title: Historicising the Feminist: A Study of Mary Wollstonecraft's Political and Discursive Contexts

authors: McDougall, Charlotte

subjects: Wollstonecraft

abstract: This thesis has investigated the life and publications of Mary Wollstonecraft. The
thesis is divided in to three chapters the first chapter explores the political and social
context of late Eighteenth century England in which Wollstonecraft lived the majority of
her life. It then moves on to discuss the 'Revolution Controversy' and Wollstonecraft's
contribution to that debate. Giving specific attention to A Vindication of the Rights of
Man as it is Wollstonecraft's first political publication, and was the first published
response to Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France. Without first
publishing A Vindication of the Rights of Man, Wollstonecraft could not have published
her most famous work.
Next the second chapter investigates Eighteenth century education, and how
Wollstonecraft ideas on changing the nature of education would help reform society in
her eyes. Education was recognized as having special significance by many
Enlightenment philosophers, this thesis looks at the contribution of John Locke and Jean
Jacques Rousseau to educational theory, and they ways in which Wollstonecraft
responded to their ideas. In the final chapter the inclusive nature of Wollstonecraft's
gender theory is considered. Wollstonecraft is widely recognised as publishing what
became for many the founding document of modern western feminism. What is given
less recognition is that Wollstonecraft was in fact interested in broad social reform,
similar to many other Enlightenment philosophers, Wollstonecraft's social theory
included changing education and socialisation for both women and men. Society could
not be reformed without changing social and educational practices with regard to both
II
men and women. Wollstonecraft furthered the contemporary debate on the rights of man
to include the rights of woman. Wollstonecraft criticised the unnatural distinctions of
gender and class, setting out in both Vindications the negative consequences for the
character of both men and women. Another less recognised aspect of Wollstonecraft's
philosophy which this thesis has highlighted is the vital role that religion played, and its
implications for her ideas. This aspect of Wollstonecraft's thought has tended to be over
looked by many Wollstonecraft scholars, who try to place Wollstonecraft in some kind of
political and social continuum which I think misses the revolutionary and far sighted
nature of Wollstonecraft's philosophy. In taking a historicist approach or understanding
to Wollstonecraft, by reading Wollstonecraft in the terms of the political and social
environment of the late eighteenth century, it becomes easier to understand the radical
nature of Wollstonecraft's ideas, and the personal hardships she faced as both a woman
and a member of the lower middle class.

text: Historicising the Feminist: A Study of Mary Wollstonecraft's Political and Discursive Contexts This thesis has investigated the life and publications of Mary Wollstonecraft. The
thesis is divided in to three chapters the first chapter explores the political and social
context of late Eighteenth century England in which Wollstonecraft lived the majority of
her life. It then moves on to discuss the 'Revolution Controversy' and Wollstonecraft's
contribution to that debate. Giving specific attention to A Vindication of the Rights of
Man as it is Wollstonecraft's first political publication, and was the first published
response to Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France. Without first
publishing A Vindication of the Rights of Man, Wollstonecraft could not have published
her most famous work.
Next the second chapter investigates Eighteenth century education, and how
Wollstonecraft ideas on changing the nature of education would help reform society in
her eyes. Education was recognized as having special significance by many
Enlightenment philosophers, this thesis looks at the contribution of John Locke and Jean
Jacques Rousseau to educational theory, and they ways in which Wollstonecraft
responded to their ideas. In the final chapter the inclusive nature of Wollstonecraft's
gender theory is considered. Wollstonecraft is widely recognised as publishing what
became for many the founding document of modern western feminism. What is given
less recognition is that Wollstonecraft was in fact interested in broad social reform,
similar to many other Enlightenment philosophers, Wollstonecraft's social theory
included changing education and socialisation for both women and men. Society could
not be reformed without changing social and educational practices with regard to both
II
men and women. Wollstonecraft furthered the contemporary debate on the rights of man
to include the rights of woman. Wollstonecraft criticised the unnatural distinctions of
gender and class, setting out in both Vindications the negative consequences for the
character of both men and women. Another less recognised aspect of Wollstonecraft's
philosophy which this thesis has highlighted is the vital role that religion played, and its
implications for her ideas. This aspect of Wollstonecraft's thought has tended to be over
looked by many Wollstonecraft scholars, who try to place Wollstonecraft in some kind of
political and social continuum which I think misses the revolutionary and far sighted
nature of Wollstonecraft's philosophy. In taking a historicist approach or understanding
to Wollstonecraft, by reading Wollstonecraft in the terms of the political and social
environment of the late eighteenth century, it becomes easier to understand the radical
nature of Wollstonecraft's ideas, and the personal hardships she faced as both a woman
and a member of the lower middle class.

year: 2006

title: An investigation of the factors affecting guest selection of hotel/motel accommodation within New Zealand: development of a management decision model

authors: Lockyer, Tim

abstract: This research investigates the factors that influence the selection of hotel/motel accommodation in New Zealand. The tourism and hospitality industries are an important part of the New Zealand economy, with tourism producing more overseas income than any other individual industry. It is vitally important for hotel and motel owners and management to understand the factors that affect occupancy in order that they may implement decisions to take best advantage of the assets and obtain the highest return on the investment. A holistic approach or one that looks at the many factors influencing hotel occupancy has been adopted as this encourages an interdisciplinary method to the study of hotel occupancy, and broadens the investigation. This gives the research a particular focus on the problem of occupancy because the analysis includes an extensive spectrum of factors. 

The specific objective is to investigate the factors that influence occupancy and to produce the findings in the form of a management decision model. The data for this research was gathered from three sources: first a small group of researchers and industry stakeholders participated in-depth interviews, which comprised open questions asked to determine from their perspective the factors that have the greatest affect on occupancy. The main findings from these interviews were used to develop a survey conducted among hotel decision-makers; management was specifically chosen for this, as it was believed that there would be a broader knowledge and experience base. The final set of data was collected from a survey of potential guests. 

In developing the management decision model, a number of tools were employed including neural networks and linear structural equation modelling. These analyses gave a rich result to the findings and this was applied to the development of stochastic¹ management decision models (Goel & Richter-Dyn, 1974; Bekker & Saayman, 1999), using the main findings from the interviews with researchers and industry stakeholders as a reference point. 

The contribution of this research included evidence of: 1). The significant “Gap” between the factors influencing occupancy relating to researchers and industry stakeholders and hotel decision-makers on the one hand and potential guests on the other; 2). The structure and factors involved within a hotel occupancy decision model; 3). The demographic influences on the factors within the management decision model. 

¹The way in which the variables within the model relate and impact on each other.

text: An investigation of the factors affecting guest selection of hotel/motel accommodation within New Zealand: development of a management decision model This research investigates the factors that influence the selection of hotel/motel accommodation in New Zealand. The tourism and hospitality industries are an important part of the New Zealand economy, with tourism producing more overseas income than any other individual industry. It is vitally important for hotel and motel owners and management to understand the factors that affect occupancy in order that they may implement decisions to take best advantage of the assets and obtain the highest return on the investment. A holistic approach or one that looks at the many factors influencing hotel occupancy has been adopted as this encourages an interdisciplinary method to the study of hotel occupancy, and broadens the investigation. This gives the research a particular focus on the problem of occupancy because the analysis includes an extensive spectrum of factors. 

The specific objective is to investigate the factors that influence occupancy and to produce the findings in the form of a management decision model. The data for this research was gathered from three sources: first a small group of researchers and industry stakeholders participated in-depth interviews, which comprised open questions asked to determine from their perspective the factors that have the greatest affect on occupancy. The main findings from these interviews were used to develop a survey conducted among hotel decision-makers; management was specifically chosen for this, as it was believed that there would be a broader knowledge and experience base. The final set of data was collected from a survey of potential guests. 

In developing the management decision model, a number of tools were employed including neural networks and linear structural equation modelling. These analyses gave a rich result to the findings and this was applied to the development of stochastic¹ management decision models (Goel & Richter-Dyn, 1974; Bekker & Saayman, 1999), using the main findings from the interviews with researchers and industry stakeholders as a reference point. 

The contribution of this research included evidence of: 1). The significant “Gap” between the factors influencing occupancy relating to researchers and industry stakeholders and hotel decision-makers on the one hand and potential guests on the other; 2). The structure and factors involved within a hotel occupancy decision model; 3). The demographic influences on the factors within the management decision model. 

¹The way in which the variables within the model relate and impact on each other.

year: 2001

title: Contemporary attitudes to traditional facial ta moko: A working paper

authors: Rua, Mohi

subjects: Maori

abstract: Until it came under serious attack from nineteenth century missionaries, ta moko was an
integral part of traditional Maori society. Facial moko conveyed important information about
identity, whakapapa and status. The process of receiving a moko was tapu and highly regulated.
Recent years have seen an increase in the number of Maori receiving ta moko. Moko have been
seen as a symbol of Maori pride and identity and have often been associated with political
activism. This study set out to investigate the contemporary meaning of ta moko, the reactions
wearers encounter from others and the ways wearers cope with those reactions.
Three case studies are presented. These show that the issues of personal identity and
whakapapa were central to the meaning wearers attached to their moko. Receiving a moko was
often associated with significant personal changes and an increased political commitment to
Maori self determination. On the whole, positive reactions were more common than negative
reactions but wearers did find themselves subjected to racist and antagonistic responses.
Wearing moko was also reported to mean that others, particularly other Maori, placed certain
expectations on the wearer, notably to be fluent in te reo and to be able to exercise leadership.
Participants considered that there was a need for education about the significance of ta moko
and recommended that those contemplating receiving a moko ensure that they are reasonably
fluent in te reo.

text: Contemporary attitudes to traditional facial ta moko: A working paper Until it came under serious attack from nineteenth century missionaries, ta moko was an
integral part of traditional Maori society. Facial moko conveyed important information about
identity, whakapapa and status. The process of receiving a moko was tapu and highly regulated.
Recent years have seen an increase in the number of Maori receiving ta moko. Moko have been
seen as a symbol of Maori pride and identity and have often been associated with political
activism. This study set out to investigate the contemporary meaning of ta moko, the reactions
wearers encounter from others and the ways wearers cope with those reactions.
Three case studies are presented. These show that the issues of personal identity and
whakapapa were central to the meaning wearers attached to their moko. Receiving a moko was
often associated with significant personal changes and an increased political commitment to
Maori self determination. On the whole, positive reactions were more common than negative
reactions but wearers did find themselves subjected to racist and antagonistic responses.
Wearing moko was also reported to mean that others, particularly other Maori, placed certain
expectations on the wearer, notably to be fluent in te reo and to be able to exercise leadership.
Participants considered that there was a need for education about the significance of ta moko
and recommended that those contemplating receiving a moko ensure that they are reasonably
fluent in te reo.

year: 1999