title: Supporting gender-neutral digital library creation: a case study using the GenderMag toolkit

authors: Cunningham, Sally Jo

subjects: computer science

abstract: Software is assumed by its creators and maintainers to be gender-neutral: that is, that it is equally well suited for use by any user, regardless of gender. We investigate this assumption in the digital libraries context through analysis of a significant digital library construction and maintenance tool—the Greenstone Digital Librarian Interface (GLI)—using the GenderMag toolkit. GenderMag provides personas whose approaches to software use fall across the spectrum of gender-stereotypic actions and motivations. The personas are used as the basis for cognitive walkthroughs of the system under investigation, to uncover potential gender biases in system functionality and interface design. We uncover significant such biases in GLI.

text: Supporting gender-neutral digital library creation: a case study using the GenderMag toolkit Software is assumed by its creators and maintainers to be gender-neutral: that is, that it is equally well suited for use by any user, regardless of gender. We investigate this assumption in the digital libraries context through analysis of a significant digital library construction and maintenance tool—the Greenstone Digital Librarian Interface (GLI)—using the GenderMag toolkit. GenderMag provides personas whose approaches to software use fall across the spectrum of gender-stereotypic actions and motivations. The personas are used as the basis for cognitive walkthroughs of the system under investigation, to uncover potential gender biases in system functionality and interface design. We uncover significant such biases in GLI.

year: 2016

title: The presumption of advancement: Is it time to relegate this doctrine to the annals of history?

authors: Chevalier-Watts, Juliet

abstract: While the doctrine of the presumption of advancement and its applicability have been the subject of much judicial and academic criticism, this article reviews judicial approaches from Australasia and Canada and argues that the doctrine is still relevant in contemporary times. While it is evident that Canadian courts are not willing to support the place of the presumption of advancement in relation to gratuitous gifts by parents to adult children, Australasian jurisprudence supports a more expansive view, which is consistent with the basis of the doctrine. The more expansive view is that the natural bond of love and affection flows from a parent to child, irrespective of the age of the child, and this does not change, regardless of social, political, or economic constraints or changes. Therefore, it is argued that the doctrine is still a useful tool in the judicial toolbox for resolving family disputes today. As a result, the author does not support the relegation of this doctrine to the annals of history, because to do so would be to ignore the realities of contemporary economic pressures.

text: The presumption of advancement: Is it time to relegate this doctrine to the annals of history? While the doctrine of the presumption of advancement and its applicability have been the subject of much judicial and academic criticism, this article reviews judicial approaches from Australasia and Canada and argues that the doctrine is still relevant in contemporary times. While it is evident that Canadian courts are not willing to support the place of the presumption of advancement in relation to gratuitous gifts by parents to adult children, Australasian jurisprudence supports a more expansive view, which is consistent with the basis of the doctrine. The more expansive view is that the natural bond of love and affection flows from a parent to child, irrespective of the age of the child, and this does not change, regardless of social, political, or economic constraints or changes. Therefore, it is argued that the doctrine is still a useful tool in the judicial toolbox for resolving family disputes today. As a result, the author does not support the relegation of this doctrine to the annals of history, because to do so would be to ignore the realities of contemporary economic pressures.

year: 2016

title: Indigenous people in Aotearoa New Zealand are overrepresented in cannabis convictions

authors: Rapana, Wetini

subjects: Cannabis

abstract: Background: Previous work has demonstrated that cannabis laws have had a disproportionate impact on Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2019, the New Zealand Government amended cannabis laws, providing police with the power to determine whether a therapeutic or health-centred approach would be more beneficial than a conviction. In the current study, we use population level data to assess whether this law change has ameliorated the bias in cannabis convictions for Māori. Methods: Data were drawn from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), a large government database hosted by Aotearoa New Zealand’s national statistics office. In the IDI, we selected individuals who (1) were between 18 and 65, (2) were Māori or Pākehā (New Zealanders of European descent) and, (3) had any cannabis charges that proceeded to the courts. Results: Māori ethnicity was a significant predictor of the odds of receiving a cannabis conviction for Māori males (Odds: 1.56), with a marginally significant effect for Māori females (Odds: 1.57). Further, for Māori, there was no reduction in the number of cannabis charges before vs. after the amendment to cannabis laws. Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that the bias in cannabis convictions for Māori remain. Given this, the New Zealand Government must follow other countries around the world and move forward on cannabis law reform.

text: Indigenous people in Aotearoa New Zealand are overrepresented in cannabis convictions Background: Previous work has demonstrated that cannabis laws have had a disproportionate impact on Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2019, the New Zealand Government amended cannabis laws, providing police with the power to determine whether a therapeutic or health-centred approach would be more beneficial than a conviction. In the current study, we use population level data to assess whether this law change has ameliorated the bias in cannabis convictions for Māori. Methods: Data were drawn from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), a large government database hosted by Aotearoa New Zealand’s national statistics office. In the IDI, we selected individuals who (1) were between 18 and 65, (2) were Māori or Pākehā (New Zealanders of European descent) and, (3) had any cannabis charges that proceeded to the courts. Results: Māori ethnicity was a significant predictor of the odds of receiving a cannabis conviction for Māori males (Odds: 1.56), with a marginally significant effect for Māori females (Odds: 1.57). Further, for Māori, there was no reduction in the number of cannabis charges before vs. after the amendment to cannabis laws. Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that the bias in cannabis convictions for Māori remain. Given this, the New Zealand Government must follow other countries around the world and move forward on cannabis law reform.

year: 2022