South American Research Journal

Quimerism and Nation-States: An essay on the Genetic Condition of Contemporary States

2025-05-06T23:46:17+00:00

ABSTRACT

This philosophical essay proposes an explanation of identity conflicts within nation-states and emerging nationalist programs based on what is referred to herein as "chimerism." Through a conceptual analysis, the paper seeks to discuss the characteristics of this approach, as well as the possibility of understanding the contemporary situation of nation-states and nationalisms through it. The findings demonstrate the need to begin a process of cultural healing that prevents the degradation of nation-states and the radicalization of nationalisms.

Between Innovation and Caution: Teachers’ Voices on Artificial Intelligence in Secondary Education

2025-05-27T21:56:25+00:00

This interpretative qualitative study explores the perceptions, experiences, expectations, fears, and ethical stances of high school teachers in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador, regarding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in secondary education. Based on ten in-depth interviews, the study analyzes teachers’ representations of AI use, its impact on lesson planning, professional autonomy, the educational relationship with students, and the institutional challenges to its implementation. The findings reveal that while most teachers value AI for its immediate functional benefits — such as the optimization of planning, personalized learning, and increased student motivation — these perceptions contrast with recent scientific evidence warning of significant risks, including the decline of critical thinking, erosion of autonomy, technological dependence, and limited effects on actual academic performance. Furthermore, the study identifies a marked structural gap between teachers’ individual capacities and the limited institutional, regulatory, and training conditions for a critical and equitable integration of AI. It concludes that the pedagogical use of these technologies requires intentional planning, technical and ethical teacher training, clear regulatory frameworks, and active methodologies that promote students’ cognitive agency.

Gender-based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence in Ecuador: a systematic review

2025-05-27T15:49:46+00:00

Gender-based violence (hereinafter GBV) is a rele-vant topic at both the normative and cultural levels, with clear repercussions within the practice of social and legal sciences. In Ecuador, figures on gender-based vio-lence against women show that it is related to both inti-mate partner violence and domestic violence. Given this, the objective of this research was to gather relevant sci-entific information on GBV in Ecuador over the last 8 years. The databases used were ProQuest, Web of Sci-ence, Redalyc, and Dialnet. The PRISMA methodology was used for the review, considering the following search terms: "gender-based violence," "intimate part-ner violence," "partner violence," "Ecuadorian," and "Ecuador." The inclusion criteria were: scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals, scientific articles written in English and Spanish. Scientific articles were located in the Web of Science, ProQuest, Dialnet, and Redalyc databases. Findings revealed that, despite exist-ing regulations in Ecuador, their implementation is in-sufficient due to an underlying structural problem stemming from cultural situations related to machismo. The findings highlight inadequate implementation of public policies aimed at reducing and eliminating gen-der-based violence in Ecuador.

Latent dimensions associated with academic performance in school students: Validation and exploration using Structural Equation Modeling

2025-08-26T23:56:42+00:00

This study analyzes the factors associated with academic performance in secondary school students using three structural equation models (SEM) with a sample of 1,509 students. Participants completed a 56-item questionnaire grouped into eight theoretical dimensions: attitude toward the institution, academic motivation, neighborhood environment, family support, connection with teachers, perception of inclusion (operationalized as exclusion), basic needs, and attitudes toward reading. The first model included the eight original dimensions, the second explored second-order structures, and the third sought the most parsimonious specification while maintaining adequate fit. Academic motivation (β = 0.14, *p* = .009) and positive attitudes toward reading (β = 0.11, *p* = .021) showed favorable effects, while the perception of school exclusion (β = −0.16, *p* < .001) had a negative impact. The analysis of the standardized loadings showed an adequate structure, although with some weak or inverse items. Implications for strengthening inclusive and emotionally stimulating school environments are discussed.

Pornography, gender violence against women and adolescent resistance: A hermeneutic analysis for a feminist-intersectional sexual education in the canton Cuenca, Ecuador

2025-09-23T14:18:41+00:00

This article analyzes the relationship between pornography consumption in adolescence and the reproduction of violent and sexist sexual practices, with special attention to gender violence against women and girls. The study was carried out in six public educational institutions in the canton of Cuenca (Ecuador), in rural and urban contexts. From a feminist-intersectional approach, we investigate how new pornography—accessible online, without restrictions or adult mediation—configures sexual imaginaries based on male domination, the objectification of the female body and the eroticization of violence. Methodologically, a mixed design is adopted: 533 surveys were applied and focus groups were carried out with adolescents, teachers and parents. The results show correlations between pornography consumption and the reproduction of violent sexual practices, although forms of resistance, critical consciousness and agency on the part of young people are also evident. It is concluded that the relationship between pornography and violence is not linear or automatic, but is mediated by sociocultural, educational and family factors. Likewise, there is an urgent need to strengthen sex education with a feminist-intersectional approach, which will enable us to dismantle the imaginaries imposed by pornography and hegemonic masculinity and promote alternative discourses that favor free, consensual, and equitable sexuality.