Volume 76

In Australia, the legal and ethical discourse regarding parental consent for gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) has significant complexity and represents an evolving dynamic of discourse. The role of parental consent in minors’ access to GAHT has become increasingly complicated with laws and policies changing in response to societal perspectives on gender identity, the involvement and role of the courts is a determining factor in minors' access to GAHT. Simultaneously it is intensely associated with the minor’s individual consent and the scope of medical practitioners' responsibilities. As established by Gillick V. West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Healthy Authority, the Gillick competency principle recognises that minors are allowed to make decisions independently if they have sufficient maturity and capacity to understand the implications and consequences of such decisions. The Australian jurisprudence, at present, was initially considered to recognise the Gillick competency principle. However, as the jurisprudence continues to evolve, the legal attitude regarding minors' access to GAHT treatment in Australia has deviated from the Gillick competency principle due to the tendency of parental protectionism in Australia. This thesis starts with the content and the reasoning of the Gillick Competency Principle, to discuss its practice and applications in Australia, as well as its implications regarding the Parental Consent Principle and the accessibility of GAHT to minors. Meanwhile, providing suggestions regarding the improvement of the present situation.

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The need for innovative teaching methods that are appropriate for today's classrooms has grown as a result of China's internal education system reform. With the ongoing advancements in Chinese education, the conventional method of instruction is no longer appropriate for the country's demands. In addition to fostering a closer relationship between students and instructors in the classroom, the new teaching technique known as POA (Production-Oriented Approach) theory also works to advance China's educational system. The topic of collegiate English teaching in China is the focus of this study, which attempts to investigate the good and bad impacts of the POA theory on the numerous subjects engaged in this particular profession. Therefore, by examining the justifications for the use of the POA theory and its influencing mechanisms, this study employs the literature review approach to describe the benefits and drawbacks of implementing the POA theory.

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College students will face more and more English textbooks and papers in their studies and research, so reading quickly and efficiently is an ability that college students should have. However, for most students, it is a challenge for them. Because the traditional reading teaching methods, based on English scores, do not truly improve their reading ability, even students with better English scores cannot understand the text content correctly. Therefore, this paper will introduce three reading methods that are different from the traditional one: the Problem-based learning (PBL) teaching method, the Narrative teaching method, and the Genre-based teaching method. The purpose is to change the teaching mode of the one-way output of core English knowledge by the teacher, take the students as the teaching centre, and improve reading ability as the teaching goal. Teachers will guide the students to master English knowledge in cooperative learning and to improve their reading ability with novel teaching methods.

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With the advancement in technology and big data in recent years, disciplinary systems present an increasing tendency towards digitization. China’s digital Social Credit system, established to evaluate individuals, businesses, and local institutions’ trustworthiness, serves as a typical model. Through the lens of Michel Foucault’s account of disciplinary power and Max Weber’s account of rationality and disenchantment, the paper is directed to analyze China’s digital credit system’s implications on the public’s moral governance rights. Admittedly, the digital scoring system offers advantages in regard to social stability and public utility; it is suitable to China’s ideological, historical, and geographical character. However, its digital mass surveillance, through fusing value and instrumental rationality and oversimplifying morality, aggravates the spiritual crisis of disenchantment. In return, the collective disenchantment of the public leads to problematic social and political consequences. In response, the paper offers legislative and propagandize related policy suggestions to allay the undesirable outcomes of digital discipline.

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Listening is an important channel for language input, and for college students, good English listening comprehension skills play a critical role in language acquisition. Due to individual differences, learners exhibit varying preferences in their listening-learning process. However, most previous research has focused on native and non-native English speakers, leaving a gap in research on Chinese native speakers. Additionally, most studies are comparative research on learning preferences, with few focusing on a single learning preference. Therefore, this study explores the positive effects of auditory learning preferences on Chinese native college students. Through a series of data collection, organization, and analysis, this study finds that auditory learning style is universal among college students. It can be seen from the survey data that although visual learning style is more common, more than 40% of students are still inclined to conduct auditory learning through lecture interviews or group discussion.In conclusion, students with auditory learning preferences tend to engage more in interactive learning. Furthermore, many students with auditory learning preferences also incorporate visual learning strategies to practice listening comprehension skills.

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This article discusses the similarities and differences between traditional vocal works and virtual singer works. It introduces the vocal characteristics of virtual singers, explores the differences between their performances and those of real singers, and analyzes the considerations that composers have for harmony when composing for virtual singers and real vocals, such as the way in which traditional functional harmonies and modern twelve-tone sequences are harmonic, and what the differences are, and composers' ideas for using different harmonies for different groups when composing. This article focuses on virtual singers Kafu and Hatsune Miku, as well as some representative works by the two virtual singers. Several songs written for real vocals will be analyzed, such as the Mass, Rossini's opera, and the vocal parts of Boulez's Ownerless Mallet. The impact of different vocal characteristics on the uniqueness of musical works, along with the technical differences and similarities between compositions for virtual and real singers, will be discussed.

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Population aging has become a frequent occurrence due to changes in the global population structure, and it has a significant impact on the economic growth of many nations. Particularly in China, with the decline in fertility rates and the extension of life expectancy, the aging problem is further intensifying. The phenomenon of "fewer children and an aging population" is gradually becoming the norm, posing severe challenges to China's economic development. By searching for the relevant population data of the National Bureau of Statistics, this paper analyzes the current situation of Chinese population structure, analyzes the causes of population aging from four aspects—fertility policy, economic and social development, culture and education, and population migration. It also puts forward the impacts of population aging on economic growth, including the decrease in labor supply, the decline in consumption level and the increase in social pension pressure. This paper argues that even though the aging population structure has had a certain impact on China's social economy, people can turn challenges into opportunities. Furthermore, this paper proposes the coping strategies for China's population aging and promoting high-quality economic development, such as improving the elderly consumer market, giving full play to the leading role of government planning, improving the quality of the labor force, and forming an age-appropriate society. The purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical reference and practical guidance for China to cope with the challenges of population aging and the healthy development of population and economy.

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In the background of the global demand for gender equality, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, three Nordic countries that excel in gender equality legislation. By comparative analysis, this paper aims to deeply compare and analyze the practices and achievements of these three countries in terms of gender equality laws, specifically examining their legal frameworks, implementation strategies, and outcomes, as well as the societal impacts of these strategies. This study reveals that these Nordic countries have adopted diverse approaches to advancing gender equality and achieved significant results, evident not only in legal advancements but also in positive changes across various sectors, including social attitudes, education, and employment. The conclusion summarizes the key factors contributing to the success of these countries' gender equality laws and explores whether these experiences can be applied to other nations, along with the challenges and opportunities in promoting gender equality laws globally.

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Under the premise of the growing discussion about women's issues in China, this article, based on research on women's images in Chinese films, employs the case study approach to examine three films in the early years of 1950s - The Red Detachment of Women (1960), in 1990s - Ju Dou (1990), and in modern society - You Only Live Once (YOLO) (2024), and literature review based on the development of feminism, film’s function as the platform for promoting gender debate, women’s issues and female images in Chinese films. It intends to provide comprehensive proposals to produce female roles in films, taking into account the current challenges faced by Chinese women. These obstacles include the emergence and development of women's self-awareness and autonomy in response to societal expectations and stereotypes, as well as the dismantling of long-standing prejudice and sexism.

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El Salvador, a nation marked by stunning landscapes and rich culture, is also notorious for its violent street gangs, which leads to the significance of this study that lies in its examination of the dual facets of the gang phenomenon: their emergence and their governance. To investigate the emergence and governance of criminal gangs in El Salvador, this study focuses on how historical, socio-political, and economic factors have contributed to gang violence, particularly the rise of MS-13 and Barrio 18. Utilizing Strain Theory as the theoretical framework, the study underscores how societal pressures such as inequality and unemployment push individuals toward gang involvement. Comparing El Salvador’s "mano dura" policies with similar efforts in Honduras, the study reveals the challenges and limitations of relying on punitive measures if they never address deeper social and economic issues. The analysis of this study emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that combines law enforcement with preventive strategies to tackle this issue.

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