مطالب

Introduction: In contemporary societies, educational systems play a key role in shaping culture and transferring knowledge to future generations. The content of school textbooks not only influences students' scientific understanding but also plays a central role in shaping their identity, beliefs, and values. Given this importance, what happens if this content includes the immoral phenomenon of sexism? Therefore, the main objective of this study is to analyze the content of lower secondary school science textbooks based on the immoral category of sexism. Material and Methods: This research falls within the scope of qualitative studies and is categorized as fundamental research. The statistical population of this study consists of the science textbooks used in the lower secondary education level, which includes three volumes. The units of content analysis include images, texts, questions, and end-of-chapter tests. The study was conducted using the content analysis method. Results: Gender representation in lower secondary science textbooks significantly reinforces traditional gender stereotypes. Quantitative analysis revealed that scientific, technical, and managerial roles are predominantly assigned to men, while women are confined to domestic, supportive, and educational roles. Qualitative analysis also indicated that names and images are represented in a way that highlights men’s positions in leadership and scientific roles, while women are portrayed with limited and passive presence. Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that lower secondary school textbooks contain the immoral phenomenon of sexism. These patterns indicate the necessity of revising textbook content in order to achieve gender equality

Background: Afghans are the main group of migrants in Iran, and in recent years, their presence has been met with negative reactions from the Iranian public. For example, recently on Twitter, hashtags such as #Expel_Afghans_a_National_Demand (in Persian: # اخراج_افغانی_مطالبه_ملی ) have been widely used by Iranian users. Aims: This study aims to examine Iranian users' perspectives on Afghans by analyzing tweets written with this hashtag about Afghans living in Iran. Methodology: Using thematic analysis, it investigates the negative views expressed by Iranian users. This analysis is based on Bennett’s six-stage model of intercultural sensitivity. The extracted themes from these tweets include five main categories: dissatisfaction with the lifestyle and behaviors of Afghans living in Iran, financial-related dissatisfaction, nationalism-related dissatisfaction, xenophobia-related dissatisfaction, and dissatisfaction due to internal factors. Finding: The dissatisfaction of Iranians toward Afghans aligns with the Defense stage of Bennett’s model, as this stage is characterized by individuals distinguishing between themselves and others, perceiving their own culture as superior, and viewing other cultures as inferior. Conclusion: Based on the themes present in the tweets, it seems that some targeted actions can help reduce xenophobia and counter dominant narratives.

The late Pleistocene period witnessed significant shifts in human lifestyle and behaviour across various regions in the Old World, as indicated by prehistoric archaeological evidence. These shifts reflect a transition from hunting to a greater emphasis on activities related to gathering plants. Archaeological findings demonstrate the utilization of plants in diverse forms, including the emergence of Bedrock Ground Stone (BGS) at prehistoric sites. In the realm of archaeological research, these remains are deemed crucial man-made artefacts, shedding light on essential aspects such as nutrition, culture, vegetation, food processing, and the presence of medicinal and toxic substances within ancient human societies. Given the existing research gap and the paramount significance of these artefacts in archaeological and anthropological studies, the Diyarmehr Institute for Paleolithic Research, for the first time in Iran, has committed to undertaking comprehensive and scientific investigations of the BGS in the Nawadrwn valley in the  Kermanshah region. Owing to its geographical positioning and environmental abundance, the west-central Zagros range has historically attracted and served as a conducive habitat for diverse human groups across various epochs. This study represents a multi-disciplinary research endeavour focused on 24 bedrock groundstones (BGS) discovered in the Prehistoric Bawa Yawan rockshelters within Nawdarwan valley. Detailed morphological and geochemical analyses have unveiled their multifaceted utility, encompassing purposes such as herbal processing and extraction, and their use in three instances as stone lamps.