LA MONSTRUOSIDAD FEMENINA EN LAS NARRADORAS FANTÁSTICAS ESPAÑOLAS DEL SIGLO XXI

El monstruo sigue siendo una figura esencial en la ficción fantástica, adaptándose a los nuevos miedos y deseos que se desarrollan en el seno de la cultura posmoderna. En las páginas que siguen voy a explorar algunas de las formas más renovadoras que toma la monstruosidad fantástica femenina en la obra de las narradoras españolas del siglo XXI: la madre monstruo, la experiencia de la maternidad como conflicto y la niña monstruo. Tres encarnaciones que demuestran no solo la pervivencia y funcionalidad del monstruo en la ficción fantástica actual de autoría femenina, sino su reactualización con el objetivo de denunciar los condicionantes culturales, sociales y políticos impuestos sobre la mujer, específicamente en lo referido a la experiencia de la maternidad, las estructuras familiares y el mundo infantil. Abstract: The monster remains an essential figure in fantastic fiction, adapting to the new fears and desires that develop within postmodern culture. In the pages that follow, I am going to explore some of the most innovative forms that the female fantastic monstrosity takes in the work of 21st Century Spanish female narrators: the monster mother, the experience of motherhood like conflict, and the monster girl. Three incarnations that show not only the survival and functionality of the monster in current fantastic fiction of female authorship, but its updating with the aim of denouncing the cultural, social and political conditioning factors imposed on women, specifically in relation to the experience of the motherhood, family structures and the world of children.

Women Objectification in Context of Pakistani Advertisements: Role of Personal Variables

The present study was conducted to investigate the role of personal factors on self-objectification that is encouraged by Pakistani advertisements. The objective of the study was to find out the differences in perception of women on Pakistani advertisement based on personal variables i.e. age, family structure, education and employment status. Convenience sampling technique and a sample of 430 unmarried women with the age bracket of 18 to 25 years were included in the study. The self-objectification was measured through the Self-Objectification-Trait Scale (Dahl, 2014). ANOVA analysis and t test were used through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v 21 for analysis. The findings indicated that there was no significant difference in self-objectification of women, under the influence of Pakistani advertisements, based on their ages and education levels. However, there was a significant difference in self-objectification of women, under the influence of Pakistani advertisements, based on their family structures and employment statuses. The study would contribute to further research to reduce the negative impact of self-objectification on young women.

COVID-19 Daily Realities for Families: A South African Sample

The COVID-19 pandemic affected families globally. Empirical research has been explored to understand the impact of COVID-19 on families across countries, however, there are limited findings of how COVID-19 has affected the daily realities of families in South Africa. This study used an exploratory qualitative research approach to explore the experiences of COVID-19 for South African families. Findings suggest that the negative outcomes of COVID-19 experienced by South African families included a shift in the daily routines, restrictions on family events, lack of socialization and loss of connections, family conflicts, financial constraints as well as psychological impacts. On the contrary, the positive outcomes included increased family time and communication, cleanliness, and good health status, and improved financial management. Implications for future research should include research focused on the health impacts of COVID-19 on diverse family structures, family compositions, and family dynamics. In-depth research and findings can assist in developing policies and interventions for families.

Human and Children’s Rights in the Context of Education and School Mediation

There is common understanding among the member states of the UN on Human and Children’s Rights and that everyone has a right to life, liberty, and security of person. Children are entitled to special care. Social changes caused by migration or armed conflicts affect families and may have negative consequences on children’s welfare. Violent family structures are often transported into the schools. Evidence on school mediation and conflict resolution programs between peers seems to be a good method to teach children how to resolve conflicts peacefully. This paper also researches how such programs can contribute to a more conflict-free society.

The Influence of Family Sports Attitude on Children’s Sports Participation, Screen Time, and Body Mass Index

Background: Children’s physical health is an important resource for a country’s future construction. However, researchers found that the physical fitness of young children around the world has declined during the two decades, from 1992 to 2012. The decline in the physique of young children has caused widespread concern around the world. Children’s main living places are families and kindergartens, so this research explores the impact of family factors on children’s body mass index (BMI) from the perspective of family attitudes, children’s sports participation, and screen time.Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to conduct a questionnaire survey of children in China. A total of 600 children were investigated, and 589 valid questionnaires were obtained. SPSS21.0 statistical analysis software was used for descriptive analysis, mean comparison, and correlation analysis of the data. AMOS 21.0 was used to construct a structural equation model and carry out path analysis.Results: (1) There are significant differences in children’s family sports attitude, sports participation, screen time, and BMI with different family structures, and parents’ education levels. (2) Family sports attitude is significantly positively correlated with parents’ education levels and children’s sports participation, and negatively correlated with children’s screen time and BMI. (3) Children’s sports participation and screen time play a chain-mediating role between family sports attitude and children’s BMI, and the role is a complete mediating role. Therefore, family sports attitudes can affect children’s physical health by affecting children’s sports participation and screen time. To promote children’s physical health, we should pay attention to the intervention of family sports attitude. (4) The mediating effects of exercise participation and screen time are similar in different family structures, so the structure of this study can be applied to different family structures.Conclusions: Children’s family sports attitude, sports participation, and screen time can affect children’s BMI. Children’s screen time and sports participation play a chain-mediating role in the influence of family sports attitudes on the path of children’s BMI. The results of this study will provide a useful reference for teachers and parents to control children’s physical health.

Socio-economic analysis of Baroda branch canal of Som Kamla Amba irrigation project, Dungarpur, Rajasthan

Irrigation system development results in improvements of farmers' economy, followed by livelihood sustainability, standard of living and social attitude. Present analysis focused on socio-economic status of farming families in the command area of Baroda Branch Canal of Som Kamla Amba Irrigation Project. The study considered survey sampling of 10 per cent beneficiaries in the Baroda branch canal command which consisted 150 farming families having 787 persons in numbers. The socio-economic indicators viz., the family structures, employment pattern, education status, livestock ownership, farm asset distribution, cost of cultivation, and cost of returns were analysed. Results indicated that education and living standards are of farmers was low which may be one of the reasons for not adoption of newly farming technologies. Cost of cultivation per hectare for wheat, barley, gram, and mustard crops were found as Rs. 28,503.00, Rs. 26,727.00, Rs. 21,184.00 and Rs. 21,697.00, respectively and net benefits per hectare obtained from these crops were Rs. 13,297, Rs. 13,023, Rs. 14,416 and Rs. 18,303, respectively. The pattern of ownership of livestock showed that the average number of cows in the command area was about 1.97 per family. The productivity in the area is average due to low inputs use.

Gendered Diverging Destinies: Changing Family Structures and the Reproduction of Educational Inequalities Among Sons and Daughters in the United States

The prevalence of nontraditional family structures has increased over time, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged families. Because children's socioeconomic attainments are positively associated with growing up in a two-parent household, changing family structures are considered to have strengthened the reproduction of social inequalities across generations. However, several studies have shown that childhood family structure relates differently to educational outcomes for sons than for daughters. Therefore, we ask whether there are gender differences in the extent to which changing family structures have contributed to the college attainment gap between children from lower and higher socioeconomic backgrounds. We use data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 and 1997 cohorts to estimate extended Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition models that take into account cross-cohort changes in the prevalence of family structures and heterogeneity in the effects of childhood family structure on college attainment. We find that the argument that changes in family structures contributed to diverging destinies in college attainment holds for daughters but not for sons. This result is due to the different changes over time in the effects of childhood family structure by gender and socioeconomic background.

The Opioid Epidemic and Children's Living Arrangements in the United States, 2000-2018

The opioid epidemic has had devastating effects for the health and wellbeing of the U.S. population. However, we know little about how it has affected the structure of families where children are raised. Using the 5 percent sample of the 2000 Census, 2005-2018 American Community Survey (ACS) data and restricted Vital Statistics we assess the effect of the opioid epidemic at the local level on the rates of children living under different types of family arrangements: two married parents, two cohabiting parents, mother only, father only, or another configuration. Local fixed-effects models show that a greater intensity of the opioid epidemic, as measured by a higher opioid-overdose death rate, is associated with a lower rate of children living with two married parents, and a higher rate of children living with two cohabiting parents, with only a father, and with adults other than their parents. The opioid epidemic appears to increase the rates of children living in family structures that tend to be less stable, which has potential long term implications for the wellbeing of future generations.

A Family Systems Perspective of Elder Family Financial Exploitation: Examining Family Context Profiles

Objective: Informed by Family Systems Theory, this study examines the interwoven nature of intergenerational family structures and roles in which elder family financial exploitation (EFFE) takes place. Method: Data from a mixed-methods study were utilized to examine patterns of family structures and roles within and across 23 family systems. Participants were non-perpetrator/non-victim concerned family members (CFMs) who had experienced EFFE. Results: Four family context profiles were identified, organized by the number and roles of victim(s) and perpetrator(s) in each family system, including: Single victim, Single perpetrator; Single victim, Multiple perpetrators; Two victims, Single perpetrator; and Two victims, Multiple perpetrators. It is possible for multiple perpetrators to be involved, with up to five perpetrators across three generations in our sample. Discussion: Findings offer insight into the range of intergenerational family structures and roles affected by EFFE. Practitioners are encouraged to understand and address family contexts to improve EFFE intervention outcomes.