Volume 6, Issue 3, July 2013 Edition
“The Mad”, “The Bad”, “The Victim”: Gendered constructions of women who kill within the criminal justice system
Siobhan Weare
Abstract
Women commit significantly fewer murders than men and are perceived to be less violent. This belief about women’s non-violence reflects the discourses surrounding gender, all of which assume that women possess certain inherent essential characteristics such as passivity and gentleness. When women commit murder the fundamental social structures based on appropriate feminine gendered behaviour are contradicted and subsequently challenged. This article will explore the gendered constructions of women who kill within the criminal justice system. These women are labelled as either mad, bad or a victim, by both the criminal justice system and society, depending on the construction of their crime, their gender and their sexuality. Symbiotic to labelling women who kill in this way is the denial of their agency. That is to say that labelling these women denies the recognition of their ability to make a semi-autonomous decision to act in a particular way. It is submitted that denying the agency of these women raises a number of issues, including, but not limited to, maintaining the current gendered status quo within the criminal law and criminal justice system, and justice both being done, and being seen to be done, for these women and their victims.
Key words: gender; women; murder; agency; battered woman syndrome; infanticide; victim; mad; bad
The role of micro financial institutions on the growth of Smes in Kenya:A case study of micro financial institutions in Kisi town
Kepha Osoro, Dr Willy Muturi
Abstract
The paper was to investigate the role the micro financial instititutions(MFIs)play in assisting small and medium enterprises(SMEs) grow in Kisii Town. The specific objectives were: To establish the role of credit provision on growth of SMEs in Kisii Town, to determine the role of training offered by MFIs in helping the SMEs to grow and role of savings account from MFIs on growth of SMEs in Kisii Town. From the sampling frame a representative sample of 100 respondents were obtained randomly and a survey was conducted on this sample using structured interview schedules. Data from the respondents was analyzed and translated into useful information using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) . Frequency distributions were used to draw conclusions. The study established that most of the businesses obtained credit from MFIs. The study revealed that savings account offered by micro financials assist the enterpreneurs in developing a culture of saving. The survey established that accessibility of training is positively related to growth of SMEs. The study concludes that provision of credit amd training and a cheap savings account helps the growth of SMEs. The study recommends that the government and MFIs to make credit easly available and affordable to the SMEs for them to grow. The study also recommends for accessible financial training from MFIsto influence growth of SMEs. The research further recommends for affordable saving account for savings to avoid dependence of MFIs for their growth.
Key words: Growth, Enterprise,Entrepreneur; Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),Training
Exploring knowledge, attitudes and abuse concerning doping in sport among Syrian Pharmacy students
Mazen El-Hammadi and Bashar Hunien
Abstract
This study aimed to assess pharmacy students’ knowledge about doping substances used in sport, explore their attitudes toward doping and investigate their misuse of doping drugs. A questionnaire was developed and employed to collect data from bachelor of pharmacy (BPharm) students at the International University for Science and Technology (IUST). Two-hundred and eighty students participated in this self-administrated, paper-based survey. Around 90% of the students did not appear to know that narcotics, β-blockers and diuretics were used in sport as doping agents. Additionally, proportions between 60% and 80% considered vitamins, energy drinks and amino acids as substances that possess performance-enhancing effects. The main reason for doping, based on students’ response, was to improve muscular body appearance. The vast majority of students agreed that pharmacists should play a major role in promoting awareness about risks of doping. While students showed negative attitudes toward doping, approximately 15% of them, primarily males, had already tried a doping drug or might do so in the future. More than 60% of the students believed that sports-mates and friends are the most influential in encouraging them to take a doping agent. The study highlights the need to provide pharmacy students with advanced theoretical background and practical training concerning doping. This can be achieved by adopting simple, but essential, changes to the current curricula.
Key words: doping; performance-enhancing substances; drug abuse; pharmacy students
Promoting the everyday: Pro-Sharia advocacy and public relations in Ontario, Canada’s “Sharia Debate”
Jennifer A. Selby
Abstract
Why, in the midst of public debates related to religion, are unrepresentative orthodox perspectives often positioned as illustrative of a religious tradition? How can more representative voices be encouraged? Political theorist Anne Phillips (2007) suggests that facilitating multi-voiced individual engagements effectively dismantles the monopolies of the most conservative that tend to privilege maleness. In this paper, with reference to the 2003–2005 faith-based arbitration debate in Ontario, Canada, I show how, in practice, Phillips’ approach is unwieldy and does not work well in a sound-bite-necessitating culture. Instead, I argue that the “Sharia Debate” served as a catalyst for mainstream conservative Muslim groups in Ontario to develop public relations apparatuses that better facilitate the perspectives of everyday religious conservatives in the public sphere.
Key words: “Sharia Debate”; faith-based arbitration; representation; orthodoxy; advocacy; public relations; Muslims; Ontario; Canada
Water pollution control legislation in Israel: Understanding implementation processes from an actor-centered approach
Sharon Hophmayer-Tokich
Abstract
In the State of Israel, advanced legislation for the management of scarce water resources, including legislation to prevent water pollution, were put in place in the early stages of the State’s formation. Despite that, on-going uncontrolled pollution has deteriorated the quality of water sources for decades, with the main source of pollution being untreated or partially treated domestic wastewater. This has been mainly the result of lack of enforcement of the existing laws. During the 1990s and onwards, a shift to forceful enforcement has been observed and wastewater treatment substantially improved. The paper analyzes the implementation processes of the pollution control legislations (the lack-of and the shift to forceful enforcement) based on an actor-centered approach, using the contextual interaction theory.
Key words: water pollution prevention; pollution control legislation; wastewater management; contextual interaction theory; Israel
The influence of teachers’ creativity, attitude and commitment on students’ proficiency of the English language
Hemaloshinee Vasudevan
Abstract
The intensity of teachers’ creativity, attitude and commitment are considered as key factors in the success of the current educational reform agenda, as it heavily influences the teachers’ willingness to engage in cooperative, reflective and critical practice to develop students’ proficiency or performance in English language. This study examined the effect of creative thinking, creative teaching, creative learning, teachers’ attitude and teachers’ commitment on students’ proficiency in English language. Three hundred and ten teachers at private schools were surveyed for this purpose. The results of this study revealed that creative thinking, creative learning, creative teaching, teachers’ attitude and teachers’ commitment positively and significantly influence the students’ proficiency in English language.
Key words: Students’ Proficiency, Teachers’ Creativity, Attitude, Commitment, creative teaching, teachers’ commitment, students’ proficiency
A study on determinants of student’s attitude towards higher education
V.Maheswari,R.Haridas
Abstract
Higher education has helped the students to realize their career goals and dreams. The present study is to determine the student attitude towards higher education programs. The purpose of survey is to explore attitudes of students and their untouched problems in colleges. This survey investigates final year under graduate students and ascertain the level of attitudes among the students in various factors. Further, the researcher investigated the 625 student's attitudes towards higher education programs at Arts and Science College in Coimbatore city. Likert attitude scale questionnaire was used. The researcher conducted interviews and obtained quantitative a well as qualitative data. The results revealed that the majority of the students determined the personal and employment attitude to continue their higher studies.
Key words: Higher Education, Attitude, Students, Personal, Employment
Analysis of stakeholders’ attitudes towards water markets in Southern Spain
Giacomo Giannoccaro, Verónica Pedraza and Julio Berbel
Abstract
This research examines stakeholders’ perceptions of and preferences for water markets in agriculture, focusing on the likely barriers that might refrain them from participating in such markets. The research was carried out on the Guadalquivir River Basin and involved semi-quantitative methods, combining a structured survey and focus group discussions. A very simple questionnaire was administered to each irrigation stakeholder (i.e., managers, water right holders and non-holders). The main result is that stakeholders will only keep selling water seasonally as the rights remain linked to the land. Nonetheless, some relevant differences among stakeholders were found. Managers seem to be more interested in selling water than farmers. Another important discrepancy was found between water rights holders and non-holders. Access to a water rights system, types of existing infrastructure, and legal and administrative aspects are also important factors influencing the acceptability of water trading in the study area. These results might be helpful to policymakers who are currently evaluating the potential for water markets in Europe and have little observable market data to work with.
Key words: water markets; irrigation; stakeholders’ attitudes; Guadalquivir River Basin
“The Mad”, “The Bad”, “The Victim”: Gendered constructions of women who kill within the criminal justice system
Siobhan Weare
Abstract
Women commit significantly fewer murders than men and are perceived to be less violent. This belief about women’s non-violence reflects the discourses surrounding gender, all of which assume that women possess certain inherent essential characteristics such as passivity and gentleness. When women commit murder the fundamental social structures based on appropriate feminine gendered behaviour are contradicted and subsequently challenged. This article will explore the gendered constructions of women who kill within the criminal justice system. These women are labelled as either mad, bad or a victim, by both the criminal justice system and society, depending on the construction of their crime, their gender and their sexuality. Symbiotic to labelling women who kill in this way is the denial of their agency. That is to say that labelling these women denies the recognition of their ability to make a semi-autonomous decision to act in a particular way. It is submitted that denying the agency of these women raises a number of issues, including, but not limited to, maintaining the current gendered status quo within the criminal law and criminal justice system, and justice both being done, and being seen to be done, for these women and their victims.
Key words: gender; women; murder; agency; battered woman syndrome; infanticide; victim; mad; bad
 [Full text-PDF]
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1120-1125 |
The role of micro financial institutions on the growth of Smes in Kenya:A case study of micro financial institutions in Kisi town
Kepha Osoro, Dr Willy Muturi
Abstract
The paper was to investigate the role the micro financial instititutions(MFIs)play in assisting small and medium enterprises(SMEs) grow in Kisii Town. The specific objectives were: To establish the role of credit provision on growth of SMEs in Kisii Town, to determine the role of training offered by MFIs in helping the SMEs to grow and role of savings account from MFIs on growth of SMEs in Kisii Town. From the sampling frame a representative sample of 100 respondents were obtained randomly and a survey was conducted on this sample using structured interview schedules. Data from the respondents was analyzed and translated into useful information using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) . Frequency distributions were used to draw conclusions. The study established that most of the businesses obtained credit from MFIs. The study revealed that savings account offered by micro financials assist the enterpreneurs in developing a culture of saving. The survey established that accessibility of training is positively related to growth of SMEs. The study concludes that provision of credit amd training and a cheap savings account helps the growth of SMEs. The study recommends that the government and MFIs to make credit easly available and affordable to the SMEs for them to grow. The study also recommends for accessible financial training from MFIsto influence growth of SMEs. The research further recommends for affordable saving account for savings to avoid dependence of MFIs for their growth.
Key words: Growth, Enterprise,Entrepreneur; Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),Training
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1216-1226 |
Exploring knowledge, attitudes and abuse concerning doping in sport among Syrian Pharmacy students
Mazen El-Hammadi and Bashar Hunien
Abstract
This study aimed to assess pharmacy students’ knowledge about doping substances used in sport, explore their attitudes toward doping and investigate their misuse of doping drugs. A questionnaire was developed and employed to collect data from bachelor of pharmacy (BPharm) students at the International University for Science and Technology (IUST). Two-hundred and eighty students participated in this self-administrated, paper-based survey. Around 90% of the students did not appear to know that narcotics, β-blockers and diuretics were used in sport as doping agents. Additionally, proportions between 60% and 80% considered vitamins, energy drinks and amino acids as substances that possess performance-enhancing effects. The main reason for doping, based on students’ response, was to improve muscular body appearance. The vast majority of students agreed that pharmacists should play a major role in promoting awareness about risks of doping. While students showed negative attitudes toward doping, approximately 15% of them, primarily males, had already tried a doping drug or might do so in the future. More than 60% of the students believed that sports-mates and friends are the most influential in encouraging them to take a doping agent. The study highlights the need to provide pharmacy students with advanced theoretical background and practical training concerning doping. This can be achieved by adopting simple, but essential, changes to the current curricula.
Key words: doping; performance-enhancing substances; drug abuse; pharmacy students
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1227-1239 |
Promoting the everyday: Pro-Sharia advocacy and public relations in Ontario, Canada’s “Sharia Debate”
Jennifer A. Selby
Abstract
Why, in the midst of public debates related to religion, are unrepresentative orthodox perspectives often positioned as illustrative of a religious tradition? How can more representative voices be encouraged? Political theorist Anne Phillips (2007) suggests that facilitating multi-voiced individual engagements effectively dismantles the monopolies of the most conservative that tend to privilege maleness. In this paper, with reference to the 2003–2005 faith-based arbitration debate in Ontario, Canada, I show how, in practice, Phillips’ approach is unwieldy and does not work well in a sound-bite-necessitating culture. Instead, I argue that the “Sharia Debate” served as a catalyst for mainstream conservative Muslim groups in Ontario to develop public relations apparatuses that better facilitate the perspectives of everyday religious conservatives in the public sphere.
Key words: “Sharia Debate”; faith-based arbitration; representation; orthodoxy; advocacy; public relations; Muslims; Ontario; Canada
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1240-1258 |
Water pollution control legislation in Israel: Understanding implementation processes from an actor-centered approach
Sharon Hophmayer-Tokich
Abstract
In the State of Israel, advanced legislation for the management of scarce water resources, including legislation to prevent water pollution, were put in place in the early stages of the State’s formation. Despite that, on-going uncontrolled pollution has deteriorated the quality of water sources for decades, with the main source of pollution being untreated or partially treated domestic wastewater. This has been mainly the result of lack of enforcement of the existing laws. During the 1990s and onwards, a shift to forceful enforcement has been observed and wastewater treatment substantially improved. The paper analyzes the implementation processes of the pollution control legislations (the lack-of and the shift to forceful enforcement) based on an actor-centered approach, using the contextual interaction theory.
Key words: water pollution prevention; pollution control legislation; wastewater management; contextual interaction theory; Israel
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1259-1284 |
The influence of teachers’ creativity, attitude and commitment on students’ proficiency of the English language
Hemaloshinee Vasudevan
Abstract
The intensity of teachers’ creativity, attitude and commitment are considered as key factors in the success of the current educational reform agenda, as it heavily influences the teachers’ willingness to engage in cooperative, reflective and critical practice to develop students’ proficiency or performance in English language. This study examined the effect of creative thinking, creative teaching, creative learning, teachers’ attitude and teachers’ commitment on students’ proficiency in English language. Three hundred and ten teachers at private schools were surveyed for this purpose. The results of this study revealed that creative thinking, creative learning, creative teaching, teachers’ attitude and teachers’ commitment positively and significantly influence the students’ proficiency in English language.
Key words: Students’ Proficiency, Teachers’ Creativity, Attitude, Commitment, creative teaching, teachers’ commitment, students’ proficiency
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1285-1292 |
A study on determinants of student’s attitude towards higher education
V.Maheswari,R.Haridas
Abstract
Higher education has helped the students to realize their career goals and dreams. The present study is to determine the student attitude towards higher education programs. The purpose of survey is to explore attitudes of students and their untouched problems in colleges. This survey investigates final year under graduate students and ascertain the level of attitudes among the students in various factors. Further, the researcher investigated the 625 student's attitudes towards higher education programs at Arts and Science College in Coimbatore city. Likert attitude scale questionnaire was used. The researcher conducted interviews and obtained quantitative a well as qualitative data. The results revealed that the majority of the students determined the personal and employment attitude to continue their higher studies.
Key words: Higher Education, Attitude, Students, Personal, Employment
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1293-1295 |
Analysis of stakeholders’ attitudes towards water markets in Southern Spain
Giacomo Giannoccaro, Verónica Pedraza and Julio Berbel
Abstract
This research examines stakeholders’ perceptions of and preferences for water markets in agriculture, focusing on the likely barriers that might refrain them from participating in such markets. The research was carried out on the Guadalquivir River Basin and involved semi-quantitative methods, combining a structured survey and focus group discussions. A very simple questionnaire was administered to each irrigation stakeholder (i.e., managers, water right holders and non-holders). The main result is that stakeholders will only keep selling water seasonally as the rights remain linked to the land. Nonetheless, some relevant differences among stakeholders were found. Managers seem to be more interested in selling water than farmers. Another important discrepancy was found between water rights holders and non-holders. Access to a water rights system, types of existing infrastructure, and legal and administrative aspects are also important factors influencing the acceptability of water trading in the study area. These results might be helpful to policymakers who are currently evaluating the potential for water markets in Europe and have little observable market data to work with.
Key words: water markets; irrigation; stakeholders’ attitudes; Guadalquivir River Basin
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1296-1311 |
