Social Sciences

20 pages, 444 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Constructing Agency in the Climate Crisis: Rhetoric of Addressing the Crisis in Social Studies Textbooks

by Henri Satokangas and Pia Mikander

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070344 - 27 Jun 2024

The climate crisis is an urgent issue that requires immediate and significant international action and is tightly connected to several other global problems such as biodiversity loss, economic inequality, and countercurrents to democracy. Therefore, enabling the construction of an agentive role in relation [...] Read more.

The climate crisis is an urgent issue that requires immediate and significant international action and is tightly connected to several other global problems such as biodiversity loss, economic inequality, and countercurrents to democracy. Therefore, enabling the construction of an agentive role in relation to the crisis is a crucial task for education. According to the national core curriculum, Finnish social studies teaching should aim for active democratic citizenship. The article analyses the linguistic construction of agency in relation to climate issues in social studies textbooks from a discursive perspective, examining the rhetoric of positioning and addressing the reader as an active agent. The article draws an overall image of agency regarding the climate in textbooks and examines its implications. Four categories of orienting to the crisis and constructing agency in relation to it are identified: (1) constructing agency against the crisis; (2) stating the unsustainable nature of the current system; (3) enlisting ways of making an impact in general; and (4) representing the absence of crisis. Based on the findings, this article suggests that textbooks do not fully utilise their status as a forum for imaging our capacity to act to stop the climate crisis and, therefore, fall short of the goals set in the curriculum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Community and Urban Sociology)

24 pages, 393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Creating Mentally Healthy Universities: Lessons from Staff Experiences of Transition through the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Michelle Jayman and Siobhan Lynam

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 343; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070343 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 64

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic generated unprecedented challenges for educators world-wide. University teaching staff were forced to rapidly adapt to virtual classrooms during lockdown and the return to campus has seen continuing flux. Poor student mental wellbeing is a major concern and although nascent digital [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic generated unprecedented challenges for educators world-wide. University teaching staff were forced to rapidly adapt to virtual classrooms during lockdown and the return to campus has seen continuing flux. Poor student mental wellbeing is a major concern and although nascent digital mental health interventions can increase reach and augment in-person services, research on the effectiveness of digital interventions is still in its infancy. The implementation of hybrid solutions is challenging due to the complexity and diversity of institutions; however, important lessons can be learned from the switch to online teaching and the integration of digital technologies during the transition process. This paper explores staff experiences of transition through the pandemic using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three teaching academics from English universities. Analysis yielded four group experiential themes: Transition was a traumatic process; Relationships as a source of support and strain; Opportunities for learning and growth; and Surviving and inspiring the mental wellbeing environment. Key findings revealed the switch to online working presented unique stressors, while relationships were pivotal for navigating transition and healthy personal development. Findings can inform transition guidance including the integration of hybrid pathways to support mental wellbeing for the whole learning community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technological and Digital Interventions for Mental Health and Wellbeing: Useful, Usable, and Safe?)

19 pages, 3818 KiB

Open AccessReview

Research Landscape on Hidden Workers in Aging Populations: Bibliometric Review

by Sora Lee and Woojin Kang

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070342 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 90

Abstract

In this study, we employ ‘hidden workers’ as a key concept to integrate the three vulnerable subgroups of aging workers: underemployed, unemployed, and discouraged workers. (1) Background: The challenges faced by underemployed, unemployed, and discouraged workers in the older population are complex. It [...] Read more.

In this study, we employ ‘hidden workers’ as a key concept to integrate the three vulnerable subgroups of aging workers: underemployed, unemployed, and discouraged workers. (1) Background: The challenges faced by underemployed, unemployed, and discouraged workers in the older population are complex. It would be beneficial to visualize the intellectual landscape of these three distinct groups in aging populations to understand which aspects have been highlighted by various disciplines and where gaps exist. (2) Method: Through a scientometric analysis of more than 50 years of research, this study identified the size, scope, and structure of knowledge on hidden workers in an aging population using 2831 articles collected from the Web of Science database in January 2024. (3) Results: Indeed, the multidisciplinary nature of hidden workers goes beyond welfare and labor economics and involves issues such as health, occupational science, behavior change, policy interventions, and circles around the keyword of unemployment. Keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analysis confirm that the spectrum of research on hidden workers is being carried out distinctly within distinct disciplines across the broader aging research horizon. (4) Conclusions: The relatively scattered and uneven intellectual, conceptual, and social landscape of research on hidden workers in aging populations evidently falls short of providing concerted policy recommendations for the population group. This study provides a conceptual understanding of hidden workers in different research clusters and identifies gaps and opportunities for future research. Full article

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19 pages, 5154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Senior Citizens’ Participation in Social Organizations

by Marcelo Piña-Morán, Carlos Martínez-Matamala, Ricardo Iacub, María G. Olivo-Viana, Verónica Rubio-Aguilar and Luis M. Torres-Fuentes

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070341 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 129

Abstract

The present study follows Chilean older persons’ social participation in organizations. The methodology used corresponds to the data delivery period from the National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN), where the samples used are 2003 (n = 257,077), 2009 (n = 246,924), 2011 [...] Read more.

The present study follows Chilean older persons’ social participation in organizations. The methodology used corresponds to the data delivery period from the National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN), where the samples used are 2003 (n = 257,077), 2009 (n = 246,924), 2011 (n = 200,302), 2015 (n = 266,968), and 2017 (n = 216,439). The data were processed using SPSS statistical software (version 27.0) for a descriptive analysis of the data and variable crossing, along with a comparison based on presenting the data in maps via QGis geographical software (3.36.6 version). The main finding of the present study is that while social participation in organizations continues a cross-sectional downward trend across Chilean population age groups, there are still good indicators among elderly people, determining non-participation profiles for public policy implementation. Some determinants for participation in this age group above the rest of the population may be due to improved health conditions, more free time after retirement, and cultural determinants inciting active participation in society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Community and Urban Sociology)

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14 pages, 474 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Flexibility on Digital Platform-Mediated Work in Five Ibero-American Countries

by Sonia Maria Guedes Gondim, Laila Carneiro, Valentina Viego, Erico Rentería-Pérez, Diana Cifuentes-Leiton, Daniela Moscon, Elisa Ansoleaga and Esteban Agulló-Tomás

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070340 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 155

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize digital platform-based work arrangements in regard to their degrees of flexibility and their effects on professional achievement, balance between pros and cons, and perception of risk. A survey was conducted with platform-based workers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, [...] Read more.

This study aimed to characterize digital platform-based work arrangements in regard to their degrees of flexibility and their effects on professional achievement, balance between pros and cons, and perception of risk. A survey was conducted with platform-based workers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Spain (e.g., transport, care and cleaning, content production, and house renting). Two thousand and forty-eight workers contacted through social networks and unions participated. Based on the factorial analysis, we propose a flexibility index covering five dimensions (contractual agreement, working hours, workplace, remuneration, and union ties). After controlling for covariates, the flexibility index was used in a regression to measure its effects on professional achievement, the balance of pros and cons, and risk perception. The digital workers with the highest flexibility scores worked in transportation and the trade of goods and services. Flexibility reduces professional achievement when the worker accesses platform jobs due to a lack of alternatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Work, Employment and the Labor Market)

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26 pages, 729 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Coal Phase-Out in Germany and Its Regional Impact on Economic Worries

by Daniel Baron and Walter Bartl

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070339 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 199

Abstract

Market-driven closures of coal mines have typically been associated with negative economic consequences for the affected regions. In Germany, structural policy directed towards ameliorating the negative effects of hard coal decline in the Ruhr area lagged behind the onset of decline, caused major [...] Read more.

Market-driven closures of coal mines have typically been associated with negative economic consequences for the affected regions. In Germany, structural policy directed towards ameliorating the negative effects of hard coal decline in the Ruhr area lagged behind the onset of decline, caused major political conflicts, and has been variously criticized for its reactive character that failed to generate a positive image of the future. The phase-out of lignite coal in Germany, in contrast, is policy-driven and accompanied from the outset by compensatory and investment policies that strive to facilitate regional structural change proactively. Against this backdrop, we investigate how the policies of lignite coal phase-out initiated in 2018 and the accompanying public discourse affect the economic worries of individuals in the remaining three lignite coal mining areas in Germany. We focus on the period 2016–2021, using a longitudinal multilevel design based on regional and individual data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). Overall, probabilities of strong economic worries decrease throughout the observed period. Results show that subjective economic worries do not significantly differ between residents of lignite mining regions and those in the rest of the country. Further robustness analyses confirm that the coal phase-out policy has not increased economic uncertainties in the populations of German lignite mining regions. Based on our results, we discuss the need for future research on the effects of policy designs of clean energy transitions on subjective perceptions of the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Development Dynamics and Their Social, Economic and Political Consequences)

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13 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preventive Healthcare Utilization among Asian Americans in the U.S.: Testing the Institute of Medicine’s Model of Access to Healthcare

by Siryung Lee, Hyunwoo Yoon, Soondool Chung, Yuri Jang and Mitra Naseh

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070338 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 200

Abstract

The current research, guided by the intersectionality theory and the Institute of Medicine’s healthcare access model, explored the determinants of preventive care utilization within the Asian American community. Analyzing data from the Asian American Quality of Life Survey (with a sample size of [...] Read more.

The current research, guided by the intersectionality theory and the Institute of Medicine’s healthcare access model, explored the determinants of preventive care utilization within the Asian American community. Analyzing data from the Asian American Quality of Life Survey (with a sample size of 2535), logistic regression models were employed, incorporating various factors: demographic variables, immigration-related variables, health and access, and patient–provider relationship. Results revealed that longer stays in the U.S., having health insurance coverage, having a usual source of care, and higher satisfaction levels with prior healthcare services were associated with increased odds of utilizing preventive healthcare. These findings contribute to our comprehension of preventive care utilization among Asian Americans and offer practical insights for targeted interventions in social work and public health and strategic healthcare planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Migration, Health and Equity)

26 pages, 568 KiB

Open AccessArticle

440 Sex Workers Cannot Be Wrong: Engaging and Negotiating Online Platform Power

by Samantha Majic, Melissa Ditmore and Jun Li

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070337 (registering DOI) - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 376

Abstract

Online platforms shape and facilitate our social, economic, and political activities. Sex workers have long pioneered their use for advertising, providing services, screening clients, collecting payments, and peer-interaction, among other activities. To learn more about the platforms sex workers use and how they [...] Read more.

Online platforms shape and facilitate our social, economic, and political activities. Sex workers have long pioneered their use for advertising, providing services, screening clients, collecting payments, and peer-interaction, among other activities. To learn more about the platforms sex workers use and how they engage and resist platforms’ power, we consider the following questions: How and to what extent do sex workers engage with online platforms? How do these platforms’ policies and practices shape the conditions of their work? And, how do sex workers negotiate these platforms’ power? Drawing on data from a national survey of 440 sex workers, developed in partnership with sex workers across the United States, we found that sex workers use a range of online platforms for their work. However, platform policies and practices often remove and/or limit sex workers’ access, thereby restricting their ability to earn income and also compromising their safety, and these effects stratify along the lines of race, gender, and ability. Sex workers respond to and resist platforms’ policies through various pre-emptive and pro-active actions. Our study expands the existing research on sex work and online platforms, particularly to illuminate the consequences of corporate-led platform policy development and implementation for marginalized workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Work, Employment and the Labor Market)

17 pages, 364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rethinking International Scholarships as Peace Interventions in the Palestinian Context of Conflict

by Anas N. Almassri

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070336 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 227

Abstract

International education scholarships can be significant interventions at times of conflict and peace. Extant research in International Relations and in International Education begins to demonstrate this significance but predominantly in neo-liberal terms of human capital import, North-facing cosmopolitanism, and Western-style democratization and global [...] Read more.

International education scholarships can be significant interventions at times of conflict and peace. Extant research in International Relations and in International Education begins to demonstrate this significance but predominantly in neo-liberal terms of human capital import, North-facing cosmopolitanism, and Western-style democratization and global (economic) integration. This is valuable framing, but it misses more complex political effects of scholarships as conflict and peace interventions. This paper presents empirical evidence illuminating the need for a broader ontology in researching the potential contribution of scholarships to peace. The paper draws on qualitative data collected from 32 Palestinian scholarship alumni and alumnae, sampling a national group nowhere to be found in scholarly or policy works dealing with international education and conflict/peace. Developed through a critical realist thematic analysis of the collected data, the experiential findings reported here show strong perceived gains in the research participants’ critical reflexivization and domestic and global (re)socialization of their sense of national identity and awareness. An interdisciplinary discussion of these gains demonstrates that scholarships may represent deep and significant advocacy and capacity-building interventions in the contexts of conflict, with these interventions spanning the humanitarian, development, and, to a lesser extent, political spheres. The discussion is concluded with a reflection on the methodological-conceptual challenge these findings outline to framing international education impacts in only neo-liberal terms. Overall, this paper contributes a timely Global South perspective to inform critical thought and practice of international scholarships for Palestinians and other conflict-affected groups/nations. Full article

16 pages, 298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unlearning Communication for Social Change—A Pedagogical Proposition

by Thomas Tufte

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070335 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 207

Abstract

We have in recent years seen growing calls for pedagogies for social change amongst communication and development scholars, identifying resistances, critiques, and emerging practices in the field. This review article addresses this ‘pedagogical turn’, suggesting that it is in these pedagogies we can [...] Read more.

We have in recent years seen growing calls for pedagogies for social change amongst communication and development scholars, identifying resistances, critiques, and emerging practices in the field. This review article addresses this ‘pedagogical turn’, suggesting that it is in these pedagogies we can see the pathways to unlearn and relearn communication for social change. Offering a decolonial analytical lens, this article asks two questions: What characterizes these critical pedagogies? And how can the various pedagogies contribute to unlearning and relearning the field of communication and social change? This article is structured in five parts, first offering a review of key critiques articulated within the field of communication and social development in the past two decades, arguing that, in practice, what we are seeing is the organic development of a pluriverse of knowledges, values, and visions of society. Secondly, it proposes the decolonial term of ‘unlearning’ as a pedagogical pathway and epistemological ambition for the production and recognition of a pluriverse of knowledges, thereby challenging dominant perceptions of society and social change. Thirdly, it introduces a model of analysis which structures ways whereby we can think about monocultures and ecologies in relation to a range of dimensions of the pluriverse. Fourthly, it reviews key critical pedagogies, discussing how they address epistemic injustice both in broader societal contexts as well as in the university space. This article concludes by discussing how the process of unlearning through critical pedagogies has implications for the configuration and definition of the field of communication and social change, suggesting three areas for further research: ways of seeing (positionality), new subject positions (relationality), and new design processes (transition). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reconceptualising Communication for Development: A Critical Appraisal of the Field)

16 pages, 421 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Methodological Challenges: From the First to the Second Wave of the World Love Index

by Silvia Cataldi, Federica Floridi and Marco Palmieri

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070334 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 160

Abstract

This article is methodological in nature, addressing and discussing the challenges the research team encountered in constructing a new international well-being index called the World Love Index. This index represents the first quantitative operationalization of the concept of Social Love, which seeks to [...] Read more.

This article is methodological in nature, addressing and discussing the challenges the research team encountered in constructing a new international well-being index called the World Love Index. This index represents the first quantitative operationalization of the concept of Social Love, which seeks to capture actions or social relationships characterized by excess and care for the benefit of individuals outside the primary circle, loved for their irreducibility. Starting with a discussion of the project’s objective rooted in the Beyond GDP debate, the article first analyzes the theoretical definition of Social Love and its semantic dimensions for operationalization. It then focuses on the methodological construction of the index through secondary data analysis, particularly examining the transition from the first wave to the second wave. Through the first wave of the WLI, this concept was systematically investigated on a transnational level. However, the first wave faced criticism for its weaknesses due to decisions made during the index’s construction. This paper, from a purely methodological perspective, demonstrates how the second wave of the WLI aims to address these challenges and turn them into strengths. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalyzing Change: Social Love, Emotions and Transformations of Social Relationships)

11 pages, 464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions among Community Members of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province

by Azwinndini Gladys Mudau, Bumani Solomon Manganye, Shonisani Elizabeth Tshivhase, Ntsieni Stella Mashau, Takalani Grace Tshitangano, Hlekani Vanessa Mbhatsani, Selekane Motadi, Brenda Baloyi, Anzani Mugware, Zwivhuya Patience Mudau, Rachel Lebese and Lindelani Fhumudzani Mushaphi

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070333 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 679

Abstract

The mental well-being of many community members was seriously impacted by COVID-19, with some experiencing the loss of loved ones and others losing jobs due to lockdown-related company cutbacks. There is evidence indicating that many people faced challenges in accessing essential services, including [...] Read more.

The mental well-being of many community members was seriously impacted by COVID-19, with some experiencing the loss of loved ones and others losing jobs due to lockdown-related company cutbacks. There is evidence indicating that many people faced challenges in accessing essential services, including healthcare. This study aimed at investigating the effects of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions among community members of the Vhembe District, in Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative, exploratory design was used for this study. Data were collected from 54 participants through nine focus group interviews with six participants each. This study identified two main themes originating from data analysis: community mental health during COVID-19 lockdown, lockdown regulations, and challenges encountered. The participants discussed the impact of COVID-19 during lockdown. This research underscores the vital necessity of implementing harm reduction strategies and long-term service policies for this group. It also emphasizes the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion in upholding the rights of marginalized populations. Full article

24 pages, 496 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Exploring the Nature of Diversity Dishonesty within Predominantly White Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Public Health at the Most Highly Selective and Highly Ranked U.S. Universities

by Darrell Norman Burrell

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070332 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 180

Abstract

The concept of “diversity dishonesty” has emerged as a pressing concern within highly selective and highly ranked schools of medicine, pharmacy, and public health at elite and highly ranked U.S. universities, particularly in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This [...] Read more.

The concept of “diversity dishonesty” has emerged as a pressing concern within highly selective and highly ranked schools of medicine, pharmacy, and public health at elite and highly ranked U.S. universities, particularly in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This phenomenon, defined as a lack of sincerity and genuineness in an organization’s commitment to genuine and measurable change regarding diversity, raises significant questions about the authenticity of their endeavors. Organizations often engage in surface-level or performative actions related to diversity, creating the illusion of progress and dedication while failing to enact substantive and meaningful advancements in promoting diversity and inclusivity. This applied research inquiry uses a review of literature, research theories, and research frameworks to delve into the nuanced dynamics of diversity dishonesty, exploring how organizations demonstrate a commitment in form but not in substance. The practice of tokenism, where diverse individuals are hired and prominently featured in organizational materials but are not genuinely valued, emerges as a defining characteristic of diversity dishonesty. Moreover, when questions regarding the authenticity of their commitment arise, organizations may resort to gaslighting minorities, further exacerbating the issue. Recognizing the critical need to address diversity dishonesty, this article comprehensively explores frameworks to understand and combat this phenomenon. It seeks to engage with viable theories, problem-solving approaches, and contextual models that can illuminate the complex interplay of factors contributing to diversity dishonesty. By shedding light on the mechanisms through which elite and highly ranked predominantly White schools of medicine, pharmacy, and public health engage in performative acts without enacting transformative cultural change, this research aims to pave the way for more genuine and impactful DEI efforts and future research in this area. Full article

17 pages, 1063 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conducting Research with Unaccompanied Refugee Minors within an Institutional Context: Challenges and Insights

by Cristina Santinho and Olga Krysanova

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070331 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 179

Abstract

The main goal of this paper is to explore the difficulties the refugee minors face in the process of seeking inclusion in Portugal. The project conducting this research takes place in a shelter for refugee minors in Portugal, and its inhabitants are the [...] Read more.

The main goal of this paper is to explore the difficulties the refugee minors face in the process of seeking inclusion in Portugal. The project conducting this research takes place in a shelter for refugee minors in Portugal, and its inhabitants are the main focus of the analysis. The research is guided by Applied Anthropology which means that, in methodological terms, we use active listening, participant observation, and artistic workshops in drawing and photography in order to get to know them better and establish a closer relationship with the minors. Our interlocutors are refugee minors, boys and girls, aged between 15 and 18, who have been institutionalized by an NGOD responsible for hosting them in Portugal while they await their residence permit. These minors are characterized by a diversity of nationalities, socio-cultural and ethnolinguistic references and different life projects. The artistic focus (drawing and photography) is explored as a non-invasive methodology, a tool that best helps to express emotions, perceptions and desires in a creative and uncompromising way. We chose to focus our analysis not on the traumatic past, as is usually the case when it comes to refugees, but on the future. In other words: we invite these minors to think about their future, what they want for themselves in Portugal and the European Union. As we discuss our difficulties of conducting fieldwork in the institutionalized context, we conclude the article with the idea that working with refugee minors in that environment should not be an end in and of itself, but rather an opportunity to do more profound research. This investigation should continue, preferably outside the institutional gates, on a more personalized basis. As a practical goal, we also propose the idea of organizing an exhibition with the results of the workshops to facilitate the two-way process of inclusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Inclusion of Children, Youth and Families from Refugee and Migrant Backgrounds)

17 pages, 528 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Study of Gender-Based Violence through a Narrative Approach: Evidence from the European Project IMPROVE

by Lorea Romero Gutierrez, Ainhoa Izaguirre Choperena and María López Belloso

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070330 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 154

Abstract

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) remains largely under-reported and under-detected. The European project IMPROVE seeks to identify the needs of victims in terms of facilitating their access to support services and to assist frontline responder organisations in enhancing their competencies and capabilities to make [...] Read more.

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) remains largely under-reported and under-detected. The European project IMPROVE seeks to identify the needs of victims in terms of facilitating their access to support services and to assist frontline responder organisations in enhancing their competencies and capabilities to make the most of innovative solutions that enable and accelerate policy implementation. Methods: To meet these goals, IMPROVE uses narrative interviews, understood as unstructured tools that produce and analyse stories that are significant in people’s lives. These interviews provide the space for re-thinking; there is a reflection on implicit and taken-for-granted norms and insights are given into the life and thoughts of vulnerable groups, in this case, the women victim-survivors of GBV. Results: This methodological approach has led to high-quality interviews in which the women involved have felt comfortable, confident, and satisfied, as evidenced by the depth, complexity, and extension of the knowledge generated, and the commitment of the interviewees to the various activities proposed by the researchers. Conclusions: The narrative approach has allowed for a sensitive investigation into the private lives of GBV victim-survivors and, as a consequence, has contributed to the creation of new knowledge that can provide an in-depth and incisive view of the help offered by frontline responder organisations, from which improvements can be proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 8th World Conference on Qualitative Research)

16 pages, 2259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding Factors Affecting Fishers’ Wellbeing in the U.S. Virgin Islands through the Lens of Heuristic Modelling

by Tarsila Seara and Richard Pollnac

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070329 - 24 Jun 2024

Viewed by 264

Abstract

Ongoing efforts to improve U.S. Caribbean fisheries management include increased consideration for human dimensions data and increased stakeholder input and engagement. Given the significant pressure that the local fisheries have sustained due to environmental degradation, climate change, storms and hurricanes, and overharvesting, combined [...] Read more.

Ongoing efforts to improve U.S. Caribbean fisheries management include increased consideration for human dimensions data and increased stakeholder input and engagement. Given the significant pressure that the local fisheries have sustained due to environmental degradation, climate change, storms and hurricanes, and overharvesting, combined with the critical data gaps that exist in both natural and human dimensions, it becomes particularly important to understand fishers’ perceptions and aspects influencing them to promote efforts that will maximize the wellbeing of these social-ecological systems. In this study, data collected through surveys with fishers in the U.S. Virgin Islands were used to develop a correlation model to test relationships between variables using a heuristic model, the Anthropic Impact Assessment Model (AIAM) as the basis. Findings support the application of heuristic models, such as the AIAM, to develop hypotheses and test relationships to understand complex fishery social-ecological systems. The most significant findings with implications for decision making in the region include support for considering fishers’ wellbeing as an indicator of ecosystem health and for using fishers’ local ecological knowledge in the management process, particularly under data-poor conditions, for information that can be used to better target outreach and education efforts, as well as more effective recovery plans to promote resilience and adaptation to environmental change, including the impacts of natural disasters. Results of this study and future analyses using similar approaches can be used to guide the incorporation of human dimensions data into the decision-making process in the U.S. Caribbean and elsewhere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anthropological Reflections on Crisis and Disaster)

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3 pages, 168 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

International Counter-Trafficking: A Zero-Sum Game?—Introduction to the Special Issue

by Mara Clemente

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070328 - 24 Jun 2024

Viewed by 241

Abstract

“Human trafficking” is widely described as a matter of concern [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue International Counter-Trafficking: A Zero-Sum Game?)

27 pages, 2193 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crises, Opportunities, and the Evolution of Greece’s Growth Model in the EMU

by Dimitris Katsikas

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070327 - 21 Jun 2024

Viewed by 284

Abstract

Greece’s entry into the Eurozone was regarded as a unique opportunity to reform the country’s inefficient growth model. These hopes were dashed as the decade-long crisis of the 2010s wiped out a substantial part of the wealth accumulated during the previous decades and [...] Read more.

Greece’s entry into the Eurozone was regarded as a unique opportunity to reform the country’s inefficient growth model. These hopes were dashed as the decade-long crisis of the 2010s wiped out a substantial part of the wealth accumulated during the previous decades and threatened the stability of Greece’s political system. The crisis highlighted the weaknesses of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); the economic governance agreed upon at Maastricht was inadequate to support a monetary union comprising many, widely diverse economies. On the other hand, given the EMU’s economic and institutional architecture, Greece was ill-prepared and unwilling to undertake the necessary adjustments to survive in the Eurozone. Understanding the economic and political aspects of this dual and mutually reinforcing failure is crucial for analyzing the challenges facing the Greek economy. In this article, we take a long-term view of the evolution of Greece’s political economy, adopting a framework inspired by the recent literature on comparative political economy. The aim is to determine whether Greece’s EMU membership affected its growth model and, if so, in what ways. The analysis shows that EMU membership has been crucial for the performance of the Greek economy during different periods but less so for the transformation of its demand-led growth model, which exhibits remarkable stability. This is because neither the ex ante nor the ex post conditionality imposed on Greece in the run-up to EMU entry and during the 2010s crisis, respectively, focused on the structural features of the Greek growth model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparative Political Economy in Europe)

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10 pages, 254 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Evolution of the Olympic Movement: Adapting to Contemporary Global Challenges

by Yannis Theodorakis, Konstantinos Georgiadis and Mary Hassandra

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(7), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070326 - 21 Jun 2024

Viewed by 278

Abstract

This paper explores the diverse impact of the Olympic Movement on society, emphasizing core values like ‘excellence’, ‘friendship’, and ‘respect’. Traditionally, the Olympic Movement actively promotes global sport through initiatives such as Olympic education programs, instilling moral dimensions, cultural values, and essential life [...] Read more.

This paper explores the diverse impact of the Olympic Movement on society, emphasizing core values like ‘excellence’, ‘friendship’, and ‘respect’. Traditionally, the Olympic Movement actively promotes global sport through initiatives such as Olympic education programs, instilling moral dimensions, cultural values, and essential life skills. Recent Olympic Games are scrutinized for their organizers’ focus on safety, pandemic management, environmental sustainability, and gender equality. This paper addresses crucial policy options, spanning human rights, social inclusion through sport, and the pervasive issue of inactivity affecting public health. Noteworthy successes in leveraging sports for refugees and combating substance use disorders are discussed, alongside joint efforts by the World Health Organization and the International Olympic Committee, to combat inactivity and promote health through sports. Exploration of gender equality in the Olympic Movement recognizes challenges and suggests actions, including increasing female participation and addressing sexual harassment. The intersection of sports, climate change, and environmental responsibility is examined, with a focus on the ambitious ‘climate-positive’ goals of the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, since most of the IOC actions are rather symbolic and not substantial, many organizations are called upon to take active initiatives. Actionable recommendations urge countries to prioritize physical activity policies, organize exercise programs, and collaborate across sectors for health and environmental sustainability. The Olympic Games should focus on promoting mass sports participation, fostering positive attitudes, enhancing public health through sports, education, peace, and societal values, advocating for a holistic approach that champions ethical values, and promoting Olympic education to build a better world through sports. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Contested Terrain of Sport: Sociological, Political and Policy Perspectives)

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Soc. Sci., Volume 13, Issue 7 (July 2024) – 19 articles

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