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Dismantling Harmful Female Body Ideals In Post-Secondary Dance Education
No full textThis qualitative action research study investigates the impact of dance body ideals on thebody image perception of undergraduate dance students in the United States. The primary aim of this interpretive inquiry is to identify the contributing role of certain dance pedagogies to body image concerns and eating disturbances among post-secondary dance students. Secondary was an aim to evaluate recent changes within post-secondary dance programs in response to these experiences and to suggest pedagogical shifts for continued progress. A comprehensive review of existing research reveals the prevalence of body image issues in dance can be partially attributed to the use of traditional dance teaching methods, which reinforce gender stereotypes and gender-based body ideals. Existing research suggests that critical feminist pedagogy supports the dismantling of female dance body ideals through a more student-centered, body-neutral, and gender-affirming learning environment. Findings include combined insight from three key informants, which revealed that post-secondary dance degree programs are in a period of transition, with a recent and notable increase in the implementation of gender-affirming, structural changes to program design and pedagogy, as well as supplemental program content– such as workshops and seminars–to raise awareness and educate students about body image, nutrition, and mental wellness. Reiterated is the notion that dance teachers, in post-secondary education and beyond, can support the dismantling of female body ideals using critical feminist pedagogy in the learning environment
Understanding The Relationships Between K-12 Teacher Time Use, Workload, Administrative Support, And Job Satisfaction
No full textABSTRACT
UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN K-12 TEACHER TIME USE, WORKLOAD, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, AND JOB SATISFACTION
by
Enida R. Anderson
March 2025
Advisor: Dr. Ben Pogodzinski
Major: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Degree: Doctor of Education
The purpose of this quantitative study is to investigate the association between teacher’s perceived time use and workload and job satisfaction. A survey was sent to all instructional staff from three charter school districts in Southeast Michigan. A descriptive and correlational method was used to analyze the data. The data for 179 instructional staff members across elementary, middle, and high school was collected and analyzed. The primary findings revealed that perceived administration support leads to higher levels of satisfaction, which in turn leads to higher levels of intent to return. This research also supports prior research stating teacher workload and perceived time use can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, stressed, and frustrated. Regression analysis also revealed that teachers who have been teaching for 0-2 years are less likely to want to return compared to teachers with 11 or more years of experience. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed
Experience Of African American Women With Mastectomy Without Breast Reconstruction
No full textBackground: In the U.S., cancer remains a significant public health challenge, with an estimated 1.9 million new cases diagnosed in 2024 alone. Among women, breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer. It disproportionately affects African American women, who face higher mortality rates and are often diagnosed at later stages compared to other racial groups. Mastectomy, a standard treatment, significantly impacts body image and quality of life. Despite the availability of breast reconstruction as an option, African American women are less likely to pursue it, often due to personal, cultural, and systemic factors. Purpose: The study aimed to explore the lived experiences of African American women who underwent mastectomy without breast reconstruction. Four research questions guided the study: 1) What is the experience of African American women with breast cancer who had a mastectomy without breast reconstruction? 2) Why do African American women choose not to undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy? 3) How does mastectomy impact their body image and quality of life? 4) Was breast reconstruction considered a viable option? Methods: This qualitative study employed van Manen’s phenomenological method to explore participants\u27 lived experiences. Data were collected from July to September 2024 through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 10 African American women recruited via purposeful sampling from Sister’s Network Greater Metropolitan Detroit Chapter (SNGMDC). A demographic survey was conducted, and interviews were conducted in private, comfortable settings chosen by the participants. Interviews followed a flexible, semi-structured format to capture rich, detailed narratives and were audio-recorded with participants’ consent. Transcriptions were coded and analyzed using NVivo 15 software. Thematic analysis using van Manen’s method was conducted to uncover themes and experiential structures embodying the evolving meanings of the participants’ experiences. This process involved iterative coding, reflection, and validation through member checking and peer review. Contextual details, including nonverbal cues, were incorporated to enrich the data. Analysis continued until saturation was reached, ensuring a comprehensive representation of participants’ lived experiences. Results: Seventeen themes emerged from the analysis: 1) experiences with treatment options and preoperative knowledge, 2) rationales for and postoperative experiences of mastectomy, 3) the moment of diagnosis, 4) experiencing recurrence, 5) post-diagnosis experiences and hesitations, 6) personal motivations, 7) physicians’ attitudes and influence, 8) stories from survivors, family, and support groups, 9) impact on body image, 10) post-mastectomy life, 11) use of prosthetic breasts, 12) psychological impact, 13) influence of religious beliefs, 14) determinants of reconstruction decisions, 15) influences from others’ experiences, 16) initial consideration and subsequent change of mind, and 17) indecision and uncertainty. Implications: This study provides valuable insights into the complex factors influencing African American women’s decisions and experiences with mastectomy without reconstruction. The findings suggest the need for culturally sensitive healthcare approaches prioritizing individualized communication, education, and support. Educational programs, therefore, should address the unique sociocultural and religious contexts of African American women to improve decision-making frameworks and promote more significant equity in healthcare delivery
“it Was Never Really A Conversation”: The Rhetoric Of Birth Control As Treatment For Uterine Bleeding Conditions
No full textThrough a mixed-methods, social-media-driven study, this research explores the conversations that participants had with their healthcare providers when seeking treatment for AFAB-specific bleeding conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. 34 individuals completed a 22-question survey containing multiple-choice and open-ended questions and 8 individuals participated in remote one-on-one interviews. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were any points of miscommunication that could bring to light new methods for improving doctor/patient communication regarding these conditions, which could improve both patient experience and patient outcomes. Findings suggested three areas of opportunity during doctor-patient communication about UBCs: 1) during the initial visit when a patient begins menstruating when patients are unaware that there is a cause for concern as they have no prior experience with menstruation; 2) when patients explain their concerns and symptoms, participants felt that assumptions were being made without their healthcare provider actively listening to them; 3) and when medical professionals make recommendations for treatment and diagnostics, where participants stated feeling that their healthcare providers acted unilaterally, without including the participant in the process or providing adequate information
Reimagining, Rethinking, And Reclaiming Composition: A Black Feminist-Womanist Rhetoric Remix
No full textThis dissertation examines the need for the development of more Black women’s rhetoric courses at predominantly white institutions. While there are rhetoric and literature courses centered on Black feminism and womanism, few or no classes centralize the personal experiences of Black women in academia, including both students and teachers. The introduction is a code-meshing autoethnographic flashback of the author’s experiences in academia, both as student and teacher, explaining the need for Black feminist and womanist approaches in the classroom. Code-switching is used throughout this dissertation to intentionally disrupt the traditional rhetoric used in English classrooms, that diminish the language practices of marginalized communities. This course design explores how an intermediate composition, Writing, and Community course grounded in Black Feminist pedagogical practices and multimodal projects aligns with Womanist rhetoric. Using a combination of qualitative research methodologies such as autoethnography, Black Feminist-Womanist Storytelling, and a teacher observation journal analyzing student collaborative digital zones and final reflections. The author argues that the implementation of Blacker feminist and womanist-centered rhetoric courses will help students engage in Black Feminism and womanist rhetoric, as they produce a variety of multimodal writing assignments. This dissertation concludes with the author suggesting that a Black feminist pedagogy and womanist rhetoric course creates a more just society by leveraging students’ rhetorical skills
Characterizing The Role Of Mitochondrial Nuclear Retrograde Regulator 1 (mnrr1) As An Anti-Apoptotic Agent In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (tnbc)
No full textMitochondrial Nuclear Retrograde Regulator 1 (MNRR1) is a bi-organellar protein localized to the mitochondria and nucleus. In mitochondria, MNRR1 supports oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) and inhibits intrinsic apoptosis, while in the nucleus, it regulates the transcription of ~5000 genes, including many linked to cancer. MNRR1 is frequently upregulated in cancers. Using triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) as a model, we aim to define MNRR1’s anti-apoptotic mechanism. Intrinsic apoptosis is triggered by an imbalance between pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, leading to cytochrome c release from the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). MNRR1 knockout or inhibition sensitizes cells to apoptosis. We show that non-phosphorylated mitochondrial MNRR1 binds VDAC, an OMM protein, via its mitochondrial localization sequence (MLS), enhancing VDAC–Bcl–XL interaction to block cytochrome c release. We hypothesize that MNRR1 threonine phosphorylation activates its anti-apoptotic function. Our findings suggest MNRR1 is a potential therapeutic target in TNBC, warranting further validation in additional TNBC models
