published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

The purpose was to compare the physical fitness level of male fire fighters to the average Canadian population of similar age and sex. Subjects were 1303 fire fighters between the ages of 19 and 58 years, categorized into the following four age groups: 19-29 years (n = 351), 30-39 years (n = 408), 40-49 years (n = 408) and 50-59 years (n = 136). Subjects participated in the Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness including (1) pre-test screening; (2) anthropometric; (3) cardiovascular; (4) flexibility and; (5) muscular endurance measurements. It was hypothesized that there would be no significant differences between the body composition, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance levels of fire fighters compared to the average Canadian of similar age. Fire fighters had significantly lower VO$ sb2$max values and significantly greater scores for sit-ups, push-ups and flexibility for all age categories, compared to their counterparts. The fire fighters' lower aerobic capacity was attributed to elevated body mass and possible long-term effects of exposure to carbon monoxide and vapours from combustible chemicals.

Black/white/male/female struggles over knowledge correctness and who is brave are examined inductively in the field of bushfires. The paradoxes of a white male icon are linked to contradictions in gender theories in disaster. In mainstream literature, assumptions of innate white male superiority in bravery justify white women???s diminution and white male domination. In feminist theory, women???s diminution is the problem and their bravery for struggling against hegemony applauded. Philosophies of bravery are explored in 104 semistructured interviews and 12 months??? fieldwork as a volunteer bushfirefighter. There is great variety in the ways volunteers cope with bushfires. However, evidence of white male hegemony emerges when volunteers complain of state and territory indifference to preventing property and environmental damage and injury and death. Evidence is examined that Indigenous Australians once managed bushfires better than a sprawl of bureaucracy. Bushfire service claims that Aborigines knew nothing about hazard reductions are contradicted. This debate over bushfire management leads to the discovery of a third epistemology breaking with claims of white male iconic bravery and bureaucratic mastery. To generalise about the habitus of claims to knowledge and bravery, I analyse Newcastle Herald articles from 1881-1981. Three competing knowledge fields and their associated struggles are examined; Indigenous Australians and white womens??? emancipatory struggles confront data on bushfirefighting. Bushfires emerge as a serious problem, a bureaucratic power base and a white male icon from the 1920s.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-80).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University, 1952. / Mimeographed. Sponsor: P. L. Essert. Dissertation Committee: H. L. Forkner, W. C. Hallenbeck. Type B project. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-83).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 121 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-81).

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1994. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2951. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 255-256).

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-80).

Thesis (B.A.)--Haverford College, Dept. of History, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2006. / "Dissertation submitted to the Department of Public and Social Administration of Hong Kong City University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Policy and Management." Title from title screen (viewed on Oct. 26, 2006) Includes bibliographical references.