Women’s entry into paid work in India unfolds within dense social arrangements that regulate mobility, time, financial control, and moral legitimacy. Drawing on midline qualitative data from a three-year tracer study across urban Bengaluru and industrial Hosur, this paper examines how women in vocational skilling programmes transition from training into early employment, and how institutional systems interact with gendered household structures to shape that transition.

The study is based on three focus group discussions and 30 in-depth interviews conducted in Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam with women aged 18–40 engaged in beauty therapy, tailoring, data entry, and factory manufacturing. Using an ethnographic lens, the paper centres women’s narratives of negotiation rather than treating empowerment as a linear outcome.

Findings show clear psychosocial shifts between baseline and midline: stronger self-articulation, emerging entrepreneurial aspirations, and greater financial awareness. Peer networks function as informal infrastructure, enabling skill practice, emotional support, and shared mobility strategies. In industrial Hosur, structured systems such as company transport and buddy support significantly eased adaptation and reduced early dropout risk.

Yet structural constraints remain stable. Household permission hierarchies, gendered care burdens, mobility restrictions, and segmented financial authority continue to define the boundaries of participation. Digital financial tools are widely used but not fully understood, producing partial inclusion without autonomy. Empowerment therefore appears as a negotiated and relational process rather than a binary shift.

The paper argues that training acts as a first anchor of autonomy, but durable workforce participation depends on reducing everyday friction: predictable transport, structured workplace integration, and sustained financial handholding. Rather than asking whether skilling “works,” this study examines how empowerment unfolds under constraint and what institutional designs expand women’s feasible choices in contemporary South India.

Introduction:
This study explores how Pakistani singer and author Ali Sethi’s music videos Pasoori (2022) and Rung (2023) employ queer aesthetics to reimagine gender beyond binary logic. In a cultural landscape where queer and transgender lives are socially marginalised and legally endangered, Sethi’s visual art becomes a site of resistance and conceptual transformation.

Methods:
Grounded in Matthew J. Cull’s analytic trans philosophy—particularly his notions of “gender conceptual engineering” and “gender pluralism”—the research adopts an interdisciplinary qualitative framework combining conceptual analysis and visual semiotics. Through close reading of mise-en-scène, embodiment, sound, and colour, the study interprets how these videos function as forms of “ecumenical engineering,” modifying cultural representational devices to host plural meanings of gender.

Results:
Findings indicate that Pasoori and Rung challenge both heteronormative and homonormative frameworks by queering traditional South Asian motifs such as Sufi mysticism, truck art, and Mughal design. These works transform aesthetic codes—costume, choreography, and lighting—into political tools of visibility and epistemic repair. Sethi’s visual language enacts what Cull terms “concepts for the transition,” creating conceptual and affective infrastructures for livable gender identities within restrictive sociocultural conditions.

Conclusions:
The study concludes that Sethi’s videos operate as acts of conceptual and visual resistance. They exemplify how popular music can function as cultural philosophy—reengineering gender concepts toward inclusivity, affective justice, and queer futurity in Pakistan and beyond.

Although theIndonesian Reformation era initiated by the 1998 democratic transition was expected to open the floodgates of political inclusivity. The landscape of the 2024 General Election reveals that women's substantive participation still faces serious challenges. This study aims to investigate the dynamics of women's leadership in Indonesia, specifically focusing on female candidates and elected officials contesting in the 2024 executive and legislative elections. Despite decades of democratic consolidation, these female leaders remain under the "shadow of gender," a metaphor for deeply rooted structural and cultural patriarchal bias. Using qualitative methods with a case study approach of several female leaders at the regional and national levels, this study analyzes the dual barriers they face: internal barriers from masculine political parties and external barriers from socio-cultural stereotypes. The study's findings indicate that despite the implementation of affirmative action policies, women's leadership in the 2024 election cycle is often trapped in kinship politics (political dynasties) as a recruitment shortcut, rather than based on genuine meritocracy. Furthermore, media narratives and public expectations still place women within a moral double standard not applied to male leaders. This study concludes that democracy in Indonesia is not yet fully inclusive, and that perceived gender equity remains procedural rather than substantive. There is a need for electoral system reform that allows women to gain greater self-empowerment, alongside improvements within political parties through meritocracy and extensive political education to eliminate the shadow of gender bias, ultimately fostering an egalitarian democracy.

This study investigates how perceived job insecurity shapes trade union membership within a South African Higher Education Institution (HEI), with a specific emphasis on the role of gender. Drawing on Psychological Contract Theory and Social Exchange Theory, the study examines how gendered experiences of work influence feelings of insecurity, perceptions of fairness, and employees’ reasons for seeking union protection. A qualitative research design was adopted to explore employees’ lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants, four females and four males, across both permanent and contract job categories. Data were analysed thematically to identify gendered patterns in job insecurity, psychological contract breach, and motivations for joining trade unions. The findings show that job insecurity is deeply gendered. Female participants consistently reported greater vulnerability, even when occupying permanent positions. They described higher levels of uncertainty, heightened awareness of organisational restructuring, and increased exposure to unfair or unilateral managerial decisions. These experiences intensified feelings of psychological contract breach and eroded trust in the employer. Consequently, women were more likely to view the trade union as an essential source of protection, advocacy, and stability. Male participants acknowledged insecurity but perceived it as less personally threatening, resulting in weaker pressure to join or rely on unions. The study concludes that gender significantly shapes how job insecurity is experienced and how employees respond to it. Women’s heightened sense of vulnerability strengthens the pathway between job insecurity and trade union membership. These findings highlight the need for gender-responsive organisational practices and reinforce the vital role of unions in safeguarding those who feel disproportionately insecure in the workplace.

This paper critically examines the pervasive influence of contemporary "aesthetic culture" within digital popular culture on social media in reshaping modern womanhood, where femininity is performed and disciplined. Specifically, the study investigates how three interconnected micro-trends: the "Clean Girl" aesthetic, "Matcha Girlie," and "Stanley Cup" culture construct a new form of femininity that frames rigorous self-regulation as empowering self-expression.

Drawing on critical feminist theory, including concepts of disciplinary power (Foucault and Bartky), postfeminist sensibility (Gill), neoliberal feminism (Rottenberg), and commodity feminism (Goldman), this research argues that this digital landscape constitutes a "Disciplined Aesthetic". This architecture regulates women’s bodies by internalizing the social media gaze, turning self-surveillance into a pleasurable act of self-care. Through an empirical analysis of Instagram reels and TikTok content, the paper demonstrates how documented routines such as the "6 AM morning routine" and specific consumption habits are codified as moral virtues and markers of success.

The paper concludes that these trends function as a postfeminist and neoliberal disciplinary regime. By translating political needs into psychological imperatives for "confidence" and "wellness," they effectively depoliticize feminist discourse. Ultimately, these aesthetics redirect female ambition away from structural critique and toward individualised, profit-driven self-management, reinforcing the status quo of late-stage capitalism where identity is reduced to marketable products and women are defined by what they buy rather than who they are

Background: This study aims to explore the latent categories of mobile phone dependence and self-control among sub-healthy urban adolescents and their association with Baduanjin practice. The findings seek to provide an empirical basis for preventing mobile phone addiction, enhancing self-control, and improving the sub-health status of urban youth.

Methods: Using a multi-stage cluster sampling method, 513 sub-healthy urban adolescents with regular Baduanjin exercise habits in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, were surveyed between September and October 2025. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was employed to identify subgroups of mobile phone dependence and self-control. Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationship between the two primary variables, while Chi-square tests analyzed demographic variations across the identified profiles. Finally, multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the associations between these latent profiles and Baduanjin practice frequency.

Results: Four distinct latent profiles were identified: Low Dependence-Moderate Control (n=116, 22.6%), Moderate Dependence-Low Control (n=198, 38.6%), High Dependence-No Control (n=150, 29.2%), and No Dependence-High Control (n=49, 9.6%). Significant differences in profile distribution were observed across gender, age, ethnicity, household income, and academic achievement (P < 0.05). After controlling for demographic variables, logistic regression (using Low Dependence-Moderate Control as the reference) showed that Baduanjin exercise was negatively associated with the Moderate Dependence-Low Control (OR = 1.932) and High Dependence-No Control (OR = 1.709) groups, while showing a strong positive association with the No Dependence-High Control group (OR = 109.721, P < 0.01).

Conclusions: The impact of Baduanjin exercise varies across different latent profiles of mobile phone dependence and self-control in sub-healthy urban adolescents. Tailored Baduanjin intervention programs should be developed for different adolescent subgroups to effectively promote their physical and mental well-being.

Illicit cigarette smuggling remains a persistent challenge for crime control and justice systems due to its economic profitability, organised networks, and evolving operational methods. In Malaysia, the smuggling of untaxed cigarettes contributes to substantial revenue losses while also raising concerns about organised crime, regulatory enforcement, and public health. Responding to ongoing debates within criminology about “what works” in crime prevention and policing, this study examines how illicit cigarette smuggling operates at the local level and how enforcement actors perceive the effectiveness and limitations of current responses. This research adopts a qualitative case-study approach, focusing on Kuala Selangor, a coastal district identified as vulnerable to contraband activities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten informants, including enforcement officers and community members with knowledge of local smuggling activities. The data were analysed using thematic analysis to explore drivers of smuggling, the role of digital technologies in facilitating illicit trade, and challenges faced by policing and enforcement agencies. Findings suggest that illicit cigarette smuggling is sustained by economic incentives, strong consumer demand for low-cost tobacco products, and logistical opportunities in semi-rural coastal areas. Participants also highlighted the increasing use of digital communication platforms to coordinate distribution and sales. Enforcement challenges reported include limited manpower, technological constraints, and inter-agency coordination issues. These findings provide qualitative insights into the dynamics of illicit trade and highlight considerations for improving policing and crime-prevention strategies in digitally mediated contraband markets.

The increasing adoption of algorithmic and data-driven technologies by law enforcement agencies is reshaping the contours of justice and accountability in India. This paper investigates the intersection of artificial intelligence, predictive policing, and constitutional morality, focusing on how automation in surveillance and crime prevention interacts with fundamental rights under the Indian Constitution. Drawing from landmark judgments such as K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) 10 SCC 1 and People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (1997) 1 SCC 301, this study critically examines privacy, proportionality, and due process as evolving principles of digital-age jurisprudence. Through doctrinal and comparative analysis, it evaluates the risks of bias, opacity, and overreach in predictive policing systems, particularly in contexts involving marginalized and minority populations. This paper situates India’s experience within global debates on AI governance, digital constitutionalism, and human rights, highlighting the challenges of embedding ethics and transparency within technologically mediated state functions. It concludes by proposing a policy framework rooted in constitutional accountability, algorithmic explainability, and human oversight, ensuring that the modernization of law enforcement does not erode the democratic promise of justice. This work underscores that true technological progress in policing must remain subordinate to constitutional ideals of liberty, equality, and dignity. It further calls for capacity-building and judicial training to ensure that the legal system evolves in tandem with emerging technologies and ethical standards.

Introduction:
In transitional societies, formal judicial systems often struggle to address crimes with gendered dimensions, particularly in contexts of institutional fragility and social bias. Women and marginalized groups frequently face barriers to justice, reflecting broader social inequalities. This study explores how gender dynamics shape judicial responses and influence access to justice in transitional legal environments.

Methods:
A qualitative legal analysis was conducted, combining case studies of gender-related crimes, comparative review of transitional judicial systems, and document analysis of policies, court rulings, and civil society initiatives. A normative approach was employed to assess how informal community mechanisms complement formal legal processes, and how social norms and systemic biases influence legal outcomes.

Results:
Findings reveal persistent gaps in formal judicial responses, including underreporting of sexual and domestic offenses, procedural delays, and inconsistent application of protective measures. Community-based interventions, restorative justice programs, and gender-sensitive advocacy demonstrate measurable improvements in access, victim protection, and societal recognition of human rights. These mechanisms serve as effective complements to formal law, bridging legal and social gaps in transitional contexts.

Conclusions:
Achieving equitable justice requires integrating formal judicial procedures with community-driven initiatives, emphasizing gender sensitivity and social equity. Recognizing and institutionalizing these complementary mechanisms can enhance rule of law, strengthen transitional justice frameworks, and ensure protection for vulnerable populations. Transitional societies benefit from a pluralistic legal ecosystem where law, society, and gender dynamics interact to produce more inclusive and effective justice outcomes.

The growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) in policing is reshaping discussions on crime prevention and public safety, particularly in emerging digital governance contexts such as Nigeria. While AI-driven tools such as predictive analytics and facial recognition are often promoted as solutions for improving efficiency in law enforcement, their potential social implications for public trust and community relations remain underexplored.

This study adopts a qualitative approach, drawing on policy documents, media reports, and secondary literature on digital surveillance and policing practices in Nigeria. Through document analysis, the paper examines how the introduction and prospective use of AI-enabled policing tools may influence public perceptions of safety, surveillance, and institutional trust.

Findings suggest that in contexts where governance frameworks are weak or insufficiently transparent, the adoption of AI in policing is likely to heighten perceptions of surveillance and social control, particularly among already vulnerable populations. This may reduce public trust and weaken community cooperation with law enforcement institutions. However, the analysis also indicates that where policies emphasize transparency, accountability, and community engagement, the risks associated with AI-driven policing can be mitigated, thereby improving public confidence.

The paper argues that the effectiveness of AI in policing within Nigeria will depend less on technological capability and more on the strength of institutional safeguards and participatory governance structures. It highlights the need for inclusive policy frameworks that integrate public input into the design and oversight of such technologies.

By situating AI policing within broader debates on governance, trust, and digital justice, this study challenges the assumption that technological innovation inherently enhances security. It concludes that sustainable public safety in Nigeria will depend on balancing innovation with legitimacy, accountability, and respect for civil liberties.