Social Sciences

13 pages, 256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Mel Duffy and Tanya Ní Mhuirthile

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090442 (registering DOI) - 24 Aug 2024

Hermeneutic phenomenology’s aim is to bring forth that which needs to be thought about. It is an invitation to think. To articulate thinking, one needs to listen in the corners and the shadows of the lived experience(s) of the phenomenon being investigated. The [...] Read more.

Hermeneutic phenomenology’s aim is to bring forth that which needs to be thought about. It is an invitation to think. To articulate thinking, one needs to listen in the corners and the shadows of the lived experience(s) of the phenomenon being investigated. The method simultaneously holds numerous perspectives and adopts an embodied approach to embracing experiential knowledge. This paper explores the power of hermeneutical phenomenology, as a methodological approach for understanding what it means to be intersex. Intersex people have bodies that are born different to typical male-female ones. Intersex is an umbrella term that includes more than thirty ways the human body may differ according to its sex characteristics (i.e., genitalia, hormones, chromosomes, sex organs). From interviews with intersex people, we confirm that employing a hermeneutic phenomenological approach did not just answer our research questions, but also became a powerful and empowering means through which some participants were effectively able to navigate, share and ‘own’ their personal story. Indeed, the method’s person-centred and ethical underpinnings permitted some to engage in the research in ways that became empowering and transformational. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from Centring Intersex: Global and Local Dimensions—International Conference)

16 pages, 275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Honneth’s Theory of Recognition and Material Poverty

by Gottfried Schweiger

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 441; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090441 (registering DOI) - 24 Aug 2024

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Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of poverty and recognition theory, grounded in Axel Honneth’s framework, to offer a novel perspective on poverty as a multifaceted social phenomenon. It argues that poverty should be understood not only as a lack of material resources but [...] Read more.

This paper explores the intersection of poverty and recognition theory, grounded in Axel Honneth’s framework, to offer a novel perspective on poverty as a multifaceted social phenomenon. It argues that poverty should be understood not only as a lack of material resources but also as a significant deficit in social recognition, encompassing respect and social esteem. By situating poverty within the institutionalized order of recognition, the paper highlights how poverty both stems from and contributes to a lack of recognition, leading to social exclusion, shame, and stigmatization. The theoretical approach is complemented by selected empirical studies that illustrate the lived experiences of poverty, emphasizing the emotional and psychological impacts that extend beyond material deprivation. While the paper advances the theoretical understanding of poverty, it also identifies gaps in the current research, particularly the need for more empirical studies to substantiate these claims. Future research could expand upon these insights through cross-cultural studies and empirical investigations that further explore the connection between recognition and poverty. This work lays the groundwork for a deeper exploration of poverty as a social phenomenon that transcends economic metrics, advocating for a more holistic approach to poverty research. Full article

15 pages, 540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Concerted Community Engagement: Refugee Education and Parents’ Daily Acts of Resistance

by Celia Reddick

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090440 - 23 Aug 2024

Viewed by 159

Abstract

Around the world, millions of young people and their families navigate education in settings of conflict and displacement. Despite the growing number of refugee families seeking educational opportunities outside their countries of origin, there is scant research on the efforts families undertake to [...] Read more.

Around the world, millions of young people and their families navigate education in settings of conflict and displacement. Despite the growing number of refugee families seeking educational opportunities outside their countries of origin, there is scant research on the efforts families undertake to ensure and improve this education. In this study, I seek to understand how families participate in refugee children’s education in displacement. Drawing on interviews with 16 refugee parents and caregivers living in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, I find that caregivers actively engage in their children’s schooling. Through what I am calling concerted community engagement, families choose, monitor, and supplement schools, working to ensure that refugee children benefit from the education they receive in exile as they build lives in the present and for the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teaching and Learning in Refugee/(Im)Migrant Communities Around the World)

19 pages, 808 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conceptualizing the Patterns of Change in Cultural Values: The Paradoxical Effects of Modernization, Demographics, and Globalization

by Hamid Yeganeh

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090439 - 23 Aug 2024

Viewed by 210

Abstract

This paper aims to conceptualize the patterns of cultural change. Building on the seminal work of the German sociologist Tönnies and using eight cultural dimensions from Inglehart, Hofstede, Schwartz, and GLOBE, the study analyzes the patterns of cultural change at three distinct levels: [...] Read more.

This paper aims to conceptualize the patterns of cultural change. Building on the seminal work of the German sociologist Tönnies and using eight cultural dimensions from Inglehart, Hofstede, Schwartz, and GLOBE, the study analyzes the patterns of cultural change at three distinct levels: (1) socio-economic development/modernization, (2) birth/migration, and (3) globalization/contact. The paper suggests that the path of cultural change is complex and dialectical. While socio-economic development shifts cultural values from traditional to modern, demographic pressures and migratory movements have opposite effects and reinforce traditional cultural values. Moreover, globalization and increasing contact between traditional and modern cultures create a constant blend and conflict. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Contemporary Politics and Society)

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40 pages, 4766 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Psychogeography of Refugee Youth from Ukraine in Weimar, Germany: Navigating the Sense of Belonging in the Context of Liminality

by Mariam Kunchuliya and Frank Eckardt

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090438 - 23 Aug 2024

Viewed by 179

Abstract

This study looks at the sense of belonging among the youth who fled Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and currently reside in Weimar, Germany. Having fled the war in a time of transition to a more independent stage of life, refugee youth are [...] Read more.

This study looks at the sense of belonging among the youth who fled Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and currently reside in Weimar, Germany. Having fled the war in a time of transition to a more independent stage of life, refugee youth are finding themselves in a challenging context of liminality: both in terms of age and environment. Experiencing a feeling of uncertainty about their positioning in life and a new society, refugee youth are especially prone to feeling excluded and lost, which creates further challenges for their well-being. While the sense of belonging cannot be strictly defined, it is considered a vital factor for mental and physical well-being, as well as a core sign of social integration. To understand how to help newcomers foster their sense of belonging, this study tracks senses of (non)belonging among refugee youth following a weak theory and psychogeographic approach. The results demonstrate the ‘dialectic’ battle of opposites: how right-wing city rallies and pro-Russian symbolism in Weimar are triggering a sense of alienation and detachment on the one hand, and how signs of solidarity with Ukraine and connecting to local social groups invite engagement with the city, its politics and hence create a sense of agency, welcoming and belonging on the other. The results of the study have important applicability for human geography as well as the development of the theory on the sense of belonging among refugee youth in the context of liminality. Full article

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

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17 pages, 296 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Back to Kindergarten? Paternalistic Care Behavior in Healthcare Contexts and Older Adults’ Mental Health

by Sofia von Humboldt, Sara Silva and Isabel Leal

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090437 - 23 Aug 2024

Viewed by 196

Abstract

Objectives: Paternalistic care behavior in health contexts reduces involvement in the decision-making process and dissatisfaction in healthcare, which may negatively influence older adults’ mental health. This study comprised two main objectives: (1) to explore older adults’ experiences of paternalistic behavior in the context [...] Read more.

Objectives: Paternalistic care behavior in health contexts reduces involvement in the decision-making process and dissatisfaction in healthcare, which may negatively influence older adults’ mental health. This study comprised two main objectives: (1) to explore older adults’ experiences of paternalistic behavior in the context of health services and (2) analyze the influence of paternalistic behavior on older adults’ mental health. Methods: The sample involved 416 participants aged 65 to 81 (M = 70.1 ± 5.73) with three different nationalities (English, Brazilian ad Portuguese). All interviews went through content analysis. Results: For the first objective, content analysis identified seven themes: (1) perceived inattention to the uniqueness of each person (81%); (2) feeling a duality of supporting and suppressing independence (79%); (3) selective disclosure of information to keep the person’s spirit up (74%); (4) feeling neglected (66%); (5) feeling unable to make decisions (64%); (6) receiving opposition to the person’s requests (60%); and (7) routine actions being considered as the best action (57%). For the second objective, three main themes emerged: (1) feeling anxious and stressed (88%); (2) feeling frustration and despair (87%); and (3) feeling injustice and anger (72%). Conclusions: Healthcare paternalism negatively affects older adults’ mental health, emphasizing the need for their agency, involvement in decisions, and personalized care. These findings highlight the negative influence of paternalistic behavior on the mental health of older adults and may contribute to future targeted interventions and policy programs among the older population. Full article

19 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Managerialism on Nonprofit Organizations Serving People Experiencing Houselessness in the United States

by Lauren Willner and Sara M. Heller

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090436 - 23 Aug 2024

Viewed by 177

Abstract

The concept of managerialism as it relates to the field of human services has garnered increased attention from researchers in recent years. Understood as the “dominance of management practices and ideas derived in the for-profit sector”, managerialism is widely embraced within the nonprofit [...] Read more.

The concept of managerialism as it relates to the field of human services has garnered increased attention from researchers in recent years. Understood as the “dominance of management practices and ideas derived in the for-profit sector”, managerialism is widely embraced within the nonprofit sector in the United States. Despite increased attention to the role and impact of managerialism within human services, theoretical and empirical research examining the operationalization of managerialism within human service organizations remains limited. In the field of homeless services specifically, little is known about how managerialist ideology and practice affect the provision of services within organizations serving unhoused populations. This paper examines the role and impact of managerialism on the organizational functioning of a large homeless services agency located in a major metropolitan area of the United States. The specific ways managerialism is operationalized within this organization are examined. Further, the impact of managerialist ideology and practice on the organization’s ability to work successfully toward its mission of eradicating homelessness is discussed. In doing so, this paper suggests that managerialist approaches to providing homeless services may impede an organization’s ability to meet its goals and mission in ways that align with institutional logics more commonly associated with human service organizations and the nonprofit sector more generally. Full article

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Soc. Sci., Volume 13, Issue 9 (September 2024) – 7 articles

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