title: The 'glow up' imperative: The fitness lifestyles of young women in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Kurghan, Francesca

subjects: body image

abstract: For many young women, their relationships with fitness, health and the body are shaped by unrealistic beauty ideals. Body image scholars have long focused on the impacts of the media and more recently, social media, on the way young women experience body satisfaction. This thesis investigates the lived experiences of young women in Aotearoa New Zealand, in relation to body image and fitness culture. Underpinned by feminist post-structuralist theory, this research project aims to amplify the voices and experiences of young women (18-25 years) to gain nuanced insights into how they interpret, internalise and negotiate the complexities of the fitness lifestyles and everyday body image. This study draws upon an anonymous survey (203 participants), as well as three focus groups and three individual interviews with 15 young women, with all participants considering themselves to be actively pursuing fitness lifestyles.

Conducting a thematic analysis, results showed that many young women are actively pursuing a range of fitness practices for diverse reasons and motives. However, many report feeling the pressure not only to adhere to thin ideals, but also to pursue bodies that are strong and toned. For many of the young women, however, the fitness lifestyles were also connected to broader social trends of ‘fitspo’ (fitness inspiration) and the ‘glow up’ (body and lifestyle transformation). Engaging with feminist literature on the pressures on young women to aspire and achieve ‘successful’ femininities in the context of neoliberalism, this research develops the concept of the ‘glow up’ in relation to their highly consumptive fitness lifestyles. In so doing, this thesis provides rich, nuanced and original insights into the pressures on everyday young women to pursue bodily and lifestyle transformation, and the effects on those unable to maintain their commitment to the ‘glow up’ imperative. Importantly, not all young women passively accept such limiting versions of the ‘body project’, with some actively acknowledging the harm that can be caused by the ‘glow up’ imperative. The thesis concludes with some researcher reflections on the contributions of this study and future directions to help young women redefine what it means to participate in meaningful physical activity.

text: The 'glow up' imperative: The fitness lifestyles of young women in Aotearoa New Zealand For many young women, their relationships with fitness, health and the body are shaped by unrealistic beauty ideals. Body image scholars have long focused on the impacts of the media and more recently, social media, on the way young women experience body satisfaction. This thesis investigates the lived experiences of young women in Aotearoa New Zealand, in relation to body image and fitness culture. Underpinned by feminist post-structuralist theory, this research project aims to amplify the voices and experiences of young women (18-25 years) to gain nuanced insights into how they interpret, internalise and negotiate the complexities of the fitness lifestyles and everyday body image. This study draws upon an anonymous survey (203 participants), as well as three focus groups and three individual interviews with 15 young women, with all participants considering themselves to be actively pursuing fitness lifestyles.

Conducting a thematic analysis, results showed that many young women are actively pursuing a range of fitness practices for diverse reasons and motives. However, many report feeling the pressure not only to adhere to thin ideals, but also to pursue bodies that are strong and toned. For many of the young women, however, the fitness lifestyles were also connected to broader social trends of ‘fitspo’ (fitness inspiration) and the ‘glow up’ (body and lifestyle transformation). Engaging with feminist literature on the pressures on young women to aspire and achieve ‘successful’ femininities in the context of neoliberalism, this research develops the concept of the ‘glow up’ in relation to their highly consumptive fitness lifestyles. In so doing, this thesis provides rich, nuanced and original insights into the pressures on everyday young women to pursue bodily and lifestyle transformation, and the effects on those unable to maintain their commitment to the ‘glow up’ imperative. Importantly, not all young women passively accept such limiting versions of the ‘body project’, with some actively acknowledging the harm that can be caused by the ‘glow up’ imperative. The thesis concludes with some researcher reflections on the contributions of this study and future directions to help young women redefine what it means to participate in meaningful physical activity.

year: 2024

title: Synthesis, Characterisation and Applications of Novel Ionic Liquids.

authors: Ying, Lucia (Li)

subjects: phosphinate ionic liquids

abstract: A series of novel phosphinate-based ionic liquids have been synthesised using various organic phosphorus acids, such as mono-n-octylphosphinic acid (octylPO₂H₂), mono-n-hexylphosphinic acid (hexylPO₂H₂), di-n-octylphosphinic acid ((octyl)₂PO₂H), di-n-hexylphosphinic acid ((hexyl)₂PO₂H) and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid ((TMP)₂PO₂H), by reaction with tetrabutylphosphonium hydroxide (Bu₄POH), tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (Bu₄NOH), pyridine (py) and triethylamine (Et₃N). Reactions simply involve neutralizing the organophosphorus acids with bases. The only byproduct, water, and excess amine, py/Et₃N can be easily removed under vacuum (Chapter 2).
Some of the physical and chemical properties of these ionic liquids have been characterized by NMR, ES-MS, TGA, UV-Visible spectroscopy etc. The formed tetraalkylphosphonium/tetraalkylammonium phosphinate ionic liquids are viscous, hygroscopic liquids, but are more thermally stable than trialkylammonium and pyridinium analogues. For example, for the most stable ionic liquid, [Bu₄P][(octyl)₂PO₂], its onset temperature of decomposition in thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) is 358 °C (Chapter 2).
One of the applications of these novel phosphinate-based ionic liquids has been investigated. Au(0), Rh(0) and Ir(0) nanoparticles have been prepared in some of these phosphinate-based ionic liquids as a media and (or) reducing agents and have been characterized by SEM, TEM, Zetasizer, UV-Visible spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy. In general, the average particles size of Au(0), and Ir(0) were ca. 25 nm, but some of the particles average size formed was less than 2 nm, such as Rh(0) and Ir(0) nanoparticles formed in [Bu₄P][(octyl)₂PO₂] or [Bu₄P][(TMP)₂PO₂]. Generally, these phosphinate-based ionic liquids are good media to prevent nanoparticle aggregation (Chapter 3).

text: Synthesis, Characterisation and Applications of Novel Ionic Liquids. A series of novel phosphinate-based ionic liquids have been synthesised using various organic phosphorus acids, such as mono-n-octylphosphinic acid (octylPO₂H₂), mono-n-hexylphosphinic acid (hexylPO₂H₂), di-n-octylphosphinic acid ((octyl)₂PO₂H), di-n-hexylphosphinic acid ((hexyl)₂PO₂H) and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid ((TMP)₂PO₂H), by reaction with tetrabutylphosphonium hydroxide (Bu₄POH), tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (Bu₄NOH), pyridine (py) and triethylamine (Et₃N). Reactions simply involve neutralizing the organophosphorus acids with bases. The only byproduct, water, and excess amine, py/Et₃N can be easily removed under vacuum (Chapter 2).
Some of the physical and chemical properties of these ionic liquids have been characterized by NMR, ES-MS, TGA, UV-Visible spectroscopy etc. The formed tetraalkylphosphonium/tetraalkylammonium phosphinate ionic liquids are viscous, hygroscopic liquids, but are more thermally stable than trialkylammonium and pyridinium analogues. For example, for the most stable ionic liquid, [Bu₄P][(octyl)₂PO₂], its onset temperature of decomposition in thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) is 358 °C (Chapter 2).
One of the applications of these novel phosphinate-based ionic liquids has been investigated. Au(0), Rh(0) and Ir(0) nanoparticles have been prepared in some of these phosphinate-based ionic liquids as a media and (or) reducing agents and have been characterized by SEM, TEM, Zetasizer, UV-Visible spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy. In general, the average particles size of Au(0), and Ir(0) were ca. 25 nm, but some of the particles average size formed was less than 2 nm, such as Rh(0) and Ir(0) nanoparticles formed in [Bu₄P][(octyl)₂PO₂] or [Bu₄P][(TMP)₂PO₂]. Generally, these phosphinate-based ionic liquids are good media to prevent nanoparticle aggregation (Chapter 3).

year: 2006

title: The source, composition and typology of ‘Limestone’ Adzes from Eastern North Island, New Zealand

authors: Nelson, Campbell S.

subjects: adzes

abstract: Collections of stone adzes (toki) from the eastern North Island of New Zealand include a number of typologically early (Archaic) forms made from what has been previously described as ‘siliceous or silicified limestone’. Seventy five finished adzes and preforms of this material were recorded in the present study. Their geographic distribution is primarily restricted to southern Hawkes Bay – Wairarapa, and they apparently originated from a single manufacturing centre at Owahanga, on the northern Wairarapa coast. Chemical and mineralogical analyses (by X-ray fluorescence, portable XRF, vacuum gasometry and X-ray diffraction) of two artefacts from Owahanga show they contain about 20–30 per cent CaCO3 (as calcite), while samples of the presumed local source rock have a slightly higher carbonate content but comparable silica (quartz) and Rb concentrations. The rock type used in the manufacture of adzes was therefore not a true limestone but calcareous mudstone, compositionally distinct from siliceous limestones in southern Wairarapa and probably derived from the Whangai Formation. Possible reasons for the use of this stone material are discussed.

text: The source, composition and typology of ‘Limestone’ Adzes from Eastern North Island, New Zealand Collections of stone adzes (toki) from the eastern North Island of New Zealand include a number of typologically early (Archaic) forms made from what has been previously described as ‘siliceous or silicified limestone’. Seventy five finished adzes and preforms of this material were recorded in the present study. Their geographic distribution is primarily restricted to southern Hawkes Bay – Wairarapa, and they apparently originated from a single manufacturing centre at Owahanga, on the northern Wairarapa coast. Chemical and mineralogical analyses (by X-ray fluorescence, portable XRF, vacuum gasometry and X-ray diffraction) of two artefacts from Owahanga show they contain about 20–30 per cent CaCO3 (as calcite), while samples of the presumed local source rock have a slightly higher carbonate content but comparable silica (quartz) and Rb concentrations. The rock type used in the manufacture of adzes was therefore not a true limestone but calcareous mudstone, compositionally distinct from siliceous limestones in southern Wairarapa and probably derived from the Whangai Formation. Possible reasons for the use of this stone material are discussed.

year: 2016