contributed to the failure of the hegemonic discourse, despite intensive efforts made by Marxist government to realize hegemony and gender justice. Political agents, availability, credibility and exclusion, as elements of the hegemonic discourse, were evaluated and it is further concluded that these elements were unable to play an effective role in the discourse, as had been expected, and were gradually marginalized.

scholarly journals Wellness Constraints Among International University Students Transitioning Through Covid 19

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 3444-3456
Author(s):  
Mr J Dorasamy, Et. al.
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
World Health ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
International University ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization (Who) In March 2020 Declared Covid 19 A Pandemic, Due To The  Global And Rapid Spread Of A Novel Coronavirus (Who, 2020). The Covid 19 Pandemic Being Highly Infectious And Unpredictable, Has  Disrupted  Social, Economic, Environmental And Political Spheres Of Life. Globally, People Have Ventured Into A “Lockdown World”, Increasing Uncertainty About Their Future Amidst The Covid 19 Pandemic. As A Result Of The Pandemic, Social Alteration Has Taken The Form Of Social Distancing, Self-Isolation And Self-Quarantine.  Many Were Unprepared For The Shift From The “Normal”, Propelling  Undue  Stress Under The New Normal Way Of Doing Things During The Current Global Pandemic Crisis. This Has Been Accompanied By Social, Emotional And Mental Effects, As The Ongoing And Fluid Nature Of The Pandemic Has Created Uncertainty For Many People. The Covid 19 Pandemic, As A Multidimensional Stressor Affecting Wellbeing, Has Affected Individuals, Families, Educational, Occupational, And Broader Societal Systems.  

scholarly journals Women and Ijtihad: Towards a New Islamic Discourse

2019 ◽  
pp. 12-33
Author(s):  
Heba Raouf Ezzat
Keyword(s):  
Social Economic ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
The Other ◽  
Women's Issues ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Islamic World ◽  
Contested Terrain ◽  
The One

A phenomenon of extreme polarization between the Islamist and the secular camps characterizes the intellectual scene regarding social, economic, and political issues in the Arab-Islamic world. This is especially true with respect to women’s issues, which are a very hotly contested terrain. Understanding this reality clearly requires a historic overview to comprehend how this polarization occurred and map the debate between supporters of “modernity and contemporality” (al-hadatha wa-l-mu‘asara) on the one hand, and supporters of “tradition and authenticity” (al-turath wal-asala) on the other. Though this is not at the heart of our research, framing it in its historical context enables us to better understand the roots and origins of the problem, in order to map the debates and foresee future courses more clearly.

scholarly journals Exploring the Relevance of Feminist Leadership in Theological Education of Nigeria

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-40
Author(s):  
Adesanya Ibiyinka Olusola
Keyword(s):  
Theological Education ◽  
Gender Justice ◽  
Women And Gender ◽  
Theological Schools ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Feminist Leadership ◽  
The World ◽  
Church And Society ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Church

Feminist leadership is very important in theological education as it would seek to deconstruct stereotypical assumptions about women and gender in Christian theological traditions. Unfortunately, most of the theological schools in Nigeria do not have feminist as leaders. Five reasons why feminist leadership are needed in theological schools have been identified as, the bible teaching that women brought sin and death to the world, servant hood notion of women, scandal of particularity, male domination of ministries and theological methods and process that are full of stereotypes. All this does not provide women a unique opportunity to discover and develop their potential in the church and society. Also, women’s relevance and contributions can be hampered if not allowed to put in their optimum. To avoid this, the researcher suggests that theological education should not discriminate against any gender, but should work to bring about gender justice by involving the feminist leaders in theological education in Nigeria. It is hoped that by pursuing these steps, theological education in Nigeria would be preparing the way to sustainable development of the mission of Christ on earth.

scholarly journals Global Projections of Populational Ageing

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 106-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason L. Powell
Keyword(s):  
Social Care ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Social Forces ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Nation States ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Global Ageing ◽  
Ageing Populations

This article forecasts quite dramatic increases in the general population of the globe, which will also be reflected in increasing ageing populations. This paper explores how globalization and its structural economic and social forces throws into flux the policies and practices of individual nation states to address social, economic and political issues for older people focusing on empirical data on pensions and health and social care. The paper will examine specific empirical areas of populational projections across the world before we discuss some of the key challenges and consequences of global ageing for the study of ageing populations. It highlights how empirical research needs to move from being state centred to one of which acknowledges global forces and the impact of populational ageing.

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