Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Gender Policy In Kazakhstan: A Dual Perspective On Politics And Economics, Elmira Kagazbaeva, Ulzhan Kazybekova, Madina Axakalova

Journal of International Women's Studies

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 …

Undoing Gender Performativities In Nawal El Saadawi’S Woman At Point Zero, Tobe Levin Von Gleichen, U. H. Ruhina Jesmin, Tasnuva Khair

Journal of International Women's Studies

Physician, psychiatrist, and Marxist activist for women’s rights, Nawal El Saadawi (1931-2021) published fiction and non-fiction exposing how a capitalistic, phallocratic social order keeps Egyptian women in thrall to men through violent suppression. Women are exploited by men, who see women as weak and prey on these presumed docile subordinates in a display of masculinity. Deciphering the effects of this gendered performativity through the lens of Judith Butler, El Saadawi’s novel Woman at Point Zero (1977/2015a), or Ferdaous, une Voix en Enfer (El Saadawi, 1977/2007) in French, provides a narrative whose significance is amplified by Butlerian theory. The protagonist, …

10.06.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• Field Fest
• AAAS Membership
• MIG Application Opportunity
• Contest to Promote Safe Lab Practices

Promotion Of Religious Tourism In Pakistan Through Destination Marketing Strategies, Noor-Ul- Huda, Musa Khan, Noman Ahmed Ansari

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The aim of this study is to identify the key factors that attract religious tourists to Pakistan and the strategies that are effective in promoting religious tourism. The paper takes a comprehensive approach to guide Pakistan’s development by evaluating international literature, focusing on religious tourism as a pivotal source of revenue. The study explores diversification prospects, aiming to equip policymakers and tourism authorities with actionable insights. This research establishes the groundwork for realising the economic, social, and cultural potential of religious tourism in Pakistan by studying marketing techniques using a qualitative methodology, examining revival approaches, and investigating cutting-edge communication technologies. …

Volume Cxlv, Number 2, October 3, 2025, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Blood Lines, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Blood Lines (2025), directed by Gail Maurice.

Lived Islam In Films: Faith-Based Resilient Responses Of Syrian Refugees, Jumana S. Al-Ahmad

Journal of Religion & Film

This article provides educators in fields such as Middle Eastern studies, refugee studies, cultural and Islamic studies with a framework from documentaries to challenge stereotypes about Muslim refugees and migrants. Using the framework of lived Islam, the article explores how Syrian Muslim migrants, as seen in documentaries, draw on their faith to build resilience that enables them to continue striving for better lives. Resilience is defined as the ability to overcome challenges and catastrophes, envision solutions, and lead a purposeful life. This article conceptualizes resilience not only as a personal trait but also as a collective tool for survival and …

Monstrous Girls And Celestial Lovers: Fantasy, Fear, And Female Adolescence In The Malayalam Films Ennu Swantham Janakikutty And Njan Gandharvan, Helena Reddington

Journal of Religion & Film

The Malayalam films Ennu Swantham Janakikutty and Njan Gandharvan reimagine figures from Kerala folklore, namely the Yakṣi and the Gandharva, within coming-of-age narratives. Both films position the characters of the Yakṣi and the Gandharva as fantastical figures who usher the young female protagonist into maturity. Rather than offering a pan-Hindu survey, this study focuses specifically on Kerala’s unique reimaginings of these celestial beings, where these figures carry distinct cultural meanings. This interpretive analysis is situated at the intersection of film studies, religious studies, as well as gender and sexuality studies, drawing particularly on feminist theory and critical approaches to vernacular …

Generative Ai In Chinese Esl Students’ Writing Processes: Stages, Methods, And Language Use, Runzhou Shan

Journal of Response to Writing

This paper explores how Chinese ESL students utilize Generative AI (Gen AI) in their writing processes, focusing on the stages of writing, specific methods of use, and language practices. The study was carried out in an English-medium instruction (EMI) environment at a Sino-American university in China. Data were collected through online surveys with 157 participants and follow-up interviews with nine students. Quantitative analysis of the survey data uncovered general patterns, while analysis of the interview data, using Polio & Freedman’s (2017) coding method to identify themes, provided detailed illustrations. Subsequent analysis indicates that students primarily engage with Gen AI in …

Fall 2025 Volume 11 Issue 2: Full Issue

Journal of Response to Writing

No abstract provided.

To Calmly Rest: Frances E. W. Harper’S Sensational Black Disability Poetics, Vivian Delchamps Wolf

English and Creative Writing | Faculty Scholarship

This article argues that Frances E. W. Harper’s poetics generate a broad understanding of disability, one that accounts for entanglements of race and structural debilitation. Drawing on Black disability studies, a field that examines intertwining oppressions of ableism and racism, the article shows how Harper’s poetry challenges expectations that Black people perform strength and resilience while they survive debilitating oppressive systems. Her work resists the reductive association of Blackness with deficiency while refusing to ignore the material effects of racial capitalism, which has long extracted from Black bodies while denying them care and rest. Centering pain and fatigue not only …

Qisas: The Incremental Formation Of Jihad Amidst The Islamic Mujahideen Across The Middle And Near East, Jenny N. Liang

Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History

Since its inception in seventh-century Arabia, Islamic thought and the concept of jihad have been present among Islamic scholars. Nevertheless, despite a history of conflict with Western nations through religious wars in the Near and Middle East, the rapid transformation of Islamic extremism by means of global terrorism in the late twentieth- and early twenty-first century ultimately traces to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of the Mujahideen. Islamic yearning for retribution through strategic retaliation began after December 1979, when Soviet Red Army troops invaded Afghanistan. Following the resolution of World War II and the emergence of a …

Closing The Loop On Textile Waste: Policy, Technology, And Consumer Behavior In Sustainable Fashion, Anthony Amotoe-Bondzie

Collected Student Papers

Textile waste has become one of the most visible consequences of the fashion industry’s linear production and consumption model, where materials are rapidly extracted, transformed, consumed, and discarded. This paper critically examines how sustainable fashion can move beyond isolated recycling efforts toward a more integrated circular economy framework. Rather than treating textile waste as only an end-of-life problem, the study analyzes it as a systems issue shaped by overproduction, weak product design, limited recovery infrastructure, fragmented regulation, and consumer habits that normalize short garment lifespans. The paper argues that closing the loop on textile waste requires coordinated interventions across policy, …

Gonzaga Digital Scholarship & Publishing Newsletter, Fall 2025, Foley Center Library

Foley Library Publications

Volume 2 of the Digital Scholarship & Publishing Newsletter (formerly Gonzaga Institutional Repository Newsletter).

In this issue: 

• Learn about Pure Faculty Profiles
• Find out about the Digital Scholarship Lab @ Foley Library 
• Read about options for publishing OERs
• Explore how your department’s research and scholarship is represented in the IR
• Find out where to go for Copyright and Intellectual Property questions
• Data Management Plan consultations and options for support

Grand Valley Magazine, Vol. 25, No. 1, Fall 2025, Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley Magazine

Grand Valley Magazine is a quarterly publication about Grand Valley State University produced by University Communications since 2001.

甲骨文“本”字試解, Qingyu Du

嶺南學報 Lingnan Journal of Chinese Studies

甲骨文的“本”字，目前學界有釋“垂”、釋“叕”、釋“瓜”等觀點，這些觀點在字形、辭例釋讀方面都存在一些缺陷。本文從“本”的字形特徵入手進行分析，認爲該字應當是“本”之初文，在相關祭祀卜辭中應理解爲人牲的軀榦或下部，或與商代的肢解或腰斬之刑有關。

At present, there are various viewpoints about the “本” character Oracle Bone Inscription, such as the interpretation of “chui 垂”, “zhui 叕”, and “gua 瓜”, these viewpoints have some shortcomings in terms of form and example interpretation. This paper analyzes the form characteristics of “本” and believes that this character should be the initial form of “ben 本”. In related oracle inscriptions, it should be understood as the torso or lower part of a human sacrifice, it may be related to the dismemberment or beheading punishment in the Shang Dynasty.

Underrecognized Classics In Philosophy: Expanding The Depauw Philosophy Curriculum, Ian Smith, Jeremy Anderson, Rich Cameron, Erik Wielenberg, Jen Everett

Annual Student Research Poster Session

The Philosophy Department spent the summer developing a reading list for a future Phil. 200 course that would focus on classics not currently represented in the curriculum. One way we framed our goal was through the question, “what works should students have read by the time they reach their 300 and 400 level philosophy courses?” To this end, a work’s potential to broaden the scope of how I—as a current undergraduate philosophy major—understand my discipline, provided the department with an evaluative perspective to complement that of the faculty.

2025-10-01 Caudill Connection, Morehead State University. Caudill College Of Arts, Humanities And Social Sciences.

Caudill Connection

Caudill Connection newsletter for October of 2025.

Way Kambas National Park: The Human-Wildlife Conflict Success Story Still In Need Of Improvement, Eleanor Lefkowicz

Indonesia: Arts, Religion, and Social Change

This paper investigates the negative interactions between humans and animals in Way Kambas National Park of Sumatra, Indonesia, and the prevention and mitigation tactics the community utilizes. The numerous villages surrounding the National Park suffer from elephant activity damaging their farms, while the elephants are frequently harmed by poaching within the park. Participate observations and interviews concluded that the Way Kambas community responds to human-wildlife conflict with a collaborative effort by locals, government park police, and non-governmental organizations to both deter elephant presence outside of the park and poaching activity within the park, as well as to mitigate the negative …

Helping The Natural World Speak For Itself: Art's Role In Communicating Environmental And Sustainability Concepts In Sydney, Australia, Elizabeth Clark

Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology

Climate change and its broadening scope have made awareness of environmental issues, as well as ways to mitigate them, essential to securing our planet's future. Artistic venues, such as art galleries and even theatres, are becoming increasingly prominent in this conversation due to their ability to engage broad audiences and make scientific concepts more accessible. To understand the effectiveness of artistic efforts in science communication, it is necessary to assess the strategies by which both successful scientific venues, like zoos or natural history museums, and emerging artistic venues in science disseminate information. This project aimed to assess science communication strategies …

The Church And Child Welfare: Exploring Faith-Based Support For Foster, Kinship, Adoptive, And Biological Families, Elizabeth Deagle

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Senior Capstone

The child welfare system relies on foster, kinship, adoptive, and biological families to provide care, stability, and permanency for vulnerable children. Despite their critical role, these families often face complex challenges, including trauma exposure, placement instability, caregiver burnout, socioeconomic and legal barriers, and limited access to supportive resources. Historically, churches and faith-based organizations have played a significant role in caring for orphaned and vulnerable children. This paper examines the unique contribution of the church and faith-based organizations in strengthening child welfare efforts across three dimensions: (1) biblical and theological foundations for caring for vulnerable children and families, (2) trauma-informed ministry …

Ambiguous Bodies: Third Gender Expressions In Ancient Maya Art, Jayme Horne

Theses

This thesis examines the interpretations of Lintels 23, 24, and 25 from Yachilán, Drawing 18 from Naj Tunich, and Stela H from Copán, with a specific focus on third gender expression. These artworks depict figures that blend masculine and feminine attributes, from costuming to actions, to present intentionally ambiguous representations of the body that all ancient Maya people would have understood. Third gender expression is defined through the blending of masculine and feminine signifiers. It is a gender identity for people who do not identify as male or female, but rather as neither, both, or a combination of male and …

Sinclair Lewis Society Newsletter, Vol 34, No. 1, The Sinclair Lewis Society

Sinclair Lewis Society Newsletter

“Every Time Something Big and Stupid Happens in America, Lewis Becomes Popular Again”: A Conference Retrospective, with Notes from a First-Time Visitor to Sauk Centre by Shaun F. Richards

Pickerbaugh’s Rhymes: Another Target of Satire in Arrowsmith by George Killough

In Memoriam: Robert E. Fleming, Father of the Sinclair Lewis Society by Sally E. Parry

Arrowsmith 100 years later: Osterholm Links Lewis’s Novel to Modern Society by Shalon Wilber

Becoming A Writer: A Review of Writers Like Us: My Life with Sinclair Lewis, by Barnaby Conrad, with Barnaby Conrad III by Shaun F. Richards

Sinclair Lewis and the Pulitzer …

Book Review: Evangelism Renewed: The Theological Revisioning Of Evangelism By Henry H. Knight Iii, Mark R. Teasdale

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Rhythms: Music At The University Of Northern Iowa, V44, Fall 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Rhythms: Music at the University of Northern Iowa

Contents:

From the Director --- 3
Community Outreach --- 8
Amplify Alumni --- 11
Mariachi in Iowa --- 12
Jazz Notes --- 13
Scholarship Benefit Concert --- 14
Student Awards and Honors --- 16
Student Spotlight --- 18
Emeritus Faculty News --- 19
Faculty News and Activities --- 20
Faculty Spotlight --- 23
New Faculty and Retirements --- 24
Alumni News and Updates --- 26
Alumni Spotlight --- 27
From the Foundation --- 29
Opportunities to Give --- 30
Spotlight Series 2025-26 --- 34
Snapshots --- 35

An Effective And Organized Mentorship Model: Does It Affect The Emerging Leaders’ Call To Ministry And The Longevity Of The Universal Church?, Linda F. Parker

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

The concept of mentorship is undeniably a fundamental tool for personal and professional growth. Statistics show that mentorship has a vital impact on both individuals and organizations. Could having a strategic mentoring plan in ministry make a meaningful difference for individuals and the Universal Church? This dissertation has explored the effects of mentorship and models based on experiences and strategies from those who identify as ministry leaders. For the Apostle Paul, Christ's life serves as a model and example, as he states, “Follow my example, as I follow Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). These words are the exact phrase that Jesus …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 38. Alfred Russel Wallace's "Revolt Of Democracy": A Critical Analysis Of Early 20th Century Labor Theory And Its Contemporary Relevance, James Williams, Charles H. Smith Editor

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

This article examines Alfred Russel Wallace’s political treatise The Revolt of Democracy (1913), analyzing his theoretical framework for addressing labor unrest and economic inequality in early 20th-century Britain. Wallace's work presents a comprehensive critique of competitive capitalism and proposes systematic government intervention to address structural poverty. Through close textual analysis and comparison with contemporary UK labor conditions, this study evaluates the enduring relevance of Wallace's economic theories and policy prescriptions. The analysis reveals significant continuities between early 20th-century and contemporary debates about living wages, government employment standards, and wealth redistribution, while highlighting both the prescience and limitations of Wallace’s analytical …

Control And Cuckoldry In “Calypso” And “Circe”, Corinne Lafont , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Sex, femininity, and dirt in James Joyce’s Ulysses form what Julie Kristeva calls “abjection.” The abject is "the border where exact limits between same and other, subject and object, and even beyond these, between inside and outside, and disappearing—hence an Object of fear and fascination,” (Kristeva 1980, 185) evident by Leopold Bloom’s identity as a cuckold. Alternately approached with loss, disconnection, and anxiety, the text reveals that Leopold Bloom craves his abject to distance himself from physical and emotional rejection. “Calypso” establishes how his abject operates as a defense mechanism to self-defile before others can approach any realized sexual bond. …

Ursinus Magazine, Fall 2025, Gundolf Graml, Steve Thomas, Jennifer L. Post-Whisted, Alyssa Kratz, Brad Drexler, Connor Donohue, Michelle Yurko

Ursinus Magazine, 1995–Present

Introducing Interim President Gundolf Graml • Transfer agreement signed with DCCC • New Native American and Indigenous Studies minor • Students get front-row seat to optical innovation • Study abroad expands in Ireland • Alumna earns fellowship from French government • Softball roots, Phillies dreams • New Spirit Store now open • Ursinus' youngest student: Making headlines worldwide • Alumna earns Fulbright award • Ursinus, America250PA support PA scholars • Alumni join Ursinus Board of Trustees • When generosity meets vision • Ursinus named to Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll • Field hockey team explores South Africa • Rankings …

Examining Stress And Anxiety Levels Among Undergraduate Music Majors At The University Of South Carolina, Elise F. Halbig

Senior Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the stress and anxiety levels among undergraduate music majors at the University of South Carolina (USC) and identify potential stressors that might be unique or more prevalent among that specific population. To evaluate this, a questionnaire consisting of 42 questions was administered to participants. Most of the questions were carefully developed by the researcher; however, the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al, 1983) was used to examine participants' stress levels, and 13 selected questions from the Burns Anxiety Inventory (Burns, 1989) were used to examine their anxiety levels. A total of 45 …