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Journal of International Women's Studies Copyright (c) 2024 Bridgewater State University All rights reserved. https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws Recent documents in Journal of International Women's Studies en-us Thu, 12 Dec 2024 08:18:11 PST 3600 Accounting for the Harms of Image-Based Sexual Abuse in Ireland’s Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/13 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/13 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:45 PST With the ubiquitousness of technology and advancements in Artificial Intelligence image manipulation, Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA) is increasing worldwide. IBSA refers to the creation and/or distribution of sexual images without consent or the threat to create or distribute such images. Technological developments make it challenging to keep pace with the nature and extent of technology-facilitated crimes and their harms. In this paper, I utilise a feminist lens to examine and synthesise the existing literature on IBSA and its harms. Using this synthesis, I critically analyse the Republic of Ireland’s Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act (HHCRO), colloquially called Coco’s Law, and the extent to which it accounts for the harms of IBSA found in the literature. The HHCRO criminalises distributing, publishing, or threatening to distribute or publish intimate images without consent in Ireland. Legislation plays a crucial role in acknowledging the harms of IBSA, helping victim-survivors seek justice for victimisation, and holding perpetrators of IBSA accountable. Hence, I address two research questions: (1) What does existing literature say about the harms of IBSA? (2) To what extent does the HHCRO account for these harms? By reviewing 130 pieces of the literature identified through keyword/phrase searches on online databases, I establish that the harms of IBSA are multiple, including physical harm; psychological harm; interpersonal/social harm; harm to sexual autonomy; economic harm; harm to safety, freedom, and privacy; and harm to society. I find that the HHCRO does not account for the full extent of the harms caused by IBSA. The HHCRO lacks a victim-survivor-centric approach to harm, fails to reflect an embodied understanding of the harm caused by IBSA, and does not approach harm from an intersectional perspective. My recommendations to redress these limitations include familiarising the judiciary with feminist legal approaches and utilising a lens that centers victims and survivors in applying the HHCRO and sentencing decisions. This paper undertakes a critical feminist analysis of key Irish legislation, contributing to emerging IBSA scholarship and offering an important addition to social and legal discourse.

]]> Lorraine J. Hayman Women’s Employment in Croatia from a Historical Perspective https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/12 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/12 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:40 PST This article analyzes the employment of women in the city of Osijek, the fourth biggest city in the Republic of Croatia, using a diachronic approach. The paper’s main goal is to analyze the social position of women in Croatia in relation to employment and their right to work and to examine whether that position has changed in the last two centuries. As exact and reliable historical data are limited, the authors analyzed job announcements and employment offers relating to women in two local newspapers in Osijek. The newspapers were printed from 1870 to the 1930s in the German language, which was a language used in public communication in the multilingual city of Osijek before World War II. These newspapers are available in digital format as result of an international GIP project conducted by the University Josip Juraj Strossmayer of Osijek and the University of Gieβen. The central part of the paper is dedicated to research into job announcements and advertisements published in the two local newspapers in the period 1870 to 1938. Types of jobs reserved for women and jobs sought by women during the examined period provide evidence of specific legal positions as well as the changing social status of women, indicating significant differences between women from different social strata. In the final part, conclusions are drawn concerning changes in the status and employment rights of women as well as the types of jobs performed by women in this time period.

]]> Ljubica Kordić et al. Bridging the Gap: An Action Research Pilot Study on Confidence Building for Women Design Students in Higher Education https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/11 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/11 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:35 PST Women are significantly underrepresented in the design industry globally, particularly in tech-driven industries like industrial design, despite an increasing number of women design graduates. While there are various factors that influence this underrepresentation, recent studies identify a general lack of confidence among women as a major contributing aspect. Women students tend to have lower self-assessments compared to their male peers, leading to limiting behaviours and barriers to pursuing opportunities in tech-based fields, which thus perpetuates gender disparity in design fields and STEAM. To address this disparity, the Industrial Design department at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa launched the “Wom+n in Tech” initiative. This experiential, interdisciplinary programme aims to cultivate confidence among women design students by leveraging the technology, equipment, and expertise available within the faculty to host seminars, mentorship hubs, and practical workshops and training sessions in various tech-related areas. The goal is to encourage women students to engage and experiment with unfamiliar tools and technologies, thereby developing competence and confidence. This paper presents a trial project that uses reflective action research methods that evaluate the initial response to the initiative through qualitative reflections of participating students, mentors, and staff. The findings indicate a positive adoption of the programme, with participants reporting increased confidence and seeing much value in the initiative. The evidence-based methodology that led to these results affirms the continuation and expansion of Wom+n in Tech. Based on the initial findings, the programme aims to scale its impact through further practical workshops, experiential learning, personal development, collaboration, cross-disciplinary learning, and industry connections.

]]> Pia McFindlay et al. Gender Inequality in the House of God: Comparing Islam and Traditional Religions in Yorubaland and Lome in West Africa https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/10 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/10 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:30 PST Comparative studies on gender among Muslims and worshippers of other traditional religions in West Africa are limited in number. The paper makes use of a combination of social sciences and humanistic research instruments through structured interviews and participant observation to study gender politics within Islam, Vodun (a traditional religion in Lome, Togo), and Sàngό (or Shango, one of the deities in Yoruba culture) in Western Africa. This study reveals that gender inequality transcends all barriers, be it the profane or the sacred. In fact, in large parts of West African societies where traditional and Islamic norms and values hold sway, religion is deployed by patriarchal entities as a tool to oppress women. Questions of importance to this study, therefore, are: what are the foundations of Vodun, Sàngό, and Islamic beliefs that say women cannot achieve the highest echelons of the religions in question? How has this reinforced the existing gender inequality among the Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria and Ewe speakers of Lome (Togo) in West Africa? How is gender constructed in Ewe and Yoruba cultures? And, how can we begin to deconstruct the patriarchal reading of Islamic texts?

]]> Habibat Oladosu-Uthman The Role Played by Non-Governmental Organisations in the Protection of Refugee Women in Greece https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/9 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/9 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:25 PST Although the refugee and migration crisis in Greece has intensified over the last decade, its gender dimensions are often overlooked. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Greece, however, have initiated efforts to address the rights and needs of refugee women. Despite being a prominent host nation for refugees, Greece faces challenges compounded by the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and its role as the primary EU entry point during the 2015-2016 refugee crisis. The 2020 Greek asylum law and subsequent revisions have reduced safeguards for asylum seekers, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups such as women. Due to the Greek government’s limited resources and shifting policies, NGOs play an essential role in supporting refugees. By examining existing policies, this study analyses Greece’s approach to supporting refugee women by focusing on the roles of government and non-governmental organisations. It identifies the challenges these women face and why NGOs play a central role in their aid. Drawing from recent field research in Athens and Lesbos Island, this study adopts a qualitative approach, primarily relying on interviews conducted with 30 refugees, experts on migration, and NGO members. Secondary data was gathered from articles, books, and official websites of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the European Commission, and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles. The findings reveal a lack of support structures for refugee women, which exposes them to a number of challenges including inadequate reception facilities, limited healthcare access, financial constraints, and integration hurdles. This study highlights the limited cooperation between the Greek government and NGOs, exacerbated by recent restrictions on NGO operations. Understanding these issues is crucial for collaborative efforts to address the specific needs and challenges faced by refugee women in Greece.

]]> Rippy Das et al. The Maltese Gender Corrective Mechanism—Dashed Hopes and Aspirations? https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/8 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/8 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:20 PST This paper explores the media discourse surrounding the implementation of the gender corrective mechanism in Malta, focusing on online English-language newspapers from March 26, 2019 to May 2022. The study analyses how women journalists, experts, and politicians perceived and reported on this legislative initiative, which aimed to address the underrepresentation of women in Maltese politics. By conducting a reflexive thematic analysis, the paper identifies recurring themes related to the historical context, barriers to women’s political participation, and the effectiveness of the quota system. The findings reveal varied perspectives among women on the mechanism’s potential to foster gender equality in parliament, highlighting both support and criticism of the quota’s impact on democratic processes. The study underscores the significance of media representation in shaping public understanding of gender-related political reforms.

]]> JosAnn Cutajar Pink Hair as a Cyberfeminist Symbol: Online Gender-Based Violence and the “PinkUp” Movement in China https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/7 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/7 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:16 PST This paper investigates online gender-based violence (OGBV) in China using the perspectives of queer feminism and cyberfeminism. As a case study, it examines the cyberviolence against the “Pink Hair Girl” on Xiaohongshu (a popular Chinese social media platform) and the subsequent resistance by women. The study focuses on the following questions: How does the symbolic use of pink hair represent queerness and challenge gender norms in cyberspace? What are the power dynamics and types of violence faced by women in this situation? The research employs a case study method, incorporating qualitative data such as interviews and evaluations of social media content. By examining the symbolic usage of pink hair to represent queerness in cyberspace, the study investigates the power dynamics among political subjects and women’s subjectivity. This study highlights the significance of analyzing women’s resistance against male-dominated oppression and their political agency in the digital realm. It contends that online spaces act as battlefields where conventional patriarchal ideals collide with growing feminist beliefs. This contradiction creates both tyranny and opportunity for resistance. The “PinkUp” movement, in which women utilized pink hair as a symbol of resistance against online harassment, serves as a prime example of this phenomenon. The paper concludes that, although OGBV in China mirrors greater ideological oppression, cyberspace resistance groups demonstrate the possibilities for transforming women’s social identities and attaining unity. Despite the state’s and some men’s efforts to repress cyber activism, these movements are an important part of current Chinese feminism.

]]> Yuchen Viveka Li Unpacking Affect in Taylor Swift’s Feminism https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/6 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/6 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:11 PST While affective feminism and Taylor Swift’s feminist engagement have been explored in various contexts, there remains a gap in scholarly research examining how Swift transitions affect into explicit feminist practice. This paper aims to investigate how Swift utilizes a range of emotions, from negative to positive, to express her feminist sentiments, while also examining the limitations of these expressions and possible complementary strategies from her fanbase. The first section of the paper employs a theoretical framework based on affective feminism by incorporating Chadwick’s (2021) concept of “discomfort” as a valuable epistemological tool in feminist practice to contextualize Swift’s political emergence in 2018. Building on Malatino’s (2021) critique of feminist coalitions and Doan’s (2001, 2021) discussions on intersectional challenges faced by transgender communities, intersectionality is applied as a framework to assess the inclusivity of Swift’s feminist stance. This intersectional approach also examines the potential for Swift’s fandom to evolve into a more transformative activist force. The methodology includes textual analysis of Swift’s social media posts, lyrics from selected songs, and her statement accompanying the petition for The Equality Act in 2019. Additionally, media analysis of the documentary Miss Americana and other media coverage of Swift’s feminist activities provides a broader context. The paper argues that: 1) Swift’s engagement with discomfort has driven her toward self-education in feminism and activism thus facilitating her shift from an apolitical figure to a vocal feminist advocate; 2) Her use of “we” and “all” narratives may inadvertently homogenize marginalized groups and render transgender people more invisible; and 3) To advance more inclusive and transformative feminist activism, collaboration between Swift, her team, and her fanbase is recommended to further develop Swift’s fandom activism as a civic and political force. Future research may consider exploring other artist-activists and diverse fan responses and employing quantitative methodologies to enhance understanding of the interaction between fandom and celebrity activism.

]]> Ophelia Xiner Tong Feminist History: Forgotten Women Writers of the Generation of 1927 in Spain https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/5 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/5 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:06 PST This study primarily focuses on the women writers of the Generation of 1927 in Spain who rose to prominence in the 1920s. Often referred to as Las Sinsombrero, these women writers have made significant contributions to gender equality and literature; however, despite their outstanding achievements, knowledge of this literary movement tends to focus only on the male writers, and it is only in recent years that the women writers in this generation have been rediscovered. The historical context in which these writers emerged—a period marked by the rise of feminism in Spain—is considered as an important part of understanding the development of Spanish women’s history. A defining feature of this era was the development of women’s education, from its beginnings in the 18th century to legal advancements in the 19th century. This progress continued into the early 20th century with the establishment of influential institutions like the Residencia de señoritas and the Lyceum Club, which propelled women’s education into practice. These institutions fostered the growth and exchange of feminist ideas, allowed women writers to express their thoughts and needs, and offered women a space to escape from the traditional role of acting as caretakers in the home. Against the backdrop of this rise in women’s education, Las Sinsombrero wrote about women’s consciousness and rights, encompassing a wide range of literary genres, including drama, poetry, novels, and even film scripts. Among the many outstanding women writers of this generation, we have selected Carmen Conde (1907-1996), Concha Méndez (1898-1986), and Luisa Carnés (1905-1964) for our comparative analysis. Their diverse and rich contributions exemplify the literary characteristics of the women writers of the Generation of ‘27 in Spain. Understanding their contributions is crucial for recognizing their significant role in shaping contemporary Spanish literature and advancing women’s rights. An analysis of their lives and the characteristics of their works can reveal both the commonalities and differences within the women writers of the Generation of ‘27 and illuminate the path of women’s liberation in Spain.

]]> Feixiang Liu Cultural Linguistics and Identity Negotiation within the Singaporean Chinese Diaspora in Hwee Hwee Tan's Mammon Inc. https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/4 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/4 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:34:01 PST This study explores the representation of Singaporean Chinese diasporic identity in Hwee Hwee Tan’s novel Mammon Inc. with the help of cultural linguistics. This article seeks to analyze how the novel contributes to understanding diasporic identity and cultural negotiation, with a focus on how the portrayal of the main character reshapes the delicate equilibrium between traditional values and global capitalist pressures. Drawing on Farzad Sharifian’s cultural conceptualization framework and Gary B. Palmer’s ethnosemantic analysis, this study focuses on cultural schemas and metaphors in the novel. We identify passages in Mammon Inc. that illustrate themes of identity negotiation, cultural displacement, and the impact of globalization on traditional values. Through the categorization of themes and metaphors, we aim to identify culturally relevant schemas pertaining to the Singaporean Chinese diaspora. We also employ Palmer’s ethnosemantic analysis to expose how the novel’s language reflects the cognitive and cultural frameworks of the protagonist. The metaphorical language used in the novel reveals the protagonist’s struggle to balance familial expectations with personal ambitions, thus challenging simplistic narratives of identity. This analysis of Tan’s novel enhances cultural linguistics and diaspora studies by deepening our understanding of how cultural and linguistic factors influence the representation and understanding of diasporic experiences. It underscores the importance of language and culture in the negotiation of identity, offering a nuanced perspective on the complexities faced by the Singaporean Chinese diaspora in a globalized world.

]]> Hanwen Wang et al. “We Haven’t Our Feet in the Soil”: Jamesian Feminism and Cosmopolitanism in The Portrait of a Lady https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/3 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/3 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:33:56 PST This article reconsiders feminist themes in Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady by analyzing American expatriate women characters who experience liminal situations that create both alienation and opportunity. James’s expatriate women feel displaced and marginalized, yet this othering also allows them a freedom from European customs. This position of alterity or liminality allows for the women characters in James’s work to develop independence and confidence not just in themselves but also in their native culture. James’s nuanced observation and sympathy with his women characters result in an androgynous literary expression, intricately connecting his feminism and cosmopolitanism. By examining the unique circumstances of the women portrayed in Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady, the article reshapes cultural perspectives and promotes respect for cultural differences encompassing race, nationality, and gender.

]]> Dong Xiaoshuang Screaming in Silence: Narrative Voice in Latvian Writer Gundega Repše’s Fiction https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/2 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/2 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:33:52 PST The contemporary field of narratology delineates narrative voice as a complex effect of formal and pragmatic elements such as the point of view presented, focalization, tone, modality, and the spatiotemporal models of narrative. The intricate nature of narrative voice arises from its reliance on pragmatic parameters through which it articulates the author’s intentions, ideologies, and values. Consequently, the narrative voice reaches into the extratextual realm, assuming the role of a medium for thematization and value judgement. With a focus on the contemporary Latvian writer Gundega Repše’s novels Īkstīte (Thumbelina) (2000) and Alvas Kliedziens (The Tin Scream) (2002), this paper investigates the functions of narrative voice using the framework of feminist narratology and the French feminist theory of écriture féminine (feminine writing). Both novels depict a quest for the integrity of a female autodiegetic narrator and reflect on women’s difference as an agonizing and complex process. In the novel Īkstīte, the self-discovery of the woman protagonist ends in a loss of the subject’s integrity and the disruption of language. Her failed story and the disruption of language that she experiences can be interpreted as essential symptoms of women’s cultural condition, and the novel thereby suggests the importance of solidarity and raising collective awareness about violence against women. In Alvas Kliedziens, the protagonist’s diary unveils the structure of trauma and psychosis in the woman subject as Rugetta struggles against the physical and emotional violence inflicted by the Soviet school, where teachers and learners were involved in a system of surveillance and mutual informing. The dramatic trajectory and tragic denouement of both novels position the integrity of women not merely as a source of alternative cultural and social visions but as a horizon for individual and cultural aspirations.

]]> Sandra Meskova 5th Global Conference on Women’s Studies: Knowledge, Production, and Representation in Transnational Women’s and Gender Studies https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/1 https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol26/iss7/1 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:33:47 PST JosAnn Cutajar