Premarital romantic partnerships among youth in India and intimate partner violence: filling the knowledge gaps

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide phenomenon with significant public health relevance for both married and unmarried individuals. The focus of IPV research in India is on married women, a significant proportion of who cite having experienced IPV. Though adolescents engaging in dating relationships face many of the same risk factors for violence that married women face, literature from diverse populations is limited. This review sought to assess the current literature related to premarital romantic partnerships and/or sexual activity among youth in India to determine gaps in knowledge related to intimate partner violence. Utilizing various combinations of search terms, a final sample of 13 articles was compiled based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The final sample of articles was reviewed for content related to attitudes and behaviors of adolescents regarding premarital romantic partnerships and/or sexual activity. The literature suggests that youth in India are engaging in premarital romantic partnerships and/or sexual activity despite conservative social norms that discourage interaction with the opposite sex outside of marriage. However, violence among youth in India, particularly within their premarital relationships, is currently an understudied phenomenon. There is reason to believe that adolescents engaging in premarital romantic partnerships and/or sexual activity in India are facing IPV within these relationships. As the current literature does not address this issue, future work must make an effort to assess the occurrence and correlates of violence within these relationships to best meet the needs of Indian youth and encourage the formation of healthy relationships

A Cultural History of the Disneyland Theme Parks

The first comparative historical study of the six Disneyland theme parks around the world in five distinct cultures: the USA, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Situates the parks in their respective historic contexts at the time of their opening, and considers the part that class plays in the success or failure of these ventures

A Cultural History of the Disneyland Theme Parks

The first comparative historical study of the six Disneyland theme parks around the world in five distinct cultures: the USA, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Situates the parks in their respective historic contexts at the time of their opening, and considers the part that class plays in the success or failure of these ventures

Avian Biogeography and Conservation in Eastern Indonesia

Evaluating the conservation status of threatened species requires a sequential process of 1) taxonomic classification, 2) distributional mapping, and 3) evaluation of species according to criteria established by the IUCN Red List. Knowledge gaps in the first two phases of this process have been termed the Linnaean and Wallacean Shortfalls, respectively. The Indonesian archipelago is one of the most biologically diverse areas of the planet, as well as one of the most threatened and poorly studied, and the Linnaean and Wallacean Shortfalls pose substantial challenges for conservation in the region. Here I address each of the three stages of categorizing threatened species through a series of case studies on birds in two regions of Indonesia: Java and the Northern Moluccas. The first chapter addresses an example of the Linnaean Shortfall; using behavioural and vocal data, I provide insight on the taxonomic status of woodcock (genus: Scolopax) on Java. The display and vocalizations of these birds confirm that they are a distinct biological species and should be evaluated separately from woodcock in New Guinea. The second chapter focuses on the Wallacean Shortfall, and clarifies avian distributions in three Javan montane areas and on the North Moluccan island of Obi. On Obi, in particular, previous knowledge of bird distribution is woefully incomplete; I report nine species of resident birds previously unknown on the island. In the third and final section, I incorporate criteria from the IUCN Red List to re-evaluate the conservation status of two species on Obi, Chattering Lory Lorius garrulus and Moluccan Woodcock Scolopax rochussenii. One case results in good news for conservation; the Moluccan Woodcock is more common than previously believed, tolerates human habitat modification, and should be ‘down-listed’ from Endangered to Vulnerable. The other is not; Chattering Lory is heavily trapped for the parrot trade and without conservation action, may likely become locally extinct. As such, it is more endangered than currently appreciated and should be considered Endangered rather than Vulnerable