No description available.

Osteoporosis affects half of all women over the age of fifty, but can be prevented through proper nutrition and exercise early in life. Few studies have been conducted that document positive gains in knowledge about osteoporosis prevention in young girls and no research has been completed in which osteoporosis education is delivered by peers in children. A 3-A-Day™ of dairy peer education program was developed by local Girl Scouts with the purpose of teaching other Girl Scouts about the importance of calcium intake and weight-bearing activities in the prevention of osteoporosis, overweight, and hypertension. Peer educators had significant increases in their overall knowledge of dairy (p<0.001) and self-efficacy related to 3-A-Day™ (p<0.05) after teaching peer education programs. Program participants had significant improvements in knowledge of calcium-rich foods (p<0.001) and weight-bearing activities (p<0.001). Participants were able to identify the recommended number of dairy servings per day (p<0.01). Although parents indicated that their daughters' knowledge increased after participation in the peer education program, parents' ratings of knowledge were not significantly related with daughters' ratings. Qualitative evaluation indicated that these Girl Scouts enjoyed serving as peer educators. This research supports the importance of osteoporosis education in young girls and demonstrates positive outcomes of peer education for both educators and program participants. / Master of Science

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Cette thèse s’interroge sur les enjeux sociaux et commerciaux des politiques de genre. Par conséquent, elle considère la notion de Girl Power définie comme le pouvoir des filles et examine les discours renégociés autour du genre par l’examen d’héroïnes de séries des années 1990. Par contraste avec les séries des années 1970 qui relèvent du féminisme de la 2e vague, les séries des années 1990-2000 s’inscrivent davantage dans la mouvance du féminisme de la 3e vague. Ces séries ont suscité des polémiques autour des questions de féminisme et de violence télévisée et féminisée. Le corpus est principalement composé de deux séries Girl Power, Xena : Warrior Princess et Charmed, qui symbolisent le pouvoir féminin car les héroïnes d'action s’affichent en premier rôle. Ce sont des séries à succès, qui ont été diffusées pendant plusieurs saisons, dont les icônes continuent à circuler dans la culture populaire américaine. L’analyse de ces séries s’organise en deux temps principaux : une première partie considère les représentations du Girl Power et ses ambiguïtés tandis qu’une deuxième partie se concentre sur la négociation des discours de pouvoir et de genre. L'interprétation de ces symboles du pouvoir féminin n'est pas fixe et fluidifie les frontières du genre, notamment en mettant en crise la masculinité. Les séries sur les femmes violentes sont des produits commerciaux. Toutefois elles ont eu un impact sur la culture américaine en soulignant les contradictions et tensions entre les deux vagues du féminisme. Elles ont également eu un effet sur la vie des communautés de fans qui entretiennent des relations avec les séries à travers les sites web et les réseaux sociaux. / This thesis investigates the social and economic issues at play in the politics of gender. Hence it delves into the phenomenon of Girl Power, or the « power of girls », and examines the discourses renegotiated around gender through analysis of TV series’ heroines from the 1990s. In contrast with series from the 1970s, which were influenced by the second wave of feminism, the series from 1990-2000 inscribed themselves more in the sphere of influence of feminism’s third wave. These series have provoked debates about issues of televisual violence and feminism. The corpus is principally composed of two Girl Power series, Xena: Warrior Princess and Charmed, which symbolize women’s power because they are centered on action heroines. These were successful series that were broadcast for several seasons and whose icons continue to disseminate in American popular culture. The analysis of these series is organized into two parts: the first part examines respresentations of Girl Power and its ambiguities, while the second part focuses on the negotiation of discourses of power and gender. The interpretation of these symbols of women’s power is not fixed, and blurs gender borders, notably in showing masculinity in crisis. TV series about violent women are commercial products. Yet they have had an impact on American culture in underlining the contradictions and tensions between the two waves of feminism. They have also affected the lives of the communities of fans, who sustain relationships with the series through web sites and social networks.

[pt] Esta dissertação analisa o consumo sob a perspectiva cultural, considerando possíveis contextos sociais. Dentre os prováveis, compreende o luxo entre jovens cariocas, a partir das práticas e representações do consumo de um grupo denominado it-girls, moradoras de favelas e bairros menos privilegiados da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, aqui apresentadas como mediadoras culturais. Para tanto, realiza, inicialmente, uma pesquisa online com jovens das camadas médias cariocas para mapear a relação do jovem com o consumo e de que forma o luxo se insere neste contexto. Para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa é utilizado o recurso metodológico da revisão bibliográfica, a fim de entender o significado do consumo, e os múltiplos conceitos que os bens podem adquirir na vida dos indivíduos que os consomem, localizar no tempo o significado do luxo e do consumo de luxo, e como esse consumo tem influenciado o desenvolvimento das sociedades. O método das entrevistas em profundidade por sua vez, permite a coleta de informações, percepções e experiências das it-girls, Ana Carolina, Jessica e Annapaula, moradoras dos bairros de Benfica, Santa Cruz, no conjunto habitacional Cesarão, e Tijuca, na Favela do Salgueiro, respectivamente. Ainda, como parte do trabalho de campo, a pesquisa etnográfica utiliza a ferramenta da observação participante nas comunidades em que as jovens moram ou trabalham e no shopping de luxo Village Mall e, desta forma, permite examinar como elas articulam os capitais cultural, social e econômico. As observações interpretadas ajudam a compreender que as representações midiáticas do luxo e do consumo passam por mudanças, considerando que o jovem não é uma coisa só, mas que ele se articula com outros grupos sociais, sejam estes nas favelas, nos bairros da periferia ou na zona sul da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, bem como nas redes sociais. Desta forma, as descobertas desta dissertação reafirmam o papel mediador das it-girls, não só pela capacidade dessas jovens em transitar em grupos sociais distintos, mas de gerar novos hábitos, e de transformar a realidade social de outras tantas jovens. / [en] This Master thesis analyses consumption from a cultural perspective, based on the role of social contexts. In this sense, it aims to understand what luxury means for the youth who live in Rio de Janeiro, considering the practices and representations of consumption from a specific group entitled it-girls, who live in the favelas and suburbs of the city. In this work, these girls are presented as cultural mediators. Accordingly, this research starts with an online survey with young middle class women that served to the purpose of mapping the relations between youth and consumption, and of identifying how the idea of luxury plays a role in this relationship. In order to further develop the central argument of this work, the online survey is followed by an in-depth literature review that aims to understand the meanings of consumption, and the multiple conceptualizations that material objects can acquire in their consumers lives, as well as to localize in time the meanings of luxury and luxury consumption, and how the later has informed the development of societies over time. Furthermore, the in-depth interview method was used with the it-girls, Ana Carolina, Jessica and Annapaula, dwellers of the neighborhoods of Benfica, Santa Cruz in the Cesarão housing complex, and Tijuca, in the Favela do Salgueiro, respectively. These interviews provided data collection of information, perceptions and experiences. Finally, and still as part of fieldwork, the ethnographic gaze that orients this Master thesis was largely informed by the participant observation in the places where the it-girls live or work, as well as during a field excursion in the luxury mall Village Mall. During these experiences, it was possible to perceive how these girls articulate cultural, social and economic capitals. The interpretation of collected data allowed the understanding that representations of luxury and consumption are subjected to change, considering that the youth is not whole, but rather it is articulated in relation to other social groups, regardless of where they are geographically located, and within the social media realm. Hence, the main findings of this research reaffirm the role of the it-girls as cultural mediators, not only for their capacity to circulate between different social groups, but also for their power to generate new habits, and to transform the social realities of other young women.

Denna studie har genom en kvalitativ intervjustudie sökt förståelse för hur kommodifierad feminism, med uttryck såsom Girl Power, Empowerment och Systerskap, kan påverka kvinnors upplevelse av femininitet, feminism och självidentiteten. För att möta syftet formulerades följande frågeställningar; (1) Hur upplever informanterna att de påverkas av representationer av femininitet som de möter i sitt vardagsliv? (2) Hur upplever informanterna att de påverkas av feministiska budskap som de möter i sitt vardagsliv? (3) Hur ställer sig informanterna till att konsumera feminism? (4) Påverkas informanternas uppfattning av kommodifierad feminism utifrån hur de förhåller sig till feminism?   I analysen har teorier om identitet, reflexivitet, konsumtion, kommodifiering och feministisk tankegrund använts. Empiri har samlats in genom intervjuer med tolv kvinnor i åldrarna 18–50 år. Genom representationer av femininitet och feministiska budskap som informanterna möter i sitt vardagliga liv kan vi urskilja att traditionella krav och förväntningar på kvinnan existerar parallellt med nya krav och förväntningar, präglade av nyliberalistiska värderingar. Dessa värderingar kan påvisas förmedlas genom budskap förpaketerade i feministisk förklädnad, uppstådda genom kommodifieringens processer. Informanterna uppvisar både en medvetenhet och en motstridighet gentemot hur representationer och kommodifiering påverkar såväl individen som feminism i helhet. Att feminism syns i kommodifierad form upplevs både kunna normalisera den feministiska kampen, men också skapa motstånd. I viss mån upplevs kommodifiering av feminism urvattna och förmörka feministisk tankegrund. Samtidigt pekar resultatet på att kommodifierade feministiska budskap och symboler kan fungera identitetsskapande och ge individen ett sammanhang och en tillhörighet. Informanterna är dock inte eniga, identitetsskapande genom konsumtion av feministiska budskap och produkter betraktas av somliga negativt. Resultatet pekar därför på att de individer som identifierar sig som feminister och uppvisar en större feministisk insatthet till viss del för ett djupare, mer nyanserat och kritiskt resonemang som ofta grundar sig i kapitalismens oförenlighet med feminism. Slutsatsen som har dragits är att individens eget feministiska intresse partiellt kan ses styra hennes upplevelse, tolkning och konsumtion av kommodifierad feminism. / Through a qualitative interview study, this study has sought to understand how commodified feminism, through terms such as Girl Power, Empowerment and Sisterhood, can influence women's experiences of femininity, feminism and self-identity. To meet the purpose of the study, the following research questions were posed; (1) How do our informants experience that they are influenced by the representations of femininity that they encounter in their everyday lives? (2) How do our informants experience that they are influenced by feminist messages that they encounter in their everyday lives? (3) Where do our informants position themselves in the matter of consuming feminism? (4) Are the informants’ perception of commodified feminism influenced by how they relate to feminism?   In the analysis theories of identity, reflexivity, consumption, commodification and feminism has been used. Data has been collected through interviews with twelve women in the ages of 18-50. Through representations of femininity and feminist messages that the informants encounter, we can discern that traditional demands and expectations of women exist in parallel with new demands and expectations, characterized by neoliberalist values. These values are shown to be conveyed through messages packaged in feminist disguise, arose through the processes of commodification. The informants display both awareness and contradictory feelings about how representations and commodification affect feminism as well as the individual. The fact of feminism being displayed in commodified form is experienced normalizing feminism as well as creating more resistance. To some extent, commodified feminism is believed to dilute feminist ideologies. At the same time, the results point to the fact that messages and symbols of commodified feminism can function as creators of identity, giving the individual a sense of context and belonging. All informants, however, do not agree on the matter of commodity feminism as a creator of identity as some express a more negative view on the issue. The results indicate that informants who identify themselves as feminists and exhibit a greater involvement in feminist matters to a certain extent poses a deeper, more nuanced and critical reasoning, often based on the incompatibility of capitalism and feminism. This leads to the conclusion that the individuals own feminist interest partly can be seen to steer her experience, interpretation and consumption of commodified feminism.

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No description available.

Il presente studio mira a constatare lo stretto collegamento tra la figura femminile e il cinema thriller e horror italiano, qui denominato genericamente “fantastico” in un’ accezione estensiva, a evidenziarne caratteristiche comuni relative a entrambi i generi. La periodizzazione della ricerca va dagli anni sessanta agli anni ottanta ed il primo obiettivo è stato quello di valutare secondo un approccio culturalista l’interdipendenza donna-horror, spesso sfociata in un approccio misogino al genere. I risultati sono stati spesso discordanti rispetto alle premesse di partenza: le donne sono raffigurate solo come vittime, il gradimento del pubblico è esclusivamente maschile. La messa in discussione di questa tesi si è resa possibile attraverso una ricerca empirico-applicativa di un campione di film e una disamina di scritti più recenti che mirano in qualche caso a rovesciare il paradigma di partenza. Il secondo obiettivo ha rilevato differenze tra rappresentazione femminile nel cinema italiano e americano, muovendo dal presupposto che le teorie su cui ci si è basati provengono dagli stati uniti e hanno previsto un campione per lo più di film non italiani. quindi l’ intento dello studio è stato anche quello di misurare l’applicabilità di alcuni paradigmi teorici al caso italiano. lo svolgimento della ricerca ha previsto un’indagine di tipo quantitativo (rilevazione del corpus estensivo di film) e intensivo-qualitativo (analisi di alcuni principali stereotipi femminili, tratti dalla letteratura e dal cinema: damsel in distress, belle dame sans merci, final girl), per giungere poi alla conclusione che il genere fantastico italiano ha risentito forse più di ogni altro di una conflittualità permanente, tra bisogno di emancipazione e resistenza conservatrice. / This current study aims to ascertain the close connection between female figure and Italian horror/thriller, cinema, here called "fantastico" in an extensive meaning, in order to highlight common features related to both genres. The periodization of research goes from 60s to 80s and the first purpose was to evaluate, according to a culturalist approach, the woman-horror interdependence, often focused in a mysoginic approach to the genre. The results have often been conflicting with respect to the starting presuppositions: the women are represented only as victims, the audience’s satisfaction is exclusively male. The discussion of this thesis was possible through an empirical and applicative research of a film sample and a careful investigation of latest writings that aim in different cases to reverse the paradigm of the starting point. The second objective detected differences between female representation in the Italian and American cinema, moving from the assumption that the theories which we are based on, come from united states and have provided a sample of more American films than Italian ones. Therefore the intent of this essay was testing the applicability of some historical theoric paradigms to the Italian case. the research’ s method involved a quantitative cataloging of extensive film corpus and an intensive one, which analyzes the main female stereotypes drawn from literature and cinema (damsel in distress, belle dame sans merci, final girl ). the conclusions show that the Italian fantastic genre has resisted more than other ones of a permanent conflict between emancipation and conservative resistance.

The aim of this study is to analyze the girl in literature in the children´s book Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja Rubensin veljekset. The data of this study consist of the illustrations and the text of the picture book. By using new feminist conceptions that were framed through a Nordic girl research collaboration, the description of the girl is examined in the girl book Heinähattu, Vilttitossu ja Rubensin veljekset (Heinähattu, Vilttitossu and the Ruben brothers) written by Tiina and Sinikka Nopola. The study shows that both the traditional good girl Heinähattu and  the badly behaving Vilttitossu are included, but also an interesting description of how both girls brake the stereotypical rules of gender.