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Thesis advisor: Paula Mathieu / The following work is a memoir that chronicles my grandmother’s battle with a rare form of frontotemporal dementia. This dementia robbed her of the ability to use and process language, though, unlike Alzheimer’s Disease, it did not affect her memory or capacity to recognize loved ones. My thesis follows my family’s journey as we learned to develop new methods of communication that did not rely on words, methods largely dependent on a vault of family memories passed down through several generations of strong women. Ultimately, my experience with my grandmother’s illness enabled me to come to new conclusions regarding the role of language in modern society, from the possibilities it creates to the boundaries it imposes. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: English Honors Program. / Discipline: English.

This research explored the experiences of lesbian and queer-identified women who are actively grandparenting in the context of a same-sex relationship. Most research investigating the experiences of grandparents takes a heteronormative focus and fails to acknowledge the possibility that grandparenting can take place within the context of a queer family structure. Thus, this study attempted to initiate a discussion among feminist, queer, and gerontological researchers to fill a gap in the literature on grandparenting within a same-sex context. A qualitative study of four lesbian/queer-identified couples was conducted. In semi-structured interviews, couples were interviewed together and asked questions about their involvement in the everyday lives of their grandchildren, how homophobia and heterosexism impacts their relationships with their grandchildren, and how these experiences vary (if at all) with the nature of the grandmothers’ relational ties (e.g., biologically related or non-biologically related). While the sample included some variation in terms of incomes, backgrounds and cultures, all four couples are linked into informal lesbian/ queer community networks and live in large or mid-size urban areas in southern Ontario – a relatively progressive jurisdiction with respect to same sex marriage and human rights legislation. Findings suggest that there are differences in the experiences of lesbian grandmothers based on varying relational ties and that non-biological women are particularly affected by changes in the socio-legal context and by homophobia and heterosexism within the extended family. Non-biologically related grandmothers consider their role as a grandmother to be ‘chosen;’ that is, they made a conscious decision to identify as a grandmother. Non-biologically related grandmothers also did not anticipate becoming grandmothers because they were not biological mothers; thus, the opportunity to become a grandmother contributed to a life course journey that they did not expect to have. By grandparenting openly and honestly within the context of a same-sex relationships, participants strive to prepare their grandchildren for an increasingly diverse Canadian demographic by modeling a healthy and loving ‘non-traditional’ family and by demonstrating the importance of accepting differences. With respect to implications, the findings suggest that supporting non-biological parents and grandparents will be a critical step for service providers and policy makers who are working with LGBTQ families. At the level of direct practice, these family experiences underscore the importance of recognizing and affirming these non-traditional family forms. In many settings, social work practitioners have and can seize opportunities to question, confront and revisit organizational and professional practices that fail to acknowledge them. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW) / This research explored the experiences of lesbian and queer-identified women who are actively grandparenting in the context of a same-sex relationship. Most research investigating the experiences of grandparents takes a heteronormative focus and fails to acknowledge the possibility that grandparenting can take place within the context of a queer family structure. Thus, this study attempted to initiate a discussion among feminist, queer, and gerontological researchers to fill a gap in the literature on grandparenting within a same-sex context. A qualitative study of four lesbian/queer-identified couples was conducted. In semi-structured interviews, couples were interviewed together and asked questions about their involvement in the everyday lives of their grandchildren, how homophobia and heterosexism impacts their relationships with their grandchildren, and how these experiences vary (if at all) with the nature of the grandmothers’ relational ties (e.g., biologically related or non-biologically related). While the sample included some variation in terms of incomes, backgrounds and cultures, all four couples are linked into informal lesbian/ queer community networks and live in large or mid-size urban areas in southern Ontario – a relatively progressive jurisdiction with respect to same sex marriage and human rights legislation. Findings suggest that there are differences in the experiences of lesbian grandmothers based on varying relational ties and that non-biological women are particularly affected by changes in the socio-legal context and by homophobia and heterosexism within the extended family. Non-biologically related grandmothers consider their role as a grandmother to be ‘chosen;’ that is, they made a conscious decision to identify as a grandmother. Non-biologically related grandmothers also did not anticipate becoming grandmothers because they were not biological mothers; thus, the opportunity to become a grandmother contributed to a life course journey that they did not expect to have. By grandparenting openly and honestly within the context of a same-sex relationships, participants strive to prepare their grandchildren for an increasingly diverse Canadian demographic by modeling a healthy and loving ‘non-traditional’ family and by demonstrating the importance of accepting differences. With respect to implications, the findings suggest that supporting non-biological parents and grandparents will be a critical step for service providers and policy makers who are working with LGBTQ families. At the level of direct practice, these family experiences underscore the importance of recognizing and affirming these non-traditional family forms. In many settings, social work practitioners have and can seize opportunities to question, confront and revisit organizational and professional practices that fail to acknowledge them.

This study explores the meaning of female leadership in the New Testament by examining a random selection of women in the New Testament. In Chapter 2 a sociohistorical approach is utilised to examine women leaders in the in the ancient Greco- Roman world of the New Testament. The study reveals that though these societies were predominantly patriarchal, there were women leaders leading in various ways in different spheres of life (religious, political, intellectual, and in the home). Chapter 3 looks in more detail at a definition of 'leadership". The Kouzes & Posner’s (1995) model of leadership practices, based on research of how successful leaders operate, is used. The example of Jesus as the Master leader is explored against the six leadership practices, adapted for this study. It is clear that Jesus does reflect the five leadership practices proposed by Kouzes & Posner (1995). A sixth practice is added to the list as the study shows that a leader needs a leader - good followers make good leaders! Chapters 4-10 focus on the leadership practices of Mary the mother of Jesus, the Samaritan woman, Tabitha. Lydia, Priscilla and the four daughters of Philip. An examination of the socio-historical context and an analysis of key concepts in each pericope in which these women are mentioned, have been done. From the analysis it is clear that the leadership p r a c t i i of women, called "female leadership" in this study, point out leadership as 'influence" that is achieved in different practices. These leadership practices define female leadership in the New Testament The women are leaders, in some cases within the recognised positions and in other cases without the positions. / Thesis (Ph.D. (New Testament))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The conceptual orientation of this study was informed by social ecology theory coupled with the concept of rural place, to investigate social processes embedded within the physical, social and symbolic environment affecting the health of rural grandmothers raising grandchildren. A modified grounded theory methodology was used to generate a middle range theory explicating the basic social process of rural grandmother-mothering. The Rural Grandmother-Mothering as Cushioning model explains how the rural place experience of the physical, social and perceptual environmental context influences the health of rural grandmothers raising grandchildren.This research has significance for the scientific community by demonstrating how place is fused with human experiences. Results can inform nursing interventions tailored to the unique social processes in rural settings and designed to promote the health of the increasing numbers of women engaged in grandmother-mothering.

This study explores the meaning of female leadership in the New Testament by examining a random selection of women in the New Testament. In Chapter 2 a sociohistorical approach is utilised to examine women leaders in the in the ancient Greco- Roman world of the New Testament. The study reveals that though these societies were predominantly patriarchal, there were women leaders leading in various ways in different spheres of life (religious, political, intellectual, and in the home). Chapter 3 looks in more detail at a definition of 'leadership". The Kouzes & Posner’s (1995) model of leadership practices, based on research of how successful leaders operate, is used. The example of Jesus as the Master leader is explored against the six leadership practices, adapted for this study. It is clear that Jesus does reflect the five leadership practices proposed by Kouzes & Posner (1995). A sixth practice is added to the list as the study shows that a leader needs a leader - good followers make good leaders! Chapters 4-10 focus on the leadership practices of Mary the mother of Jesus, the Samaritan woman, Tabitha. Lydia, Priscilla and the four daughters of Philip. An examination of the socio-historical context and an analysis of key concepts in each pericope in which these women are mentioned, have been done. From the analysis it is clear that the leadership p r a c t i i of women, called "female leadership" in this study, point out leadership as 'influence" that is achieved in different practices. These leadership practices define female leadership in the New Testament The women are leaders, in some cases within the recognised positions and in other cases without the positions. / Thesis (Ph.D. (New Testament))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Family Studies and Social Work, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-60).

Custodial grandmothers and grandchild (aged 4 to 12) dyads (N = 170) completed self-report, other-report, and an observational task that captured child HI, expressive social support, and custodial grandmother-grandchild compliance variables. A multivariate analysis of covariance tested differences between high and low hyperactivity-inattention on observed parenting variables while controlling for child age. While overall results were not significant, there were significant differences between child age and observed parenting variables. A hierarchical regression model revealed that, when controlling for age, child hyperactivity-inattention does not moderate the relationship between commands given by a custodial grandmother and child compliance, but revealed that direct commands from the grandmother predicted compliance. A second hierarchical regression model suggested that encouragement and praise (versus criticism and discouragement) from a grandmother moderated the relationship between grandmother commands and child compliance, when controlling for child age. It appeared that when grandmothers gave indirect commands more frequently, encouragement and praise instead of criticism was associated with greater compliance. In dyads with frequent direct commands given, compliance was high, however dyads who scored high in direct commands with criticism and discouragement were most likely to comply. This study adds to the literature by providing insight into the challenges and strengths for this unique, growing population.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The birth of a new member in the family can cause changes in the routine of this group, requiring an adjustment in the lives of all family members involved in this situation. The changes are related not only to family dynamics, but also to the development of new roles and identities. Currently, some grandparents play the role of caregivers, offering moral, financial and emotional support to children and grandchildren. This dissertation deals with this theme, and is composed by two articles. The first study is a critical integrative review aimed to investigate the scientific publications on the topic of grandparents, published from 2005 to 2015. A search of national studies was performed on the SciELO and PEPSIC databases. They selected 14 articles. It was found that grandparents are important sources of emotional support, and affection both for children and for their grandchildren, particularly in contexts of teenage pregnancy, grandchildren with disabilities and breastfeeding. The second study aims to know how was the process of becoming a grandmother in the context of adolescent pregnancy. The participants were 12 women in the age group of 29-55 years. Information was collected in Health Basic Units of a city in Rio Grande do Sul through semi-structured interviews and incomplete sentences game. The analysis was based on the theoretical model of Grounded Theory (DFT). Becoming a grandmother was found to be characterized by negative (fear, anger, sadness) and positive feelings (happiness). Participants report that they never imagined becoming a grandmother at this time of their lives. Some grandparents consider that being a grandmother is to be the second mother of the child. It highlights the need for development of public policies that address this audience, and the inclusion of their participation in health promotion activities. / O nascimento de um novo membro na família pode provocar mudanças na rotina das pessoas que a compõem, o que torna necessário um ajustamento na vida de todos os familiares envolvidos nesta situação. As mudanças não se relacionam somente a dinâmica familiar, mas também a elaboração de novos papéis e identidades. Atualmente, alguns avós desempenham função de cuidadores, oferecendo apoio afetivo, moral, financeiro e suporte emocional aos filhos e netos. Essa dissertação trata desse tema, sendo composta por dois artigos. O primeiro estudo busca realizar uma revisão integrativa de literatura com o objetivo de investigar as publicações científicas sobre o tema avós , publicadas no período de 2005 e 2015. Foi realizada uma busca de estudos nacionais nas bases de dados SciELO e PePsic. Foram selecionados 14 artigos. Constatou-se que os avós são fontes importantes de suporte emocional, carinho e afeto tanto para os filhos como para os netos, isso é particularmente estudado nos contextos de gravidez na adolescência, netos com deficiência e aleitamento materno. O segundo estudo tem como objetivo conhecer como ocorreu o processo de tornarse avó no contexto da gravidez adolescente. Participaram da pesquisa 12 mulheres na faixa etária dos 29 a 55 anos. As informações foram coletadas em Unidades Básicas de um município do Interior do Rio Grande do Sul por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e do jogo de sentenças incompletas. As análises das informações basearam-se no modelo teórico da Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados (TFD). Constatou-se que o momento de tornar-se avó caracteriza-se por sentimentos negativos: medo, raiva, tristeza e, positivo: felicidade. As participantes descrevem que não imaginavam tornar-se avó neste momento de suas vidas. Algumas avós consideram que ser avó é ser a segunda mãe da criança. Destaca-se a necessidade de elaboração de políticas públicas que contemplem esse público, além da inclusão de sua participação nas ações de saúde.