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Negotiating Gender Equality for Women's Empowerment: Educational Challenges in Selected Communities in the Northern Region of Ghana
No full textGhana maintains strong constitutional advocacy for the equal rights of all its citizens, irrespective of gender or sociocultural orientation. Nonetheless, women in selected communities in Tamale, located in the Northern Region of Ghana, face various forms of discrimination that have proven to be strong barriers to their upward social mobility. This study builds on previous research studies, such as one conducted by UNICEF (2010), that suggest many young women in Africa engage in domestic work at the expense of their education. The scope of this paper includes an exploration of how women in the selected communities negotiate gender and educational equality and the resulting consequences on their personal lives. It also looks at how the women in this area navigate various challenges at home, in school, and in their communities, as well as the roles their parents and community leaders play in this journey. The purpose of this study is to learn from women's experiences and identify mechanisms that may be used to address impediments to gender equality at the intersection of women's education, empowerment, and economic development. Through focus-group discussions, one-on-one interviews, and participant-observation, findings suggest that women are not only resourceful and self-reliant, but they are equally desirous to improve their life skills and livelihood given the right opportunity. The study recommends concerted efforts from both government and nongovernmental organizations directed at eliminating the challenges/barriers to empowering women in the communities identified.Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201
Distant Dependent Landmark Valuation: A Game-Like Study of Spatial Memory
No full textSpatial working memory, the cognitive process of storing and manipulating information about locations of objects in the world, is not yet fully understood. The weighting of multiple sensory cues into spatial working memory is a crucial, everyday function. Here, we study the interaction between spatial working memory and spatial coding sensory cue integration by using a video projection table with motion tracking to study participants’ behavior while playing a 2D firefly capture game, in which the location of a landmark relative to the target is perturbed prior to participant response. We hypothesized that participants would show greater error with increased distance, and that participants would rely on a stable landmark more than a landmark that moves. Both of our hypotheses were supported; in the context of spatial working memory, allocentric cues are weighted according to both: distance from target, stability, and the interaction of both factors. These findings help clarify the everyday mechanisms of spatial cognition.M.S., Psychology -- Drexel University, 201
Engaging Audiences: A Case Study From Three Music Organizations In Philadelphia
Get PDFThis study explores the current situation of small music-based organizations, the relationship between the internal strategies from smaller-sized music-based organizations and audience engagement, via three case studies from three music-based organizations in the city of Philadelphia, PA. Research and analysis of the three organizations reveal that the organization’s internal decision making and strategies can directly impact what kind of audience groups they are able to engage. The need for alternative funding routes suggests that music-based organizations should be talented in creating innovative programs to engage diverse audience groups and increase young donors in order to provide sustainable support for the industry and to prepare for unpredictable financial risks.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201
Tunnel Manganese Oxides for Energy and Water Treatment Applications
No full textEnergy storage and the production of fresh water are essential technologies to develop as our demand for portable power and utilization of limited freshwater resources grow. Large-scale solutions to growing energy and water concerns based on electrochemical systems require the utilization of inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials. Tunnel manganese oxides (TuMOs) are attractive candidates for such systems due to their intrinsic low cost, low toxicity, and high electrochemical activity. These materials are built from corner and edge sharing MnO6 octahedra arranged around stabilizing ions and water molecules to form structural tunnels, which provide one- dimensional (1D) diffusion channels for ion intercalation. Tuning synthesis parameters allows for control of the size and shape of the structural tunnels through incorporation of templating ions into the precursor mixture, and thus, the TuMO system provides a unique platform to investigate the relationship between the size/ionic content of 1D diffusion channels and electrochemical performance in systems containing ions of different sizes. This thesis is focused on utilizing TuMOs synthesized with nanowire morphology that display a controlled variation of tunnel size and shape in energy and water treatment applications to understand the effect of tunnel dimensions and ion content on their functional properties. Specifically, the TuMO nanowires are investigated as active materials for electrodes in nonaqueous Li-ion and Na-ion batteries and in a water desalination technique termed hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI). In battery systems with electrochemically cycled ions of different sizes, the effects of both tunnel size and ionic content on electrochemical performance are studied. At lower current rates, TuMOs with larger tunnels and lower ionic content exhibit higher capacities. At higher current rates, TuMOs containing Na+ ions in the tunnels show better rate capability in Na-ion cells containing larger electrochemically cycled Na+ ions than in Li-ion cells containing smaller electrochemically cycled Li+ ions, implying that crystallographically well-defined intercalation sites created via chemical incorporation of stabilizing ions play an important role in the performance of TuMO electrodes. Capacity fade over extended cycling is identified as a major performance limitation of TuMO electrodes, and this is overcome by successfully applying a chemical modification strategy consisting of the introduction of a small fraction of stabilizing molecules into the structural tunnels. Additionally, TuMOs are for the first time evaluated as Faradaic electrodes in HCDI cells. They demonstrate high ion removal capacities and ion removal rates, as well as stable cycling behavior, in NaCl, KCl, and MgCl2 solutions. It is found that the ion removal capacity of a given TuMO phase depends on the relationship between the hydrated radii of the ion removed from solution and the size of the structural tunnels in the TuMO, with materials containing larger structural tunnels showing improved removal of ions with larger hydrated radii. Further, it is determined that the mechanism by which ions are removed from solution is based on both surface adsorption and intercalation of ions into the structural tunnels. Ultimately, this thesis shows that by understanding the relationship between ion size and host crystal structure, chemical modification of tunnel content, and the mechanism between active electrode material and ions in solution, the performance of materials with 1D diffusion pathways in applications based on ion insertion/deinsertion can be maximized. Moreover, a basis for selection of TuMOs for future electrochemical applications is provided.Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering -- Drexel University, 201
Evaluation of the Impact of a Patient Progression Hub on Operational and Patient Outcomes at a Tertiary Acute Care Hospital
Get PDFIt is estimated that 400,000 people die every year unnecessarily in American hospitals and millions suffer complications from healthcare acquired infections and medication errors. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is an attempt to address gaps in patient care that impact quality and safety through a quality improvement project known as The Patient Progression Hub. This this process improvement project analyzed the impact of high-reliability principles in an acute care hospital through the implementation of a patient progression hub. This DNP project was based on the physical co-location of key departments to improvement communication, data transparency, and twice daily operational and quality review huddles. Outcomes measured to determine the impact of the Patient Progression Hub included metrics length of stay, emergency boarder hours, urinary catheter days, and patient ambulation. The PICOT question for this project was: In hospitalized adult patients, what impact does the implementation of a patient progression hub have on selected operational and quality outcomes during a 5-month period?D.N.P., Nursing Practice -- Drexel University, 201
An Investigation into the Lack of Female Leadership in American Classical Ballet Companies
No full textThe concert dance world is clearly a female-populated industry, as evidenced by the many more women dancing compared to men. While women have progressed in leadership in modern dance, women’s opportunities in classical ballet administration and leadership have lagged behind. In ballet companies today the positions of power such as Artistic Director, Executive Director, Choreographer and other upper-management positions are held prominently by men, even when girls outnumber boys and men outnumber women in virtually every ballet school. This begs the question, if there are so many women present in the ballet community, why are women not finding themselves in these prestigious roles with the men? What do female arts administrators desire in their career? Is it that more women don’t desire such roles, or that they are not encouraged in such capacities? What about classical ballet has kept such a strong gender/power divide? What are the barriers for women in breaking this boundary? My research investigates the gender and power divide present in classical ballet organizations. The research begins with a literature review on the primary topic of feminism in the workforce including gendered careers, wage gaps, the glass ceiling effect and women in management. Additionally, the research delves into feminist ideology inherent in society and in the culture of classical ballet. The literature provides insights into the topic while shedding light on the limited research available on women in leadership in the field of classical ballet. By using the mixed methodology approach for my remaining research I was able to used qualitative and quantitative data to analyze the gender and power divide, focusing on men and women who hold positions of Artistic Director, Executive/Managing Director and Board Chair in classical ballet companies with a budget of 1million or higher through data from Dance USA’s National Company Roster. The results show that men dominate the role of Artistic Director and Board Chair in all budget groups. In fact, the higher the budget and larger the organization the less likely there is to be a woman in charge. Interestingly the results show that women have many more opportunities in the role of Executive Director, where women dominate in the country’s largest and most prominent organizations. It is clear that it is the position of Artistic Director that sees the most shocking gender divide, with only 15 females in the position out of the 54 selected. In order to explore the specific role of Artistic Director more deeply I used my second phase of research to study and interview key current female Artistic Directors in the field including Celia Fushille, Stoner Winslett and Victoria Morgan plus compiled additional research from interviews with Lourdes Lopez. All four female leaders above demonstrated strong interpersonal qualities that allowed them to succeed in their leadership positions specifically in times of crisis, which is known as the “glass cliff.” These women shed light on the leadership gap begins at the very beginning of a ballet career and at the very beginning of ballet. From the start of a student’s training, men and women are treated differently and the act of becoming a leader requires stepping outside of the norm. Classical ballet as a whole has a lack of self-reflection and norms are passed from generation to generation unchallenged. The implication of this gender imbalance to the field of arts administration, specifically in classical ballet, is increasingly important. Ballet is already known for lacking in other forms of diversity, specifically racial and a continuation of the gender in power imbalance will only stunt the growth and evolution of the industry as a whole. My conclusions center around the idea of reframing the way ballet’s ideals are viewed and helping females in the field discover their leadership qualities and skills beyond classical ballet performance through programs such as ABT Women’s Movement and Artistic LeadHERship. It is important to continue the conversation about female artistic leadership and continue finding opportunities for women in the field and feel confident and comfortable in expressing their leadership goals.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201
The Korean Wave and its influences under Korean Performing Arts Activities Ban in PRC, 2016 both in China and South Korea
Get PDFIn 2016-2017, China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television released a series of control measures to limit further expansion of 'Korean Wave' in China. They are the result of the recent escalating political friction between China and South Korea, and 'Korean Wave' becomes the victim of political events. This series of measures is commonly known as 'Korean Performing Arts Activities Ban', which not only changes South Korea's social development but also alerts China's cultural industry. From studying this theme, the primary purpose of this thesis is to explore the complex influences of the political stance over the cultural measure, with a focus on a cultural phenomenon. To achieve this purpose, this thesis discusses from the historical perspective: diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, development of 'Korean Wave' in China, and cultural diplomacies on 'Korean Wave'. After which, details of the interviews of four scholars who directly or indirectly studied cultural exchanges between the two countries, bring unique insights whether cultural measures affected the politics, economy, and culture of the two nations consciously or potentially. In brief, after the issuance of 'Korean Performing Arts Activities Ban in PRC,' the cultural environment in China and South Korea changes enormously. Consequently, policy measures are of great significance for studying cultural phenomena and thinking about industrial development.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201
Examining Risk and Protective Factors in the Development of Unhealthy Eating Behaviors in College Athletes
No full textThe current study aimed to identify risk and protective behaviors for the development of unhealthy eating behaviors (e.g. disordered eating and eating behaviors that facilitate weight gain) in college freshmen athletes. Specifically, we examined: 1) if disordered eating behaviors and eating behaviors that facilitate weight gain in freshmen athletes increase over a 3-month observation period, and 2) whether specific baseline characteristics serve as either risk or protective factors in the development of disordered eating behaviors and eating behaviors that facilitate weight gain during the observation period. In our sample of 69 student athletes who completed surveys at both time points, we found overall increases in both concern about eating behaviors and engagement in healthy eating behaviors increased over the three-month time period. Many of the hypothesized risk and protective factors studied did not emerge as significant predictors of change in eating behavior, However, we did find that athletes participating in a lean sport (i.e., a sport where having a thin body is seen as a competitive advantage) were actually less likely to develop disordered eating behaviors than their peers participating in other types of sports. Higher baseline nutritional knowledge also appeared to protect against the development of eating behaviors that facilitate weight gain. Lastly, we found that wearing a uniform that increases shape or weight concern as well as participating in our “other” (non-lean, non-aesthetic, and non-weight division) category of sports were risk factors for developing disordered eating behaviors. These findings could ultimately help identify athletes at-risk for the development of both disordered eating behaviors and eating behaviors that facilitate weight gain and could inform the development of targeted preventative treatments.M.S., Psychology -- Drexel University, 201
African-born Women Seeking HIV Care in Philadelphia: Qualitative Exploration of a Community of Practice
No full textIn the U.S. care arena, both privately and federally funded programs exist to provide targeted HIV care and services. The majority of these programs place emphasis on access to care, especially for programs serving diverse and traditionally vulnerable populations. Despite this programmatic availability, African-born, HIV-positive women living in the U.S. continue to experience care disparity. This study's significance derives from the need to redress the injustice of health disparity encountered by this population. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore and understand the role of a community of practice among African-born, HIV-positive women seeking and obtaining care in Philadelphia. The Promise Keepers are an existing community of practice that gathers regularly to deepen, share, and create a living repository of their knowledge of living as HIV-positive, African-born women. The participants of this study were purposely sampled by convenience from this existing practice community of seven African-born women, representative of five diverse African countries of origin. These seven participants included women ranging in age from 25 to 62 with a mean age of 44 years of age. They possessed diverse family composition in terms of marital and parental status, as well as attained educational levels. The methods of this study included one-on-one interviews, a group interview, and participant observation. Through thematic coding of the stories or "Way Makers" of the Promise Keepers, this study's three major themes emerged: (a) internal perception of self, (b) external perception of self, and (c) community. Apparent through analysis and framed theoretically by Rosenstock's Health Belief Model (HBM) was this study's finding of the relevance and positive effect of education in the restoration of self-efficacy among community of practice members. As voiced by the Promise Keepers, it was the group-mediated education, established trust, and created "safe space" that reduced members' perceived risk of isolation and enhanced their perceived benefit of seeking support to achieve wellness. Additionally, this study's adaptation of Rosenstock's HBM with the social cognitive construct of self-efficacy among HIV-positive, African-born women living in the U.S. presents a novel addition to the subject literature. Through the voiced, lived experiences of this practice community recommendations for expanded outreach, future research, and adaptation of the HBM, along with implications for practice and teaching, are presented. Key words: African born, women, HIV, access to care, disparity, injustice, community of practice, phenomenological, self-efficacy, Rosenstock's Health Belief Model, safe space, wellness.Ed.D., Education -- Drexel University, 201
Intersectionality, Body Image, & Self-Esteem: An Exploration of Young African American Women in Dance/Movement Therapy
No full textThis thesis project examines the topics of body image, self-esteem, and dance/movement therapy (DMT) in the context of the self-experiences of young African American women. A critical review of the literature suggests that intersectionality is a link that connects these topics and brings an important lens to understanding and practicing with diverse clients. Body image and self-esteem are variously impacted by the oppression experienced by minority clients who may hold multiple intersecting identities. Movement repertoire, a key focus in the practice of DMT, is in turn impacted by these body image and self-esteem experiences. This thesis suggests strategies to help dance/movement therapists understand body image and self-esteem when working with young African American women. The project also proposes that DMT may be an effective approach in this work because dance serves as a healing mechanism in the African American community.M.A., Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201