This thesis examines occurrences of hypermasculinity in examples from the genre of comic book fiction, utilizing textual evidence to suggest the current collection has re-iterated the more negative hypermasculine components of their source material: comic books. In doing so, the thesis compares the present novels with the creative element of the PhD submission – This Is It – a novel which serves as a critique of the prevalence of hypermasculinity in heroic figures within comic book fiction. By analyzing the sociological reasons behind hypermasculinity, and its subsequent effects, this thesis aims to make apparent the danger inherent with the continued association of hypermasculinity and hero figures in a new medium such as comic book fiction. It will also argue that the development of such a form divergent from comic books allows scope for a deconstruction of the hypermasculine comic book hero.

Literature across a range of social science disciplines highlights the existence of multiple masculinities, performed and negotiated through everyday practices. However, many studies of male consumers have not explicitly addressed how practices construct gender. In consumer research, themes of masculinity have mainly emerged in studies of advertising images, subcultural consumption, brands, events and consumer tribes. Few studies have explored men’s consumption and the construction of masculinity through and across practices. Previous studies also appear to have examined gender, practices and identities at either individual or group levels. This study therefore sought to address the role of consumption in young men's construction of masculine identities, across a range of contexts, and at individual and group levels. Working within the Consumer Culture Theory tradition, these issues were explored through ethnographic research with young Scottish men aged 18-22, developed from contact with members of a football-themed University society. Data on collective practices were generated through non-participant observation followed by participant observation over a 13-month period. Practices included playing, watching and supporting football, visiting pubs and nightclubs, and playing poker. Accompanied shopping trips also formed part of the study. To gain further insights into individual identities long interviews with nine key informants were conducted. The analysis involved the iterative cycle of de-contextualising and re-contextualsing of data strips in the form of detailed reflexive fieldnotes, interview transcripts, photographs and film material. Masculinities emerged as contextualised, shifting and deeply rooted within practices of these young men. Their consumption produced normative ideals within groups. It also played a role in practices during which ‘masculine capital’ was sought. This capital was expressed through knowledge and experience in practices rather than objects and brands. Practices came to resemble games in which this capital was constantly contested. Through these games, groups also negotiated their place within the cultural context of gender relations. Consumption within practices constructed 'invisible’ gender identities through collectively shared meanings of masculinity. However, seemingly normal meanings of masculinity and consumption emerged as highly complex and layered as individuals constructed their multiple selves across practices. Rather than being fixed, consumption and masculinity was constantly (re)negotiated in changing contexts. This layered negotiation process of consumption meanings and masculinity was also reflected in informants’ discourse. This study suggests that various masculinities are 'played for’ through consumption across culturally situated practices. It shows how practices and consumption meanings shift during the negotiation of often contradictory and intertwined layers of gender identities. Methodologically, it offers insights into the challenges of gender differences between researcher and researched, and the role of new technologies such as mobile phones in ethnographic studies. Consumption and marketing messages may therefore allow young men to ‘do’, ‘talk’ and ‘be’ masculine across varying practices and contexts.

This thesis addresses gender, masculinities and intimate partner violence in Poland. More specifically, the aim of this study is to problematize how masculinities are represented in Polish anti-violence social campaigns. Intimate partner violence is one of the most common forms of violence against women and is a major problem that affects both  men and women in Poland. The study approaches violence from a feminist position, and considers  men's violence to be an important element constructing masculinities. In the study, social campaigns are considered as policies which have a great potential to influence existing masculinities types and to introduce new, non-violent models of being a man. With the use of Bacchi`s “What`s the problem represented to be?” method and an intersectional perspective on gender and masculinities, Polish anti-violence campaigns are analysed to find out if they reproduce and/or challenge any social assumptions regarding men`s violence. The study found that even though campaigns challenged some of the existing masculinities types,  they also referred to existing discourses of men as protectors, providers and fighters. Final conclusions underline the need for awareness social campaigns directed towards men and with men as role models. Refraining from the use of masculinities connected with heroism and dominance, aggression and violence is recommended.

This study was undertaken for the following purposes: 1. To determine whether or not the department attempts to find or evaluate the students' level of proficiency in physical activities, and, if so, what method is used. 2. To learn methods employed by the institutions of the study to determine the skills which should be required of men physical education majors. 3. To determine provisions made in the curriculum for the major student to acquire these skills.

Traditionally, body image research has focused on young women. However, there are indications of cultural shifts which extend physical appearance pressures to both men and women, as well as to middle-aged and older adults. Two hundred and ten subjects were administered objective body image measures including the Figure Rating Scale, the Body Shape Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, as well as projective measures including the Holtzman Inkblot Technique and the Draw-A-Person. The NEO-Five Factor Inventory and the Social Anxiety Subscale were also used to explore variables which might covary with body image. A 3 X 2 X 2 Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was utilized with social desirability as the covariate.

This qualitative study examined the experiences of 20 African American men who graduated from predominately White institutions in one mid-Atlantic state between the years of 2001 and 2011 with doctoral degrees in Education or in a Humanities and Sciences field. Interviews were conducted to gather the lived experiences of the African American men in their own voices. The study addressed the following research questions: 1. Why do African American men persist to doctoral degree completion? 2. How do African American men perceive their doctoral student experience? A descriptive model that presents the internal and external factors revealed in the study is provided. Five main internal factors that contribute to the persistence of African American men in doctoral programs: personal refinement, academic refinement, professional refinement, motivation, and effective coping mechanisms were revealed. Three major external factors, support systems, positive relationships with the advisor/chair and committee, and financial support. In addition, the impact of the participants’ racial identity was explored and yielded both negative and positive effects on the doctoral student experience. Based upon the results, recommendations are offered for universities and departments, advisors and faculty, and future and current African American male doctoral students to aid them in persistence to degree completion.

M.A. (Communication & Media Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Orientador: Sílvia Helena Venturoli Perri / Resumo: A criptosporidiose e a giardíase são doenças gastrointestinais, com distribuição cosmopolita, causada, respectivamente, por um protozoário coccídio intracelular obrigatório e um parasito flagelado, que pode afetar humanos e animais. O objetivo neste projeto foi detectar por meio da técnica TF-Test Coccidia e pela reação em cadeia da polimerase (RCP), a ocorrência do Cryptosporidium spp. e a Giardia spp. em crianças de pré-escola e seus respectivos cães (Canis familiaris) do Município de Araçatuba, São Paulo, de maneira inédita. Para a identificação dos oocistos do parasito supramencionado foi empregada a nova técnica parasitológica TF-Test Coccidia e RCP. A partir da análise destas amostras, verificou-se que 35,00% (35/100) das crianças estavam infectadas por alguma espécie de parasito intestinal, sendo que 5,00% eram positivas microscopicamente para Cryptosporidium spp. e 30,00% para Giardia spp. Nos cães, 3,13% (1/32) foram considerados positivos para Giardia spp., embora nenhum animal apresentasse oocisto de Cryptosporidium spp. nas fezes. Pela PCR 3,00% das crianças foram positivas para Cryptosporidium spp. e 35,00% para Giardia spp.. Enquanto que para os cães, pela mesma técnica molecular, nenhum animal foi considerado positivo para Cryptosporidium spp. e apenas 6,25% foram positivos para Giardia spp.. Dessa forma, foi verificado que a técnica parasitológica TF-Test Coccidia apresentou boa concentração e morfologia dos parasitos encontrados, com baixa quantidade de debri... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis are gastrointestinal diseases with cosmopolitan distribution, caused respectively by a compulsory intracellular coccidial protozoan and a flagellated parasite, which can affect humans and animals. The objective of this project was to detect by the technique TF-Test Coccidia and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in pre-school children and their respective dogs (Canis familiaris) from the Municipality of Araçatuba, São Paulo. For the identification of oocysts of the parasite the new parasitological technique TF-Test Coccidia and PCR were used. From the analysis of these samples, it was verified that 35.00% (35/100) of the children were infected by some kind of intestinal parasite, and 5.00% were microscopically positive for Cryptosporidium spp. and 30,00% for Giardia spp.. In dogs, 3.13% (1/32) were considered positive for Giardia spp., although no animal presented Cryptosporidium spp. Oocyst. in the stool. By PCR 3.00% of the children were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. and 35.00% for Giardia spp.. While for dogs, by the same molecular technique, no animals were considered positive for Cryptosporidium spp. and only 6.25% were positive for Giardia spp.. Thus, was verified that the parasitological technique TF-Test Coccidia presented good concentration and morphology of the parasites found, with a low amount of debris in the fecal smear. For the first time, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

There have been great strides in increasing access to antiretroviral treatment for HIV-positive people in South Africa. However it has been observed that men are not accessing treatment to the same extent as women. In Soweto only 30% of the people accessing treatment are men, where the expected rate would be around 45%. Whilst there have been some studies observing treatment uptake, they do not explain the behavioural component.

Research in the field of divorce has primarily focused on women and children, and there is a definite lack of literature that addresses divorce from a male perspective. This lack of knowledge has influenced the clinical treatment and general social support available to men who get divorced. This study aims to explore which, if any, of the personality factors in the 16PF are correlated with adjustment to divorce using the Fisher Divorce Adjustment scale in South African men. The divorce-stressadjustment perspective was used to conceptualise adjustment to divorce and the factors that influence adjustment to divorce (Amato, 2000). The sample consisted of South African men who were divorced. A sample size of 40 participants was obtained using convenient sampling. The results of the study indicated that the personality factors ‘Anxiety’ and ‘Emotional Sensitivity’ are significantly and negatively correlated to adjustment to divorce. This indicates that aspects of personality that relate to a robustness of ego, low anxiety and a self-confident individual who is emotionally mature, is more likely to adjust significantly better to divorce and thus contribute significantly to the well-being of an individual post divorce.