Browsing by Author "Reza, Hasan"

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    Child labor: a critical discourse analysis
    (2016-03-23) Karikari, Isaac; Khaja, Khadija; Adamek, Margaret E.; Reza, Hasan; Seybold, Peter
    Child labor is a complex global phenomenon. Though poverty is widely accepted as the primary cause of child labor, there are many dimensions of the phenomenon that still remain to be explored. Very little attention has been given to the policies that drive efforts to address child labor and how they are framed. Of particular interest is how we determine who is a child, and the notions of childhood underpinning these policies. Less attention has been given to the relationships and power dynamics underlying the policy-making process that surrounds this discourse. A qualitative method, namely, critical discourse analysis (CDA) was used to examine the discursive construction of children and childhood in child labor discourse. Underlying power dynamics through the analysis of diverse child labor-related policies at the global (ILO), regional (OAU/AU), sub-regional (ECOWAS), global/sub-regional (Harkin-Engel Protocol), and local (Ghana) levels was explored. Findings revealed that homogenized and hegemonic trends are visible in child labor discourse. While the ILO's discourse on child labor was either reproduced or referenced in the other policies, there was generally a homogenized definition of children based on Western social constructions and views of children. Child labor policies were not fully cognizant or sensitive to local constructions and conceptions of how we define children and what we determine are appropriate roles at various ages. In particular reference to Ghana, the Government of Ghana's child labor policies did not reflect the sociological and cultural realities of the nation. Findings of the study also suggest that for some organizations and countries, especially in the Global South, political and economic considerations influenced whose voices were included in child labor policy creation. Critical discourse implications for social work education, policy analysis, practice and research are discussed.
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    Domestic violence and empowerment : a national study of scheduled caste women in India
    (2017-03-17) Khandare, Lalit P.; Adamek, Margaret E.; Bansod, Dhananjay W.; Brown, James R.; Brown, Kevin D.; Reza, Hasan
    Domestic violence (DV) in India is one of the most alarming issues that is experienced by over one-third (36.6%) of non-Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (non SC/ST) women and nearly half (48%) of Scheduled Caste (SC) women (ages 15-49). DV and women’s empowerment are historically interlinked. The patriarchy embedded within social-cultural norms along with economic capability deprivation takes away the freedom of SC women to enjoy bodily safety in public and private spaces. Despite Constitutional measures, SC women continue to face violence-induced capability deprivation due to discrimination at three levels: caste, class, and gender. DV against SC women is an understudied area; there are scarcely any studies on DV in this population using national data. This research used data from the National Family Health Survey-III 2005-2006 (N = 12,069-SC women and N = 45,390- non-SC/ST women). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine DV trends amongst SC and non-SC/ST women. Contrary to the study’s hypothesis, having better empowerment (household-autonomy, healthcare decision-making, sexual-autonomy) increased the likelihood of women experiencing DV. However, the hypothesis relating to economic empowerment and autonomy was supported showing a reduced likelihood of DV. SC women were empowered when they had the capability to earn wages; however, they had no instrumental freedom to spend their own earnings. Similarly, empowerment indicators were shown to impact the likelihood of justifying the violence shaping women’s gender norms and attitudes. When compared with non-SC/ST, SC women who have economic and healthcare autonomy had lower odds of justifying DV. Exposure to DV in childhood, early marriage, and husbands’ alcohol abuse significantly enhanced the likelihood of DV. Across most of the indicators, the intensity of DV amongst SC women was relatively higher than non-SC/ST women. The findings emphasize the need for social work practice and policy to focus not only on empowering women in terms on economic and material well-being through ownership, but also assessing if this ownership have instrumental value in practice without the threat of DV. Future research can enhance understanding of DV by examining social exclusion, socio-cultural patriarchy, and the intersectionality of caste, class, gender, and other individualist and community factors.
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    Youth Experiences of Organized Activities and Violence: Trends and Interrelationships
    (2023-08) Khan, Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman; Reza, Hasan; Adamek, Margaret E.; Pierce, Barbara; Wu, Wei
    Organized youth activities contribute to positive development by engaging with a favorable and supervised social environment. This dissertation research explored the influence of organized youth activities such as school-based, community-based, and faith-based activities on youth violence such as fighting, group-fighting, and attacking someone with the intent to seriously hurt them. It also emphasizes the effect of socio-economic characteristics such as age, gender, level of education, and family income on organized youth activities and youth violence. There are studies as well as a general assumption that organized youth activities contribute to reduce youth violence. However, the literature lacks evidence on what types of activities, or which particular activity is more effective in preventing youth violence. Also, many times it depends on intensity, duration, and supervision of these activities. Examining trends in organized youth activities and youth violence may provide a better picture of various activities and the effectiveness of current youth programs and policies. Therefore, it is important to understand the trends and interrelationships between organized youth activities and violence. This study revealed some interesting facts and revealed some gaps to conduct further research. Findings revealed an inverse association between organized youth activities and youth violence. The study documented a significant association between respondents’ socio-economic characteristics and participation in organized youth activities. The analysis also showed a significant association between respondents’ socio-economic characteristics and youth violence. The study analyzed the trends in organized youth activities and youth violence over the last decade and revealed that the more youth participated in organized youth activities, the less they participated in violence. The present dissertation provides preliminary evidence of the interrelationships between organized youth activities and violence that impact and affect the overall development and well-being of young people in our society. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers can use the findings to advance the social work grand challenge of ensuring healthy development of all youth.