scholarly journals “But I am still a girl after all”: A Discourse Analysis of Femininities in Popular Japanese Manga Comics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Yurika Nishiyama
Keyword(s):  
Birth Rate ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Japanese Woman ◽  
Traditional Gender Roles ◽  
Young Japanese Women ◽  
Feminist Poststructuralist ◽  
Female Audience ◽  
Opening Up ◽  
Romantic Interest

<p>Where progression towards gender equality is concerned, Japan lags behind most other developed countries with its culture which heavily values tradition. However, its traditional gender roles may be changing as the birth-rate declines and women take up the increasing opportunities opening up for them in the workplace. Within the contexts of these tensions between traditionalism and change, this study investigated the constructions of femininity in popular Japanese manga, one of the most consumed forms of media in Japan which also enjoys global popularity. As such, this study approached manga as a potentially important resource for identifying the available meanings of being a young Japanese woman in contemporary Japanese society. To date, little research has examined manga, and much of the available literature has used content analysis or focused solely on superheroine characters and the romantic interest. As a point of difference, this research implemented discursive analyses and sought to identify a range of femininities made available to readers in manga. It examined four titles within two genres of manga: the shounen genre targeted to male audiences and the shoujo manga, targeted at a female audience. The research employed a feminist, poststructuralist framework to identify the ways in which constructions of femininity in manga drew on dominant Japanese discourses of femininity as well as more globally produced postfeminist discourses associated with popular culture. The study found that manga overall produced femininities within both traditional and contemporary postfeminist discourses. Analyses also highlighted the limited meanings of femininity made available to young female audiences of shoujo manga through dominant postfeminist, empty representations of ‘empowerment’ whilst also underlining the problematic dominance of sexist portrayals of young women in shounen manga. Further, the storylines of shoujo manga were found to be replete with romantic narratives, prioritising romance and marriage as a means to happiness. These findings may identify the implications of such femininities on how young Japanese women view themselves, and are viewed by others globally.</p>

scholarly journals “But I am still a girl after all”: A Discourse Analysis of Femininities in Popular Japanese Manga Comics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Yurika Nishiyama
Keyword(s):  
Birth Rate ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Japanese Woman ◽  
Traditional Gender Roles ◽  
Young Japanese Women ◽  
Feminist Poststructuralist ◽  
Female Audience ◽  
Opening Up ◽  
Romantic Interest

<p>Where progression towards gender equality is concerned, Japan lags behind most other developed countries with its culture which heavily values tradition. However, its traditional gender roles may be changing as the birth-rate declines and women take up the increasing opportunities opening up for them in the workplace. Within the contexts of these tensions between traditionalism and change, this study investigated the constructions of femininity in popular Japanese manga, one of the most consumed forms of media in Japan which also enjoys global popularity. As such, this study approached manga as a potentially important resource for identifying the available meanings of being a young Japanese woman in contemporary Japanese society. To date, little research has examined manga, and much of the available literature has used content analysis or focused solely on superheroine characters and the romantic interest. As a point of difference, this research implemented discursive analyses and sought to identify a range of femininities made available to readers in manga. It examined four titles within two genres of manga: the shounen genre targeted to male audiences and the shoujo manga, targeted at a female audience. The research employed a feminist, poststructuralist framework to identify the ways in which constructions of femininity in manga drew on dominant Japanese discourses of femininity as well as more globally produced postfeminist discourses associated with popular culture. The study found that manga overall produced femininities within both traditional and contemporary postfeminist discourses. Analyses also highlighted the limited meanings of femininity made available to young female audiences of shoujo manga through dominant postfeminist, empty representations of ‘empowerment’ whilst also underlining the problematic dominance of sexist portrayals of young women in shounen manga. Further, the storylines of shoujo manga were found to be replete with romantic narratives, prioritising romance and marriage as a means to happiness. These findings may identify the implications of such femininities on how young Japanese women view themselves, and are viewed by others globally.</p>

HARMONISING PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN THE SADC

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-109
Author(s):  
Stephen De la Harpe
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Free Trade ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Government Procurement ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
Private Industry ◽  
Regional Competition ◽  
Model Law ◽  
Opening Up

The promotion of international trade is seen as one of the important instruments to ensure development in developing nations and regions. The history of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the drafting of many regional and similar international trade agreements are evidence of this. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is no exception.1 It is therefore strange that many states that are members of the WTO and actively encourage the opening up of international borders to free trade do not include public procurement2 in such free trade arrangements. This is particularly evident in developing states. If the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), which is a plurilateral agreement, is considered it is clear that many states do not wish to open their internal markets to competition in the public procurement sphere. It is therefore not surprising that public procurement has been described as the last rampart of state protectionism (Ky, 2012). Public procurement is an important segment of trade in any country (Arrowsmith & Davies, 1998). It is estimated that public procurement represents between 10% and 15% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of developed countries and up to 25% of GDP in developing states (Wittig, 1999). Unfortunately, governments often expect private industry to open up national markets for international competition but do not lead the way. Except for the limited use of pooled procurement,3 no specific provision is at present made for the harmonisation and integration of public procurement in the SADC. In view of the proximity of the member states, the interdependency of their economies and the benefits that can be derived from opening up their boundaries to regional competition in public procurement, the possibility of harmonisation and deeper integration in this sphere needs to be given more attention. The importance of public procurement in international trade and regional integration is twofold: first, it forms a substantial part of trade with the related economic and developmental implications; secondly, it is used by governments as an instrument to address socio-economic issues. Public procurement spending is also important because of its potential influence on human rights, including aspects such as the alleviation of poverty, the achievement of acceptable labour standards and environmental goals, and similar issues (McCrudden, 1999). In this article the need to harmonise public procurement in the SADC in order to open up public procurement to regional competition, some of the obstacles preventing this, and possible solutions are discussed. Reference is made to international instruments such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the Model Law on Public Procurement and the GPA. In particular, the progress made in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) with regard to the harmonisation of public procurement, which was based on the Model Law, will be used to suggest possible solutions to the problem of harmonising public procurement in the SADC.

Epidemiology of Twin Births in Southeast China: 1993–2005

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 608-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinrong Lu ◽  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Yinghui Liu ◽  
Ting Wang ◽  
Yanyu Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Birth Rate ◽  
Perinatal Care ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
Birth Rates ◽  
Southeast China ◽  
Twin Birth

Recently, there has been a significant increase in the rate of multiple births in most developed countries. However, few population-based studies have been conducted in China regarding the epidemiology of twin births in recent years. We performed a descriptive analysis of twin births from 1993 to 2005 using data from a population-based perinatal care program in southeast China. The twin birth rate in southeast China was 0.65%, and the twin birth rates from 1993 to 2005 fluctuated between 0.60% and 0.70%. During the three periods of 1993–1996, 1997–2000, and 2001–2005, the twin birth rate increased from 0.57% to 0.71% in urban areas (p = .005) and from 0.59% to 0.68% in mothers who had an education level of high school or higher (p = .046). After 2000, the twin birth rate of primiparae 30 years of age and older significantly increased from 0.72% to greater than 1.20%. We concluded that the twin birth rates in southeast China from 1993 to 2005 stayed constant in the overall population but increased in certain subgroups of women, presumably due to increased use of fertility treatment and the development of assisted reproductive technology.

scholarly journals Concurrent Spinal Epidural Tubercular and Pyogenic Abscess of Cervical Spine without Bony Involvement

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 374-378
Author(s):  
Batuk Diyora ◽  
Swapnil Patil ◽  
Bhagyashri Bhende ◽  
Mehool Patel ◽  
Gagan Dhall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Imaging Study ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Acute Onset ◽  
Histopathological Study ◽  
Spinal Epidural Abscess ◽  
The Right ◽  
Spinal Epidural

ABSTRACTSpinal epidural abscess (SEA) presents with vertebral body involvement. SEA is mostly pyogenic in developed countries, but in developing countries, tuberculosis is more common cause. Young female presented with fever, neck, and right upper limb pain for 1 month followed by acute onset weakness in the right upper limb. Magnetic resonance imaging study of cervical spine showed contrast-enhancing lesion in C2–C3 epidural region. Surgery-aided by initiation of antibacterial and antitubercular treatment based on culture and histopathological study of pus helped us to get good clinical outcome. One should always keep in mind possibility of tubercular abscess while treating cases of spinal epidural lesions, though it is rare in the absence of osseous involvement. Pyogenic and tubercular abscess can present concurrently and sending pus for culture and sensitivity is must as it plays important role in identifying dual organisms.

POPULATION AGING IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: SCENARIO PROJECTIONS OF POPULATION PRESSURE

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 122-133
Author(s):  
S. G. SHUL’GIN ◽  
◽  
Yu. V. ZIN’KINA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Rate ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
National Level ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Population Pressure ◽  
Small Set ◽  
The Subject ◽  
First World ◽  
Scenario Projections

The problem of “population aging” in the countries of the first world and its expected consequences are the subject of active discussion in the scientific community. However, estimates of such effects are generally calculated at the national level for a particular country. Estimates for all countries are calculated by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, but the most commonly used “average” scenario is calculated based on a fixed and fairly small set of hypotheses and patterns. In this work, forecast scenarios of the dynamics of the demographic burden of the elderly in developed countries are calculated and analyzed in connection with the dynamics of the birth rate of these countries, as well as the dynamics of migration flows. The main goal of the work is to identify for each country the scale of the forthcoming increase in the demographic burden by the elderly and to assess how much the increase in the birth rate and the growth of migration can reduce or slow down the growth of this burden.

Induced abortion in today’s world

2000 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-347
Author(s):  
Eremenegildo Spaziante
Keyword(s):  
Birth Rate ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Soviet System ◽  
Public Power ◽  
The World ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
Per Capita

The Author has examined the recent statistics concerning the legally induced abortion, registered in 25 selected countries in the world. From a total population of 997 millions inhabitants, the cases of induced abortions were 6,126,000 during the year 1996. A formal decrease of 20% was recorded yearly between 1994 and 1996. The changes were not similar for all the examined countries. The most intensive decrease was registered in the countries with previous highest incidence, especially those with experience of Soviet system or Marxian ideology. The study reports the comparison of the abortive phenomenon with the birth rate, the infant mortality, the socio-economic conditions. Invers correlation come in evidence between induced abortiveness rates and the “human development index” (UNDP), especially with the cultural level and the Goss National Product (GNP) per capita. The Author supposes that in the more developed countries the decrease of registered abortiveness was related also to a larger use of contraceptive means. In the less developed countries of the ex-Soviet system, the attenuation of incidence of induced abortion can be connected with a mitigation of public power to coercive birth control. The A. suggests te working hypothesis that a large seeking f induced abortion, especially if repeated, is not only a consequence of economical and cultural misery, but also an important factor of moral, social, and economic depression. In the changing world induced abortion is still a persistent form of misery.

Marriage as a social phenomenon

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-118
Author(s):  
M.M. Kanarskij ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
North America ◽  
Birth Rate ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Social Phenomenon ◽  
Marriage And Family ◽  
National Priority

Examined is the problem of lowering of birth rate, provoking serious anxiety in number of developed countries of Europe, North America and Asia. In Russia solution of this problem declared national priority, and for its solution are spending solid economic resources. One of reasons of lowering birth rate in Russia is in changing of attitude of the youth to the institute of marriage and family as well as egocentric vector of interests of personality. In our research, we evaluate attitude to marriage of medical students in Russian university, and also their life principles and orientations as to formation of a family.

Why Is the U.S. Preterm Birth Rate So Much Higher Than the Rates in Canada, Great Britain, and Western Europe?

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 622-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet M. Bronstein ◽  
Martha S. Wingate ◽  
Anne E. Brisendine
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Birth Rate ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multiple Gestation ◽  
High Risk Behaviors ◽  
Welfare Policies ◽  
Preterm Birth Rate

The portion of newborns delivered before term is considerably higher in the United States than in other developed countries. We compare the array of risk exposures and protective factors common to women across national settings, using national, regional, and international databases, review articles, and research reports. We find that U.S. women have higher rates of obesity, heart disease, and poor health status than women in other countries. This is in part because more U.S. women are exposed to the stresses of racism and income disparity than women in other national settings, and stress loads are known to disrupt physiological functions. Pregnant women in the United States are not at higher risk for preterm birth because of older maternal age or engagement in high-risk behaviors. However, to a greater extent than in other national settings, they are younger and their pregnancies are unintended. Higher rates of multiple gestation pregnancies, possibly related to assisted reproduction, are also a factor in higher preterm birth rates. Reproductive policies that support intentional childbearing and social welfare policies that reduce the stress of income insecurity can be modeled from those in place in other national settings to address at least some of the elevated U.S. preterm birth rate.

scholarly journals The Agenda of Wearable Healthcare

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (01) ◽  
pp. 125-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Tröster
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Embedded Computer ◽  
Individual Feedback ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Health Assistant ◽  
The Developed Countries ◽  
Balance Factor ◽  
Opening Up

Driven by cost and quality issues, the health system in the developed countries will undergo a fundamental change in this decade, from a physician-operated and hospital centred health system to consumer operated personal prevention, early risk detection and wellness system. This paper sketches the vision of a ‘Personal Health Assistant’ PHA, opening up new vistas in patient centred healthcare. The PHA comprises a wearable sensing and communicating system, seamlessly embedded in our daily outfit. Several onbody sensors identify the biometric and contextual status of the wearer continuously. The embedded computer generates the ‘Life Balance Factor’ LBF as an individual feedback to the user and to the surroundings affording an effective prevention, disease management and rehabilitation also in telemedicine. The state-of-the-art enabling technologies – mainly miniaturization of electronics and sensors combined with wireless communication and recent developments in wearable and pervasive computing are presented and assessed concerning multiparameter health monitoring.

Data Analysis and Study on Relationship between Adjustment of Hierarchical Structure of Higher Education and Economic Growth

2014 ◽  
Vol 971-973 ◽  
pp. 2313-2316
Author(s):  
Jin Lian He
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Chinese Higher Education ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Reform And Opening Up ◽  
Opening Up ◽  
Current Stage

Since the reform and opening-up policy was implemented, Chinese higher education has experienced the process of recovery, adjustment, and rapid development; currently, the higher education has been popularized and the scale of Chinese higher education has been listed at the forefront in the world. However, compared to developed countries, there still exists great difference, and the “difficult employment” and “difficult recruitment” are good reflection. While the higher education is continuously enhanced, the structure of higher education is also continuously adjusted. At the initial stage of reform and opening-up, Chinese institutions of higher education mainly recruit undergraduate students; however, at current stage, the enrollment proportion is same; the postgraduate enrollment scale is also expanded; Chinese higher education has entered into transformation period.

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