The purpose of this study was to discover what impact, if any, personal social networks have on an individual’s snowboarding skill progression, and whether any differences emerge based on gender, class, race, or age. Interviews with 10 demographically diverse snowboarders in Washington State, USA, were conducted and analyzed. The study revealed that personal social networks are highly important to snowboarding skill progression, with nine progression benefits noted. It was also found that the type of relationship was important, with the roles of gatekeepers, “godfathers,” and crews as the most critical for progression. Lastly, respondents indicated a variety of methods to access social networks, including social media, events, organizations, industry employment and through existing social networks. To further analyze the findings, an intersectional feminist reading of Castells networking theory was applied, with investigations into gender, race, class, and age patterns. The analysis revealed two overlapping values systems, one based on snowboarding ability and commitment, and one based on alignment of demographics with those who are most valued in the snowboarding world--mainly young, white, middle class men. The research closes with potential solution ideas to improve equitability and inclusion, which can be applied from the grassroots level to large-scale implementation.

Tracing the construction of gender neoliberalism in the United Kingdom with the context of austerity measures and increased social divisions stemming from the European Union referendum, this research analyses the way political discourses act to legitimize gender neoliberalism as the hegemonic rationality in the Conservative Party. Undertaking a comparative case study approach, this study aims to examine the evolution of neoliberal rationality in political discourses between the two female Prime Ministers of the country, namely, Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May. It seeks to add to the body of literature on right-wing politics and gender, through the theoretical framework of intersectionality to consider the implications of the rhetoric on intersecting forms of oppression, specifically, of gender and socioeconomic status. This aim will be achieved through the research question of: How is (implicitly and explicitly) gendered and classist neoliberal rationality promoted and legitimized in the political discourses of Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May? Additional sub-research questions will guide the research in terms of its comparative approach and consider the prominence of neoliberal feminism in the discourses as well. This analysis will be conducted through a corpus of speeches, articles, and interviews by the two politicians in their first year and a half in office. The research employs a feminist critical discourse analysis to understand the way ideology and power in discourses maintain gendered social hierarchies. The analysis found a relatively stagnant evolution of gender neoliberalism between the leaders, where deeply gendered and classist discourses continued to be legitimised but through a different neoliberal focus.

Mit dem Begriff der Intersektionalität wird die Verschränkung verschiedener Ungleichheit generierender Strukturkategorien, wie Geschlecht, Ethnizität, Klasse, Nationalität, Sexualität, Alter etc. erfasst. Er soll aufzeigen, dass keine dieser Kategorien alleine steht, sondern sowohl für sich als auch im Zusammenspiel mit den anderen einen die gesellschaftlichen Machtverhältnisse mitkonstituierenden Effekt hat. Die historischen Wurzeln liegen im 19. Jahrhundert und gehen auf die Erfahrungen Schwarzer Frauen und Lesben zurück, die sich im Feminismus westlicher weißer Mittelschichtsfrauen nicht wiederfanden. Leslie McCall unterscheidet drei methodologische Zugänge: den anti-kategorialen Ansatz, den intra-kategorialen Ansatz und den inter-kategorialen Ansatz.