StFX Scholar (St. Francis Xavier University)
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The spaces in between: An exploration of older women’s learning, identity, and understanding of feminism through development of a podcast.
No full textPopulation aging is the dominant demographic trend in most industrialized nations. In Canada, the province of Nova Scotia contains one of the oldest populations in the country. Women represent the fastest growing segment within the older adult population and this trend is expected to persist for the foreseeable future. Despite these demographic trends, aging women remain sidelined in society and academic research, including feminist research. To help address these gaps, this feminist qualitative study engaged ten women aged 65+ from across Nova Scotia in the development of an online audio podcast. The research was conducted using a feminist methodology informed by feminist gerontology and critical geragogy to challenge unconsidered assumptions about older women as individuals and as learners. This study explored women’s learning histories and their sense of identity as learners, revealing the life-long impacts of mentoring by other women, and how learning may be an ongoing, spontaneous activity occurring in their daily lives. The women shared how learning sometimes involved unlearning imposed gendered roles through rejection of gender norms. In exploring podcasting as a potential platform for older women’s voices to be heeded, the study unearthed some technical and ethical considerations that may arise within feminist research methodologies concerned with privileging women’s voices. The study exposed some taken for granted understandings within feminism itself, revealing that issues of power and voice may have unique resonances for older women. I present some possible applications of the study findings in relation to older women’s experiences of learning and the use of podcasting as a tool for older women’s self- representation, and make some recommendations for future feminist research. In keeping with a feminist focus on mobilizing research to effect positive social change, I also put forward some suggestions for community-based projects engaging older women in learning and self-reflective activities
Melodic expression on the drum set:: Jack DeJohnette's contribution to the history of jazz drumming
No full textThis thesis will explore the playing style of American born jazz drummer, pianist, and composer Jack DeJohnette, focusing on his melodic approach to the drum set while examining the influence that his melodic playing has had on modernizing jazz drumming. Jack DeJohnette has had and continues to have an extensive career as a sideman, bandleader, and composer. His musical contributions throughout notable points in his career will be considered however, for the purpose of this thesis, his compositional style as well as his improvisational style in the drum solo setting will be excluded. Included in the analysis will be his treatment of melody from a drummer’s perspective, analyzing techniques used and developed throughout his career such as his time feel, ride cymbal patterns, comping, use of pitch and colour, tonal variety, and interpretation of melody on the drum set. The analysis will focus on his approach of taking a more prominent role within composition as a drummer. Contributing factors to the development of his sound such as biographical information, musical origins, early musical development and career, influences on his style, notable collaborations, the shift from a traditional approach to a contemporary approach and his role in the ECM label will also be investigated
On your mark get set bump:: a case study analysis on Alysia Montaño and Allyson Felix
No full textIt has often been insinuated when an elite women athlete becomes pregnant, they must retire from their sport as they cannot be both a mother and an elite athlete (Davenport et al., 2022). In 2014, Alysia Montaño ran the USA Track and Field championships while eight months pregnant to challenge stereotypes about pregnancy and competitive sport. Then in 2019, Montaño and Olympic athlete Allyson Felix both published pieces in the New York Times highlighting the lack of maternity leave support from sponsors and sporting governing bodies. After their stories were shared, many sponsorship brands like Nike, were forced to change their maternity leave policies for elite athletes. Thus, I argue that Alysia Montaño and Allyson Felix helped to dispel stereotypes about pregnancy and running and created important social change and recognition for maternity leaves for corporate sponsorships and governing bodies. I applied a feminist sport philosophical case study on the two athletes and argue that both played and continue to play a significant role in changing maternity leave policies, challenging stereotypes about pregnancy, and advocating for best practice policies including supports like childcare and lactation support