scholarly journals ‘Womb for Rent’: Socio-Cultural Implications of Reproductive Tourism in India

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Eki Okungbowa
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Indian Government ◽  
Indian Women ◽  
Race And Class ◽  
Commercial Surrogacy ◽  
Cultural Implications ◽  
Global North ◽  
The Media ◽  
Reproductive Tourism

Background Commercial surrogacy in India has become an increasingly controversial human rights and global health issue. Indian women living in dire poverty are the most vulnerable group in this transnational phenomenon. Reproductive tourism can be defined as the process whereby affluent people predominately from Global North countries (i.e., Canada) seek assisted reproduction in the Global South (in this case, India), to accomplish fertility and kinship formation goals while remaining oblivious to the inevitable social issues associated with this international trade. Objective This paper investigates how the media and academic anthropological research present current understandings of biotechnology, family, and kinship regarding commercial surrogacy. I argue that reproductive tourism is a multifaceted social issue with significant socio-cultural implications for kinship in India and the Global North, by being rooted in a gendered division of labour, culturally-specific belief systems, technological advancement, race and class stratification, capitalist structures, and globalization. Methods Although reproductive tourism is indeed interdisciplinary in nature, this project explicitly took an anthropological and global health approach to understanding its impacts on kinship in local and global communities. With regards to researcher positionality, I played an outsider role in understanding Indian women and the cultural context in India. I critically and reflexively analyzed diverse media sources that offered insights on reproductive tourism in India within the domains outlined in my thesis statement. These media sources were found online, and included mainstream media outlets, news articles, articles by journalists and social activists, websites for organizations of interest, corporate sources, blogs, videos, documentaries, and images. I used scholarly articles in anthropology as ethnographic evidence to support, challenge, or extend claims reported by the media. Academic sources included peer-reviewed publications, books, open access materials, grey literature, academic websites, and legal documents. I qualitatively compared and contrasted the presented narratives to conduct a secondary analysis of scholarly literature and media reports, and constructed valid arguments about the current state of reproductive tourism in India. Results The commodification of reproductive labour has had vast impacts on the cultural meanings of kinship in India and Global North countries. Reproductive tourism in India is evidence that culture influences biological, reproductive, and technological processes and how they are perceived in contemporary times. Technology and globalization were found to be propellers of commercial surrogacy that transcend international borders. Expectations related to family formation and gender within Western contexts, and Western forms of kinship contribute to the commercial surrogacy industry. Reproductive tourism perpetuates hierarchies along the lines of race and class, and Indian women face exploitation and serious health risks despite being paid for their reproductive labour. Conclusion Transnational surrogacy must be perceived by governments as a public matter rather than a private one, in order to adequately derive holistic solutions to halt the exploitation of vulnerable Indian women while balancing the desire of infertile individuals to utilize surrogacy as a means of kinship formation. Update This research paper was written in March 2018. As of December 2018, commercial surrogacy is illegal in India. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2018 is an attempt by the Indian government to control the industry and associated issues such as the exploitation of poor women and unprecedented health consequences. This law and policy shift by the Indian government affirms the importance of this research.

Double exposure: a critical study of preservice teachers’ multimodal public service announcements

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy Albers
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
New Literacies ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Public Service Announcements ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
Visual Discourse ◽  
The Media

AbstractAlthough a great deal of work has been done on the significance of new literacies in ELA teaching and learning, much less has been done on the area of analyzing critically the media that comprise digital projects created by textmakers. Composing with new literacies in mind requires that textmakers locate relevant information, design with particular media in mind that will convey their message, as well as anticipate what the viewer may want to see. However, with nearly unlimited access to images through various search engines, textmakers may be choosing images of convenience rather than content. In her work with preservice teachers, Albers invited them to create Public Service Announcements (PSAs) in response to social issues they saw at play in contemporary and classic literature. Framed in critical multimodal theory, Albers draws upon visual grammar and visual discourse analysis to analyze PSAs to understand how modal choices make visible stable and commonplace assumptions about adolescents, the intended audience for these PSAs.

A Tale of Two Events? Media Analysis of the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup

2011 ◽  
Vol 140 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Sherry ◽  
Angela Osborne
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Print Media ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Media Analysis ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Sporting Event ◽  
The Media ◽  
Australian City

In 2008, Melbourne became the first Australian city to host the Homeless World Cup (HWC), an annual international sporting event that aims to raise the profile of homelessness and social marginalisation. This article first examines relevant print media articles relating to the HWC by identifying key themes through thematic and content analysis. It then examines the polarised reporting of the HWC by two print media outlets, The Age and the Herald Sun, and argues that each outlet's coverage served to reinforce its own established position on the key political and social issues, in this instance homelessness, asylum seeking and immigration. The divergence in the discourses constructed in each paper provides a demonstrative example of the capacity of the media to use events of all sorts to consolidate their political and commercial positions.

scholarly journals Don't Think That Kids Aren't Noticing: Indirect Pathways to Children's Fear of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Radanović ◽  
Isidora Micić ◽  
Svetlana Pavlović ◽  
Ksenija Krstić
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Information Transmission ◽  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Direct Contact ◽  
Negative Information ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Children’S Exposure

The present study is couched within Rachman's three-pathway theory of fear acquisition (Rachman, 1977, 1991). Besides the direct contact with the objects of fear, this model also includes two indirect pathways to fear acquisition: negative information transmission and modeling. The study aims to explore the contribution of these three factors to the level of children's fear of COVID-19. The sample consisted of 376 children (59.6% girls), aged 7–19 (Mage = 12.77, SDage = 3.57), and one of their parents (Mage = 42.88, SDage = 6.00). The survey was conducted online during the COVID-19 national state of emergency in the Republic of Serbia. The children assessed their fear of COVID-19, general fearfulness, negative information transmission, and modeling by their parents, as well as the level of exposure to negative information outside their home. The parents assessed their own fear of COVID-19 and trait anxiety. Parents' anxiety, children's age, and children's general fearfulness were used as covariates. The results of our path analysis provide support for Rachman's notion of indirect pathways. The more the parents were afraid of COVID-19, the more they expressed this (either verbally or through their behavior), which in turn led to an increase in the children's fear of COVID-19. Furthermore, children's exposure to negative information related to COVID-19, provided by their teachers and peers or stemming from the media, directly contributed to the level of children's fear. The results of the study emphasize the importance of caregivers' behavior during global health crises and provide some clues as to what caregivers may do to protect their children's mental health in such circumstances.

P-740 Socio-cultural and clinical implications of ‘routine’ AMH testing in India: Insights from an interview study with the healthcare professionals (HCPs)

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Satalkar ◽  
V Provoost
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Fertility Preservation ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Indian Women ◽  
Fertility Treatments ◽  
Indian Context ◽  
Cultural Implications

Abstract Study question How do Indian healthcare professionals describe their clinical experience with and perspectives on AMH testing in Indian women seeking fertility treatments including fertility preservation? Summary answer The HCPs cautioned against AMH testing as a screening tool in presumed fertile Indian women due to its anticipated impact on women’s arranged-marriage prospects. What is known already AMH test is being increasingly used to assess women’s ovarian reserve (OR) while planning fertility treatments or to guide decisions about fertility preservation (FP). There is weak evidence suggesting that serum AMH level and fertility treatment outcomes vary in different population groups. Surveys with women in reproductive age (e.g. the US, Ireland, the Netherlands) indicate that a majority wants to know their OR to aid reproductive decision making. As yet, both globally and in an Indian context, there are only few qualitative studies exploring the views of HCPs on the OR assessment in clinical practice and its socio-cultural implications. Study design, size, duration This paper reports the findings of an exploratory qualitative research aimed at understanding whether and how elective fertility preservation could influence reproductive autonomy of Indian women. Between June 2018 and April 2019, IVF specialists and obstetricians practicing in ten cities across five Indian states were interviewed in English (language commonly spoken) using a semi-structured interview guide. The discussion about OR assessment with AMH-testing was initiated by the participants indicating its significance in their clinical practice. Participants/materials, setting, methods The study sample included 17 male and 15 female HCPs, the majority (18/32) was practicing in Mumbai. Twenty-six of them were in private practice while six worked as OBGYNs in publicly funded teaching hospitals. Twenty-six participants were interviewed in their clinics and the remaining six using Skype or telephone. After several rounds of immersive reading, the interview sections on OR and AMH-test were analyzed inductively using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Main results and the role of chance Several participants reported that many of their patients present with decreased OR (DOR) at a younger age and need higher dosages of hormones for ovulation induction compared to the dosages mentioned in international guidelines. They corroborated this experience with a few peer-reviewed articles indicating a six-years age difference in OR of Indian women undergoing IVF compared to Spanish women. A majority of participants advocated for the rational use of OR assessment in IVF patients but warned against its indiscriminate use or interpretation out of context due to concerns about overdiagnosis of ovarian factor infertility and overtreatment with IVF with donor eggs. Although the physicians who had performed elective FP perceived AMH test as a simple, affordable and empowering tool to guide FP decisions, most participants were critical of using AMH-test as a screening tool in young, presumed fertile women completing university education. They were concerned that a diagnosis of DOR as a result of such screening in this population in the Indian context will adversely impact women’s chances of marriage and might further increase pressure on women to get married and complete their childbearing early even if they are not ready for it. Limitations, reasons for caution This is the first qualitative study assessing views of Indian HCPs on AMH testing. These results are indicative rather than a representation of views of Indian HCPs. Almost half of the contacted HCPs did not respond to interview requests; we do not know whether they had different views. Wider implications of the findings The insights on clinical implications of AMH testing in India are relevant to other societies beyond the Euro-American and Australian context where AMH testing will increase in the future. The socio-cultural implications of ‘routine’ AMH testing in India urges us to be aware of similar implications in other cultural contexts. Trial registration number Not applicable

Coming Out as Transgender or Transitioning Genders

2017 ◽  
pp. 137-153
Author(s):  
Michael Corning
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Family Dynamics ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Social Stressors ◽  
Transgender People ◽  
The Media ◽  
Romantic Relationship Quality

In recent years, the transgender community has been gaining more awareness and visibility in research, the media, and sociocultural landscapes. Despite this, transgender individuals endure a vast range of personal problems that stem from larger social issues. This chapter will connect the psychological components of identity and the influences of social surroundings to the possible experiences of an individual who comes out as transgender or transitions genders. While many individuals may feel a strong sense of identity affirmation, the interpersonal relationships in his or her life may face a major transitional period as well. This is especially evident in romantic relationships and family dynamics. Outside social stressors or gender transitions could impact the romantic relationship quality and structure of transgender people. Likewise, with family dynamics, the level of family functioning could depend on whether the transgender family member is a parent or child. Conclusively, clinical implications and future directions towards building strong relationships will be explored.

Reconsidering Informed and Participatory Citizenship in the Current Media Ecosystem

2021 ◽  
pp. 87-110
Author(s):  
Maria Elizabeth Grabe ◽  
Ozen Bas
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Verbal Processing ◽  
Participatory Citizenship ◽  
Media Ecosystem ◽  
The Media ◽  
Memory Knowledge ◽  
The Way

The focus of this chapter is on how changes in the media landscape have forced the reconsideration of the way in which ‘memory’, ‘knowledge’, and ‘informed citizenship’ are understood, defined, and researched. Thus, for example, journalism needs to take account of the phenomenon of so-called news grazing (the active consumption of news by flipping through channels and skipping unwanted material) and that of incidental news exposure (unintended exposure to news when media users go online for non-news functions). Traditional views of informed citizenship (as simply acquiring appropriate facts and information) are challenged by calls to include applied understanding and comprehension of social issues and emotional responses to those issues. The chapter is critical of an excessive reliance on verbal tests of memory and stresses the need to develop visual measures, given that the human brain is better adapted for visual than verbal processing.

The Dress of Democracy: One Size Does Not Fit All

2020 ◽  
pp. 49-90
Author(s):  
Herman Wasserman
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Government Control ◽  
Media Freedom ◽  
Global North ◽  
The Media ◽  
Universal Truth ◽  
The Many ◽  
Normative Models ◽  
Increased Pressure

This chapter considers the link between media and democracy, which is often assumed to be a self-evident and universal truth. The chapter argues that the mismatch between normative models derived from the Global North and the lived realities in African societies is evident in many cases where media have failed to keep governments to account, where the media served sectional interests, and where media ethical norms imported from elsewhere did not adequately speak to African lived experiences. The chapter also notes the many cases of democratic regression in African societies, where the resurgence of authoritarian tendencies has increased pressure on media freedom and consequently on the ability of media to contribute to democratic debate and the deepening of democratic culture. The chapter uses Zimbabwe as an illustration of such repressive government control over the news media that has given rise to alternative forms of media.

scholarly journals “BUT WE ARE NOT POWERLESS AGAINST THIS PROBLEM”: OLDER PEOPLE, LONELINESS AND THE MEDIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S373-S374
Author(s):  
Mary Pat Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The Body ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Media Campaigns ◽  
Key Policy ◽  
The Media ◽  
Cultural Constructions

Abstract Media campaigns play a critical role in framing public perceptions or ‘public talk’ around social issues. The media’s role in characterizing the loneliness ‘problem’ is, however, an under explored area. This paper presents the language of loneliness and loneliness representations in the media in Canada and England over a 10-year period (2009-2018) and their relationship with key policy initiatives specific to an ageing population. Using qualitative content analysis, the findings illustrate the use of skilled marketing techniques and highly stigmatizing discourse. These media approaches act to: (1) reinforce the threat of an ageing population; (2) endorse responsibilization and governmentality of the body; and (3) promote individual and/or family shame and morally responsible actions by charities and volunteers. We conclude that there is a need for a critical analysis of loneliness from the perspective of social and cultural constructions of ageing, the positioning of older people in society, and neo-liberalist ideology

More Than an Old Flame: National Symbolism and the Media in the Torch Ceremony of the Olympics

2000 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
National Belonging ◽  
Political Expression ◽  
News Stories ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Media

This article explores the symbolism of the ceremonial torch relay and ceremony in the Olympics, and offers an analysis of its conduct in the Sydney Olympics, and its reporting in the media. The torch ceremony provides a striking example of what has been called ‘the invention of tradition’, which has undergone much adaptation from one Olympiad to another, in line with the cultural and sometimes political expression of the national identity of the host city. This article considers the symbols and values of national belonging built into the planning of the torch ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and by closely following the media coverage it was given, principally in the national press, shows how news stories were generated in the tension between these symbols and values, and the social issues of the day.

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