Though they possess extensive traditional craft skills, the cost of transactions to the larger markets is a higher constraint for rural women artisans, and this impacts their income generation and financial security. As digital technologies and online commerce have become increasingly widespread, online marketplaces are seen as a potential way of increasing market scope and enhancing economic outcomes. This study emphasises women artisans of peri-urban areas who are engaged in producing eco-friendly handicrafts like water-hyacinth-based crafts, and how this can be supplemented by digital entrepreneurship as a source of income. While some past work has focused on women’s entrepreneurship or digital commerce, few works have looked at the role of digital marketplaces as an empowering tool for rural eco-artisans producing sustainable products. Qualitative phenomenological research was used, drawing on primary and secondary data; semi-structured interviews with rural women artisans were used to collect data. The results show that artisans are highly dependent on the training organisation for marketing and selling their products, and that the absence of digital awareness and agency also hinders them from selling their products themselves. The study underscores the need for training of women artisans and institutional support to improve their digital skills so that they can play an active role in the digital economy. This study contributes to the existing literature on sustainable rural development by demonstrating the positive impact of training on women’s economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods. The findings show that there is room for improvement in supporting rural women entrepreneurs in the long run, through investment in digital literacy programmes, capacity building, and specific policy measures.
The article discusses the location where a private, confidential meeting of the Sanhedrin took place in Jerusalem to decide on the death of Jesus. This location was not the "palace of the high priest"–Caiaphas, at the time–as the evangelist Matthew writes, but rather a house (belonging to Caiaphas) situated on a hill just south of Jerusalem, known by ancient tradition as the Hill of Evil Council. Maria Valtorta (1897–1961) –an Italian mystic and writer– also recounts this event, in great detail, in her major literary work L’Evangelo come mi è stato rivelato (The Gospel as it was revealed to me, EMV), a “gospel” considered apocryphal. The alleged meeting took place on the night between Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18, in the year 34. The text of an earlier episode, dating to the morning of December 3, 33, makes it possible to pinpoint the location of Caiaphas' country residence, exactly where Tradition places it. Other details in the text make it possible to determine the time of day. Judas likely went to Caiaphas’ house between 8:00 and 9:00. As he hurried toward Caiaphas’ house, Judas passed near lepers. The EMV contains numerous references to lepers residing near Jerusalem– specifically in the Hinnom and Kidron Valleys. A comparison between the topographical features of the Kidron area as is today and those described by Maria Valtorta reveals striking correspondences. Braudel’s concept of “longue durée” is evident here, because certain topographical elements have remained likely unchanged for 2,000 years. In conclusion, Caiaphas’ country residence–a private house–was located on the Hill of Evil Council, as Tradition holds and as my investigations, based on details from the EMV, confirm.
Games have always been more than entertainment, offering an opportunity to work on cognitive and mental skills. The study looks into the effects of games in online and offline games, which are chess, a turn-based, strategic board game; football, a team game; and FIFA, a fast-paced football simulation video game, on three cognitive abilities, which include attention, cognitive flexibility, and spatial awareness. A sample of 70 respondents that consisted of teenagers, young adults, and adults who had at least four months of gaming experience was studied. The structured questionnaire with three validated scales, including an adapted Attention subscale (ATTC), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, and the Spatial Ability Instrument, was used to collect the data. Independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to conduct statistical analysis. There was a significant difference in the scores of the virtual chess players on attention measures, which supported the concept that turn-taking games based on strategy are useful in enhancing sustained attention. By contrast, the trend of increased spatial awareness was observed in FIFA players, but the differences were not statistically significant. The two groups did not differ significantly with respect to cognitive flexibility, which implies that both categories of gameplay increase adaptability and cognitive skills in a similar way. The amount of time taken in playing the two games was positively correlated with improvements in the three cognitive domains. These results outline the cognitive benefits that are distinct and supportive of both games in-person and online, adding to the possible development of skills other than being a mere hobby.
Handicrafts have a great potential to provide empowerment opportunities to millions of artisans spread across the length and breadth of the country, as most of the artisans have inherited the art to be converted into an occupation. However, such products are in demand everywhere. The sociological dimensions of handicraft provide insights into how these crafts influence and are influenced by society, tradition, culture, and modernization. Handicrafts are deeply embedded in the culture of India and Odisha. They symbolize the identity of communities, representing their heritage, beliefs, and traditions. Puri is known as Jagannath Dham of Odisha, and most of the people believe in Lord Jagannath. So there are various kinds of Artisans doing different works. So Puri is known as the Handicraft Capital of Odisha. Basically, the researcher has taken Raghurajpur Village of Puri District, where the researcher conducted the research. Most of the people depend upon handicraft work for their livelihood. In the present study, the researcher has taken 107 respondents from Ragurajpur Village of Puri District and focused on understanding handicraft as their livelihood. The researcher found that most of the SC & ST female workers are engaged in this work. Because their family income is not sufficient for them, they are engaged in handicrafts and do this work at home. They also face various problems like headache, joint pain, high blood pressure, and eye problems. They mostly belong to the rural area, and there is no technology to be used in their work in the present era. They face various problems in their daily life, such as a shortage of labor power, difficulties in selling their products, health problems, etc. They do not get the proper value of the products due to the lack of proper marketing facilities. As a result, the intermediaries enjoy the value of the products. They are highly qualified, and the rich artisan only gets facilities, but the small artisan does not get those facilities. Because they have no other source of income to maintain their family, this becomes their only source of livelihood.
As Indian adolescents are increasingly engaged with digital financial systems, concerns have emerged regarding unequal access to financial literacy education and its implications on decision-making behavior. This study examines whether differences in financial literacy exposure across government, private, and low-cost private schools are related to variation in behavioral decision-making among Indian adolescents. Drawing on a behavioral economics framework, this study looks at financial literacy within broader institutional and educational contexts. Using a cross-sectional comparative design, primary data were collected from 120 students across three types of schools through a structured questionnaire and choice-based behavioral tasks assessing present bias, overconfidence, and risk preference. Financial literacy exposure was measured using a composite index capturing curricular content, pedagogical approach, and opportunities for practical financial engagement. The results show significant differences in financial literacy exposure across school types, with higher exposure associated with lower present bias and overconfidence. The findings of the study will give school administrators and policy makers valuable information by demonstrating how institutional differences in schooling significantly shape the behavioral foundations of financial decision-making and stress the importance of application-oriented as well as behaviorally informed financial literacy programmes in Indian schools.
The traditional cultural practices in the contemporary period have gone through certain drastic changes and are rapidly dying a slow and gradual death, as a result of the majoritarian influence and also as a result of the direct impact of globalization, policies of states, or the shifting of lifestyles of the traditional population towards majoritarian culture, which has resulted in this slow and gradual extinction of cultures from the earth. In connection with this, the need of the hour is to preserve our cultural heritage with available resources at hand, and one such tool is Artificial Intelligence (AI). This research examines the contradictory relationship between artificial intelligence and traditional culture: how a modern technology can be employed to maintain ageless customs, practices, and knowledge systems. Technically speaking, AI is generally seen as a disruptive force, and that is where it often begins to appear, but in this case, it actually constitutes a unique chance to keep the cultural heritage safe for the generations to come. This paper explores how AI can be used in many ways for this goal, recognising that any attempt at doing this should never be without ethical consideration. The first application that we would like to mention is their digitization and archiving, where a limited application is required. Recordings of oral histories, songs, and traditional ceremonies can be powered by AI on tools that transcribe audio and, therefore, preserve the original recording in an accessible format. (Nanetti, 2021) Predictive modelling, powered by AI, can anticipate the impact of cultural or environmental changes on traditional practices, enabling proactive strategies for cultural preservation. These insights can inform policy decisions, community-based initiatives, and educational programs aimed at strengthening cultural identity and resilience. A human-centered approach is essential. AI-based cultural preservation projects will depend on community engagement, and empowering the community with AI-based knowledge will help in the process. Such projects should be developed and implemented with regard to local communities and values; therefore, the involvement of local communities in developing and implementing such projects is necessary. The capacity building programs may train the community members on AI tools usage and enable them to claim the domain of cultural preservation efforts, increasing the participation level. We can foster collaboration and knowledge sharing to make sure that AI is not a tool of homogenization or eradication for culture, but a powerful enabler of cultural enrichment and transmission.
The film Dead to Rights, which dramatizes the factual history of the Nanjing Massacre and highlights civilian efforts to preserve evidence of atrocities, has garnered significant international dissemination and critical acclaim. Adopting a cross cultural communication perspective, this article investigates the internal mechanisms underpinning the film’s successful global reception. The analysis is structured across three interconnected dimensions: the historical, the modal, and the narrative. Firstly, the historical dimension examines how narrative credibility is constructed through the multi-source archival cross-verification of historical facts. Secondly, the modal dimension analyzes the film’s multimodal construction, focusing on the synergistic coupling of visual, auditory, and textual elements. Finally, the narrative dimension explores how narrative structure, perspective, and dissemination strategies facilitate the transformation from individual to public memory. These dimensions operate synergistically, not only enhancing the evidentiary force of the film's historical materials but also expanding the cognitive and affective pathways through which international audiences engage with the film. This integrated approach enables Dead to Rights to transcend cultural barriers and effectively promote global communication of a pivotal historical event, thereby offering valuable insights into China’s narrative practices for international dissemination.
The transformation of the main contradiction in Chinese society and the construction of beautiful China required Chinese higher education to cultivate high-quality talents. Therefore, as the main body of higher education implementation, teachers not only needed to have profound professional knowledge, but also strong abilities to accept and apply new knowledge. The education of ecological civilization ideology in the new era was one of the hot topics in current Chinese higher education research, and it was also the main direction of curriculum ideological and political construction. How to organically integrate theories related to ecological civilization into daily professional course teaching and cultivate students’ awareness of ecological civilization has become a focus of attention for college teachers. On the basis of analyzing the existing problems in the current development of ecological civilization education in Chinese colleges, this article discusses how to improve the literacy of Chinese college teachers.
This study examines differences in emotional well-being among 120 elderly individuals aged 60-75 years residing in old-age homes and their own homes in Bhopal, India. Elderly people who have completed secondary education and are cognitively competent are included in the study. Emotional well-being was measured with PERMA-Profiler and interviews. The results from two-way Analysis of Variance showed that the effect of residence types on emotional well-being was significant, but gender and the interaction effect were not significant. By investigating the joint role of gender, residence type, and well-being, the present study makes a contribution to the existing studies about the aging process and psychosocial adjustment. These findings call for the importance of family support systems, community-based care programs, and policies that will result in the improvement of the elderly population’s overall well-being.
This study seeks to examine the socioeconomic, psychological, and cultural aspects of motherhood among urban Indian working women, emphasising the “shadow cost of motherhood.” This pertains to the frequently imperceptible economic and professional sacrifices linked to parenthood. It looks at how career goals, workplace rules, and support systems have changed how mothers think about motherhood and are still changing how they think about it. A qualitative research design was utilised. Demographic data were collected through an online survey (76 respondents), and on the basis of interest and availability, follow-up interviews with 12 participants were scheduled. The participants were equally divided between women who have children (n = 6) and those who do not (n = 6). The responses collected through interviews were analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and codes. Findings revealed six themes among women without children: Family Type and Impact on Motherhood; Desire for Motherhood as Dynamic and Conditional; Career–Motherhood Tension; Economic Rationality of Motherhood; Motherhood and Identity Negotiation; and Redefining Motherhood in Contemporary Contexts. Among women with children, eight themes emerged: Early Socialisation and Parenting Values; Desire for Children; Career–Motherhood Trade-offs; Economic Planning and Financial Consciousness; Agency vs Structural Constraints; Support Systems as Enablers of Motherhood; Redefining Motherhood in Contemporary Contexts; and Stability and Resistance to Change in Motherhood Views. Across both groups, concerns included career disruption, financial burden, identity shifts, and the importance of family support. The study focuses on the need for more supportive workplace policies and social systems to reduce the burden associated with motherhood.
Color operates as a rapid, pre-cognitive signal in brand evaluation, yet the role of color saturation remains insufficiently examined within research on luxury perception. This study positions color saturation as a central visual cue and investigates how varying saturation levels influence consumer perceptions of luxury, purchase appeal, and sustainability in a luxury branding context. Using a quantitative, exploratory research design, data were collected through a structured online survey administered over a two-month period. The sample consisted of 100 respondents with diverse demographic backgrounds and varying degrees of familiarity with luxury perfumes. Participants evaluated three perfume stimuli representing low, medium, and high color saturation. One-way ANOVA and post-hoc comparisons were employed to identify statistically significant perceptual differences across saturation conditions. The findings indicate that high color saturation significantly enhances perceived luxury and purchase appeal, with the highly saturated perfume rated more luxurious and desirable than both low and medium saturation alternatives. No significant differences were observed between low and medium saturation levels, suggesting that moderate saturation does not function as a distinct or intermediary luxury signal. Sustainability perception did not differ significantly across saturation conditions, although slightly higher sustainability associations emerged for less saturated stimuli. These results contribute to consumer psychology and luxury branding literature by empirically isolating saturation as a diagnostic design cue. The study challenges prevailing assumptions that muted palettes universally signal luxury, highlighting the context-dependent power of vivid color intensity. Practically, the findings offer actionable insights for luxury brand managers, particularly within digital-first environments, by demonstrating how saturation choices can strategically shape perceptions of premium value and consumer desirability.
The hierarchical caste system in Indian society dictates status and occupation, and leads to social and moral injustice in society. The caste system, although legally abolished by Article 15 of the Indian Constitution, still continues to shape social and cultural realities, especially in rural areas. By examining anti-caste narratives and the ways they either reinforce or challenge these social structures, this work will attempt to address how cinema has the capacity to shape both public perception and collective responsibility in society. Five films were selected that had been released across years in different languages and with differing popularity. The top twenty reviews on Google Reviews by star rating (5 to 1 stars) for the films chosen - Pariyerum Perumal, Article 15, Sadgati, Homebound, and Masaan - were systematically thematically analysed. The findings showed that, although most reviews had similar opinions no matter the caste or religious background of the respondents, issues like heroism, and an unsimplified depiction of caste-based discrimination in India seemed to be present. For society at large, this paper has found that both general and historically marginalized castes understand the representation of caste in Indian Cinema, though there are some stereotypes and superficial portrayals of historically marginalized castes and religious minorities that still have to be broken instead of constantly reinforced. Increasing the representation of marginalized voices can be incorporated to allow for an authentic portrayal of caste issues, with the necessity of cast and crew belonging to a certain group in order to understand the dilemmas.
Almost from its dawn, Western civilization and culture have displayed an unprecedented knowledge acquisition, inner and social human evolution, and broader social development. Beginning with the rise of the ancient Greek civilization and culture, this development culminated in the Modern and Postmodern Era, particularly with their astonishing, and so promising technoscientific, economic and sociopolitical development. Unfortunately, though, this so hopeful human course did not lead to the fulfillment of all those expectations. On the contrary, besides all humanity’s significant multi-sided progress, human societies are trapped in states of value-related confusion, as well as in conditions of experiential ambiguity and contradiction of their own achievements, leading them to a dystopian situation of high future risks. Based on literature references, and following the course of Western history – as it was further reinforced, developed, and widely established primarily through Western-European colonialism – the present work seeks to identify, highlight and critically discuss potential turning points, that could be considered determinative for the aforementioned dystopian, global situation, which modern societies are trapped in.
The study examines the issues of water supply of Silk Road caravanserais in desert regions of Central Asia. Success in reconstructing the history of water supply of caravanserais can only be achieved on the basis of a comprehensive study of archeology and historical documents. The Silk Road was the world's first trade route, which through desert roads and mountain passes allowed the delivery of silk goods from ancient China to Europe. Water supply of caravanserais in desert conditions, which arose in ancient times in the territory of Central Asia, successfully served for several dozen centuries and, even surviving until the New Time, were used by travelers of caravan routes for practical purposes.
Madagascar is undergoing an existential crisis in which the concentration of power and predatory capitalism have shattered the social contract. Far from being merely a migration of opportunity, the mass exodus of the country’s most dynamic citizen, driven by people who feel they are “dead on their feet”, has become a survival strategy in the face of a state hijacked by the elites. The data is clear: remittances from the diaspora, amounting to 3.8% of GDP, now compensate for the lack of social protection. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, this research sheds light on the mechanisms of this institutional capture and proposes a radical alternative: executive decentralization. By establishing elected provincial presidents, this institutional overhaul, inspired by political realism and Swiss federalism, aims to dilute the grip of capital and make corruption structurally unprofitable. The goal is to restore to the people the means for their emancipation and to restore their trampled dignity.
This study surveyed 118 female commissioned officers in the Zambia Army to investigate the factors influencing their career progression, focusing on key demographics such as marital status, spouse type, age, and education level. The findings revealed that marital status significantly impacted advancement, with 66.07% of married officers reaching senior ranks compared to 17.86% of unmarried officers. Officers married to military personnel had an advancement probability of 87.50%, while those married to civilians had 47.37%. Age played a role, with 89.66% of officers aged 41 and older advancing, compared to none under 25. Education also mattered, as higher qualifications correlated with a 59.65% advancement rate. Logistic regression indicated that unmarried officers had 89% lower odds of advancing, while residing in Lusaka and being married to military spouses increased chances by 40.05 times and 7.41 times, respectively. The study emphasises the need for policies supporting female officers’ career opportunities in the Army.
There is an increasing recognition that aspects such as gender mainstreaming should be part of the New Public Management ostensibly leading to democratic innovation and hopefully greater participation of females within a particular social, political and economic environment. Gender mainstreaming, especially in the more developing countries represents part of the significant changes in public management that encompass democratic participation. This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which an innovative democratic approach, namely gender equity and equality, has been mainstreamed as part of democratic participation in the new public management in the Kenyan Legislature. The study made use of three complementary theories, that is, (1) the democratic innovation theory (Asenbaum, 2021; Cunningham, 2002; Elstub et al., 2016; Elstub & Escobar, 2019; Fung, 2015; Smith, 2005; 2009; 2019); and (2) changing organisational culture (Cameron & Quinn, 2006); both leading to (3) competing values in public administration (Hood, 1991). Findings revealed that there were certain achievements, just as there were challenges, in order to achieve the stipulations of the gender rule in context. This is because despite the two-third gender basis in law, the democratic innovation somewhat largely overlooked the social-cultural context. Subsequently, it is imperative that the social context be taken in to promote participatory democracy, rather than a fixation on democratic innovation.
This study examines the debated and controversial Muslim marital practices of Muta and Misyar, emphasizing their relationship with Islamic family law. Misyar (visitor marriage) has gained conditional recognition among certain Sunni groups, whereas Muta (temporary marriage) is legally sanctioned within Shia jurisprudence. Both practices, however, have generated profound moral and social controversies. Employing a qualitative and interpretive analytical framework, the study investigates how religious authority, social necessity, and gendered interpretations intersect to justify or challenge these forms of marriage. Grounded in feminist legal theory: particularly Islamic feminist jurisprudence, the research advocates for contextual and justice-oriented interpretations of Islamic law while critiquing the gendered assumptions embedded in traditional readings of Sharia. Furthermore, interpretive social theory is applied to explore how religious scholars and activists construct and negotiate meanings surrounding marital legitimacy and morality. Drawing upon legal texts, scholarly literature, and in-depth interviews with Islamic scholars and women’s rights advocates, the findings reveal that both Muta and Misyar emerge from the contextual legal reasoning inherent in Islamic jurisprudence. Yet, these practices simultaneously challenge contemporary ethical norms and social expectations. The study concludes that the ongoing tension between moral responsibility and Sharia-based legality underscores broader debates on gender justice and transformative change within Muslim societies.
This study investigates how diabetes patients construct and share their experiences within an online peer support forum, focusing on the narratives they use to make sense of their condition and cope with its challenges. Using posts from the Sweet Home Diabetes Forum as data, this research employs a narrative analysis framework to identify four predominant narrative types: self-acceptance, education, lifestyle modifications, and social support. The self-acceptance narrative highlights patients' journeys toward acknowledging their diagnosis, building mental resilience, and maintaining a positive outlook. The education narrative emphasizes the importance of acquiring knowledge about diabetes, sharing information, and utilizing diverse resources to better manage the condition. The lifestyle modifications narrative reflects personal efforts to adapt through changes in diet, exercise, medication routines, and glucose monitoring, fostering a sense of control. Finally, the social support narrative underscores the role of family, friends, and online communities in providing emotional encouragement, practical advice, and a sense of belonging. These narratives demonstrate how diabetes patients navigate their experiences, reconstruct their identities, and foster connection through storytelling. The findings underscore the therapeutic value of online forums, offering insights for healthcare professionals to better support patients' emotional and social needs.
