Browsing by Subject "Women"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 47
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    Appetite Awareness Training as a Weight Gain Prevention Intervention for Young Adult Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
    (2017-08) Guidinger, Claire
    Young adulthood, in particular, is a time of increased risk of weight gain. Indeed,weight gain of 3-5 pounds among college freshmen has been well documented. Given the high rates of obesity, prevention efforts have become a national priority. This Plan B Project evaluated the efficacy of a brief Appetite Awareness Training Intervention in preventing weight gain in young adult women. Appetite Awareness Training (Craighead,2006) aims to increase an individual's ability to eat intuitively based on bodily hunger and satiety cues, rather than external or emotional cues, thereby potentially preventing weight gain. This study was a randomized control trial that used a 3x2 mixed factorial design with participants (n = 89) assigned to one of three groups: Appetite Awareness Training (AAT, n = 31), Nutrition Education (NE, n = 29), or a no-treatment control(NTC, n = 29). Primary (weight, BMI, body fat %, and waist circumference)and secondary(self-regulatory eating processes) outcome variables were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The findings of this study revealed no statistically significant differences between groups on primary outcome variables, but AAT participants experienced a substantially greater increase in weight management self-efficacy at post-treatment compared to the NE and NTC groups.
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    Athletics Director’s Misses & Bull’s-eyes: Capitalizing on Targets of Opportunities to Hire Women Coaches of Women’s Teams at Select D-I Institutions
    (2019-06) Boucher, Courtney
    The number of women head coaches of women’s teams at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division-I level has been well documented and remained stagnant at approximately 42% for years (Acosta & Carpenter, 2014; LaVoi, 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017). The role of the athletics director within the athletic department is crucial in understanding why this stagnation exists as they ultimately are responsible for making key hiring decisions (Sartore & Cunningham, 2007; Wilson, Gilbert, Gilbert, & Sailor, 2009). This descriptive longitudinal study aims to quantitatively examine the hiring behaviors of individual athletics directors and institutions at select NCAA Division-I schools. Institutions (n=86) and athletics directors (n=115) were graded based on how often they have (or have not) capitalized on hiring a woman to fill a vacant head coaching position for a women’s team. The ultimate goal of this study is to continue and extend the mission of the Women’s College Coaches Report Card (LaVoi, 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018) and to use the data to hold decision makers accountable and reverse the current stagnation in the percentage of women head coaches of women’s teams.
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    Beyond The Barriers: Women-To-Women Mentoring In/To Secondary School And Central Office Leadership
    (2015-04) Anderson-Hume, Bobbi
    Despite the fact that the pool from which most school leaders come is made up of a majority of women, most school leaders are men. Notwithstanding extensive research regarding this issue, the number of women principals in secondary schools and in the office of the superintendent remains low. The barriers, for those women not hired, identified by the reviewed literature can be classified as issues of job structure, age, and career paths. Because these issues are ones connected to women's family and domestic responsibilities, a simple solution for increasing the number of women school leaders has remained elusive. However, one barrier, a lack of mentors, has not been as widely explored. The impact a mentor has is undeniable and having a role model serves to make positions of school leadership more achievable. Further, having a woman mentor not only identifies the barriers, but also allows an aspiring women school leader assistance in their navigation. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the concept and practice of women-to-women mentoring through the perceptions of women school leaders who were seated secondary school principals, assistant principals, and superintendents, and are or were mentored by other women school leaders. Specific questions included: 1) How do study participants perceive the concept and practice of mentoring? 2) What are the lived experiences of women who have been mentored by women school leaders? 3) Why and how are or are not study participants supporting, through mentoring, other women who aspire to school leadership? This qualitative study, used interviews, observations, and documents/artifacts to gather data regarding the concept and practice of women-to-women mentoring. A phenomenological approach, including bracketing and reduction, was used to bring forth the prominent themes. Findings emphasized and illustrated original learning in the areas of: 1) mentor theory, 2) the practice of mentoring school leaders, 3) women-to-women mentoring, 4) the specific needs of women school leaders, 5) the gender of the mentor, 6) benefits to mentoring for women, 7) misuses of mentoring, and 8) a seated woman leaders choice to mentor.
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    Breast Cancer Screening Behavior in Korean Immigrant Women in the United States
    (2017-06) Lee, Mi Hwa
    To address the problem of the underutilization of breast cancer screening in Korean immigrant women in the United States, this study investigates their screening behavior, with a particular emphasis on sociocultural aspects. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Korean immigrant women. A regular breast cancer screening is recommended for early detection and timely treatments for breast cancer (Elmore, Armstrong, Lehman, & Fletcher, 2005). Despite its effectiveness of screening, Korean immigrant women are reported to have lower breast cancer screening rates than any other racial/ethnic groups (Lee, Fogg, & Menon, 2008; Lee, Ju, Vang, & Lundquist, 2010). This implies that Korean immigrant women are at risk for being diagnosed with breast cancer at an advanced stage due to their low mammogram receipt resulting in increased mortality. This study uses a cross-sectional, mixed-method study design, in particular a sequential explanatory mixed methods design (Creswell, 2015) to understand breast cancer screening behavior in Korean immigrant women. The Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use (Andersen, 1995) along with Health Belief Model (Rosenstock, 1974; Rosenstock et al., 1988) theoretically guided this study. Logistic regression was used to examine facilitators and barriers associated with breast cancer screening in the quantitative phase of the study. In the qualitative phase of the study, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to explore sociocultural views on breast cancer and breast cancer screening from Korean immigrant women and to obtain further evidence supporting the results of quantitative study. Grounded theory methods (Charmaz, 2006) guided the data collection and analyzed the data results. A total of 240 Korean immigrant women ages between 40 and 79 years old from Los Angeles, California, completed questionnaires and 30 of these participants participated in individual interviews. Approximately 90.1% of study participants completed a mammogram at least once in their lifetime and 62.2% had a mammogram in the past two years. In the past two years, women between 60 - 69 years old had the highest mammogram rate (73.3%) while women between 40 - 49 years old had the lowest mammogram rate (26.3%). With regards to associated facilitators and barriers of screening uptake, the quantitative study identified three facilitators (fatalism, regular check-up and heard about mammogram experiences from family, friends, and neighbors) and a barrier (perceived barriers to screening). Study participants viewed breast cancer as a fearful subject. They reported having different levels and concerns about breast cancer (e.g., fear of getting breast cancer vs feeling safe from breast cancer). The majority of participants strongly believed that breast cancer could be preventable. Interestingly, they had different opinions on ways to prevent breast cancer. The qualitative phase of the study also found five motivations (fear of breast cancer, preventive orientation practice, health insurance, doctors’ recommendation, and family support) and various challenges (e.g., complicated and timing consuming procedure, and language) to breast cancer screening. Results showed that fears of breast cancer boosted Korean immigrant women to adopt preventive health practices while still holding fatalistic attitudes. Fatalistic attitudes are influenced by participants’ own observations of people’s death as a result of being diagnosed with cancer while still maintaining healthy lifestyles and regular check-ups. These observations reinforced fatalistic attitudes on health. Despite having this attitude, the participants wanted to maintain their screening because they believed finding cancer at an earlier stage would be better if it turns out they have cancer. They wanted to avoid having feelings of regret or guilt if they had cancer at advanced stages. Health insurance enabled them to initiate or maintain their regular check-ups, and their primary health care professionals played a role in encouraging them to have a screening. Some participants developed their own strategies (e.g., waiting for to get government funded health insurance and visiting Korea to receive medical examination) to deal with multiple barriers to breast cancer screening. The findings of this mixed methods study helps to obtain a more comprehensive view of Korean immigrant women’s screening behavior and to develop more culturally and individually tailored intervention strategies to promote screening uptake.
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    Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Experiences of First Generation, Middle Aged Somali Women: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
    (2019-01) Swartz, Kristin L.
    Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent and costly health conditions in the United States. In refugees and immigrants, chronic pain is more prevalent and the severity of pain is higher. Musculoskeletal chronic pain is one the most common forms of pain that refugees and immigrants experience. In collaborating with a local community clinic, practitioners shared that middle-aged Somali women experienced a high incidence of non-specific musculoskeletal chronic pain that practitioners struggled to address through typical treatment measures. In a review of the literature it was found that no studies described chronic musculoskeletal pain for middle-aged Somali women, nor factors that contribute to their interpretation and management of pain. To date, there are no studies that specifically address chronic musculoskeletal pain in a refugee group in the United States, and few studies utilized a social ecological approach to describe the influence of environmental, societal, and immigration experiences in the management of pain. In this community-informed, descriptive qualitative study, musculoskeletal chronic pain experiences of first-generation, middle aged (40-65) Somali women living in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area are described. Utilizing the social ecological model and the dynamic biopsychosocial model, twelve core themes emerged that show the biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that influenced participant experiences with pain. For Somali women in this study, the physical sensation of pain originated in the biological level and extended through the psychological and social levels of the microsystem. This physical experience of pain created a catalyzing influence that extended across the levels of the social ecological model. The core themes were: physical experience of pain, daily function and career, self-care practices, emotional experience of pain, recommendations for others experiencing pain, recommendations for community and clinics in treating pain, relationships with others, experience accessing care, financial impact, insurance affect, religious practice, traditional medicine and country of origin pain management, and sociopolitical issues. For these seventeen, first-generation, middle aged Somali women, pain was complex and multidimensional, and the physical experience of pain was only one aspect of chronic pain experience. Sociopolitical experiences were profound and triggered worry and fear that influenced pain. Insurance & financial issues compounded complexity with chronic pain management. Traditional medicine, memory of Somalia, and experience in Somalia were valuable resources and points of reference for managing pain. Pain influenced a Somali woman’s ability to secure a steady job. Pain management strategies were diverse and included integrative modalities. Religious practice was a key resource to pain management and overall pain experience. Participants sought alternatives to medications and used medications when necessary; and recommended and used exercise to manage pain. Health care providers played a key role in Somali women’s pain management. Many of these findings aligned with previous literature; however, the extensive multidimensionality of pain across the levels of the social ecological model is a new finding that should be further studied. In addition, further research is needed to expand knowledge related these findings and their potential to be generalized to other Somali women and men, and immigrants and refugees from other countries. In particular, to explore and define “Pain all over”, to investigate practitioner experiences in working with Somali patients and pain and how they approach the clinical interaction, and to examine outcomes of religious practice in pain-management. The implications of this research are several. Findings suggest the importance of story in working with Somali women to understand the meaning and cause of pain, in addition to the positive influence of health care providers when participants felt heard. Insights into how discrimination and an intense sociopolitical climate may influence the health and well-being of Somali women also emerged. Concerns were raised on language interpretation services and a need for further oversight and regulation was identified, in addition to the barriers participant’s experienced in understanding the ever-changing insurance landscape. More effort is needed to educate the greater community on experiences of immigrants and refugees in order to make informed changes in our communities, health systems, and political environment. These findings show that this social ecological approach to chronic pain treatment and management may be helpful in understanding the lived experience of pain for Somali women.
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    Conceptualizing empowerment in international development education
    (2013-08) Hegeman-Davis, Raya G.
    Empowerment, especially of women and girls, has become a central focus of development efforts over the past decade. There are a wide variety of ways in which the construct of empowerment is defined and conceptualized across development efforts. This plethora of meanings has allowed for a multitude of development programs to be labeled as empowerment programs, but has also led to confusion as to what is meant by the term empowerment and what it is that empowerment programs are attempting to accomplish. This study aimed to provide greater specificity about the definition and conceptualization of empowerment within international development education programs, specifically within programs which intend to empower women and girls. By asking professionals in the field of international development education about their experience with empowerment programs, this study helps to clarify the meanings of empowerment for these individuals and to identify the most salient aspects of the empowerment programs with which they work. Twenty one interviews were completed and 32 questionnaires were collected from professionals working in 12 different organizations including non-government organizations, multi-lateral aid organizations, bi-lateral aid agencies (such as USAID) and private consulting firms. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses showed that these development organization professionals conceptualized empowerment along three main themes Agency, with a focus on decision-making; Power relations/negotiations in family relations; and Laws and structures to empowerment. The sub-theme of involving men in empowerment also came out as a critical theme to empowerment. These four themes indicate what the participants feel are the most salient issues in empowerment programming. In general, participants defined empowerment in individual-agency-based terms indicating that their empowerment programs are focusing on a linear progression of individual progress. These four themes indicate a conceptual framework for empowerment which places agency at the forefront with other domains of empowerment being addressed separately or at a later time. The focus on agency may, in the short term, allow empowerment programs to address larger numbers of individuals and may indeed provide a building block for empowerment, but may also limit organizations' conceptualizations of empowerment as well as reduce the possibility for transformative change in the lives of women and girls. The theme on power relations and negotiations in the family highlights the complex nature of family hierarchies and the shifting nature of women's roles within them. The findings indicate that these participants view empowerment programs addressing the constraints women face from other women as important and in some situations more important than the constraints from men. Future research into this area may allow for these complex power dynamics to be addressed in a manner that reduces any possible negative effects on women while increasing their status and bargaining power within both the male - female hierarchies as well as the female-female hierarchies.
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    Dietary intake, attitudinal, and contextual differences by weight status in indulgent snacking occasions of midlife women
    (2014-12) Mishler, Elizabeth Kathleen
    National, cross-sectional data collected over the past 40 years indicate an increase in the average weight of midlife women (40-60 years). Recent trends for more frequent snacking and stress-related eating may increase risk for weight gain, which is associated with risk of chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to better understand indulgent snacking occasions among midlife women (n=414) and to evaluate if these occasions, including the attitudes and contextual environment surrounding them, differed by weight status (normal, overweight, or obese). Data collected as a part of a larger study included one-day food records and surveys to assess attitudes and contextual environment. This thesis project tested the hypothesis that both macro- and micro-nutrient intake and food group intakes would vary by weight status with normal weight women displaying healthier consumption characteristics compared to overweight and obese women; however, the observed patterns did not fit these expectations. Significant differences were observed between weight status groups for energy intake and several macro- and micro-nutrient intakes, but these differences did not correspond with differences in food group intakes. Normal weight women tried fewer weight maintenance strategies and had higher weight self-efficacy scores than overweight and obese women. Normal weight women were also more likely to have positive attitudes toward food in general, whereas obese women were more likely to have less healthy attitudes, using food as an escape from emotion or as a coping mechanism for boredom. In addition to food intake, the findings suggest that attitudes and motivations surrounding food may also be important with regard to achieving a healthy weight. Health care professionals should consider snacking habits, as well as motivations and attitudes related to food, when advising midlife women on weight status issues.
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    Diminished aspiration: women central office administrators and the superintendency.
    (2009-04) Ottino, Krista Leigh
    The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine perceptions of women central office administrators who do not aspire to the superintendency in order to better understand this lack of aspiration. In addition, the study examined perceptions of aspiring women to provide a comparative base. Specifically, the study uncovered 1) perceptions related to the nature of the superintendency, and 2) conceptions and practices of power. This purpose was achieved through a secondary analysis of a pre-existing data set drawn from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Study of U.S. Women Superintendents and Central Office Administrators (Brunner & Grogan, 2007). The study analyzed data from 5 of 8 open-ended questions contained in the survey through an emergent theme analysis method. The conceptual framework for the study was an adaptation of Farmer`s (1985) Model of Career and Achievement Motivation and also contained elements of Bandura`s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory. Data was sorted through an open coding procedure in order to discover patterns or concepts and also allow for a systematic analysis of the data. Conclusions of the study on the effects of background, environmental, and personal elements are: 1) It was concluded that background characteristics have very little, if any, affect on aspiration to the superintendency; 2) Environmental elements identified by participants were school boards and politics, although aspiring women ranked school boards at a much higher rate. Recent research by Kim and Brunner (2009) indicates that career paths of aspiring and non-aspiring women central office administrators differ in that aspiring women come up through line positions and non-aspiring women come up through staff positions. The different paths may shape their perceptions through the experiences to which they are exposed; 3) Personal elements (conceptions of power) identified with high frequency by non-aspiring and aspiring women central office administrators were influence and collaboration. A notable difference was that aspiring women identified research and data at a higher rate of frequency. Again, power perceptions may be influenced by career path experiences. It was also found the non-aspiring women central office administrators were more likely to identify with power as power-over than were aspiring women. This discovery may be used to inform superintendent preparation programs to train women about their understanding and use of power. Other emergent themes that hold possibility for future research was the identification of long hours and hard work. Although both groups identified long hours as a way they get things done, non-aspiring women deemed the work as hard as a much higher frequency than aspiring women; 4) The high frequency themes identified in What else needs to be known was Good Old Boys and Gender-bias by both groups. A notable difference between the groups was that aspiring women were more concerned about mentors and networks than non-aspiring women. This finding may have implications for professional organizations.
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    Dressing the dancer: identity and belly dance students.
    (2010-05) Deppe, Margaret Anne
    Dressing the Dancer: Identity and Belly Dance Students Dress is a primary tool in the public presentation of the self (Stone, 1962). Clothing, grooming, and the physical appearance of the dressed body contribute to self image in both professional and recreational settings. Attending belly dance classes is a popular leisure activity among American women, and for many, dress accouterments are a significant part of the class experience. Dressing of the self for recreational events gives individuals the opportunity to express alternate aspects of the self not typically evident in other social settings and provides an opportunity for female socialization. The appearance of vendors selling specialized dancewear for classes, seminars, and workshops suggests that dress plays a significant role for students at all levels of belly dance activity, not just among those who perform professionally. This study examines the types of dress worn for belly dance classes and the motivations for dress choices made by students learning to belly dance from professional instructors in dance classes, seminars, and workshops. The study will further investigate how dress contributes to the expression of identity in the belly dance class context. The methods used for this study are participant observation at locations and events where belly dance classes, workshops, and seminars are held as well as half-hour interviews with students attending those events. The procedure and interview schedule have been approved by the Institutional Review Board, study #0804P29690
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    Eating occasion need states and weight gain prevention in midlife women.
    (2011-12) Perry, Courtney Dianne
    Midlife years (age 40-60) are a critical time period for many women because of elevated risk of overweight and obesity. Women often experience age-related weight gain based on both physiological and environmental changes that occur with age. The physiological changes experienced by women can contribute to weight gain, but weight gain can also be due to both environmental and behavioral factors that influence eating behavior. This project was based on a multidisciplinary approach involving nutrition and marketing expertise to address the situational context of eating occasions. The project was conducted in two phases; a descriptive research phase (Phase I) which provided information to inform the development of a controlled intervention phase (Phase II). The objective of the descriptive research phase I was to identify distinct need states based on rational and emotional needs surrounding specific eating occasions experienced by midlife women and determine how eating behavior including energy, food and nutrient intakes, and BMI differed by need state. Data from 5,556 eating occasions experienced by a US national sample of 1,663 women (40-60 years) were used in the segmentation analysis. Six need states were identified: healthy express, comforting interludes, indulgent escapes, nurturing family meals, sensible meals, and fast fueling. Each of the six need states had different energy and food and nutrient intake characteristics. The objective of the controlled-intervention phase II was to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a nutrition counseling intervention tailored to eating occasion need states to prevent weight gain compared to a control group of midlife women. Participants in the intervention group received ten hours of nutrition counseling over six months based on commonly experienced needs within specific eating occasions. The control group received no counseling. Although not significant, women in the intervention group gained 0.2 kg over the two year period, while women in the control group gained 0.4 kg. Energy intake did not differ significantly between the intervention and control group at any time point, however decreases were observed in total- (p=0.02) and saturated fat intakes (p=0.06), and cholesterol (p=0.01) intake over the two-year period in the intervention compared to control group. Over the two-year period compared to the control group, the intervention group increased intakes of fruit (p=0.02) and low/reduced fat dairy products (p=0.04) and decreased intakes of sugars and candy (p=0.002). Subgroup analyses of women experiencing less-healthy need states (intervention n=71; control n=59) showed results similar to the overall sample regarding weight change. Subgroup analyses of overweight and obese women (Intervention n=116; Control n=103) showed different patterns of change with weight decreasing in the intervention group (86.0 to 85.5 kg) and increasing in the control group (82.8 to 83.4 kg). This study provides evidence that tailoring nutrition education according to most frequently experienced eating occasion need states may, over time, lead to improved weight outcomes in overweight or obese women who often experience less-healthy need states. However, the intervention approach may be less helpful for normal weight women already experiencing healthy need states.
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    Evaluation of the McKnight Low Income Single Parent Loan Program: Second Year.
    (1987) Jones, Linda E.; Wattenberg, Esther
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    Evaluation of the McKnight Low-Income Single Parent Loan Program.
    (1986) Jones, Linda E.; Wattenberg, Esther
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    The Feasibility of Peer Group and Text Message-Based Weight Loss and Management Intervention for African American Women
    (2017-06) Lee, Sohye
    Obesity is a significant risk factor for many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Over 80% of adult African American (AA) women are overweight or obese, the highest of all ethnic groups. For many decades, healthcare providers and researchers have developed weight-loss interventions to help people achieve weight loss and management. Unfortunately, it is typical for people to lose weight quickly during the intervention period but then slowly regain weight until they return to their approximate baseline. Technology-based interventions are the newest approaches to achieve long-term weight loss and management. Several advantages make technology helpful for maintaining weight loss. A systematic search through electronic databases and a manual citation search were conducted to review the existing literature of technology-based weight loss maintenance interventions (WLMIs) to further explore the use of technology for disease management and prevention. Limited numbers of randomized controlled trials published since 2000 that included randomization and technology-based WLMIs were identified. The characteristics of the eight studies were diverse. The average score of study design quality was moderate. The results of the effectiveness of technology-based WLMIs were mixed. Technology-based WLMIs are more likely to be effective than usual care but not more effective than personal contact. Based on the review, guidelines were established for the selection and potential success of technology-based WLMIs. The effectiveness of technology-based interventions for weight loss varied, and potential strategies and approaches are discussed to improve their effectiveness. Further studies are needed to better evaluate and refine the efficacy of technology-based WLMIs. For the dissertation research project, text messages and support groups were designed to operationalize Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory components and theory-driven strategies, such as self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, self-monitoring, role modeling, motivation, and goal-setting. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design tested a newly developed 16-week experimental intervention protocol that combined bi-weekly group education sessions and peer support with daily text messages. More than 110 text messages were created from reliable sources and delivered using Short Message Service format and a client-based software application. One-hour support group sessions were held at a church and community center. Twenty-two AA women enrolled, and 17 women completed the intervention. Statistically significant changes were detected in weight and body mass index from baseline to 16 weeks (-3.7 lbs., t = 4.42, p < 0.001; -0.6, t = 4.30, p = 0.001, respectively). No statistically significant changes were found in blood pressure or waist circumference. At baseline, 36% of participants were in action and maintenance stages in stages of change for weight loss and management; this percent increased to 82% at 16 weeks. The focus group interview identified perceived benefits and challenges of a combination intervention. Participants agreed that daily text messaging was helpful to keep them motivated, apply content to their daily lives, fill the gap between face-to-face group sessions, and reinforce information and knowledge gained through the program. However, participants debated potential challenges of the text message protocol, such as message delivery time, frequency and quality, and technical difficulty. Participants agreed that biweekly support groups were beneficial to share difficulties encountered and successful strategies, provide encouragement, and learn from other peers. Participants also reported feeling a strong sense of belonging because they had common goals and problems. However, they did not come to consensus regarding the optimal frequency and timing of support group sessions. Overall, most participants agreed the combined program was great because it gave them a good balance between face-to-face meetings and personal text messages. Lastly, women reported noticing small changes and an increased awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviors. Findings of this feasibility study provide preliminary evidence that combining text messaging (an inexpensive delivery tool) and in-person peer support (human interaction) could address the need for human interaction and lead to successful behavior change. This new hybrid approach is synergistic, whereas technology-alone or traditional in-person meeting-only approaches report mixed findings for promotion of weight management. Preliminary findings of this study indicate that a combined approach is an effective vehicle to deliver a weight management program for AA women.
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    Forever changed: women's lived experiences of growing up with an incarcerated Father
    (2014-08) Trombley, Holli Maria
    This study explored the lived experiences of women who grew up with an incarcerated father. Thirteen women were interviewed using open-ended, semi-structured questions. The research design was based on Martin Heidegger's original philosophical construct of Hermeneutic Phenomenology and was guided by Max van Manen's six-step methodical structure approach to obtain meaning making from the participants regarding their lived experience (van Manen, 1997, 2014). Feminist framework is also incorporated to recognize the uniqueness of the female experience, which has often been neglected in research related to fathering. Findings reflected the thoughts, feelings and perceptions of participants in relation to how incarceration influenced their relationship with their father as well as how this phenomenon affected other dimensions of their life and their interpersonal relationships. The findings resulted in three overarching domains for paternal incarceration: 1) daughter's perception of parental response, 2) effect on daughter's personal well-being, and 3) influence on daughter's interpersonal relationships. Future implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.
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    From nursing sisters to a sisterhood of nurses: German nurses and transnational professionalization, 1836-1918.
    (2009-08) Soine, Aeleah HeaRan
    Between the 1830s and World War I, German nurses engaged in collaborative efforts with American and British nurses for the purpose of transforming their work into a respectable profession for women. This dissertation reasserts the importance of German nurses in the development of a profession, not only because they were actively involved in the movement, but also because many transnationally-influential nursing ideologies and organizational models originated in Germany. Through archived collections of personal letters, organizational records and publications, government transcripts, and speeches by German nurses, my project brings together artificially-separated national nursing traditions at key moments in their shared history of nursing professionalization. As such, the writings and activities of these German women offer illuminating evidence of the historical intersections among professional class formation, gender relations, and organizational development as they occurred simultaneously on a local, national, and transnational scale.
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    Gender Mainstreaming in City Comprehensive Plans, A Transportation Focus
    (2020-04-16) McDonnell, Ania
    Gender mainstreaming is an effective tool to shape policies and planning in order to equally benefit all genders. This paper addresses gender mainstreaming practices with transportation policies, specifically with city comprehensive plans. Transportation is necessary for individual mobility, access, and economic engagement with society. Due to the economic disparities among groups of people, low-income people and women are often faced with different spatial and time mobility. Transportation policy is driving the planning process directly on the local level, through city comprehensive plans, specifically in the transportation section. City comprehensive plans are a broad and general document that set the vision for the city planners and policy makers for the next 20 years. This paper analyzes four city comprehensive plants transportation section alongside existing gender disparities in transportation to address whether the plans are serving the needs of all people and the existing disparities in the transportation system. Gender and transportation are overlooked in the present because there are no measures, guidance, or participation of users in the planning of the document or the systems in place. This paper goes beyond just quantifying gender and gender disparities, by utilizing a mixed-method approach to understand the needs to create a more equitable and inclusive system.
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    Gendered walkability: Building a daytime walkability index for women
    (Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2019) Golan, Yael; Wilkinson, Nancy Lee; Henderson, Jason; Weverka, Aiko
    Urban walkability is influenced both by built environment features and by pedestrian demographics. Research has shown that factors influencing women’s walking differ from those affecting men’s. Using a mixed-method approach, this study creates a new women-specific, GIS-based walkability index using San Francisco as a case study, and answers two questions: Which variables most influence women’s propensity to walk? And Does the leading walkability index, Walk Score, reflect women’s walkability? Focus group participants (n=17) ranked crime, homelessness and street/sidewalk cleanliness as the three most influencing factors on women’s walkability, accounting for 58% to 67% of the Women’s Walkability Index’s total score. The least walkable areas in San Francisco, according to this index, are rated as some of the most walkable neighborhoods in the city by Walk Score, despite high crime and homelessness density. Walk Score is negatively correlated with the new Women’s Walkability Index (Spearman’s rho = -0.585) and inaccurately represents women’s walkability. If the new index accurately captures the reality of women’s walking, then some of the most widely accepted conventions about what kind of areas promote walking could be inaccurate when it comes to women.
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    Growing Potential: An Analysis of Legal and Policy Barriers Faced by Women in Horticulture in Guatemala, Nepal, Tanzania, & Zambia
    (Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 2013-05-24) Collinson, Erin; Habeel, Nadine; Jawaid, Fatima; Jean, Laura; Williams, Kari
    In 2009 the Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) at the University of California, Davis was established as part of an effort to reduce rural poverty and chronic malnutrition. Horticulture production provides individuals and families with the opportunity to better their social and economic circumstances through income generation and improved nutrition and health. However, in both agriculture and horticulture women in many developing countries earn lower wages and have access to fewer resources compared to men, despite the fact that women provide much of the labor in these sectors. To support the work of the Horticulture CRSP this report identifies barriers that have the potential to limit the benefits of horticulture production for rural women in four countries: Guatemala, Nepal, Tanzania, and Zambia. This report is divided into two components: a general overview covering broad findings and offering recommendations, and country specific analyses that offer more targeted research and recommendations for each of the study countries.
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