This research addresses the construction of gender identities within the context of Initial Teacher Training in Physical Education within England. The life story narratives of ten female student teachers of physical education arc documented and analysed, drawing upon a feminist theoretical framework informed by tenets of poststructuralist thinking. These approaches assisted in accommodating and explaining the contradictory social positions that the women engaged in, within a variety of discourses, as they constructed multiple, diverse and often contradictory gender identities. The participants consist of ten determined and highly successful women (strong minds) who have much to say about their agency (strong words) yet simultaneously find themselves complicit to a number of traditional gender discourses, particularly in terms of the body - an awareness of which increases during the process of training to become a Physical Education Teacher (trained bodies). Such complexity precludes any finite conclusions being drawn. Rather the thesis engages in, and extends, the discussions surrounding the thcorising of gender, resistance, and agency within teacher training in Physical Education. The stories capture some fundamental shifts in the place of feminisms in post-modemity or high modernity, with a simultaneous use of both, to borrow Giddens (1991) terms, 'emancipatory' and 'life politics' styles of feminism; with gender inequality defined as a collective problem, but with an individual solution. Moreover, a number of gendered inequalities at both the structural and micro-political level are highlighted. In particular, a liberal discourse of equal opportunities appeared to mask the institutionalisation of 'otherness' these women experienced in teaching practice, and supported the cssentialisation of male and female identities. Whilst there aren't tales of radical changes in their teaching of Physical Education, the narratives alluded to their embodied vision, and in acts of naming, the agency they had for telling, constructing and shaping their lives is revealed. As such, the thesis concludes by suggesting that teacher education and educational research need to embrace more explicitly and centrally a framework which considers further, the role of gender in the formation of a variety of teachers identities. Moreover, in developing more critical reflexive forms of teacher education, a number of strategies of intervention which draw upon critical post-structuralist perspectives are outlined.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1994. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-127). Also available on the World Wide Web.

This thesis explores the manner in which globalisation processes are exerting transformative influences on local cultural contexts. Specifically, it utilises a case study of basketball to address the issues surrounding the juncture between local cultural identities, sport and global processes: the local-global sports nexus. Characteristic of globalisation processes are the activities of sports-related transnational corporations (TNCs) in global markets. The presence of such TNCs raises questions regarding the juncture with ostensibly indigenous cultures and identities associated with sport. The thesis constitutes several interlocking components which seek to address the multi-faceted nature of the local-global basketball interplay. First, a review of literature details both the political-economic context of the development of 'indigenous' English basketball, and the interdependencies surrounding National Basketball Association (NBA) expansion to Britain. Second, media representation within the local-global interplay is addressed in a comparative textual analysis of NBA and indigenous game coverage on British television. It is argued that local and global basketball are represented in a varying manner, which reinforces a local-global basketball hierarchy. Third, a two season multi-method ethnographic case study, incorporating: participant observations, interviews, a questionnaire and focus groups explored the consumption of 'local' basketball. The findings reveal complex responses and engagement with global processes, contextualised by the heterogenous nature of basketball fandom. Specifically, local identities and affiliations, while associated with consumption, also mediate broader global processes. The findings are discussed with reference to the relationship between local and global basketball in. Britain and within the wider theoretical debates surrounding the globalisation of sport.

Darbo problema: sportinės rekreacijos formos kultūrizmo įtaką žmogaus gyvenimo kokybei. Tyrimo hipotezė. Kultūrizmas, kaip sportinės rekreacijos forma, daro įtaką žmogaus gyvenimo kokybei. Tyrimo objektas: kultūrizmo, kaip sportinės rekreacijos formos, įtaka žmogaus gyvenimo kokybei. Tyrimo tikslas. Nustatyti kultūrizmo, kaip sportinės rekreacijos formos, įtaka žmogaus gyvenimo kokybei. Baigiamojo darbo uždaviniai 1. Išanalizuoti kultūrizmo, sportinės rekreacijos ir žmogaus gyvenimo kokybės teorinius aspektus. 2. Nustatyti kultūrizmo, kaip sportinės rekreacijos formos, pasirinkimą vartotojų tarpe. 3. Ištirti vartotojų pasirenkamas kultūrizmo, kaip sportinės rekreacijos, formas. 4. Nustatyti sportinės rekreacijos formos kultūrizmo įtaką žmogaus gyvenimo kokybei. Išvados. 1. Kultūrizmas yra išskirtinė sporto šaka, kurioje yra parodomas ištobulintas kūnas. Sportinė rekreacija yra aktyvus poilsis gamtinėje arba dirbtinėje aplinkoje, apimantis kultūrizmo sportą, kurio metu yra treniruojami visi kūno raumenys, siekiant juos padidinti. Kultūrizmas ir sportinės rekreacijos forma, daranti teigiamą įtaką žmogaus gyvenimo kokybei. 2. Vyrai dažniau nei moterys teigiamai vertina kultūrizmo sporto šaką (p=0,004). Vyrai dažniau nei moterys užsiiminėja kultūrizmu (p=0,000). Moterys ir vyrai sportinę rekreaciją dažniausiai vertina labai teigiamai (p=0,117). Moterims ir vyrams yra priimtinas jėgas atstatantis įvairaus aktyvumo laipsnio poilsis rekreacija (p=0,497). 3. Vyrai ir moterys... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Problem: how bodybuilding, as a form of sports recreation, affects quality of human life. Object: bodybuilding, as a form of sports recreation, affects quality of human life. Purpose: to set affect of bodybuilding, as a form of sports recreation, to quality of human life. Tasks: 1st – to analyze theoretical aspects of bodybuilding, sports recreation and human life quality. 2nd – to set option of bodybuilding as sport recreation form by gender. 3rd – to set forms of bodybuilding as a sport recreation. 3rd – to set influence of bodybuilding to human life quality. Conclusions. 1. Bodybuilding is a unique sport, which is shown by perfected body. Sports recreation is active sport form in natural or artificial environments, covering sport of bodybuilding, in which there are trained all groups of muscles in order to improve them. Bodybuilding is form of sports recreation and is the factor that can have a positive impact on the quality of human life. 2. Men more often than women appreciates bodybuilding sport (p = 0.004). Men more often than women are engaged in bodybuilding (p = 0.000). Sport recreation is valued highly positive by men and women (p = 0.117). Women and men are different restoring forces acceptable degree of activity in leisure recreation (p = 0.497). 3. Men and women are opting for bodybuilding as a sport form of recreation (p = 0.083). Men more often than women are choosing bodybuilding as a form of recreation sports several times a week and several times... [to full text]

The attainment of sustainable development has emerged as one of the main challenges facing society and the economy in the twenty-first century. In tourism, the English Tourism Council (2001 a, p. 11) recognise that sustainable tourism can no longer be regarded as an optional extra, but is fundamental to safeguarding the long-term competitiveness of the industry. To establish sustainable development as a primary strategic objective within the tourism industry represents a substantial challenge. Such a goal is problematic not least because the sector is so diverse and is based around a large number of small businesses which are not always accessible or responsive to change and innovation. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the response of tourism-related businesses to environmental sustainability issues in South East Cornwall. The research represents a three-year joint project funded by the University of Plymouth and Caradon District Council, with support from South West Tourism and the European Regional Development Fund through Caradon Area LEADER II (1999-2001). The aims of the project were to obtain a more detailed understanding of the issues and barriers that tourism businesses face in the implementation of sustainable business practices. The results had practical outcomes in the formulation of a district-wide strategy for sustainable tourism. Through a mixed-method research programme, almost half of tourism businesses in the district contributed to the study. The results revealed a diversity of behaviour, attitudes and motives that are currently not recognised within policy interventions or conceptual models of business behavior. Additionally, the research demonstrated that business responses are modified by a range of complex barriers, which operate at different geographical scales and require a broad policy focus. Within policy initiatives for sustainable tourism, small tourism businesses cannot be treated as scaled-down versions of large businesses. More sophisticated policy interventions will have to be developed if sustainable development is to become a reality within the sector.

Academic research into economic restructuring in the tourist industry has solely focused on the strategies adopted by large chain hotel companies and little attention has been paid to the strategies adopted by small scale, family-run accommodation establishments. This sector is particularly significant for traditional resort areas in the UK. For example, in Torbay, Devon (as in most seaside resorts), there is an absence of large chain hotels and small-scale accommodation establishment pl ay an integral role in the local tourism economy.Consequently, an understanding of the competitive pressures and restructuring strategies in this sector is essential in maintaining the long-term health and prosperity of the resort. The aim of this study is therefore to examine the restructuring process occurring in the hotel industry and, in particular, to focus on the restructuring strategies in the small-scale accommodation s ector. To do so, this study will draw on empirical data obtained from a number of sources including a commercial register, holiday accommodation brochures, planning applications and a major questionnaire survey of all serviced and self-catering accommodation establishments o perating in Torbay. This study will show that the restructuring process within the accommodation sector has been influenced by a combination of factors within the internal and external resort environment, including free market forces and public sector intervention. Restructuring strategies have concentrated on the development of ensuite and leisure facilities, although provision has been influenced by the structural and locational characteristics of accommodatione stablishments. A review of the entrepreneurial characteristics of the accommodation providers highlights the complexity of the decision-making process and that business strategy is influenced by highly personalised and individualistic operating characteristics that are difficult to isolate and analyse. Therefore, any policy directives to guide the future development of the resort will depend on dealing with individual managemen strategies and business objectives.

No description available.

Much has been written in recent years about governance in the areas of political science, public policy, local government, and international relations. However, social scientific usage of the governance concept has been eclectic, diverse and at times contradictory (Jessop, 1998: 29) as well as confusing and sometimes misleading. In addition, despite the burgeoning literature on governance, little research effort has to date been devoted to examining the term in relation to the organisation, administration and management of sports organisations. This thesis is concerned with reviewing the range of applications of the concept, and in particular evaluating the utility of governance in understanding aspects of the management and policy process of sport. For the purpose of this study a case study approached is adopted, focusing on three sports: cricket, association football and swimming, and within these the pattern of interrelationships between the government and related agencies, the media and broadcasters, athlete-representative groups and supporter organisations, as well as focusing on issues relating to gender. The study concludes by arguing that governance broadens our conceptual repertoire, introduces greater sensitivity and subtlety into policy analysis, and highlights problems of coordination both in government and across a range of agencies, organisations and policy actors.