(De)Constructing Desperation: The Dargah of Bu Ali Shah Qalandar as a Site of Emotional Wellbeing for Infertile Women

Infertility is a health issue that requires serious consideration due to its impact on the social, emotional, and economic wellbeing of the affected individual. Despite the development of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that has successfully enabled conception, these methods are not universally accessible to all women. There can be many roadblocks in an individual’s journey that go beyond medical domains. Studies have indicated that, when paired with medical treatment, spiritual healing practices and religious interventions can have a positive effect on the emotional health of those struggling to conceive. This study employs a narrative approach to document the lived experiences of women who have placed their hopes on spiritual healing to achieve motherhood. Five in-depth, unstructured interviews were conducted with cisgender women aged 25 to 40 years who are grappling with primary or secondary infertility. These women have been regularly visiting the Dargah of Bu Ali Shah Qalandar in the city of Panipat in Haryana, India, drawing upon a social support system that aids them in coping with infertility-related desperation, stigma, anxiety, and social isolation. The findings highlight that the emotional and social support these women experience at the Dargah leads to a heightened sense of tranquillity and emotional wellbeing. As they witnessed successful cases of spiritual healing and interacted with people in critical situations, they were able to renew their hope and change their perspectives towards life and infertility

Reproductive Labour: Preventing Babies, Making Babies, and Growing Babies

During her reproductive years, a Canadian heterosexual cisgender woman will likely engage in the labour of preventing pregnancy, trying to achieve pregnancy, and/or being pregnant. While each stage of reproduction involves significant time and energy, the labour tied to preventing pregnancy, conceiving, and growing life is undervalued, unrecognized, and rendered invisible. Much of the work around reproduction involves not just cognitive function, but also a mental load and emotional labour. It is assumed that women need to do this labour as a pregnancy exists within her reproductive body; however, this assumption fails to acknowledge the reality of how laborious each stage of women’s reproductive lives can be. Women’s labour, while pivotal for the success of capitalism, is rendered invisible while it is simultaneously assumed to be naturally occurring and lacking economic value. This process can include the work of preventing babies, making babies, and growing babies

The Lasting Scars of Sex Trafficking: An Exploration of the Long-Term Psychological and Physical Effects of Trafficking

This article explores the long-term physical and psychological effects of sex trafficking on survivors. Using a qualitative research approach based on the feminization of poverty and life course theories, and through a lengthy interview with an activist and survivor, the study demonstrates the long-term effects of sex trafficking on physical health, mental health, and access to healthcare. The main takeaways call attention to PTSD and other major mental health issues, chronic health conditions, and financial barriers that survivors have while trying to access healthcare. The study emphasizes the necessity of improved healthcare procedures, the significance of trauma-informed care, and the need to change policies to guarantee survivor-centered support. Furthermore, this research urges a more empathetic, justice-focused, and holistic approach to trafficking survivors\u27 healing and reintegration

Evaluating Gender Policy in Kazakhstan: A Dual Perspective on Politics and Economics

This article aims to advance gender studies in Kazakhstan by examining the underlying causes of inequality in the political and economic spheres. It holds both scientific and practical significance in identifying the challenges to gender equality in Kazakhstan and exploring potential solutions that could be applicable to other countries. The methodological framework of the study is grounded in a gender-based approach, complemented by general scientific and specialized methods of inquiry, including structural, functional, and content analysis of official documents. The research is supported by an analysis of official statistics and the legal framework governing gender-related issues. Kazakhstan’s gender policy is characterized by its transitional nature, where the incomplete political reforms contribute to the persistence of gender inequality. Drawing on statistical data, expert opinions, and scholarly research, this article provides compelling evidence that gender imbalances remain prevalent in contemporary Kazakhstani society, particularly in politics and public administration, and that various forms of discrimination against women in the labor market and the broader economy persist

Women’s Stories of/in Athens, Greece: Reflections for Future Cities

In a continuously urbanizing world, developing cities that support a good and full life for women—an issue with implications for families and communities at large—should be a concern in the planning of human settlements. This is particularly important for the transition to sustainable cities, which is a priority in most contemporary societies. This study focuses on women’s everyday lives in Athens, Greece, particularly the suburb of Nea Smyrni. It builds on the stories of five women shared through in-depth interviews that were conducted between spring 2023 and winter 2024. These stories have been selected because they represent women of diverse backgrounds, work conditions, and age groups, and because they shed light on the interrelation of gender with various aspects of the city: the household, public and green spaces, and mobility. This study demonstrates that contemporary cities continue to be unwelcoming for women. Women’s main concerns include inadequate sidewalks and public transport, neither of which cater to “mobilities of care,” standards of safety in public spaces, or accessibility of buildings. The findings of this study indicate that to achieve the desired transition to sustainable, enjoyable, and healthy cities for women (and all people), cities must prioritize walkable infrastructure, public spaces, and vibrant communities. At the same time, the desired density and size of cities and car independence should be revisited

Mock Juror Perceptions of Intimate Partner Rape Victims: The Effects of Mental Illness and Emotional Expression

Intimate partner rape (IPR), defined as non-consensual sexual intercourse between domestic partners, has a high prevalence rate especially among women with mental illness, yet it is highly under-convicted. This is often due to a lack of evidence in rape cases resulting in jurors relying on extralegal factors, such as a victim’s mental illness or emotional expression, in their decision making. Jurors may provide lower pro-victim judgments (e.g., guilty verdicts, victim credibility) when a victim has a mental illness, whereas jurors often expect a victim to express emotions, which can increase pro-victim judgments. The present study examined mock juror perceptions of IPR when the victim has a mental illness and expresses emotion during trial. Participants recruited via Prolific (N = 214) were randomly assigned to read one of six conditions in a mock trial summary of IPR in which we manipulated victim mental illness (no mental illness, borderline personality disorder [BPD], or depression) and emotional expression (crying or not crying). Participants then completed a questionnaire in which they provided a verdict, reason for verdict, and victim ratings (e.g., blame). Results indicated that when the victim had BPD compared to no mental illness, participants rendered significantly fewer guilty verdicts. There was also an indirect effect on verdict via victim credibility with the BPD victim having lowered credibility compared to a depressed victim which led to a decrease in guilty verdicts. Participants perceived the victim with BPD as less credible and blamed her more than a depressed victim. Victim emotion interacted with mental illness and participant gender. Male participants had significantly higher rates of victim blame for a victim with BPD who cried versus a victim with BPD who did not cry. Overall, women were more likely to render guilty verdicts, less likely to blame the victim, and more likely to view the victim as credible than men. Findings provide insight into how extralegal factors influence juror perceptions and contribute to low prosecution rates of IPR

System Administration Practices and Experimentation

This undergraduate departmental honors capstone project experiments with and demonstrates System Administration practices that are used in enterprise environments. The skills and practices of System Administrators are crucial to maintain large-scale IT infrastructure. This project aimed to gain a deeper, practical understanding of the role of a System Administrator in an emulated environment. Through hands-on experimentation, this project addressed the responsibilities of a System Administrator, such as controlling user access, adding hardware, automating tasks, monitoring systems, overseeing and developing a backup strategy, maintaining local documentation, and security practices. This project demonstrated some of the complexities that lie in each of these processes, and goes on to explain where more potential for growth and improvement is possible. User access for a large scale environment was deployed, and automation that can scale to an arbitrary size was applied. This process successfully deepened my understanding of System Administration practices, with these systems deployed I have been able to understand how networks and tools interact in a way I haven’t been able to before