Australian Catholic University

About: Australian Catholic University is a education organization based out in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 2721 authors who have published 10013 publications receiving 215248 citations. The organization is also known as: ACU & ACU National.

Thinking Differently about Cultural Diversity: Using Postcolonial Theory to (Re)Read Science Education.

Abstract: This paper makes use of postcolonial theory to think differently about aspects of cultural diversity within science education. It briefly reviews some of the increasing scholarship on cultural diversity, and then describes the genealogy and selected key themes of postcolonial theory. Postcolonial theory as oppositional or deconstructive reading practice is privileged, and its practical application illustrated by using some of these key ideas to (re)read Gloria Snively and John Corsiglia's (2001) article “Discovering indigenous science: implications for science education” and their rejoinder, from the special issue of Science Education (Vol. 85, pp. 6–34) on multiculturalism and science education. While many would regard the expressed views on diversity, inclusivity, multiculturalism, and sustainability to be just and equitable, postcolonial analysis of the texts reveals subtle and lingering referents that unwittingly work against the very attitudes Snively and Corsiglia (2001) seek to promote. Such postcolonial analyses open up thinking about the material and cultural conditions in which science education is produced, circulated, interpreted, and enacted. They also privilege a unique methodology already prominent in academic inquiry that is yet to be well explored within science education. Finally, I conclude this paper with some general comments regarding postcolonialism and the science education scholarship on cultural diversity. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed88:819–836, 2004

Motherhood, stress and the exercise experience: freedom or constraint?

Abstract: Lack of leisure and time to self have been found to be major stressors for mothers This paper examines perceived stress‐relieving benefits gained from involvement in a 12 week exercise class program by a group of mothers (n = 30, x age = 373 years) Qualitative data indicated that exercise classes had the capacity to reduce perceived stress levels The exercising mothers reported greater feelings of well‐being mainly due to gaining a space of their own, time‐out from busy schedules and the burden of childcare, and the feeling of doing something to improve their physical appearance The negative or constraining aspects of exercise class participation included normalisation and self examination of women's bodies, and self‐surveillance rather than freedom of choice The conclusions of this paper suggest that exercise classes can provide one avenue for mothers to take more control over their own health and lifestyle