Which Roles Do You Play In Your Life?

2007

Previous research has suggested that adult development can be punctuated by periods of developmentally formative crisis (e.g. . While the presence of such crises in adulthood is acknowledged, the nature and processes of these crises have received little empirical attention, with crises in early adulthood (ages 22-40) being a particularly marked vacuum of research. This investigation aimed to study the dynamics, phenomenology and implications of crisis in early adulthood, using an interview-based form of data collection and a composite form of qualitative data analysis.

This thesis concerns Indian middle class men’s fear of violence in public spaces. It attempts to broaden the perspective of the implications of fear of violence. Both the public and academic discourses on violence in public spaces in India are centered on the notion of the female victim. In this thesis I argue that we need to open up a strict binary understanding of only women as vulnerable and affected by the fear of crime in public spaces. I discuss the gendered implications of different types of violence, and how different identity categories, beyond and across gender, have an impact on middle class men’s fear. In addition to this I assess how the fear for others’ safety and the masculine ideal of being a protector has an impact on men’s personal fear of violence. Because there is no research on men’s fear of crime in an Indian context I have supported my analyses with three theoretical frameworks, all relevant in different ways. This is the research on masculinity in India, the research on men and fear from the West, and the research on middle class women and fear of crime in India. My own research consists of data collected through a survey where 98 men and women participated, and interviews with men who are involved in initiatives for safer cities. To understand how fear of violence in public spaces is affecting lives in India, it is necessary to not restrict ourselves to only women’s narratives. This thesis is an attempt at putting men’s fear of violence on the agenda, and hopefully it contributes to a widening of the understanding of fear of violence in public spaces.

The purpose of this study was to illuminate leaders’ lived experience of authentic leadership moments—those moments when leaders respond with increased authenticity, despite the challenges they face. The literature on authenticity, transformative learning, leadership, and Buddhismprovided useful insights into this phenomenon. Using a mindful inquiry method focusing on phenomenology, hermeneutics, and Buddhism (Bentz & Shapiro, 1998), 10 participants were interviewed about their experience of authentic leadership moments. Five phenomenological themes were identified: (a) abiding inambiguity, (b) listening to the body, (c) opening to possibilities, (d) communicating with honesty and vulnerability, and (e) acting with integrity and courage. Descriptions of participants’ inauthentic moments helped enhance the understanding of these themes and clarified the experience of authentic moments. Prior to the moment itself, leaders faced situational and personal challenges, acknowledged their fear and hesitation, made a commitment or decision to work with the challenge(s), and prepared for the moment in a variety of ways. The analysis also showed that after the moment, leaders experienced a ositiveimpact on their self-esteem, their relationships, and the organizations they served.

In 1998 Zero Tolerance, the Charitable Trust that campaigns for the prevention of violence against women and children, published a major research study which looked at young people's attitudes to violence, sex and relationships (Burton et al., 1998). The research revealed that young people had a disturbingly high tolerance of violence against women and, in particular, that forced sex was more acceptable than hitting to both boys and girls. In response to the study, the Trust developed a campaign which addressed some of these issues and, as part of the consultation process, held discussions with young people across Scotland. Young people expressed concern about the lack of opportunity to discuss the issues raised by the campaign, i.e. the social and emotional contexts within which sexual activity takes place. The Trust decided to develop a programme based on Respect which enabled young people to explore the issues that the campaign raises in a structured and supportive environment. A pilot project was developed in partnership with Lothian Health Promotion, West Dumbartonshire Domestic Violence Forum and the YWCA (Scotland and England). The financial contributions made by the last two bodies were given on condition that their groups were involved in the pilot.

A woman has several diamond rings but her most treasured piece of jewelry is a silver bracelet with five hearts on it. Why? The piece was her mother’s, composed of gifts from her father, a heart after each child. It is links like this that make jewelry more valuable than just the sum of its parts. This study contributes not only to design research but also to the small and novel field of jewelry studies. It brings a new approach to seeing personal experiences and memories, important when jewelry is part of women’s social existence. This study provides a deeper understanding of the social reasons why jewelry is possessed and worn. Women’s jewelry often connects past and future generations. Such jewelry not only exists in the present day, but also connects generations. Jewelry also often works as a mediator of memories of possessors’ milestones in life, relationships and family ties. It plays important roles in the rituals that make up the rites of passages throughout a woman’s life. 􀀄􀀇􀀉􀀊􀀅􀀈􀀆􀀂􀀋􀀌􀀍􀀋􀀎􀀏􀀃􀀁

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 2014

South African managers in public service consistently face challenges related to managing a well-adjusted and productive diverse workforce. Following the notion that leadership authenticity fosters positive psychological employee capacity, the aim of this study was to explore the meaning essence of authenticity as lived in the workÁlife experiences of senior managers in public service. Five senior managers in public service were purposefully selected based on their articulated challenges with being authentic at work, whilst attending a diversity sensitivity workshop. From a hermeneutic phenomenological perspective, in-depth interviews were used, and an interpretative phenomenological analysis yielded two predominant themes offering a description of what it means to be authentic. Authenticity is experienced as an affective state that results from a continuous self-appraisal of the extent to which expression of self is congruent with a subjective and socially constructed expectation of self in relation to others. Authenticity seems to develop through a continuous process of internal and external adaptation, and it leads to ultimately building a differentiated yet integrated identity of self. A reciprocal dynamic between feeling authentic and self-confidence alludes to the potential importance of authenticity dynamics in identity work.

2011

SEXUALIZED VIOLENCE, MORAL DISINTEGRATION AND ETHICAL ADVOCACY Melissa A. Mosko, B.A., M.A. Marquette University, 2011