Leader self‐awareness: An examination and implications of women's under‐prediction

Self‐awareness represents an important aspect of leadership. However, past research on leader self‐awareness has focused on one component of self‐awareness, self versus others' ratings, leaving the second component, the ability to anticipate the views of others, largely neglected. We examined this second component of self‐awareness by focusing on women leaders who have been found to under‐predict how others rate them. In two studies, we measured how women leaders anticipate the views of their bosses in regard to their leadership. In Study 1, 194 leaders rated their leadership, were rated by their bosses, and then predicted how their bosses rated their leadership. While we found that women under‐predict their boss ratings compared with men, we did not find that boss gender or feedback played a role in this under‐prediction. In Study 2, 76 female leaders identified (via open‐ended questions) possible reasons and consequences of under‐prediction for women in organizations. Results from Study 2 reveal the following: (1) the reasons for women's under‐prediction include a lack of self‐confidence, differences in feedback needs, learned gender roles, and self‐sexism; and (2) the perceived consequences of under‐prediction are negative for both women and the organization. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distribution of mercury in some organs of the Kani Barazan wetland common coot (Fulica atra)

We document mercury distribution in the tissues (kidney, liver, breast feathers and pectoral muscle) of a waterbird, the common coot (Fulica atra) from the Kani Barazan wetlands in north-western Iran. Bird samples were collected between November 2011 and January 2012, and mercury was assayed by using a Varian 220 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean levels of mercury in kidney, liver, breast feathers and pectoral muscle were 0.13, 0.22, 0.20 and 0.09 μg/g, respectively. Mercury concentrations in tissues of F. atra were in the following order: liver>feather>kidney>pectoral muscle. The mercury level was significantly (one-way ANOVA, p<0.05) different between kidneys, livers, pectoral muscles and feathers in F. atra. Although mercury concentrations were higher for all tissues in female birds compared with males, significant (p<0.05) differences were observed in muscle only.     

Building resilience by challenging social norms: integrating a transformative approach within the BRACED consortia

Resilience is a complex phenomenon whereby a multitude of social and environmental factors, including gender, combine to shape the ways that shocks affect people. Looking at two BRACED (Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters) projects, in Burkina Faso and in Ethiopia, this article uses a desk review and primary data from partners and people at risk to explore how a gender‐transformative approach can be an integral part of resilience‐building projects, particularly those implemented by multi‐stakeholder consortia. It also suggests ways to incorporate a stronger gender component in similar future projects. The article argues that donors and programme managers must provide clear principles and guidelines for achieving gender equity within resilience‐building efforts. However, these must allow flexibility to adapt to norms, needs and resources as determined by implementing partners. The right balance can be achieved by facilitating spaces for individual and collective goal‐setting; assessing current capacity and trajectories; and lesson‐sharing as an iterative process for institutional learning.     

雌雄异株植物与性别比例有关的性别差异研究现状与展望

雌雄异株植物是陆地生态系统的重要组分,自然种群中其雌雄个体的性别比例通常为1∶1,但随水分、养分、CO2浓度、温度、光照和干扰水平等的不同而有所不同.一般来说,在逆境下性别比例偏雄性,这是雌雄异株植物性别分离的常见模式.雌雄异株植物不同性别间的差异主要体现在:(1)存活率,(2)形态特征,(3)生理生化特性,(4)物候期,(5)资源分配模式等方面,但对于雌雄个体差异的分子机理未见报道.这些差异导致了雌雄植株个体环境适应性的不同,从而表现为在不同环境下雌雄异株植物性别比例偏倚的现象.基于此,可结合不同树种雌雄性的不同用途,开展有关研究.参59     

公众参与环保行为影响因素的实证研究

依据环境意识和社会背景对环保行为的交互作用机理,采用2006年横截面数据对陕西公众环保行为的现状和影响因素分别进行了实证检验.回归分析发现公众陈述的环保行为整体得分尚不及格,但较1998年的全国平均得分有大幅提高;环保重要性、环保知识、受教育程度对个人环保习惯和公共环保行为的影响呈显著正相关;性别差异在个人环保习惯中表现突出,在公共环保行为中并不显著;收入、年龄、环保意义变量的影响都不显著.从个人环保习惯路径分析模型发现环保重要性是最显著的中介变量.最后,文章建议政府应该通过提高公众的环保重要性意识,并进一步提高他们的受教育程度和环保知识水平,且以女性为突破口来带动更广泛意义上的公众参与环保行为     

Psychosocial and Ergonomic Factors,and Their Relation to Musculoskeletal Complaints in the Swedish Workforce

A random sample of 1 000 subjects (20–65 years old) from the national population of Sweden received a questionnaire; 70% (n = 695) replied, of whom 532 were occupationally active. Female gender, working with neck and/or body bent forward, arms above shoulders, and precision work tasks were predictors of musculoskeletal symptoms. Neck, shoulder, and upper back symptoms were more common in a strained situation at work (high demands, low control) (adjusted odds ratios [adjOR] 2.76, 2.80, and 2.26, respectively). Among females, neck and shoulder symptoms were more common in an iso-strain situation (high demands, low control and low social support) (adjOR 4.43 and 3.69, respectively), and low back symptoms were more common at low social support combined with a passive work situation (adjOR 3.35). No associations were found between iso-strain model and symptoms among males. In conclusion, iso-strain work situation was associated with neck symptoms among females, even when controlling for ergonomic factors.