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Studies within the field of eating disorders often address pathology, prevalence/risk factors, body image, beliefs/perceptions (not specific to body image), treatment programs and psychometry. The main theoretical frameworks may be classified as developmental, sociocultural and perceptual. Most research, however, has been conducted using quantitative methodologies with clinical populations. Of the few qualitative studies (Blok, 2002; Budd, 2002; Pearson, 1998), none of them investigate the experience of being at risk for developing eating disorders. This was the aim of this study, which used a mixed methodology and a health perspective. In phase one, Quantitative questionnaires were administered to university women in order to identify four who were at risk for developing an eating disorder. In the second phase, qualitative interviews, using a phenomenological approach, were then conducted with the four consenting participants in order to appreciate their daily experiences of being at-risk. Gathered data was then analysed using two strategies. The first entailed regrouping data according to Integrator Themes. Results reveal a deeper, richer understanding of the experiences, as they were revealed phenomenologically. The second analysis strategy used the Wellness Model (Donatelle, Davis, Munroe, & Munroe, 2001), which describes health as having six dimensions: physical/physiological, psychological, social, environmental, intellectual and spiritual. Results of this analysis reveal that all six dimensions are impacted when a woman is at-risk of developing an eating disorder. While her specific experiences may be unique, one from the other, all aspects of her life are affected. Discussion emphasises the importance of qualitative methodologies and the use of a health perspective in this domain of study.

Tom Robbins' characterization of the New Testament figure of Salome in the novel Skinny Legs and All is a medley of historical and contemporary reconstructions. Drawn from biblical and early post-biblical discourses around the Salome narrative, and bearing a strong similarity to early Roman histories of the story of Lucius Flamininus, Robbins' Salome is implicitly constructed as a romantic feminist alternative to oppressive sexual norms in Western Christian culture. Robbins' implicit intention is to provide his readers with an alternative and liberatory interpretation of Salome and the Salome narrative. Examining Robbins' reconstruction from radical feminist perspective, however, I contend that his reconstruction reinforces the same oppressive sexual norms and values he is attempting to subdue. Using the theoretical and methodological models of feminist biblical scholars Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza and Alice Bach, I employ a critical feminist literary-biblical analysis to evaluate Robbins' characterization Salome, with an emphasis on the models of divine female sexuality he advocates through his reconstruction of her character.

Cette étude met en relief la problématique de l'épuisement professionnel relevée à partir de quatre femmes oeuvrant en milieu ecclésial québécois. L'exploration des quatre histoires de cas dans le temps soulève les particularités ci-après. Dans la période qui précède l'épuisement, en plus d'offrir les mêmes lieux de désappairage ou "mismatch" propices au développement du burnout, l'Église du Québec produit chez ces quatre femmes une structure de désengagement progressif directement liée au burnout. Dans la période de l'épuisement, nous avons trouvé un mouvement de déstabilisation interne suivi d'un cycle de reconstruction de la personne par lequel les quatre animatrices de pastorale sont parvenues à retrouver l'unité organique interne et le sens de l'engagement qui les habitaient avant l'épuisement. Dans la période après l'épuisement, les quatre animatrices de pastorales étaient en mesure de diriger et d'orienter leurs choix de vie et de carrière dans le sens leur mission personnelle et de leur accomplissement personnel. Suite à cette exploration, un schéma représentatif du burnout a été établi. Il représente la structure interne de la personne avant, pendant et après l'épuisement professionnel. Il serait intéressant de pousser plus loin les recherche dans le domaine du burnout et de vérifier si le schéma représentatif du burnout se présente chez un plus grand nombre de personnes et deprofessions.

The life of twentieth-century French theorist, conductor, composer, performer and pedagogue Nadia Boulanger has affected North American music substantially, yet there are many questions surrounding her legacy which remain difficult to answer conclusively. Especially convoluted and contentious is the role she played in the making of an opera, based on a libretto by Gabrielle d'Annunzio, entitled La Ville Morte; a project she undertook with her then mentor---pianist and composer Raoul Pugno. This thesis re-writes the genesis of the opera La Ville Morte, drawing from autograph scores, the working libretto, and personal documents housed at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, France. It presents a revisionist image of Nadia Boulanger, with special considerations of the gender discourses which influenced and were manifested in the relations which she had with those around her, including Pugno, and d'Annunzio. This thesis also proposes theories of Boulanger's and Pugno's personal relationship and addresses why Boulanger eventually abandoned composition. Through examination of this evidence, this thesis presents a new, more variegated image of Nadia Boulanger and her role as a composer during the beginning of the twentieth century.

Cette thèse aborde le problème d'accès à l'emploi des immigrantes d'origine burundaise résidant à Ottawa ainsi que les stratégies adoptées pour y faire face. Le premier chapitre présente le contexte général d'immigration, dresse les portraits des femmes du Canada et des immigrantes d'origine burundaise et définit le cadre théorique qui s'inscrit dans une perspective féministe matérialiste articulant l'intersection du genre avec "la race" et l'ethnicité (Juteau, 1999: 21-23) en faisant appel aux différentes relations de pouvoir qui affectent les femmes noires et leurs emplois. Le deuxième chapitre traite de la méthodologie utilisée qui est basée sur des entrevues semi-structurées réalisées auprès de quatorze femmes. Les chapitres trois à cinq donnent les résultats des entrevues et font une discussion de ceux-ci. La conclusion qui se dégage est que les immigrantes d'origine burundaise ont des caractéristiques qui leur permettraient d'avoir de bons emplois, mais, comme les autres immigrantes issues des minorités visibles, elles sont discriminées pour leur sexe, leur couleur et leur origine d'une part, et elles le sont d'autre part pour leurs valeurs et leurs comportements culturels. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Menopause marks the beginning of a period of life transition involving important health changes (North American Menopause Society [NAMS], 2004). It has been demonstrated that physical activity can partly compensate for some of the negative effects of estrogen deficiency (Kemmler et al., 2002). Unfortunately the majority of Canadian middle-aged women are inactive (Craig & Cameron, 2004). The years prior to the onset of the menopausal transition are an important time to modify activity levels, but very few studies have looked at the determinants of physical activity for women at this stage of their life. The purpose of this study was to investigate social cognitive theory correlates of physical activity for women that are approaching menopause. The initial methodology was based on a prospective research design. However, based on the decision to rely on a different measure of physical activity behaviour, the research design was modified to that of a cross sectional design. Within the cross sectional research design, 76 participants, enrolled in the MONET longitudinal study, completed measures of barrier self-efficacy, social support, environmental factors, moods, and exercise behaviour. Results showed that physical activity behaviour was significantly correlated to barrier self-efficacy (r = .33, p < .01) and anxiety (r = -.27, p < .05). In the light of these results, consideration should be given to the roles of self-efficacy and anxiety in the development of strategies to increase physical activity for women approaching the menopausal transition.

In Canada, women are underrepresented in undergraduate mathematics degree programs as fewer women than men enrol and many women drop out or change programs. To investigate this issue, the research question 'In what ways do women who were educated in Canada and who are nearing completion of undergraduate mathematics degrees feel they have been supported and challenged in their high school and university mathematics experiences?' was explored using semi-structured interviews with six women who enrolled in and persevered with undergraduate mathematics degree programs. Specifically, the influence of the participants' families, peers, formal educational experiences, and personal characteristics was explored, and the study describes challenges and supports experienced by these women. In particular, this study highlights how these women confront feeling 'othered', and the important role that supportive relationships with family members, peers, and educators play in meeting this challenge. The findings also highlighted the participants' preferences for applied mathematics.