title: Beyond the Bump: Women's Experiences of Body Image during Pregnancy and in the Postpartum

authors: Large, Zoë

subjects: Body image

abstract: Body image is an important aspect of identity, with body image dissatisfaction related to many negative experiences such as depression and low self-esteem. Pregnancy is a time of rapid and substantial change for women’s bodies, yet it is not well understood how body image is experienced either during pregnancy or in the postpartum. Given that body image dissatisfaction is more prevalent among women than men, it is important to consider this important life transition and the way body image may be experienced.

Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted among women either in late pregnancy or in the first year postpartum to explore their experiences of body image during and after pregnancy. Thematic analysis resulted in six major themes, which encapsulate the variety of experiences among women. 

There is variation among women’s experiences that is influenced by a range of other factors. Most women felt overall positively about their bodies during pregnancy, but there were some negative aspects and different experiences. In the postpartum, most women were dissatisfied with their bodies, although the importance of this differed. Factors that influenced the way women felt included the transition to motherhood, the media, and past/present social interactions.

This exploratory study provides insight into the way 16 women experienced body image through pregnancy and the postpartum to contribute to this relatively limited research area. Many areas for future study have been identified.

text: Beyond the Bump: Women's Experiences of Body Image during Pregnancy and in the Postpartum Body image is an important aspect of identity, with body image dissatisfaction related to many negative experiences such as depression and low self-esteem. Pregnancy is a time of rapid and substantial change for women’s bodies, yet it is not well understood how body image is experienced either during pregnancy or in the postpartum. Given that body image dissatisfaction is more prevalent among women than men, it is important to consider this important life transition and the way body image may be experienced.

Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted among women either in late pregnancy or in the first year postpartum to explore their experiences of body image during and after pregnancy. Thematic analysis resulted in six major themes, which encapsulate the variety of experiences among women. 

There is variation among women’s experiences that is influenced by a range of other factors. Most women felt overall positively about their bodies during pregnancy, but there were some negative aspects and different experiences. In the postpartum, most women were dissatisfied with their bodies, although the importance of this differed. Factors that influenced the way women felt included the transition to motherhood, the media, and past/present social interactions.

This exploratory study provides insight into the way 16 women experienced body image through pregnancy and the postpartum to contribute to this relatively limited research area. Many areas for future study have been identified.

year: 2016

title: Influence of ageing heating rates on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-5553 alloy

authors: Jia, Mengqi

subjects: fatigue

abstract: The Ti-5553 alloy, a high-strength β-titanium alloy, is increasingly recognised for its exceptional mechanical properties, making it a preferred material for critical aerospace applications. This thesis examines the effects of varying ageing heating rates on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the forged Ti-5553 alloy, focusing on hardness, tensile properties, and fatigue performance. Following solution treatment at 810°C, the alloy was aged at 610°C with heating rates of 1°C/min, 5°C/min, 10°C/min, and 15°C/min. Detailed microstructural analysis was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The microstructural examination revealed that different ageing heating rates caused only minor variations in the alloy's bimodal microstructure. Slower ageing heating rates produced a relatively fine, homogeneously distributed primary α phase within the β grains, while faster rates resulted in a slightly coarser bimodal microstructure. Chemical homogeneity analysis confirmed a consistent distribution of critical elements, with α stabilisers concentrated in the primary α phase and β stabilisers in the β phase, ensuring stable phase compositions across all samples. The observed slight microstructural changes were reflected in the alloy's mechanical properties. Hardness across different ageing heating rates varied between 357.4 HV and 372.6 HV. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) declined from 1307.2 MPa at 1°C/min to 1264.5 MPa at 15°C/min, while ductility improved from 15.6% to 17.1% over the same range. The alloy demonstrated good fatigue resistance at lower stress amplitudes and ageing heating rates, enduring over 10 million cycles at 337.5 MPa under the 1°C/min condition. However, fatigue life decreased with higher stress amplitudes and ageing heating rates, highlighting the alloy's sensitivity to more extreme conditions. In summary, while the varying ageing heating rates resulted in only minor changes to the microstructure, these alterations had some impact on the mechanical properties of the Ti-5553 alloy. These findings highlight the importance of precise microstructural control in optimising the alloy's performance, especially in applications where achieving a balance between strength, ductility, and fatigue resistance is crucial.

text: Influence of ageing heating rates on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-5553 alloy The Ti-5553 alloy, a high-strength β-titanium alloy, is increasingly recognised for its exceptional mechanical properties, making it a preferred material for critical aerospace applications. This thesis examines the effects of varying ageing heating rates on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the forged Ti-5553 alloy, focusing on hardness, tensile properties, and fatigue performance. Following solution treatment at 810°C, the alloy was aged at 610°C with heating rates of 1°C/min, 5°C/min, 10°C/min, and 15°C/min. Detailed microstructural analysis was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The microstructural examination revealed that different ageing heating rates caused only minor variations in the alloy's bimodal microstructure. Slower ageing heating rates produced a relatively fine, homogeneously distributed primary α phase within the β grains, while faster rates resulted in a slightly coarser bimodal microstructure. Chemical homogeneity analysis confirmed a consistent distribution of critical elements, with α stabilisers concentrated in the primary α phase and β stabilisers in the β phase, ensuring stable phase compositions across all samples. The observed slight microstructural changes were reflected in the alloy's mechanical properties. Hardness across different ageing heating rates varied between 357.4 HV and 372.6 HV. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) declined from 1307.2 MPa at 1°C/min to 1264.5 MPa at 15°C/min, while ductility improved from 15.6% to 17.1% over the same range. The alloy demonstrated good fatigue resistance at lower stress amplitudes and ageing heating rates, enduring over 10 million cycles at 337.5 MPa under the 1°C/min condition. However, fatigue life decreased with higher stress amplitudes and ageing heating rates, highlighting the alloy's sensitivity to more extreme conditions. In summary, while the varying ageing heating rates resulted in only minor changes to the microstructure, these alterations had some impact on the mechanical properties of the Ti-5553 alloy. These findings highlight the importance of precise microstructural control in optimising the alloy's performance, especially in applications where achieving a balance between strength, ductility, and fatigue resistance is crucial.

year: 2024-09-15

title: 'Te Kawau Mārō' The Role of Media in Revitalising Te Reo Māori

authors: Hill, Jessie Lee Anahira

subjects: Media

abstract: The intent of this thesis is to investigate the role media plays in relation to the revitalisation of te reo Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand society. This is essential as the media's latent potential is often underestimated and therefore underutilised. 

For Māori and inevitably te reo Māori, media has been a topic of heated contestation for over a century. It is postulated that throughout this troubled history, media's influence has contributed to an erosion of te reo Māori and then conversely, since the late 20th century, its attempted revival. The journey of te reo Māori from past to present may be likened to a voyage of a traditional 'waka hourua' (voyaging or double hulled canoe). 'Nga ngaru e toru' ('three waves') illustrates the three stages that I have defined as catalysts significantly impacting te reo Māori. 

Grounded firmly in a Kaupapa Māori methodological and theoretical framework based on careful research and intimate cultural knowledge, my innovative approaches to language revitalisation entitled the Tapatoru (triangle) Model 1 and Tapatoru Model 2 will be introduced and explained. These distinct language revitalisation paradigms illustrate the core ingredients needed in effective language revival and illustrate the positioning and function of the media within these strategic models.

text: 'Te Kawau Mārō' The Role of Media in Revitalising Te Reo Māori The intent of this thesis is to investigate the role media plays in relation to the revitalisation of te reo Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand society. This is essential as the media's latent potential is often underestimated and therefore underutilised. 

For Māori and inevitably te reo Māori, media has been a topic of heated contestation for over a century. It is postulated that throughout this troubled history, media's influence has contributed to an erosion of te reo Māori and then conversely, since the late 20th century, its attempted revival. The journey of te reo Māori from past to present may be likened to a voyage of a traditional 'waka hourua' (voyaging or double hulled canoe). 'Nga ngaru e toru' ('three waves') illustrates the three stages that I have defined as catalysts significantly impacting te reo Māori. 

Grounded firmly in a Kaupapa Māori methodological and theoretical framework based on careful research and intimate cultural knowledge, my innovative approaches to language revitalisation entitled the Tapatoru (triangle) Model 1 and Tapatoru Model 2 will be introduced and explained. These distinct language revitalisation paradigms illustrate the core ingredients needed in effective language revival and illustrate the positioning and function of the media within these strategic models.

year: 2010