Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Gender-Species'

The object of this thesis is to explore the connections between race, gender and equestrianism. This aim stems from personal experiences of becoming a “horse girl” in a Swedish horsebackriding context, which indeed is lined with racialized and gendered norms. I am inclined to understand how equestrianism, i.e. horseback riding practices and communities, often comes to be considered as white and (un)obtainable for some and not others. Through interviews with nine equestrians located in the United States and observations in their stable environments, the thesis seek to investigate how gender and racial norms appear and materialize, and thus shape the interviewed participants lived experiences in horse human environments. Through a theoretical framework of Sara Ahmed’s elaboration on phenomenology, Karen Barad’s term intra-action and Donna Haraway’s figuration companion species, the thesis discusses the multi-layered and complex ways in which race and gender is produced in and produces equestrian spaces and practices. The analysis shows that equestrianism is habitually oriented around whiteness, shaping the proximity between some (and not other) human and horse bodies in the regional landscape where the participants reside. Horses are both organized in and organize the contours of the city, entangled in the politics of racial segregation and the materialization of classed environments and neighborhoods. Equestrian communities, especially those that practice the disciplines of dressage and show jumping, repeatedly welcome and extend certain human (and non-human) bodies while stopping and questioning others. Further, different equestrian spaces materializes in differentiating and multi-sensoric ways, making certain color schemes, tactile sensations of textures and scents appear as racialized and gendered, and in turn forms the premises of belonging. The thesis then displays the political and affective connections between human and non-human bodies, objects and rooms in the specific context of equestrianism, and argues that such aspects must be understood as co-produced rather than separate entities. The discussion thus complicates binary dichotomies such as nature and culture, human and non-human and matter and discourse, showing how such aspects instead are entangled in the production of equestrianism and racialized and gendered “difference”.

Volvox is a very interesting oogamous organism that exhibits various types of sexuality and/or sexual spheroids depending upon species or strains. However, molecular bases of such sexual reproduction characteristics have not been studied in this genus. In the model species V. carteri, an ortholog of the minus mating type-determining or minus dominance gene (MID) of isogamous Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is male-specific and determines the sperm formation. Male and female genders are genetically determined (heterothallism) in V. carteri, whereas in several other species of Volvox both male and female gametes (sperm and eggs) are formed within the same clonal culture (homothallism). To resolve the molecular basis of the evolution of Volvox species with monoecious spheroids, we here describe a MID ortholog in the homothallic species V. africanus that produces both monoecious and male spheroids within a single clonal culture. Comparison of synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions in MID genes between V. africanus and heterothallic volvocacean species suggests that the MID gene of V. africanus evolved under the same degree of functional constraint as those of the heterothallic species. Based on semi quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses using the asexual, male and monoecious spheroids isolated from a sexually induced V. africanus culture, the MID mRNA level was significantly upregulated in the male spheroids, but suppressed in the monoecious spheroids. These results suggest that the monoecious spheroid-specific down regulation of gene expression of the MID homolog correlates with the formation of both eggs and sperm in the same spheroid in V. africanus.

The skeletal muscle fibre is a syncitium where each myonucleus regulates the gene products in a finite volume of cytoplasm i.e., the myonuclear domain (MND). A novel image analysis algorithm applied to confocal images, analyzing MND size and myonuclear spatial distribution in 3-dimensions in single skeletal muscle fibres has been used in this project. The goal was to explore the modulation of myonuclei count and MND size in response to muscle adaptation processes. The effects of ageing, gender, hormones, muscle hypertrophy and body size were investigated on MND size. A strong linear relationship was found between MND size and body size in the muscle fibres from mammals representing a 100,000-fold difference in body size. Independent of species, MND size was highly dependent on MyHC isoform type and mitochondrial contents of skeletal muscle fibres. In hypertrophic mice, a significant effect of MND size on specific force and myosin content was observed. This effect was muscle fibre type-specific and shows that the bigger MNDs in fast-twitch EDL muscle fibres are optimally tuned for force production while smaller MNDs in slow-twitch soleus muscle fibres have a much more dynamic range of hypertrophy without functional compromise. This indicates a critical volume individual myonuclei can support efficiently for a proportional gain in muscle fibre force and size. In human muscle fibres, spatial organization of myonuclei was affected by both ageing and MyHC isoform expression. In fibres expressing type I MyHC isoform, an increased MND size variability and myonuclear aggregates were observed in old age although average MND size was unchanged. In contrast, in type IIa fibres, the average MND size was smaller reflecting smaller size of muscle fibres. Those changes may influence the transcriptional activity per myonucleus and/or local cooperatively of myonuclei in a gender and muscle fibre-type specific manner. Finally, hormone replacement therapy was shown to negate menopause-related functional impairment in skeletal muscle fibres. The positive effect on force was due to quantitative effect in fibres expressing fast myosin isoform while the effect was both quantitative and qualitative in fibres expressing slow myosin isoform. The effect on MND size was fibre type dependent and was achieved by significantly reducing domain size in slow- but not the fast-twitch muscle fibres. Together, our data suggest that modulation of myonuclei count and MND size is a mechanism contributing to remodelling of skeletal muscle in muscle adaptation process. These findings should be considered when developing therapeutic approaches towards restoring muscle mass and strength in muscle wasting conditions.

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A partir dos anos 2000, a heteroglossia feminista parece se complexificar com a emergência das jovens enquanto ativistas que afirmam identidades e demandas específicas. É nesse contexto que se nota o forjamento de grupos que aprofundam a “politização do privado” – uma estratégia que marcou o movimento feminista da segunda metade do século XX – ao inserir a alimentação estritamente vegetariana, ou vegana, em um contexto de ativismo feminista. Por meio de pesquisa qualitativa realizada em seis eventos feministas nos quais foi produzida e servida alimentação vegana, buscou-se compreender tal faceta do feminismo contemporâneo lançando-se mão da categoria analítica “gastropolítica” (APPADURAI,1981). Investigaram-se os sentidos atribuídos a essa alimentação a partir da articulação dos marcadores de gênero, sexualidade, geração e espécie. Argumenta-se que a politização do que se ingere está imbricada numa rede de ativismo que utiliza a música, os zines e as oficinas para construir uma prática política centrada no cotidiano, na autonomia e no prazer. Nessa cosmologia, o corpo – enquanto receptáculo ativo dessa alimentação – é trazido para o centro dos investimentos enquanto um lugar que pode reinventar ontologias humanas e não-humanas, não só de espécie mas também de gênero e sexualidade. Since the 2000’s the feminist heteroglossia seems to be complexified with the emergency of young activists who claim for specific identities and demands. In this context we can notice the construction of groups that radicalize the “politization of private” – an strategy which marked the feminist movement in the second half of the 20th century – by the insertion of a strictly vegetarian food (vegan food) in a feminist activist landscape. Using qualitative research realized in six feminist events where vegan food was cooked and shared, we tried to understand this face of contemporary feminist movement using the analytic category of “gastropolitics” (APPADURAI, 1981). The meanings attributed to the food were investigated from the articulation of gender, sexuality, generation and species. We argue that the politization of what we eat is imbricated in an activist network that use the music, zines and workshops to build a political practice centered in the daily life, the autonomy and in the pleasure. Inside this cosmology, the body – understood as an active receptacle of this food – is brought to the center of the political investments as a place where we can reinvent human and non-human ontologies, not just species ontologies but gender and sexuality ontologies too.

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Paragryllini Desutter is a Neotropical tribe of crickets with species distributed from southern Mexico to Brazil. Currently are known 24 species assigned to six genera: Benoistella Uvarov, 1939; Mexiacla Gorochov, 2007; Oaxacla Gorochov, 2007; Paragryllus Guérin- Méneville, 1844; Rumea Desutter, 1988; and Silvastella Desutter- Grandcolas, 1992. In this paper new taxa from the Brazilian Central Amazonia are described. The genus Rumea is reported for the first time from this region, represented by three new species from the Central Amazonian: R. zebra sp. nov., R. manauensis sp. nov. and R. tigris sp. nov. Also two new genera are described: Marciela gen. nov., including M. longipes sp. nov. from Brazil and M. crybelos (Nischk & Otte, 2000) comb. nov. from Ecuador; and Sperberus gen. nov. including only S. arboricolus sp. nov. The morphology of the male genitalia of the Rumea species is discussed and a new interpretation is proposed. For the illustration of the genitalia of males and females a photographic technique was used: the structure was immersed in glycerin and photographs were taken on different levels of focous. For the construction of the final images the free software CombineZM was used. The biogeography of the Paragryllini is discussed based on the known distribution of the species. This study contributes to the knowledge of the group, increases its geographical distribution, and may serve as a starting point for future research on the Paragryllini in Brazil.
Paragryllini Desutter é uma tribo Neotropical com espécies distribuídas do sul do México até o Brasil. Atualmente são conhecidas 24 espécies subordinadas a 6 gêneros: Benoistella Uvarov, 1939; Mexiacla Gorochov, 2007; Oaxacla Gorochov, 2007; Paragryllus Guérin-Méneville, 1844; Rumea Desutter, 1988; e Silvastella Desutter-Grandcolas, 1992. Nesta dissertação são descritos novos táxons de Paragryllini da Amazônia Central brasileira. Faz-se o primeiro registro do gênero Rumea para esta área, com a descrição de três espécies novas: R. zebra sp. nov., R. manauensis sp. nov. e R. tigris sp. nov.. Também são descritos dois gêneros novos: Marciela gen. nov., que inclui Marciela longipes sp. Nov. do Brasil e Marciela crybelos (Nischk & Otte, 2000) comb. nov. do Equador; e Sperberus gen. nov. incluindo unicamente Sperberus arboricola sp. nov. Para as espécies do gênero Rumea, discutem-se as características morfológicas da genitália dos machos e se propõe uma nova interpretação da dessa estrutura. Para ilustrar a genitália tanto dos machos quanto das fêmeas, desenvolveu-se uma técnica de fotografia: a estrutura era inmersa em glicerina e eran tiradas fotografias em diferentes níveis de foco. Para a construção da fotografia final usou-se o software livre CombineZM. Discutem-se alguns aspectos biogeográficos baseados na distribuição conhecida das espécies de Paragryllini. Este estudo proporciona um aporte para o conhecimento do grupo, já que se amplia sua dibribuiçao geográfica, e puede servir como um punto de partida para futuras pesquiças sobre os Paragryllini no Brasil.

La forme n’est pas, dans la pensée aristotélicienne, un objet simple, mais, parce qu’elle s’exprime par un énoncé définitionnel, une réalité complexe, composée de parties. Or, la nature des parties de la forme et leurs relations avec cette dernière pose problème dans la mesure où la forme est la substance première : elle doit à ce titre constituer une unité. Cette unité est problématique puisque la forme, totalité complexe, entretient une relation nécessaire au composé dont elle est la forme. Ce problème de l’unité de la forme se décline selon deux aspects. D’une part, il s’agit d’identifier la nature des parties de la forme et l’enjeu principal pour Aristote est d’éviter de faire de la matière du composé dont elle est la forme une partie de celle-ci tout en affirmant l’unité radicale du composé hylémorphique. Autrement dit, il faut affirmer l’unité radicale du composé substantiel tout en conservant l’intégrité de la forme au sein de celui-ci, en montrant qu’il n’est pas nécessaire de faire de la matière une partie de la forme pour expliquer l’unité du composé sensible. D’autre part, il s’agit d’expliquer l’unité des parties de la forme et plus particulièrement la manière dont ces parties peuvent constituer une totalité complexe proprement substantielle, et non pas simplement un tas de parties disparates assemblées entre elles. Il s’agit alors de savoir comment les différentes parties de la forme peuvent constituer une totalité substantielle proprement une à partir d’une multiplicité élémentaire. C’est ce double problème – celui de l’intégrité et celui du caractère total de la forme – que nous voulons traiter dans le présent travail
The form is not, in Aristotelian thought, a simple object, but because it is expressed by a definitional statement, it is a complex reality, composed of parts. The nature of the parts of the form and their relations with the latter is problematic insofar as the form is the first substance: it must as such constitute a unity. This unity is problematic since the form, a complex totality, maintains a necessary relation to the compound of which it is the form. This problem of the unity of the form is declined according to two aspects. On the one hand, it is a question of identifying the nature of the parts of the form, and the main issue for Aristotle is to avoid making the matter of the compound of which it is the form a part of it, while affirming the radical unity of the hylemorphic compound. In other words, one must affirm the radical unity of the substantial compound while preserving the integrity of the form within it, by showing that it is not necessary to make matter a part of the form to explain the unity of the sensible compound. On the other hand, it is a question of explaining the unity of the parts of the form and more particularly the way in which these parts can constitute a properly substantial and complex totality, and not simply a pile of disparate parts assembled. It is then a question of knowing how the different parts of the form can constitute a substantial totality properly one from an elementary multiplicity. It is this double problem - that of the integrity and that of the totality of the form - that we want to treat in the present work
Nel pensiero aristotelico, la forma non è un oggetto semplice, ma, poiché si esprime in un enunciato definitorio, è una realtà complessa, composta di parti. Ora, la natura delle parti della forma e delle loro relazioni con quest'ultima è problematica nella misura in cui la forma è la sostanza primaria: come tale, deve costituire un'unità. Questa unità è problematica poiché la forma, una totalità complessa, mantiene una relazione necessaria con il composto di cui è la forma. Il problema dell'unità della forma ha due aspetti. Da una parte, si tratta di individuare la natura delle parti della forma, e il problema principale per Aristotele è evitare di rendere la materia del composto di cui è la forma una parte di quest'ultima, affermando allo stesso tempo l'unità radicale del composto ilemorfico. In altre parole, l'unità radicale del composto sostanziale deve essere affermata preservando l'integrità della forma al suo interno, mostrando che non è necessario rendere la materia parte della forma per spiegare l'unità del composto sensibile. D'altra parte, si tratta di spiegare l'unità delle parti della forma e, più in particolare, il modo in cui queste parti possono costituire una totalità complessa, propriamente sostanziale, e non semplicemente un ammasso di parti disparate assemblate insieme. Si tratta allora di capire come le diverse parti della forma possano costituire una totalità propriamente sostanziale a partire da una molteplicità elementare. È questo doppio problema - quello dell'integrità e quello della totalità della forma - che vogliamo affrontare nel presente lavoro

Donna J. Haraway ist eine US-amerikanische Biologin, Wissenschaftsphilosophin und Literaturwissenschaftlerin, die an den Departments History of Consciousness und Feminist Studies der University of California lehrte. In dieser Position hatte sie die erste explizit der Feministischen Theorie gewidmete Professur in den USA inne. Haraways Arbeiten bewegen sich in einem thematischen Schnittfeld von feministischer Erkenntniskritik, Cultural Studies, politischer Theorie und Biowissenschaften.

Donna J. Haraway ist eine US-amerikanische Biologin, Wissenschaftsphilosophin und Literaturwissenschaftlerin, die an den Departments History of Consciousness und Feminist Studies der University of California lehrte. In dieser Position hatte sie die erste explizit der Feministischen Theorie gewidmete Professur in den USA inne. Haraways Arbeiten bewegen sich in einem thematischen Schnittfeld von feministischer Erkenntniskritik, Cultural Studies, politischer Theorie und Biowissenschaften.

Our western society and lifestyle is to a considerable extent depended on the way we perceive and treat our co-existing non-human species. Industrial farming, vivisection, sports, circuses etcetera are just a few examples of how human use and exploit animal bodies for own gain. A phenomenon that in many ways, is perceived, as natural and normal, and therefore seldom discussed. The thesis purpose is to problematize this phenomenon by examine, what I call “The Speciesism Gaze”, through analysis of posters that promote animal rights, selected online, through the search domain Google. The theoretical framework used, are theories focusing on intersectionality, derived within postcolonial-, eco-critical and new materialist feminism. A brief introduction of animal right movements, its linking to feminism activism and theories derived within affect theory is presented as background for the analysis. As method, I use critical discourse analysis, focusing on intertextuality of the posters context. Asking what discourses emerge, challenging the anthropocentric and androcentric western dualistic hierarchy, whilst displaying mutually reinforced structures of sexism, racism and speciesism? I discuss the western historical and cultural human idea that the human species is separated from nature and animal, and where the “right” human subject standard is perceived as male, white, heterosexual and western in the Anthropocene age. I found that, this standard is displayed, played on, and questioned in the posters selected, in relation to animal materiality, grievability, killability, species necropolitics, sexism and racism. I discuss in my conclusion that oppression based on speciesism is not a power relation discussed in society today to the same extent as expressions of sexism and racism are. It is however an oppression that we all take part in every day and that affect all of us, despite species belonging. In that context, I hope the theorization and meaning of the speciesism gaze will have significance within the field of feminist theorizations and practices.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 109 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not gender differences may be present in the expression of a number of urinary proteins which may serve as markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Males and females have different patterns of illness and different life spans, suggesting basic biological traits exert significant control on the incidence of rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, myocardial contraction band formation, autoimmune disorders and general inflammatory diseases. Men are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease; however women, particularly elderly women, have higher fatality rates due to heart failure. Renal diseases progress far more quickly in men, possibly due to testosterone. Men also have higher kidney bulk related to androgen expression. Gender disparity may be most obvious in autoimmune disorders; of the estimated 8.5 million people diagnosed with autoimmune disorders, approximately 80% are women. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the most common form of hypothyroidism, is up to 10 times more common in women. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease characterized by acute and chronic inflammation, is 9 times more common in women. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1.3 million people in the United States, is four times more common in women. Diabetes mellitus (DM), affecting more than 17 million people – the majority of which are women, is linked to microvascular and macrovascular diseases such as kidney failure, strokes and atherosclerosis. These conditions are linked to physiological changes that may alter the expression of certain biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Over the past several decades, it has become increasingly clear that the role of diet, smoking, and other lifestyle choices clearly influence the etiology and pathophysiology of these diseases. The use of drugs, both licit and illicit, has been clearly linked to many of these diseases. Illicit substances, particularly cocaine, have been demonstrated to produce pathophysiological changes to many systems in the body which can greatly influence the progression of existing and drug-induced disease states leading to systemic damage. A relationship between the expression of markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, cardiac damage, or other systemic injury, gender and cocaine use has not been clearly established. Urine is an important medium for assessment of general health status. It has classically been used to monitor disease states; glucosuria as an indicator of diabetes and renal dysfunction, microorganisms signifying urinary tract or bladder infection, and biomarkers such as human chorionic gonadotropin to confirm pregnancy. Recently urine has been used to assess biomarker expression and disease states. Urine is an ideal clinical tool for toxicological screens; it is readily accessible, non invasive and typically supplied in sufficient quantity to accommodate multiple tests. In this study, urine specimens were collected and analyzed for creatinine, cocaine, total protein, aldosterone, c-reactive protein (hsCRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), microalbumin (MAB), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), heat shock protein 90α (hsp90α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), myoglobin, pro atrial natriuretic peptide (proANP) and interleukins 1α, 1 β , and 6 using ELISA and colorimetric assays. Urine specimens that tested negative for all illicit substances in the standard National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 10 panel showed differences in a number of these biomarkers which strongly suggested significant differences between males and females for aldosterone, IL1α and IL1β. In addition, significance is suggested for MPO and CRP. Although sex specific differences in serum expression have been noted for some of the markers in both animal and human models, this has not been previously demonstrated in human urine. This may have implications for what is typically referred to as ‘normal’ values. Gender specific differences were not apparent in urine specimens that tested positive for cocaine. Also, in males only, the levels of myoglobin and aldosterone significantly increased.

Reactive oxygen species are formed internally through cellular metabolism and through external sources including radiation and pollutants. They play an important role in physiologic functions; however, when reactive oxygen species exceed our body’s antioxidant defense system, oxidative stress can occur. Oxidative stress has been implicated in aging and aging-related diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Numerous oxidative stress genes produce antioxidative enzymes to mitigate the effects of reactive oxygen species. Single nucleotide polymorphisms within these genes may impact the functionality of antioxidant enzymes produced leaving the body more susceptible to damage from oxidative stress. The Iowa 65+ Rural Health Study was one of the four study populations in the Established Population for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) project initiated by the intramural Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry Program of the National Institute on Aging in 1980. The Iowa cohort was comprised of Iowa county and Washington county residents aged 65 and older at the time of the baseline interview in 1982. Participants completed three in-person interviews and five telephone interviews over eight years which collected data on habits, lifestyle and disease. During the in-person Year 06 interview participants were asked to donate a blood sample. The DNA extracted from the samples was used in each of the three aims of this project. The first aim evaluated single nucleotide polymorphisms in selected oxidative stress genes and their association with lifespan while controlling for aging-associated risk factors such as body mass index, comorbidity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity. Multivariable linear regression models were fit in the framework of the co-dominant genetic model. The oxidative stress genes selected for this project included the sirtuin family of genes (SIRT1-7), two of the forkhead box genes (FOXO1 and FOXO3), superoxide dismutase 2 and 3 (SOD2 and SOD3), glutathione peroxidase (GPX1), AKT, TP53, and CAMK4. A model was fitted with the risk factors before assessing the impact of each single nucleotide polymorphism. The q-value was used to control for the multiple hypothesis tests. Significant associations were detected between human lifespan and SNPs in genes SIRT3, SIRT5, SIRT6, FOXO3, and SOD3; gender modified the effect of SNPs in SIRT3, SIRT5, and AKT1. The second aim of this project evaluated single nucleotide polymorphisms in selected oxidative stress genes and their association with blood pressure measures while controlling for known risk factors including body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity. Blood pressure was measured at the baseline and Year 06 interviews. Systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were used to calculate mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure at baseline and Year 06. Multivariable linear regression was used within the co-dominant genetic framework to determine if single nucleotide polymorphisms in SIRT1-7, FOXO1, FOXO3, SOD2-3, GPX1, AKT, TP53, and CAMK4 were associated with systolic, diastolic, mean arterial, or pulse pressure at baseline or Year 06. To examine longitudinal effects, the difference between each measure (i.e., Year 06 systolic – baseline systolic) was calculated for each individual and used to evaluate if any of the single polymorphisms was associated with change in blood pressure measures over time. Significant associations were detected between SIRT1 and SIRT3 and for males in SIRT1 and various blood pressure measures for females. Gender modified the effect of SIRT1, SIRT3, SIRT6, and FOXO1 variants. The third aim of this project evaluated if these genetic variants were associated with incident stroke while controlling for known risk factors including blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity. Multivariable logistic regression within the framework of the co-dominant genetic model was used. Individuals with the GPX1 genotype TT had 2.76 times the risk of an incident stroke compared to the CC genotype. This project identified several associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms within oxidative stress genes and lifespan, blood pressure measures, and incident stroke. Gender modified the association of several single nucleotide polymorphisms and lifespan as well as blood pressure measures. These results suggest genetic variation within oxidative stress genes may play a role in aging, blood pressure and incident stroke.

Margaret Atwood’s novel Surfacing has received considerable critical attention on the issue of “a positive female identity” in a patriarchal society. However, given Atwood’s own stress on the fact that the novel is about the ways both genders work in relation to each other, this criticism has lacked in scrutiny of the novel’s male characters. With a relational approach to the female and male characters, this thesis argues that while creating a positive identity for its female protagonist, the novel effectively creates a rather negative one for its male characters. In order to examine certain sets of relations and the qualities which represent the most honored way of being a man in the novel, I apply the concept of “hegemonic masculinity,” which can be understood as the pattern of practices that explain male domination over women. It is indeed this hegemonic masculinity that the Surfacer rejects in her quest for emancipation. By looking at the hegemonic masculinity in Surfacing, I argue that the novel depicts very typically patriarchal characters in Joe and David and that the society is typically patriarchal. The thesis is divided into three main sections, each examining the most important sets of relations concerning Atwood’s female emancipation. First, I analyze hegemonic structures in the world of the protagonist, including the issues of power, emancipation, and complicity. Then I look into the sexual division of labor to show that the characters assume their default roles without much reflection. Finally, I scrutinize the characters’ relation to the Symbolic and how it affects their sense of identity. In each section, the analyses show that the male characters are reduced to tropes who only serve one function: to be stereotypically oppressive, patriarchal figures in order to facilitate the protagonist’s positive change and empowerment. I argue that Atwood’s failure to imagine male emancipation somewhat taints the development of female identity because the female emancipation becomes arrested.

Unambiguous gender identification (ID) is needed to assess parameters in studies of population dynamics, behavior, and evolutionary biology of Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) and other birds. Due to its importance for management and conservation, molecular (DNA-based) avian gender ID assays targeting intron-size differences of the Chromosome Helicase ATPase DNA Binding (CHD) gene of males (CHD-Z) and females (CHD-W) have been developed. Male (ZZ) and female (WZ) genotypes are usually scored as size polymorphisms through agarose or acrylamide gels. For certain species, W-specific restriction sites or multiplex polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) involving CHD-W specific primers are needed. These approaches involve a minimum of three steps following DNA isolation: PCR, gel electrophoresis, and photo-documentation, which limit high throughput scoring and automation potential. In here, a short amplicon (SA) High-resolution Melting Analysis (HRMA) assay for avian gender ID is developed. SA-HRMA of an 81-Base Pair (bp) segment differentiates heteroduplex female (WZ) from homoduplex male (ZZ) genotypes by targeting Single-nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) instead of intron-size differences between CHD-Z and CHD-W genes. To demonstrate the utility of the approach, the gender of Caribbean Flamingo (P. ruber ruber) (17 captive from the Dallas Zoo and 359 wild from Ria Lagartos, Yucatan, Mexico) was determined. The assay was also tested on specimens of Lesser Flamingo (P. minor), Chilean Flamingo (P. chilensis), Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber), White-bellied Stork (Ciconia abdimii), Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus), Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), and Attwater's Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri). Although the orthologous 81 bp segments of Z and W are highly conserved, sequence alignments with 50 avian species across 15 families revealed mismatches affecting one or more nucleotides within the SA-HRMA forward or reverse primers. Most mismatches were located along the CHD-Z gene that may generate heteroduplex curves and thus gender ID errors. For such cases, taxon and species-specific primer sets were designed. The SA-HRMA gender ID assay can be used in studies of avian ecology and behavior, to assess sex-associated demographics and migratory patterns, and as a proxy to determine the health of the flock and the degree by which conservation and captive breeding programs are functioning.

 In this Professional Practicum, I examine the primary school academic results in the semester report cards of both boys and girls in my previous school, my current school and a neighbouring school. 

Examining the academic achievements of boys and girls in English, German, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies at Year 7 in the previous school, a pronounced imbalance was found. Results showed that girls dominated the high achievement ratings (A & B). Whilst boys dominated the low achievement ratings (D & E) on the five point rating scale - A, B, C, D, E. 

Using the ACER TOLA 6 (Testing of Learning Ability), it was shown that the ability levels of the boys and girls were similar, but their academic results were not. The gender of the teacher who taught the students in the three classes was examined and the data showed this had no effect. Past Year 7 results were examined as were students' results in semester report cards for Year 4, 6 and 6. The same imbalance between boys' and girls' academic results was evident in all grades studied; girls were outperforming boys at all year levels 4 to 7. 

A strong awareness and inservice programme was commenced and classroom practices, beliefs and expectations were examined in readiness for another look at the report card achievement levels in 12 month's time.  

The re-examination was, on the surface, very positive with boys showing a marked improvement (especially in Year 7). 

However, further analysis of the data showed that new boy students to the school that year had skewed the result. It showed that an awareness of the imbalance in academic results and a positive attempt to change classroom practices to bring about equity in performance levels of boys and girls was not enough and had brought little change. The Practicum also looks at a beginning school, which opened in 1996, and the attempts of its staff to instil and embed a culture where both boys and girls felt encouraged to achieve at the highest levels. The staff's aim was to create an atmosphere and a tone in the school's culture where students of both sexes felt their successes, failures, efforts and contributions were supported. 

However, an examination of successive years Semester 1 academic results for Year 4, 5, 6 and 7 showed boys and girls were not achieving comparably, but girls were still dominating the high achievement levels and boys were dominating the low achievement levels. There were positive signs when the two -years' Semester 1 results were compared and showed that overall boys had an improved share of the number of students who achieved in the highest achievement level and a reduced share of the number of students in the lowest achievement levels. Examination of the involvement of boys in extra curricular activities was conducted in Semester 1 of the school's second year and it showed 49% of those involved were boys - so much had been achieved. 

Conclusions are made that using academic results as a starting point to bring about equity in boys and girls academic performance is not the correct beginning point.  Rather, those schools interested in creating an environment to bring about equity in academic performance of both sexes should not begin with academic data, but positively examine a whole series of other indicators and their school environment in general before dissecting academic performance. 

The conclusion is made that academic performance is one of the last indicators to 'move' whilst others can be changed overnight with simple decisions, effort, consultation and encouragement. Suggestions are made in Chapter 8 about how educators may go about examining data and student involvement in their school, and involving boys and girls in such examinations, to create an environment that is supportive and encouraging to both boys and girls. All this prior to examining academic results.