Pindi Boys: The Cultural Production of Urban Masculinity in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

This article seeks to understand and analyze the formation of urban masculinities in Rawalpindi, Pakistan by focusing on a subculture known as “Pindi boys,” who are young men aged 17-22. In doing so, this research offers an understanding of what it means to be a teen or young man from a low-income household in the urban city of Rawalpindi. How does sociocultural context influence boys and young men to embody a specific type of masculinity? Following the daily lifestyle of Pindi boys, this research avoids generalizations that result in an ahistorical analysis of men and masculinities in urban spaces. Considering how cities—in this case, the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad—can simultaneously be spaces of exclusion and inclusion, this research offers a feminist reading of men and masculinities in present-day Pakistan. Adopting a feminist ethnographic methodology, the paper demonstrates that these boys and young men form bonds and affiliations among themselves to resist and revolt against the Westernized, elitist, liberal, classist sensibilities of their immediate neighbors of Islamabad. In this process of differentiating themselves from the “Burger boys” of Islamabad, they have constructed a distinctive identity rooted in their socio-cultural and economic contexts. Exploring the lives of Pindi boys from Rawalpindi reveals the intersectional nature of their masculinity. In reaction to the stigmatization and othering they have experienced in terms of class and location, they find power in a masculine identity anchored in patriarchal structures. This work contributes to theorizing masculinities in urban spaces by addressing how urban masculinity is imagined, embodied, and received in a particular sociocultural milieu

Rewriting Histories: The Experiences of Pioneering Egyptian Women Architects in the Socio-Political Context of the Nasser Era

The history of modern architecture has particularly emphasized the roles of male architects with little mention of women architects. Since women’s contributions have often been overlooked, feminist scholars worldwide have aimed to showcase women’s history in the architectural profession over the past several years. However, there is still a lack of scholarship on the historical experiences and contributions of women architects in the Middle East, particularly Egypt. This research aims to address this gap in historiography by focusing on the first women architects in Egypt during the Nasser era. As such, the study utilizes archival sources and examines various architecture and engineering magazines and state reports published during the mid-20th century. Our analysis reveals how early architectural pioneers such as Anjil Tawfik, Amina Maher, Zakeya Shafʿi, and Sawsan el-Qusbi faced considerable barriers related to societal norms and educational limitations. We argue that the idealized image of womanhood was a strategy employed by men to maintain the discipline as androcentric. In contrast, Nasser’s regime, which was concerned with Egypt’s modernization and development, enacted progressive policies to promote gender equality. The policies facilitated the entry of women into different fields including engineering and architecture. We examine the complex interplay between state feminism and persistent societal norms, noting how Abdel Nasser redefined the ideal image of women to one that balanced professional work with familial responsibilities. We explore the career trajectories of early pioneering women architects, arguing that al-taklif, the employment order mandated by Abdel Nasser in 1955, was not merely a work policy but also shaped the ideal image of professional life for women architects. We discuss women architects’ strategies to carve out a space for themselves in architectural practice. Finally, we address the lack of recognition for women architects’ work with a focus on Zakeya Shafʿi and Amina Maher, two pioneering Egyptian women architects

“Mommy with a Different Body”: Rethinking Motherhood through American Breast Cancer Memoirs

Motherly guilt and anxieties about reproductive choices are often a significant source of psychological trauma in women who decide to have a child after being diagnosed with breast cancer (BC), but these themes are less visible in breast cancer memoirs. Patriarchal societal norms about women’s roles have long influenced women’s ideas about their bodies and motherhood. However, women with BC who are already in a vulnerable position, struggling with a life-threatening disease, feel helpless and guilty about their desires to be mothers, as society often considers them to be bad or selfish mothers. The present study examines Tig Notaro’s I’m Just a Person (2017) and Caitlin Brodnick’s Dangerous Boobies (2017) to reveal the psychological and moral dilemma of women with BC, whose infertility issues can be partially solved with the help of advanced technologies. Their emotional turmoil regarding motherhood and fertility suggests the need for more empathy and concern from both physicians and families. These selected memoirs by two celebrated American comedians also reflect how even financially independent women in the Global North often feel anxious about their reproductive choices at the onset of BC. Therefore, many such studies are needed to understand the psychological trauma of such women from different cross-sections of society and culture. This article reveals the need to respect the autonomy of women with chronic illnesses, to support them with their individual decisions, and also to help them to overcome their feelings of guilt and shame

From Care to Coercion: The Unspoken Reality of Disrespect and Abuse of Women in Maternal Healthcare in India

The article reviews the literature pertaining to reproductive justice in maternal healthcare settings, emphasizing issues of disrespect and abuse (D & A) within healthcare institutions in India, a problem which is often referred to as “labour room violence” or “obstetric violence.” Experiencing D & A during such a critical stage leaves lasting and painful memories of healthcare settings that can lead to avoidance of future medical treatment. This article aims to systematically review and document the prevalence, forms, causes, and consequences of D & A that women face during prenatal care, with a particular focus on programs and policies in India. This paper defines D & A and provides background crucial for identifying and categorizing behaviours that violate standards of dignity, safety, human rights, and justice in reproductive care, particularly regarding women’s needs. The research addresses gaps in data and literature on D & A in the Indian context and calls for increased efforts to train, counsel, and sensitize healthcare professionals, the frontline health workforce, and the public

“We Weren’t Heard Until It Was Too Late”: Navigating Inequities in Healthcare as Black Women in the U.S.

This qualitative research project investigates the lived experiences of Black women navigating the U.S. healthcare system. Through semi-structured interviews with participants of different socioeconomic backgrounds, geographic locations, and reproductive histories, we identified systemic and interpersonal dynamics that perpetuate disparities in healthcare. The major themes discovered through our research include: Medical Dismissal Gaslighting of pain and other concerns, Financial & Structural Barriers due to cost and access to quality healthcare, the value of Cultural Concordance & Representation, Self-Advocacy as a survival tactic and the impact of Patient-Centered Experiences. The findings reveal that while some participants reported positive experiences, most described navigating racism, neglect, and the emotional toll of invisibility. Our research approach heightens the complexity of existing statistical data by focusing on the lived experiences for Black women, advocating for racial equity and person-centered care policies

Campus (Wild)Life

Since its beginnings in 1840, Bridgewater State University has been home to thousands upon thousands of students, faculty, librarians, and staff members. Some of us are here for a few years; for others, our time on this campus is measured in decades

Earthworms, Slugs, and Salamanders: Community Interactions in a Massachusetts Forest

Earthworms (Order: Opisthopora) have several important ecological interactions with eastern red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus). For the salamanders, earthworms can be nutrient-rich, easy-to-digest prey, or ecosystem engineers of burrows. Indirectly, earthworms can be competition for other microinvertebrate prey species that salamanders prefer to eat. Red-backed salamanders are thought to be a critical player in forest food-webs and possible ecosystem indicator, as they are highly abundant, mid-level consumers that are very sensitive to their abiotic environment. These factors make understanding the interactions between earthworms and salamanders valuable for broader understanding of forest communities. To better understand the earthworm community present at a long-term salamander research site, I tested several earthworm sampling methods in Great Hill Forest on the campus of Bridgewater State University, including mustard vermifuge, hand sampling, and worm grunting. Overall, these methods produced few earthworms; however, dry conditions at the time of sampling may have impacted their success. While sampling, I observed that slugs were numerous. Literature suggests that slugs can also fill the same ecosystem engineer role as earthworms, constructing burrows which salamanders can use. Given this, I conducted several post-hoc analyses to compare slug abundance to both abiotic and salamander abundances and density in order to better understand the distribution of slugs, earthworms, and salamanders in Great Hill Forest. With different distribution patterns, these interactions could play a role in the favorability of particular forest microhabitats for Red-backed salamanders. Red-backed salamanders are thought to be an indicator species of northeastern North American forests, and understanding the interactions of the salamanders, worms, and slugs will allow us to better predict factors that may limit salamander abundance, like possibly forest type

When Your Phone Knows You’re Pregnant Even If You Don’t: Period Tracking Applications and Threats to Privacy

In everyday life, menstruating persons around the world use different applications to help them monitor menstruation or fertile days to plan or to avoid conception, as well as to monitor their health condition. Much to users’ dismay, in recent years disturbing information appeared in the media about the alleged disclosure of information collected by menstrual monitoring applications to third parties for commercial purposes. The mechanism of such a procedure seems to be relatively simple—if the user of the application does not enter information about the onset of menstruation on the date set by the application as a start date, after a few days a user may notice an increased number of advertisements for products related to pregnancy and motherhood on the devices it uses. This paper examines whether data collected by period tracking applications may be considered as data concerning health which is covered under privacy laws (the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation is the current gold standard for privacy legislation), and if this data should be treated under law. Additionally, the authors contend that collecting information on menstruation cycles and sharing such data (either with private entities or public bodies) infringes upon the right to privacy, intimacy, and reproductive autonomy of users of period tracking applications

Exploring the Town Management and University Partnership Impact on Community and Economic Development in Bridgewater, Massachusetts

This research investigates the town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, using a mixed approach. It explores the underlying elements of community and economic development and Bridgewater\u27s efforts to improve these factors. A key cornerstone of this study is analyzing the Town of Bridgewater Master Plan (2022) to explore what Bridgewater prioritizes and has provided efforts for community and economic growth while highlighting barriers and opportunities the town has encountered. In addition, the unique characteristics of Bridgewater, being a university-town, will be examined to understand how this relationship affects its community. Moreover, small local businesses are provided with a platform to discuss their perspectives on the benefits and drawbacks of operating in the town of Bridgewater