OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open access peer-reviewed journal
Sociological Investigation into Women’s Sexual Dissatisfaction Mechanism
Taghi Azadarmaki a , Meysam Haddadi Barzoki b
a Sociology Department, the University of Tehran, Iran
b Research in sociology, the University of Tehran
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 12-20, 2012.
Abstract: In this paper, dissatisfied couple’s sexual relations through women’s viewpoint is investigated. Many researches have been conducted abroad on marital sexual dissatisfaction but there is absolute vacuum in this regard due to the sensitivity of research field and lack of information in Iran. There are two basic approaches to sexual dissatisfaction: the first one knows sexual dissatisfaction as the cause for marital dissatisfaction; the second asserts marital dissatisfaction leads to sexual dissatisfaction, this study aims at understanding the cause and mechanism of woman’s sexual dissatisfaction and it’s relation with marital dissatisfaction. This research has organized by the use of social constructionism approach and grounded theory for holistic and deep understanding of phenomenon. Theoretical sampling, analytic induction and theoretical saturation are the guidelines of participants’ selection. Findings drawn from the interviews with 20 severely sexually dissatisfied woman indicate a discrepancy between men’s attitude to sexual relationships and women’s. This difference builds a sense of sexual inequality in women. This is accompanied by great importance of sexual gratification compared to past, or sexualization of marital relationship and result women’s sexual dissatisfaction. Men’s sexual non-commitment to exclusive sexual relationship and failure due to a kind of men’s denial of success of sexual relationship intensifies the satisfaction. In the first place, this failure leads to a sort of emotional dilemma and sublimation of emotional-sexual need into sheer sexual need and in the second to adaptation to present conditions and finally to a sense of loneliness. By and large at first glance marital dissatisfaction seems to be the cause for sexual dissatisfaction then this relation becomes reciprocal.
Keywords: Emotional dilemma, certificatory marriage, men’s denial emotional gratification, sexual dissatisfaction, sexual relationship
Developing a Model to Predict Pedestrian Movement in Urban Spaces by Incorporating Space Syntax and EP;
Case Study Khazaneh Neighborhood in City of Tehran-Iran
Mostafa Abbaszadegan a, Hossein Babapoor b
a,b University of Science and Technology, Iran.
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 22-38, 2012.
Abstract: Predicting intensity and various uses of urban open spaces is an important urban open space management issue. Also, it is an important challenge for urban planners and designers to pursue their goals in urban environment. In a research that examines the use of urban spaces in zone 16 of city of Tehran, the capital city of Iran a predictive model has been developed using Space Syntax method and Evolutionary Polynomial Regression. An encounter model has been used to survey the pedestrian movement in the city.
Several research experiments indicated that space syntax technique can develop models that can interpret and predict pedestrian movement in regard to urban morphology, regardless of this capability it has some shortcoming, that is not able to specify the effect of all dependent and independent variables and their combination as a factor on pedestrian movements. To overcome this shortcoming Evolutionary Polynomial Regression has been utilized.
Keywords: Space Syntax, and Evolutionary Polynomial Regression, pedestrian, urban space, Tehran
Religious Identity and Mass Media: The Situation of Women in Iranian Cinema following the Islamic Revolution
Mehri Bahar a
a Social Science Faculty, University of Tehran, Iran.
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 36-45, 2012.
Abstract: Mass media has had a significant role in today’s Iranian society. The presence of active artists and their features is also very important in this era. Presently, the presence of women as actresses or film producers has been a significant factor in the Iranian cinema. Throughout the pre-revolution era, cinema had treated women more like an objects or commoditiesy, and because of this, they disappeared from cinema during the few years following the revolution. The role of women before the revolution was very limited and unnoticeable and they merely played the role of a mother or wife. A comparison of their role back in those years with the roles that they play presently is quite worthy of mention.
The importance of women in Iranian cinema can be traced to various cultural and social circumstances, which are known also as: (a) The social, economical, political and developmental programs in Iran have enhanced the educational and didactic levels, and the public are more literate than before;, hence, social knowledge has increased. This has been among the issues considered after the Islamic revolution (b) Because of the enhancement of the level of religious teachings following the revoution, women are now more able to participate in social affairs and fewer prohibitions are enforced on their presence in social arenas. This has made it easier for them to perform their roles as social actors in the religious cinema and films made on the Iran-Iraq war, commonly called the “Sacred Defense,”, and to face fewer negative reactions from their families. Thus, they have had an equal chance as compared to their male counterparts to perform in these films. (c) The present article studies the position of women and the attitudinal changes that have occurred in Iranian cinema following the revolution (especially the cinema during war). The method used in this study is based on the competence of women’s presence in Iranian films throughout time. For this purpose,the women presentation’s level the level of presentations made of women, their roles, and the disputes and negotiations that have been made throughout time hasve been compared with mens. (since the Islamic Revolution) . This article has made a comparesison among a fewtwo movies , with .The results have provendemonstrating that women have appeared emerged as active participants in this art form after a period of silence and estrangement from cinema and the Fajr (war) movies (war movies). This reproducing of role creation has transformed the religious cinema and movies on the sacred defense and also the political ones. In other words, Iranian women have had an opportunity to prove themselves in the religious and epic cinema as well as in the social and family centered cinema,where as in both the marginal and the central roles.
Bus Rapid Transit System: A Milestone for Sustainable Transport: A Case Study of Janmarg BRTS, Ahmedabad, India
Anuj Jaiswal a, K. K. Dhote b, R. Yadu Krishnan c, Devansh Jain d
a b c d Department of Architecture & Planning, MANIT, Bhopal, India
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 44-62, 2012.
Abstract: A sustainable transport system should provide mobility and accessibility to every urban neighbourhood in a safe, sound and environment-friendly way of transport. There is increase in the use of personal transport in the urban area. The rapid growth in the number of motor vehicles has resulted in severe traffic congestion and air pollution in many cities of the country.
One of the most important technical innovations in the transportation field has nothing to do with vehicle technology or alternative fuels. Rather, they involve the way bus services are operated and infrastructure is used to optimize their speed, comfort, and capacity. The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has helped to popularize a term for such measures: Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT.
Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. The goal of these systems is to approach the service quality of rail transit while still enjoying the cost savings and flexibility of bus transit.
Ahmadabad has become the first city in South Asia to receive award for sustainable transport system. It has bagged for successful implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. This Paper examines the impact of BRT System on Ahmadabad’s transport sector and the changes that can be brought about by introduction of BRT System in other cities. BRTS Ahmadabad has improved access for local riders and advanced public transportation systems while reducing the environmental impacts of transportation. Moving people quickly, at a low cost, with reduced greenhouse gases and air pollutants helps cities grappling with rapid growth, congestion and environmental concerns.
Keywords: Bus Rapid Transit, Janmarg, Sustainable Transport, Advanced Public Transportation Systems.\
Lake Chad: Meanwhile Waiting for the Safeguard, Stopping on the Management of the Potentialities of the Area
Rititingar Appolinaire a , Abakar Mahamat Soumaïne b , Abdoulaye Borgoto c , Andjaffa Djaldi Simon d
a Department of Biology, University of N’Djamena, Chad.
b, c Interdisciplinary Centre for Research and Action as regards Chad’s Development, Chad.
d Department of Moderns Letters, University of N’Djamena, Chad.
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 64-97, 2012.
Abstract: The basin of the Lake Chad is the vastest endoreic basin of the world with 2.381.635 km2, that is to say 8% of the surface of the African continent. The countries concerned are: l’ Algeria, Cameroun, Niger, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, Sudan and Chad. However the zone d’ intervention of the Commission of the Basin of the Lake Chad indicated here ‘conventional Basin’ covers after its extension in 1985 (5th Summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), a surface of 967.000 km2. It represents the active catchment area. The Basin of the Lake Chad is subdivided in several more or less distinct natural units: the northern area, alluvial basins and solid masses. The basin hydrologic active relates to only the southern part. The hydrographic network is primarily made up of the Logon-Chari river, Mandara mounts and Komadougou Yobe. The Lake Chad is a zone presenting of specificities which are clean for him: a rich potentiality economic, cultural, demographic, fauna, flora, etc. It is to ensure an equitable management of these resources that was born the Lake Chad Basin Commission in 1964 in Fort- Lamis (current N’Djamena), to ensure the follow-up of the laid down objectives and to confirm thus the lake like frontier element between bordering countries cities mentioned above. However, the resources of the Lake Chad are with more a title, source of tensions, even conflicts between communities and interstates. Thus, at the time when that and there, the calls continue being launched in favor of the rescue of this ecological jewel, because of its disappearance certain due to climate warming and others, it is advisable to make the assessment of management of these resources and even in what this project will be benefit to the bordering countries of this area or will be a potential sources of conflicts.
This study will present the Lake Chad and the resources which compose it. It will harness with various conventions which government the management of these resources. It will interest in the various conflicts which occurred during management of these potentialities. Lastly, it will question on the project which consists in saving the lake with water of the river Ubangi (Central African Republic), RCA.
Keywords: Conflicts, Lake, Management, Potentialities, Rescue.
Sustainable Production Research: Awareness, Measures and Development
Björn Johansson a, Andreas Dagman a, Emma Rex b, Thomas Nyström a,
Maria Knutson Wedel c, Johan Stahre a, Rikard Söderberg a
a Department of Product and Product Development, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.
b Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.
c Department of Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 96-105, 2012.
Abstract: This paper takes its standpoint in the hypothesis that awareness of sustainability is the key to create sustainable products, and that this awareness begins already at research level. It describes the development and follow-up of a method for increasing sustainability awareness in sustainable production research. Several activities were carried out to increase the awareness. Firstly) workshops with researchers and industry on sustainability. Secondly) development of measures based on literature and interviews with researchers. Thirdly) monitoring of awareness through concept maps. Progress was evaluated by comparing the awareness of the population when the project started in 2010, and then again in 2011. The results show that the participants had shifted their view from primary emphasizing technology towards a more balanced view of sustainability where social aspects were more often taken into consideration. According to the concept maps methodology, sustainability awareness in the population increased with 25%.
Keywords: Concept Map; Sustainability Awareness; Sustainability Metrics; Sustainability Research; Sustainable Production
Conceptual Assessment of Independent Electricity Consumer System (Iecs) for Sustainable Development
Musarrat Jabeen a, Adnan Ahmad Dogar b, Muhammad Zahid c
a, b, c Department of Development Studies, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbotabad, Pakistan.
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 106-110, 2012.
Abstract: This paper traces convoluted process of the energy crisis of Pakistan, the practices behind such process, and to evaluate perceptive to explain the prospective of Independent Electricity Consumer Systems.
Key words: Independent Electricity Consumer System, Sustainable Development
Gaza Reconstruction And Development: The Rubble Removal Project Approach To Poverty Alleviation
Al-Moataz Ahmed Hassan a , Maysara As’ad El-essy b
a, b Department of Architectural Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Alain- United Arab Emirates.
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 110-120, 2012.
Abstract: Towards the end of 2008 Gaza strip witnessed an Israeli-Palestinian armed conflict. Three weeks of fighting had severely damaged the built environment and devastated the local civilians.
As part of the post-conflict development plans, which were prepared by the local authorities and supported by the international donors, the rubble removal project was a priority and a departure point for reconstruction and development.
Using a qualitative dominant approach, this paper demonstrates the role of this project in poverty reduction. It examines various mechanisms, which have been adopted to build the local capacity towards sustainable livelihoods. It argues that, despite the deteriorating conditions and the Siege in Gaza, long-term poverty reduction and gradual improvement in the quality of life may be possible through partnership, mobilization of the local resources, and empowerment.
It concludes that while the explicit goal of rubble removal has been accomplished, achievements on the implicit long-term goal of poverty eradication are significant but fragile. And that the preparation of a holistic vision and integrated urban development strategy is essential to maintain such achievements and promote further development towards sustainable urban livelihoods.
Keywords: capacity building; Gaza; poverty; sustainable development; urban livelihoods
Challenges to International Economic Development of China and Balochistan
Musarrat Jabeen a , Rubeena Batool b , Adnan Ahmad Dogar c
a, c Development Studies, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbotabad, Pakistan.
b Gender and Development Studies, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 120-128, 2012.
Abstract: The phenomenon of International Economic Development (IED) is associated to the history of international relations but its magnitude has been extended in current international system. The predictor factors are economic productivity, and political capacity of states to utilize resources in their own territory and the resources in other states territories. These factors depend on security structures working at the local, national, regional and international levels. The Silk Road hung around the Bolan Pass (in history) and Gwadar has new dimensions to be sorted out referred to China and Balochistan. The paper addresses the questions: What are the challenges and opportunities to international economic development in Balochistan? Why China is not having legitimate position to effect the economic development in Balochistan? The objective of this paper is to signify the economic development of Balochistan to invigorate the regional economy; which may support in reality the international economic system.
International economic development takes place when potential resources exist somewhere and the geo-economic capacity to utilize the resources exists somewhere else. This paper show cases dynamics of cooperation to utilize the geo-economic potential of Balochistan and geo-economic capacity of China. IED occurs when two entities (institutions or states), interact with each other for economic outcome. The interaction creates economic intimacy shaped by the process, structure, and the benefit of economic development. What are the contents of economic development? The query is not raised only by the endogenous components of the structure (the structure in this study is China-Pakistan/Balochistan) but by the exogenous components of the structure (they are USA, Russia, India, Afghanistan and Iran) as well.
The multi stakeholders including state and non state actors have their respective conflict strategies vis-a-vis Balochistan causing insecurity to impede the economic development. The hypothesis for this paper is: “If political and social insecurity persists in and around Balochistan, the region may well suffer from containment policies of America and the peripheral powers as, India, Russia, Afghanistan and Iran.”
Neorealist (Kenneth Waltz, 1979) puts the argument as follows: The anarchic structure of international politics makes states worry about their vulnerability, thus compelling them “to control what they depend on or to lessen the extent of their dependency.” For Waltz, it is this “simple thought” that explains, among other things, “their imperial thrusts to widen the scope of their control.” The control is threatened by external pressures as in late 19th century, Germany, a rapidly industrializing power, seemed to threaten not only the British economy, but through its naval build-up, the empire’s life support mechanism, the fleet.
The contemporary security structures have affected the historical economic linkages. The history of Silk Road is pertinent here: For almost four thousand years, though most notably from the 3rd century B. C. onwards, the old Silk Road connected a dozen cultures on the swaying backs of camels carrying silk, insence, gold between China, Central Asia, the Middle East and the (Levant Franch & Brownstone, 1986). The term ‘Silk Road’ itself was first used by the German Geographer, Baron Ferdinand von Richthofen, due to the fact that silk was one of the main products that travelled the full length of the route (Christian, 2000).
Keywords: International economic development, cooperation, competition, conflict
Gender Mainstreaming as a Strategy for Poverty Reduction in Small-Scale Community Fisheries: A Case Study of Nandoni Dam, Limpopo Province,
South Africa
Augustine Inyang Bassey a, Tsoaledi Daniel Thobejane b , Eko Atu c
a, b, c Institute for Gender and Youth Studies, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
Volume 04, Issue 11, Pg. 128-142, 2012.
Abstract: This study assesses the basis of gender discrimination in the management of the fishery sector of the Nandoni dam and examines the role played by patriarchy in the management of the small-scale community fisheries of the dam. It analyses the role of gender in the fisheries sector of the Budeli, Manini and Dididi communities located around the dam in Vhembe district of Limpopo province of South Africa. A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to assess how the people who manage the fisheries sector are chosen; whether there is any mainstreaming of gender in the selection process of the managers; observe the gender equality in the allocation of the fishing rights to the fishers; and propose gender mainstreaming strategies to be adopted by men and women to alleviate poverty in the fishing communities. The data was collected through interviews and focus group discussions. Specifically, the qualitative approach was used to capture and understand the intricacy of gender relations. Quantitative methods were used to collect quantifiable data, such as the demographic details and socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, through individual structured questionnaire. The social construction of gender was used as the theoretical framework to discuss the findings of the study.
The study key findings indicate that the Nandoni dam small-scale community fisheries are managed through the local authorities. Other findings are that the managers of the dam’s fisheries sector are the community chiefs. These chiefs join with their ruling council to form the management. Additionally, the local government police division managed the fisheries with the local authorities; the managers of the fisheries sector of the dam assumed the position as chiefs of the community; only those born into the royal family (ancestral right) can qualify to assume the status of a manager of the fisheries sector of the dam; the right to fish at the dam is an indigenous right or resides with members of the community. Observations on gender equity in allocation of fishing rights show that, the management gives approval to persons who apply, and does not deny rights to fish at the dam. In addition, only men seek for approval to fish at the dam; if both men and women seek for approval to fish at the dam they will issue them the rights without bias; cultural influence in the management of the fisheries sector, dissuades women as compared to men who participate actively in the community fisheries. Women in the three communities indicated that the community attitude towards women’s participation in fishing was discouraging, compared to men.
Various constraints limited participation in the fisheries. These include conflict between fishers and the local authorities; cultural beliefs and practices, market structure, capital, preservation tools, reduced catches, no spouse support, technologies and price fluctuation. Nevertheless, prospects for integrating fishing activities were encouraging, women and men indicated their interest to be part of the fisheries management, do the actual fishing, fish processing, selling fishing materials, sun drying, trading in fish and restaurant/bar. In addition, findings in the three communities indicate diversification of livelihoods as a coping strategy for alternative income with prove that both women and men can form groups for businesses, partner in trading and borrowing, change occupation, conform to rules, and join government work, pooling resources to generate more income and to farm and engage in casual labour to supplement income.
Further, findings indicate that actual fishing is an only men occupation while women’s involvement is in indirect fishing activities such as marketing, processing and preserving. Women are however involved in other diverse occupations such as trading and businesses, farming and casual labour. A majority of the respondents had no formal education as the men’s and the women’s educational attainment in the three communities is at a low level.
The study therefore, came to the following recommendations: the management of Nandoni dam fisheries should review and restructure to incorporate community members who are not part of the royalty and offer the opportunity for a small proportion of government representatives that will provide legislation, enforcement and other fisheries sector assistance. In the process of restructuring, priority should be given to women first and foremost. Other recommendations are: stimulation and promotion of cooperative pressure groups consisting fishermen and women should be encouraged; promotion and strengthening of women-only fishing associations should be inaugurated and there should be system that constantly reviews and provides pro gender equality in the fisheries. The management policies and their implementation should take into account the cultural background and gender dynamics of the communities; and they should encourage the development of education and entrepreneurial skills for the fishers as a diversification livelihood as well as alternative income.
Keywords: Fishing: Gender: Gender mainstreaming: Gender roles: Small-scale community fisheries.