Mitigating Bias in Metadata

Controlled vocabularies used in cultural heritage organizations (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) are a helpful way to standardize terminology but can also result in misrepresentation or exclusion of systemically marginalized groups. Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is one example of a widely used yet problematic controlled vocabulary for subject headings. In some cases, systemically marginalized groups are creating controlled vocabularies that better reflect their terminology. When a widely used vocabulary like LCSH and a controlled vocabulary from a marginalized community are both available as linked data, it is possible to incorporate the terminology from the marginalized community as an overlay or replacement for outdated or absent terms from more widely used vocabularies. This paper provides a use case for examining how the Homosaurus, an LGBTQ+ linked data controlled vocabulary, can provide an augmented and updated search experience to mitigate bias within a system that only uses LCSH for subject headings.

The Utopian concept of free state in Gerald Vizenor’s The Heirs of Columbus: An anarchist study

The present research aims to explore the struggle of the marginalized community for a free nation, where individuals try to regain their culture. Gerald Vizenor’s The Heirs of Columbus has depicted their longing for survival and cultural liberty. Vizenor has tried to regain the voices of the Native people through trickster stories because these stories have a healing power. The analysis shows that Red-Indians in the late fifteen century were never uncivilized as portrayed by the Western historians and the protagonist resisted for the survival of their unique civilizations. The present research has highlighted that how anarchist spirit stimulated a nation to reclaim their lost culture and identity. Their resistance through anarchist principles leads them towards getting a free state, where every individual try to preserve their culture through trickster stories and moccasin games. The tribal people wanted to represent this state as an anarchist Communist state, where there will be no property and land theft. The people will be free from the burden of taxes and prisons. The study concludes with the suggestion to resist power with anarchist spirit of survivance. Future researches are suggested to focus on the theme of marginalization and its strategies in the present novel.

The Role & Strategies of Non Formal Education for Education Access to Marginalized Community

In Pakistan, about 22.8 million children of school going age are out of school which is very alarming situation and second highest number in the World. Major portion of these OOSCs belong to deprived, marginalized community of Pakistan. Although Pakistan has promised under article 25A to educate all the boys and girls age of school going children but this yet not to be meet due to financial constraints. So to fill this gap an alternative comprehensive system is needed. Non Formal Education is recognized and understood as cost effective and flexible system to fill this gap. In context of Pakistan, despite of recognition of NFE, it has not received due attention due to lack political interest. However, in last few years it is seen progress in this sector and a Non Formal Education Policies are developed at province level e.g. Punjab Non Formal Education Policy and Sindh Non Formal Education Policy. The aim of study was to explore the strategies of Non Formal Education for education access to underprivileged community and its effectiveness in Punjab. The research was conducted in 100 NFBE schools in three districts of Punjab. It was a Quantitative survey research to explore the strategies, and impact of NFBE schools on community. Random sampling technique was used to select the sample. Data was collected from officers, teachers, students and their parents. Data was collected through Questionnaires. It was found that NFE system was imparting cost effective, affordable, flexible, inclusive education at door step of deprived and marginalized community. It was recommended to allocate the more funds to scale up NFE system to cater the all OOSC. It was also recommended to amend and implement the Literacy Act 1987.

Critical Ethnography as an Archival Tool

Due to the limitations of existing archival theories and methodologies, there are few clear options that allow underrepresented and marginalized communities to represent themselves ethically, faithfully, and responsibly in their own voices in mainstream archival institutions. As a result, many of these communities lack knowledge and fundamental pedagogical resources about themselves and their history in Canada. Based on research from the author’s one-year master’s degree, this article uses a critical ethnographic framework and oral history interviews to understand the archival needs of a segment of the Afghan diaspora that has long been settled in Canada. The Afghan Canadian participants agreed that digital archives could provide a solution to the community’s dearth of knowledge and material about itself – its own histories and stories. The research demonstrates that a critical ethnographic framework can be applied as an instrument in the archives in order to understand the desires, identity-formation processes, and representations of a marginalized community to ensure faithful archival representation.

Determinants of severe acute malnutrition among under 5 children in Satar community of Jhapa, Nepal

Background Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most extreme and visible form of undernutrition plagued by chronic poverty, household food insecurity, lack of education. One of the indigenous and marginalized community of Nepal, Satar/Santhal has often been neglected and is devoid of good education and are economically deprived. This predisposes under 5 children of Satar into malnutrition. The study aims to assess determinants of SAM among children under 5 years of age in Satar community of Jhapa district, Nepal. Material & methods A community based matched case control study was carried from September 2019 to February 2020 among under five children of Satar community residing in Jhapa district. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 50 cases and 100 controls in the ratio of 1:2. Information was collected through personal interview with the parents and anthropometric measurement of the children was measured. Bivariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis was used to explore the determinants of severe acute malnutrition. Results A total of 664 children between the age group of 6–59 months were screened for SAM. The prevalence of SAM was found 7.53%. Factors like, low economic status, birth interval less than 2 years, frequency of breast feeding <8 times/day and household food insecurity were found to be significant determinants of SAM. Multivariate logistic regression documented low economic status (AOR: 11.14, 95% CI 1.42 to 87.46); and frequency of breast feeding <8 times/day (AOR: 2.09, 95% CI 1.00 to 4.37) as determinants of SAM. Conclusion Low economic status and frequency of breast feeding less than 8times/day were major determinants of SAM among children under 5yrs of age. Ending malnutrition will require greater efforts and integrated approaches to eradicate extreme poverty. Multi-sector approaches have been conducting for SAM in Nepal but there are no specific approaches for marginalized community.