Abuse of women in intimate relationships has gained international recognition as an important social phenomenon which has significant physical and psychological implications for those exposed to it (Heise, Pitanguy, & Germain, 1994). History has repeatedly shown that abuse does not end with separation or divorce but, rather, often increases at these times. This reality, in combination with the deleterious effects of the physical and emotional abuse within the relationship, affects the abused woman's ability to cope with the challenges faced when she leaves the abusive relationship. One of these challenges is to parent the children she may have. The role of mothering is of primary importance to these women. However, the competing issues associated with the abusive relationship and establishing a new life away from the abuser often leaves the women unprepared for the role of a single parent. One intervention that is available to assist women during this period in their lives is a parenting support group. A research study was initiated to evaluate the effect of one particular parenting support group on mothers who had left an abusive relationship. The methodology of this study was guided by a feminist perspective. Data collection involved the use of focus groups. Participants were drawn from a pool of 16 women subjects who had participated in the parenting support group program. Participants were divided into two focus group sessions. Giorgi's (1975) four stage method of phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings of this study showed that women valued the parenting support group intervention and utilized the insight and skills they gained to move forward in their lives. The description of their experiences resulted in the development of four themes: 1) CONNECTION; 2) CONFIDENCE; 3) REFRAMING; and, 4) SELF-EFFICACY. The areas within these themes warranting further discussion were highlighted, and the implications for nursing in terms of practice, education and research were identified. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

Using an ethnohistorical method which combines archival material with ethnographic material collected mostly by anthropologists, this thesis provides a history of Tlingit women's interaction with the Presbyterian missions. The Presbyterians, who began their work among the Tlingit of southeastern Alaska in the 1870s, were particularly concerned with the introduction of "appropriate" gender roles. Although participating in the roles and activities defined by the Presbyterians as "women's work", Tlingit women incorporated Presbyterian forms of practice into their own cultural frames of reference. The end result, unintended by the missionaries, was that Tlingit women were provided with a new power base. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate

The present study examined possible mediators of the relationship between social anxiety and social rejection in a face-to-face interaction. Eighty-four undergraduate students with varying levels of social anxiety participated in a self-disclosure task in which an experimental confederate revealed intimate information about herself to which the subject responded. During the interaction, trained observers rated subjects on the extent to which they displayed outward signs of anxiety, the intimacy level of their disclosures, and the similarity of the subject and confederate. After the interaction, confederates rated the extent to which they would be willing to participate in future activities with subjects, a measure of social acceptance or rejection. The results of the present study suggested that perceived similarity mediated the relationship between social anxiety and social rejection. In addition, similarity mediated between self-disclosure and rejection and between overt signs of anxiety and rejection. This mediational model and its practical and theoretical implications are discussed. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

This thesis examines how one might evaluate the justice of educational resource distribution. It focusses on the criteria of institutional justice formulated by John Rawls: according to these criteria inequality in the distribution of resources is only allowed if it can be shown to benefit all groups, including 'the least favoured'. The thesis also demonstrates how qualitative and quantitative research methods can be combined in order to reach a more accurate and 'just' evaluation. The research, which was conducted at a private post-secondary English - language liberal arts institution in British Columbia for Japanese students, compares annual student growth in English, both before and after the implementation of a three-to-ten-month leveled, modular, mastery-learning program for entry-level students. The research also includes interviews to determine teacher attitudes about the previous and present programs and their effect on students. In both the qualitative and quantitative studies, program effects on high-, medium-, and low-entry ability students are looked at separately (in order to use Rawls' criteria). The context of the research is clarified with short summaries of issues around mastery learning, leveling versus tracking, and Japanese versus western education. The quantitative research finds that, contrary to teacher impressions, the mean improvement for students in the present program is not significantly different from that in the previous program. The qualitative research however, points out important justice implications not revealed by the other study. The thesis concludes that (1) there are some problems with using Rawls' criteria in an educational setting; (2) looking at program effects on three separate ability groupings can reveal trends having justice implications; and (3) assessments of the justice of educational resource distribution should attempt to triangulate with both qualitative and quantitative studies which attempt to answer the same question. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Most common law and civil law jurisdictions have laws in place to provide a safety net so that those who are unfairly disinherited will be able to claim a share in a deceased's estate. Since 1920, British Columbia has been one of those jurisdictions in which a testator's distribution scheme may be varied at the discretion of the Court. However, the absence of a stated purpose of the legislation, a broad judicial discretion to determine what is adequate provision for a spouse and children and the failure of the Supreme Court of Canada in Tataryn v. Tataryn to bring certainty and predictability to the law point to a need for reform. The goal of this thesis is to complete the sentence "the purpose of legislation restricting testamentary freedom is . . . . " and to make recommendations for legislative change to accomplish this purpose. An overview of the law in British Columbia today and the arguments for reform will be outlined in chapters 1, 2 and 3. Chapters 4 through 8 will examine a number of topics to extract policies which might assist in the formulation of a dependant's relief statute's purpose. Historical concepts, family, intestacy and wrongful death legislation as expressions of values will be reviewed. From the doctrine of unjust enrichment, a cause of action independent of a statute, a contract or a tort, but now widely used in claims between family members, will be extracted principles which recognize compensation for the contribution of services and money between family members. Empirical studies about testators' intentions, family and other private relations will be noted in chapter 9. Lastly, chapter 10 will make a number of recommendations for reform. These include: (a) A statement of the statute's purpose. Persons who have lived together in a relationship of some permanence with financial and emotional interdependence should share equally the assets acquired during their time together and the survivor's need for support should be recognized. Children's support needs should also be met but the testamentary autonomy of persons should be subject only to these two objectives. (b) The broadening of categories of claimants to include cohabitants and stepchildren with the introduction of age and dependency criteria for the latter. (c) Criteria to be used in making reasonable financial provision for spouses and children. (d) A priorities scheme. (e) The right to waive the statutory rights by agreement. No attempt is made to provide recommendations for all of the issues that would arise under a new statute. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

Progressive deformation of the large natural rock slope at British Columbia Hydro's Wahleach hydroelectric project is an ongoing phenomenon. Slope movements have caused significant operational problems in the original power tunnels located within portions of the deforming slope, and pose a recognized hazard to property and facilities located at the base of the slope. Developing a more comprehensive understanding of the rock slope deformation mechanics has been fundamental in evaluating the potential risk to facilities located at the base of the slope. This has been achieved through an extensive investigation and monitoring program, and supported by detailed numerical modelling studies presented in this report. Numerical modelling with the finite difference FLAC computer code has utilized the extensive slope monitoring history developed between 1989 and 1994 to evaluate the model response. This has allowed the model to be used to evaluate the possible failure modes in the slope and to investigate the effects of future loading conditions such as earthquakes and extreme precipitation events, in addition to the potential long term evolution of the slope movement process. Application of the FLAC code enabled a representative simulation of observed slope conditions to be made. Modelling results yielded excellent comparison with slope instrumentation data, developing confidence in the modelling capabilities to carry out predictive analyses of potential future loading conditions. The modelling indicated the importance of transient groundwater flow to the deformation process in the upper 40 to 70 metres of the rock mass. B.C. Hydro recognized the potentially critical impact of adverse slope movement on the collection of hydroelectric, transportation and communication facilities located at the base of the Wahleach slope. Comprehensive investigative work, undertaken following the rupture of the steel lining of the power conduit, concluded that the nature of the slope movements indicated that a rapid failure mechanism was unlikely to develop. The modelling studies described herein provided further support that rapid slope failure is unlikely. Moreover, the numerical modelling provided important insight into the slope deformation mechanics, enhancing the understanding of this regionally important phenomenon. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

This research explores the experiences of six Aboriginal counsellors who provide services to Aboriginal families affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The focus of this research is on the experience and skill which First Nations counsellors employ with Aboriginal families affected by the disease. As well, literature on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and counsellors' prevention and intervention strategies are explored. The current F.A.S. literature and Canadian Aboriginal history explored in the literature review roots the counsellors' present day experiences in the "Constructions" chapter. Within this qualitative research project, transcribed in-depth interviews of six Aboriginal counsellors' experiential knowledge were explored through the use of narrative analysis techniques. Analysis of the data revealed various themes. The themes indicated that Aboriginal counsellors' concerns regarding F.A.S. included: Aboriginal identity (for themselves and their clients); counselling work issues; as well as acknowledgement of the strengths and weaknesses in agencies and professional practice that currently influence Aboriginal families affected by F.A.S. There was also a theme regarding emotions and feelings running throughout all the interviews. The themes reveal that the experience and perspective of Aboriginal counsellors is unique and valuable. The thesis concludes with recommendations about treatment offered to families affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

Current social services provided in Canada for low-income women are primarily 'crisis management' in nature as they almost exclusively provide safe housing, adequate nutrition or employment training, and many are under severe financial pressure due to a shifting public policy. As a result, services offered for single mothers living below the poverty line rarely deal with health promotion in terms of physical activity, even though it has been demonstrated that socioeconomic status is a key determinant of health (Frankish, Milligan & Reid, 1996). Although there are many positive mental and physical health benefits associated with regular physical activity (King 1991), its organizational context remains problematic for those who live in poverty and are unable or unwilling to conform to dominant expectations inherent with the consumption of modern forms of physical activity. A moral reasoning tone pervades prescriptions for maintaining and improving health, and those unable to achieve and maintain good health are considered individually responsible, thus obscuring organizational and structural factors that limit involvement. The purpose of this case study of the YWCA was to examine the provision and consumption of health and wellness services for low-income single mothers. Research questions were posed in four areas: i) what meanings do low-income single mothers and YWCA service providers associate with the provision of health and wellness services; ii) how are health and wellness services located within the political, social and economic context of the YWCA; iii) are there points of disjuncture between the provision and consumption of health and wellness services for low-income single mothers; and iv) if points of disjuncture are uncovered, what are the possibilities for emancipatory change in service provision? Several bodies of literature were reviewed to inform the study: social construction of poverty, ideologies of health and physical activity, feminist organization theory, and feminist action research (FAR). FAR is a research process that merges participatory action research with critical feminist theory. Key principles of feminist action research include: 1) gender as a central piece to emerging explanatory frameworks (Maguire, 1987); 2) collaboration and negotiation at all stages of the research process between the researcher, the service providers and the research participants (Green et al., 1995); 3) empowerment through giving control of the research process and decision making to the research participant, while deconstructing the power structures associated with social class (Fals-Borda, 1991; Fawcett, 1991); and 4) social/organizational action and emancipatory change enabled through the democratic production of knowledge (Green et al., 1995). The research methodology involved an examination of: 1) The meanings and experiences of eleven low-income single mothers participating in the FOCUS Pre-employment Training Program which has a wellness component. The data collection strategies included focus groups; a validation meeting the original participants; observations during group meetings and program sessions; and informal discussions. 2) The meanings and experiences of five service providers who were either facilitators of FOCUS or occupied managment positions in the YWCA. The data collection strategies included one-on-one semi-focused interviews; observations of program meetings, group and informal discussions; and a final meeting to discuss potential change. 3) Relevant documents, including brochures, pamphlets, reports and promotional flyers to obtain background and contextual information about the YWCA. The data was analyzed using inductive analysis and the qualitative software program, Q.S.R. NUD.IST. The overall finding was that neither the service providers nor the single mothers viewed wellness as a priority. At the organizational level, the explanation for this finding was that physical activity opportunities were not valued by the funders, whereas employment training was their primary concern. The YWCA's upscale health and wellness services, which offered another opportunity for single mothers to participate, catered on a fee-for-service basis to middle and upper income women and men and pursued a market-driven ideology towards service provision, thus making low-income single mothers' involvement less likely. The social, economic and political context in which FOCUS was situated had a profound influence on the nature of service delivery, and funding constraints were a source of stress for the service providers and infringed on the nature and scope of the services offered for the single mothers. Themes related to points of disjuncture included the service providers' attitudes towards the provision of health and wellness services. Some providers believed that within the confines of the organizational structure and the FOCUS program guidelines, the physical activity opportunities offered to the women were sufficient. Conversely, other providers believed that the organization could take a more active and critical role in determining routes for change and establishing stronger connections between health and wellness activities and the other components of the FOCUS program. All of the service providers alluded to the importance of the women's input and the "organic growth" of the program, however the program's strict curriculum and scarce evaluations resulted in a non-collaborative approach to service delivery. From the single mothers' persepctives, stereotypes of the lazy and unmotivated "welfare single mother" inhited their involvement in community life, including organized forms of physical activity (Fraser & Gordon, 1994; Lord, 1994; Belle, 1990). The women reported experiences with discrimination, a cycle of poverty, complications with social assistance, social stigmas, and childcare responsibilities as their major constraints. Three main reasons for the women's lack of participation were their low sense of entitlement towards physical activity, their ambivalence towards their bodies, and little access to wellness facilities. However, involvement in health and wellness activities was a low-priority for the FOCUS participants, though some of the single mothers mentioned the desirability of incorporating more regular activity sessions into the FOCUS curriculum. Other tensions arose between the realities and ideals of feminist organizing. Distinctions based on class, ethnicity and age separated the upper managerial service providers, the on-site facilitators, and the women accessing the program, perpetuating an elitist, non-collaborative and hierarchical organizationial structure. Based on the single mothers and the service providers' suggestions, four major recommendations for change were provided. First, the participants should be central to and fully collaborative in the organizational processes of the YWCA. Second, if the women involved in the program value physical activity, they should determine ways in which it can become a part of their daily reality. Third, for those involved with the planning and implementation of the FOCUS program, the role of the funders vis a vis the needs of the participants should be determined, and a consistent and 'women-centered' approach to service delivery established. Finally, the YWCA's approach to wellness service delivery should be evaluated and re-conceptualized so that it fulfills and is congruent with the YWCA mission statement. What remained unexplored by the service providers was the potential for the women to redefine hegemonic notions of physical activity (Birrell & Richter, 1987) and to be involved in a meaningful and self-expressive form of activity (Hargreaves, 1990). By listening to the various perspectives and situating experiences within the organizational, political, economic and social contexts, this study provided the beginnings of a critial understanding of the tensions involved in women organizing for women to promote physical activity. / Education, Faculty of / Kinesiology, School of / Graduate

The primary purpose of this study was to compare performance on phonemic awareness tasks while controlling for variables including the linguistic complexity of word and nonword stimuli, and administration and scoring procedures. Twenty-five kindergarten and 25 grade one students were administered five phonemic awareness tasks including four different phoneme segmentation tasks and a blending task, a vocabulary test, and real word identification and nonword decoding tasks. The relationship among the phonemic awareness tasks was analyzed through intercorrelations, factor analyses, and examination of relative degree of difficulty. There was a high degree of convergence among tasks, particularly those with similar task demands. The relationship between performance on phonemic awareness tasks and real word and nonword reading tasks was also compared. In most cases, students who were able to decode nonwords also performed well on the phonemic awareness tasks. A multiple regression revealed that the best predictor of nonword decoding was an oral phonemic segmentation task. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings were discussed. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

This research argues in favour of a transformational orientation to art education curriculum.. I discuss implementing a teacher-as-artist model in art education as a means to achieve personal transformation. I examine the practices of three art teachers who engage in creating art work themselves as a way of modeling art production and visual problem solving with students, in an effort to facilitate student transformation. As a participant in this process, I retell my own experiences as an artist and teacher, and thus my own personal transformations are identified. Achieving a transformational orientation is not easy and as such, complexities and tensions are identified while sharing authority and leadership in a collaborative way. An action research methodology was chosen as a way to systematically investigate the feminist principles of cooperation, collaboration, and honouring lived experiences which form the pedagogical structures that support teaching in a transformational orientation. However, as the research unfolded, the methodology itself transformed to include my own autobiography. The findings of this study point to the themes of identity, commitment and relationships as indicators of teachers respecting a transformational pedagogy. The research concludes with the original model of teacher-as-artist evolving to a concept of the role of pedagogical artists, as teacher/student relationships are altered to become more caring, trusting, and respectful. Therein lies the possibility for personal change, thus moving us in a direction towards a societal transformation. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate