Food systems and health systems are interdependent. Historically, however, strategies that focused on the development of these systems evolved in isolation from one another. Non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes have an etiology that is strongly linked to food systems. Type 2 diabetes is taking an ever-increasing toll on health, and health systems, globally, and in Canada. In response, health professional organizations propose an advocacy approach to improve food system characteristics linked to the development of diabetes. Opportunities for, and barriers to, such initiatives have not yet been examined in the health geography literature. The primary objective of this dissertation is to contribute to the development of a framework for action for nutrition educators working in rural areas to use to promote local sustainable food systems. The ultimate objective is to improve the diet, and by extension, the health of those suffering from type 2 diabetes. As part of the research approach, a gendered analysis was employed for the following reasons: First, labour around food production, food procurement and food preparation and health care work is provided predominantly by women. Second, there is a gendered profile of pattern of illness and access to care for people with type 2 diabetes. The research methodology was comprised of a case study and mixed methods approach. Nineteen communities in southwestern Ontario were selected for inclusion in the case study using criteria based on the Rurality Index of Ontario. Data were collected through extensive literature reviews, 34 semi-structured interviews with health professionals, a survey of 24 people afflicted with type 2 diabetes and ‘in situ’ observations. Analysis of the findings using grounded theory techniques, such as iterative coding, revealed barriers to, and opportunities for, supporting local sustainable food systems by area health professionals working at local, regional and national scales. This thesis provides important information about gender roles, community capacity, sense of community, and health professional training that should be considered in the development of policies to promote local sustainable food systems.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / With an increased interest in work-family conflict, researchers have recently turned much of their attention to understanding what puts people at risk of experiencing higher levels of work-family conflict. The purpose of this paper is to examine how gender might influence work-family conflict (WFC) experienced. While past research has explored this topic, results have remained inconclusive. Although some research indicates that women experience more conflict, other research indicates that men experience more conflict, while still other research indicates no gender difference. It is proposed here that these mixed results indicate other factors may be present which moderate the effect of gender on work-family conflict. Drawing on the theory of work-family conflict and role congruity theory, this paper looks specifically at how the gender-type of a job moderates the relationship between gender and experienced levels of work-family conflict. Data from alumni from a large Midwestern University were analyzed using hierarchical regression. Job gender-type (i.e., femininity) was found to moderate the relationship between gender and work-family conflict such that women in jobs that were less stereotypically feminine reported higher levels of time based-conflict than women working in jobs that were more stereotypically feminine. Men reported similar levels of WFC regardless of their job type. Directions for future research on gender and WFC are discussed.