Studies in Social Science & Humanities

Gender, Wood Energy and Use in Hurungwe District, Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe and Its Determinants

2026-01-29T01:16:34+00:00

The paper argues that there is an intricate relationship existing between gender, wood energy and use. Man, and women are affected differently when it comes to wood energy collection and use. The paper assesses the physical, mental and health status exerted on women, men and children by lack of adequate and energy services. The study used a case study of two villages in Kazangarare area, Hurungwe District which falls under Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West Province. This study revealed complex gender dimensions of wood energy collection and use in rural communities. The researchers observed that the lack of adequate, clean and safe sources/forms of energy affects women more than it affects men. Women, who have a larger population in rural areas, are traditionally expected to make available firewood for domestic use. Women face immense challenges of collecting and using firewood. They suffer from physical, mental and health problems because of over-reliance on firewood.

Sant Sri Sevalal’s Principles for a Peaceful Life

2026-01-29T01:20:40+00:00

Indigenous ethical traditions offer powerful ways to address modern challenges, including peace, justice, and sustainability. Sant Sri Sevalal, a respected spiritual leader among the Banjara people, established moral principles to promote peace, equality, self-control, environmental stewardship, and respect for everyone. This study examines the principles underpinning Sevalal’s vision for peaceful coexistence and how they can advance gender equality, environmental protection, and moral leadership. It examines Sevalal’s 21 precepts of moral principles with respect to honesty, nonviolence, acceptance of others, respect for women, care for nature, clear thinking, and social duty. The article employs a qualitative, interpretive approach, drawing on secondary sources and academic literature, to situate Sevalal’s teachings within broader discussions of indigenous ethics, peace, and sustainability. The research suggests that Sevalal’s ideas provide a comprehensive and practical moral framework for addressing today’s conflicts, inequalities, environmental damage, and moral decline.

Assessment Model and Empirical Study of Students’ STEM Innovation Ability in Virtual Simulation Environment

2026-01-29T01:22:47+00:00

To address the core issue of the “emphasis on operational accuracy but neglect of innovative thinking” and the lack of a scientific quantification model in the application of virtual simulation technology in STEM education, this study aims to construct an assessment system for STEM innovation ability that is compatible with the virtual simulation environment and to verify its effectiveness. The study first combed through the components of STEM innovation ability and the theories of virtual simulation teaching through literature research methods. Combined with the Delphi method (12 STEM education experts, technical engineers, and front-line teachers participated), it determined 12 assessment indicators across four dimensions: “problem discovery, solution design, interdisciplinary integration, and outcome optimization”. Subsequently, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to calculate the weights of the indicators, and a quantification assessment model was constructed by integrating the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation method. An automatic scoring system was also developed to achieve real-time conversion from “operational data to innovation scores”. Finally, 200 students from two middle schools (one urban and one rural) and one vocational college in Ningbo were selected to conduct a comparative experiment over one semester (virtual simulation group vs. traditional teaching group), and SPSS was used for reliability and validity tests and difference analysis.

Study on the Current Status and Cultivation Path of Professional Feelings of General Practice Medical Students

2026-01-29T01:25:11+00:00

Objective: This study investigates the current situation of general practice medical students’ professional feelings from the perspective of professional feelings, discusses the main factors affecting professional feelings, and provides more scientific and reasonable countermeasures for the training of general practice medical students, so that more general practice medical students can go down and stay. Methods: The general practice medical students enrolled in Wenzhou Medical University from 2019 to 2023 were surveyed, and SPSS25.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. Results: The professional feelings of general practice medical students were at an upper moderate level. There were significant differences in professional feelings between gender, grade, motivation for applying and whether they had participated in internship/practice (p<0.05). The professional feelings of boys, juniors, students who voluntarily applied for the exam due to personal interests, and students who participated in internships/practices were significantly higher than other students. There was no statistical significance for variables such as political appearance, student source, household registration type, father’s occupation, annual family income, college entrance examination scores, university academic performance, and whether they had studied medical humanities courses (P>0.05). Gender, grade, and whether they have participated in internships/practices are the main factors affecting students’ professional feelings. Conclusion: Strengthen the value guidance and incorporate the elements of emotional education into the talent training program. highlight practical education and build a “early clinical” practical teaching system; Strengthen humanistic care and build an infiltration emotional cultivation model.

Addiction and Consumption of Cyber Pornography Have Increased Risk Factors and Harmful Effects Among Emerging Adults

2026-01-29T06:19:09+00:00

The internet has revolutionized the human lives globally, and internet access has become easier and more affordable than ever before. The rise of the internet has increased concerns on various cybercrimes, such as child pornography, revenge porn, deepfake pornography, and non-consensual content. Cyber pornography is the creation, distribution, and consumption of pornographic materials, such as obscene writings, pictures, photographs, text, audio, and movies through the internet. It is a fast growing environment due to the absence of any concrete law against it, and its triple-A nature, such as accessibility, affordability, and anonymity. Negative social issues, such as child abuse, violence against women, rape, relationships, family breakdown, inequality, youth crime, promiscuity, and sexually transmitted diseases may develop due to the addiction of cyber pornography. Cyber pornography is now one of the most burning issues in media all over the world. International community has been trying for the safety and welfare of women and children of the world by passing laws regulating international actions.

Resilient Growth Through Cultural Empowerment: Mediatized Reading Practices and Constrained Agency Among Older Accompanying Migrants in China — An Audio‑Mediated Reading Case

2026-02-04T09:51:24+00:00

With the integration of big data, algorithms, and platform infrastructures, mediatized reading is increasingly shaped by platform rules, social relations, and content ecosystems. Audio-mediated reading has become a low-threshold and highly companionable pathway for older adults to access cultural resources, and it is now deeply embedded in short-video and news-feed platforms. Focusing on older accompanying migrants in China, this study draws on in-depth interviews with nine older accompanying migrants in Chengdu and a 30-day micro ethnographic follow-up of one typical case. Using a dissemination-reception analytic framework, we show that older migrants enter audio-mediated reading through the intertwined mediation of adult children, peer word-of-mouth in weak-tie networks, and platform recommendation and incentive mechanisms. In reception, they develop stable preferences for family-ethics narratives, local cultural materials, and nation-centred political and historical content, while constructing a platform-based hierarchy of trust as an everyday risk‑governance strategy. We further find that their agency is not limited to passive exposure: through tactical domestication of time-space arrangements and small scale recreation, some participants shift from receiver to producer. We conceptualize this process as “resilient growth through cultural empowerment”, while also highlighting its structural limits under algorithmic distribution and commercial incentive logics.

Challenges and Countermeasures for Ideological and Political Education of College Students in the Context of the Short Video Trend

2026-02-12T04:39:12+00:00

With the rapid development of the internet and the widespread adoption of mobile smart devices, short-video platforms have gained immense popularity among college students due to their brevity, visual appeal, and immersive nature. However, this phenomenon poses significant challenges to the systematic, authoritative, serious, and relatable nature of ideological and political education. This study analyzes the deep coupling relationship between short videos and ideological and political education for college students from multiple dimensions, including the alignment of media characteristics with educational approaches, the contest for discourse space and ideological ground, the internalization of online behavior and value recognition, and the transformation of knowledge sources and educational evaluation. It systematically elaborates on the challenges posed by short videos to ideological and political education, including undermining its systematic nature, weakening its educational guidance, eroding the authenticity of information, dissolving the seriousness of education, and diluting students’ willpower. On this basis, the study proposes systematic countermeasures across four dimensions: content supply reform, technological algorithm empowerment, discourse expression innovation, and subject competency enhancement. These aim to establish a comprehensive ideological and political education framework characterized by multi-stakeholder participation, balanced emphasis on content and form, and integrated online-offline engagement. The objective is to transform short videos’ dissemination and influence into guiding and shaping power for ideological and political education, thereby enhancing its effectiveness among college students.

Challenges and Opportunities for Integrating into the Belt and Road Initiative After the Changes in Afghanistan

2026-02-12T10:02:37+00:00

Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed, Afghanistan has been willing to join. However, due to the political instability in Afghanistan and the worrying domestic security environment, China has not officially responded to Afghanistan’s accession to the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2021, the Afghan Taliban announced that they would take control of state power and form a new government, and although Afghanistan still faces many challenges, there is a trend of improvement. The first part of this paper discusses the significance of Afghanistan’s accession to the Belt and Road, and then the second part discusses the challenges of integrating into the Belt and Road Initiative after the changes in Afghanistan and some urgent issues that need to be solved. Then discuss the opportunities faced by joining the “Belt and Road” initiative after the changes in Afghanistan, and what are the benefits for achieving domestic development and strengthening cooperation with other countries. Finally, certain policy suggestions are given.