Digital Commons Network^™

"Men Don't Talk": Examining The Dynamics Of Men's Co-Resident Relationships In Assisted Living, Yarkasah P. Paye

Gerontology Theses

Women outnumber men in assisted living (AL). This gender imbalance promotes the feminization of AL settings and affects men’s social experiences, particularly their co-resident relationships. AL research connects peer relationships to resident well-being and suggests gender that influences co-resident interactions. Yet, few studies have specifically examined men’s social experiences in AL. This analysis aimed to: (1) learn how men experience co-resident relationships in AL; and (2) identify the factors shaping these peer relationships. The analysis utilized qualitative data collected from two AL settings. Data collection involved participant observation and informal and formal in-depth interviews. Analysis was informed by principles of …

Engendering Spirits: Alcoholic Self-Help And Emphasized Femininity, Abby Jackson

Sociology Theses

Gender theorists have long posited that the social construction of gender encourages women to embody specific ideals of femininity. Any circumstance or situation, then, that threatens a woman’s ability or capacity to fulfill these ideals is regarded as abnormal and often receives large amount of interest. This thesis provides a critical analysis of the gendered practices used in conjunction with the ideas, messages, and advice given to women with alcohol dependence. By doing a qualitative content analysis, I explored how the concepts of emphasized femininity are presented in self-help literatureforalcohol dependent women. My findings show that gendered ideas about alcoholic …

"Doing It For The Dudes": A Comparative Ethnographic Study Of Performative Masculinity In Heavy Metal And Hardcore Subcultures, John Ike Sewell Jr.

Communication Dissertations

Abstract: This ethnographic study compares and contrasts performative masculinities of the overwhelmingly male heavy metal (HM) and hardcore (HC) subcultures. Conclusions derived from this research indicate the following: identities associated with HM and HC conflate masculinity with working-classness, HM and HC identities (and thus masculinities) are merging at present; participation in HM and HC enclaves can serve to symbolically marginalize constituents, and this symbolic marginalization can result in repercussions in the lived world outside of subculture; the hegemonic masculinity of HM and HC subcultures is subsidiary hegemonic masculinity, meaning that it supports the male-dominated structure of mainstream culture without …

Women's Experiences Of The Tenure Process: A Case Study At A Small Public Southeastern University, Debra J. Cody

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe women’s experiences and challenges encountered during the tenure process at one institution, if and how they overcame those challenges, and if the challenges are consistent with those that appear in the literature. Higher education is comprised of a majority of male faculty members and administrators, but data show that women have surpassed men in earning doctorate degrees. Nevertheless, the rate at which women achieve tenure is not equal to that of men. Most of the literature on tenure is based on institutionalized power, gender inequities, policies, criteria, and the experiences of males, …

“Every Atom Of Me And Every Atom Of You”: Relationships Between Authority, Family, And Gender In His Dark Materials And Paradise Lost, Talia Joy Hale

English Honors Theses

This thesis project examines Philip Pullman’s controversial trilogy, His Dark Materials (1995-2000), and its relationships in theme and content to John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667). Though Pullman has publicly discussed the influences of Paradise Lost on his trilogy, very little academic work has been published examining the similarities and differences between the two. Specifically, I analyze the paradigms of gender, family, and authority as they are represented by each text. I contrast Pullman's Lyra to Milton's Eve, drawing conclusions about the inherent meanings and differences in the two female protagonists and, consequently, the narrative worlds surrounding them. References cited include …

The Performance Of Femininity In The Works Of Yinka Shonibare Mbe, Rhonda L. Dano

Art and Design Theses

Current scholarship on contemporary artist Yinka Shonibare MBE focuses on analyzing his deconstruction of identities through ready-made cultural paradigms epitomized by the use of Dutch wax textiles as an expression of “African-ness.” Through subversive tactics, Shonibare creates disoriented views of power that unveil the masquerade of identity. What is often unstated within this critique, however, is the role of the feminine performance. From the swinging maiden to the ballerina sur les pointes, women and femininity maintain an indelible role in Shonibare’s production. Thus, by evaluating gender with greater precision, I will highlight Shonibare’s dependency on stereotypes of femininity and …

Recovering Frances Virginia And The Frances Virginia Tea Room: Transition Era Activism At The Intersections Of Womanism, Feminism, And Home Economics, 1920-1962, Mildred H. Coleman

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Theses

ABSTRACT This work answers the question “Who was Frances Virginia?” by recovering the story of an Atlanta entrepreneur, Frances Virginia Wikle Whitaker, and her tea room foodservice business. It acknowledges “Frances Virginia,” as the public knew her; and focuses on her career as demonstrative of an under‐theorized form of women’s activism. Her education and proclivity in the once all‐female domain of home economics have important characteristics that are under‐ represented, and often misinterpreted, in today’s discourse. I use a womanist theoretical lens within a historical frame to examine her story as a home economist during the tea room movement of …

Beads Of Empowerment: The Role Of Body Art In Challenging Pokot Gender Identities, Jennifer R. Fleischman

Art and Design Theses

Pokot female body art identifies a woman’s beauty, husband, and social rank among the Pokot community through color, pattern, and mass. In the last sixty years, as a result of Kenya’s entrance into the global economy, Pokot women have turned a “traditional” art form into a commodity, creating a product for Western tourists that, in turn, provides Pokot women with a means to earn income that is less readily under male control. Pokot women consciously create beadwork that alludes to the “Idea of Africa,” while also conforming to Western standards of “colonial chic.” The result is a body art that …

Gender And Leadership: Female Rotc Cadets' Perceptions Of Gender And Military Leadership, Darbra J. Mahoney

Educational Policy Studies Dissertations

Gender continues to be an impediment for women in military leadership positions, particularly in Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) training programs in higher education. This study examines the social construction of gender by female cadets in a predominately male military environment. According to Herbert (1998), female soldiers strike a balance between being feminine enough to be considered a woman yet masculine enough to be considered a military leader—sustaining a view that finds these women are viewed as less than competent officers. Achieving equilibrium between femininity and masculinity is a common thread in much of the literature on female military leadership. …

Comparison Of Screening Methods For Pre-Diabetes And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus By Race/Ethnicity And Gender, Ashleigh E. Heath

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Current screening guidelines for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus note that there are discrepancies in diagnosing the disease using the fasting plasma glucose test, oral glucose tolerance test, and HbA1_c in high-risk populations. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of screening methods for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and pre-diabetes by race/ethnicity and gender.

METHODS: Secondary analyses of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2005-2008) were performed using SPSS 19.0. Screening outcomes were assessed and compared for a sample of n=10,566, NHW, NHB, MA, and Multiracial/other men and women. Analyses included …