R - Teses de Doutoramento / Doctoral Theses
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- On the borderlands of culture : Israeli migrants beyond the TejoPublication . Iancu, Zohar; Gil, Isabel Maria de Oliveira Capeloa; Barkay, TamarAt the heart of this dissertation is the phenomenon of Israeli-Jewish citizens migrating to Europe, specifically to rural Portugal. This migration trend has gained increasing visibility in Israeli media in recent years. Numerous articles and news reports are dedicated to the emigration of Israeli-Jewish citizens from the nation-state. Within this context, migration to Portugal has often been portrayed as "the new dream" for Israelis. Against this backdrop, this study focuses on migration to the region of south-western Alentejo, Portugal. This area has become a popular destination for those seeking alternative lifestyles, including Israelis. The trend suggests that migration to Alentejo is influenced by and reflective of cultural and socio-economic trends at the Israeli, global, and local levels. To achieve a multi-dimensional and nuanced comprehension of the phenomenon at hand, the research is analytically grounded in cultural and sociological theorizations of migration and diaspora, particularly in the context of contemporary Israeli society. Concretely, the study juxtaposes considerations from culture, border, and diaspora studies, utilizes the notion of symbolic boundaries, and builds on research on in- and out-migration within Israel, and global trends of counterurbanization. This body of research and scholarship allows for the exploration of the thesis that phenomenon of the “borderlands” of Israeli cultural identity can challenge both the collective boundaries and the internal divisions within Israeli culture. Essentially, Israeli emigration to Portugal represents a territorial border crossing. However, this dissertation suggests that contextualizing this border crossing within a broader perspective contributes to our understanding of how physical and symbolic boundaries work together to shape mental, physical, and social human existence. To thoroughly explore the subjective experiences and perceptions of Jewish-Israelis in Alentejo, Portugal, the study employed an interdisciplinary qualitative approach. Data was collected over three years, from August 2021 to May 2023, using multiple research methods, including participant observations of holiday ceremonies, gatherings, and cultural events; 21 in-depth interviews with JewishIsraeli citizens residing in Alentejo, and a focus group of Jewish-Israeli women. The visual research method known as “photovoice” was utilized to document the daily lives of the women in the focus group. The research shows that while initially aiming to distance themselves from Israeli culture and other Israelis while pursuing cosmopolitan, alternative lifestyles, the participants in the fieldwork maintain close and intricate connections with their culture of origin, often forging meaningful social relationships with other Israelis in the region. Based on this finding, the study suggests that the participants operate within a “cultural borderland”—a liminal and hybrid space that draws on Israeli cultural practices while at the same time challenging conventional Israeli-Jewish collective identity. Overall, the dissertation suggests that the case study of the Israeli diasporic space in Alentejo illuminates how ex-Israeli communities are constructed and reimagined beyond Israeli national and cultural borders. In doing so, this dissertation aims to amplify voices that are often excluded from discourses on Israeli migration. The study’s empirical and analytical contributions enrich the literature on diasporas, particularly in the emerging field of modern Israeli diasporas, as well as in research on current migration patterns to rural Portugal, academic inquiry into the nexus of culture and borders, and the study of Israeli society and culture.
- The representation of homosexual cowboys in hollywood westerns, 1946-1972Publication . Ni, Bing; Burnay, Catarina do Amaral Dias Duff; Baptista, Tiago Ribeiro RamosThe presence of homosexual cowboy is inextricably linked to the narrative of the American West set on the frontier. This connection has been consistently corroborated: in historical accounts, frequent and abundant homosexual male behavior, relationships, and even family patterns became an integral part of the Western movement; in literature, homosexual stories and complexes with cowboys as protagonists exist either as main narratives or as hidden plots; in life, a large number of homosexual cowboys have dominated the once heterosexual male-dominated rodeo scene. However, in the world of Westerns, homosexual men and cowboys seem to be forced to exist in the zone between the closet and the world. "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), "The Power of the Dog" (2021), and even Pedro Almodóvar's short film "Strange Way of Life" (2023) all present the theme of homosexual cowboys on the big screen through different genres. Most of these films have been met with great controversy. The controversy, destined to become a topic, centered on whether homosexual cowboys were allowed to exist in the frontier narrative. Therefore, we need to ask: What if homosexual cowboys in Western films were not "invented" in the 21st century? What if they were hidden in the closet of film due to censorship and other factors? This study will focus on the depiction of homosexual content in Westerns from the 1950s to the 1970s and argue that homosexual cowboys exist in these movies and their portrayal is not merely a two-dimensional reference but a fully developed representation. This study will use quantitative methods to conduct a content analysis of selected films. It aims to explore the representation of the homosexual cowboy figure in both traditional Westerns and post-Westerns by examining recurring themes such as masculinity, violence, eroticism, and intimacy across different time periods, thereby establishing the significance of their presence in Western films.
- Fostering democratic learning environments. The role of leadership in the construction of the whole-school approach in Italy and PortugalPublication . Fioretti, Francesca; Agrusti, Gabriella; Cabral, Ilídia
- Por que razão as escolas (não) aprendem? Os fatores que ativam e os fatores que obstaculizam a aprendizagem organizacional da escolaPublication . Alexandre, Isabel Alexandra Martins Faria dos Santos; Mesquita, Diana Isabel de AraújoA concetualização da escola enquanto organização aprendente tem vindo a assumir-se como uma possibilidade de reforma dos sistemas educativos. Existe um vasto corpo de investigação que discute esta concetualização, tenta dissecar as inúmeras dimensões ou até mesmo avaliar modelos já largamente implementados. Apesar dos méritos reconhecidos, interessa estudar as minudências organizacionais que poderão ser indutoras de desigualdades dentro do sistema educativo alargado. Na busca destas minudências formulámos a nossa questão de partida: por que razão as escolas (não) aprendem? Interessava-nos desenvolver um estudo que permitisse responder às seguintes questões de investigação: 1) Quais os fatores que ativam a aprendizagem organizacional da escola? 2) Quais os fatores que obstaculizam a aprendizagem organizacional da escola? Apesar da simplicidade destes enunciados, estes deram-nos a conhecer uma realidade hipercomplexa, multiescalar e multidimensional. O estudo insere-se no paradigma fenomenológico-interpretativo, de natureza qualitativa, desenvolvendo-se em três fases distintas: um estudo exploratório, um estudo de caso intrínseco e um estudo extensivo. Atendendo à natureza do nosso problema de investigação mobilizámos a participação de lideranças, de professores, de assistentes técnicos e operacionais e de pais. A recolha de dados foi feita a partir de um período de observação não participante, de entrevistas semiestruturadas e de grupos de discussão focalizada. À medida que fomos tratando os dados, fizemos uma Revisão Sistemática da Literatura capaz de (des)construir concetualmente a problemática de investigação. Os dados recolhidos e as circunstâncias de tempo e de espaço que rodearam a nossa investigação, modelaram o trabalho e acrescentaram novas dimensões. Nomeadamente a urgência de uma ecologia amiga da aprendizagem, radicada em cada escola, fundada no desenvolvimento profissional contínuo e sustentável de todos (lideranças, professores e colaboradores não docentes), facilitando a emergência de uma liderança co-construída, congregando a ação de todos em prol de uma visão comum – a aprendizagem de todos os alunos, em especial os mais desfavorecidos.
- Poverty and precarity in post-2008 Europe : visual practices and processes of social (in)visibilityPublication . Juvonen, Annimari Elisa; Gil, Isabel Maria de Oliveira CapeloaThis study focuses on the visual construction of contemporary poverty and precarity within the discursive space of the post-2008 economic and debt crises in Europe. As the understanding of poverty has shifted from material deprivation to a more complex and relative phenomenon, the traditional idea of poverty as social invisibility no longer reflects the contemporary social condition. Instead, a more holistic view of the field of (in)visibility allows for a more nuanced approach. The historically informed analysis focuses on three European collective artistic projects, Depression Era (Greece), Crónica21 (Spain), and Projecto Troika (Portugal). The framework for the discussion is the social documentary tradition that began in the urban peripheries of modernizing cities and crystallized in the Farm Security Administration photography project (1937–1946) that existed during the American Great Depression in the 1930s. The analysis addresses historical continuities and disruptions in the visual construction of the social world, highlighting patterns of othering that derive from colonial and anthropological practices of looking, problematized by the postmodern critique in the 1970s and 1980s. This study argues that there has occurred a zooming out from the human body toward alternative expressions of social experience, such as “social landscapes” that merely connote human presence and draw connections with other, present or looming, catastrophes from a critical perspective. However, the research also shows how the importance of the human subject continues to be relevant in discourses of social justice. In this perspective, Depression Era, Crónica21, and Projecto Troika are discussed through their collective visual practices, from digital archives and exhibition practices to photobooks, as platforms and networks with civil society. In this context, the analysis contributes to an understanding of how images of poverty have shaped social imaginaries and have a central role in the negotiations of social relationality and communality in changing societies.
- IMPULSE : IMpact of a PULSE-based partial replacement diet on metabolome and healthPublication . Ferreira, Helena Alexandra Gonçalves; Pinto, Elisabete Cristina Bastos; Vasconcelos, Marta Wilton Pereira Leite de; Gil, Ana Maria Pissarra CoelhoThis doctoral project was conceived in the context of urgent global challenges related to food security and environmental sustainability, as a response to the need for transitioning to plantrich dietary patterns. The project aimed to explore the feasibility and impact on human organisms of partially substituting animal protein-rich foods with plant-based protein-rich foods, specifically pulses, in omnivorous diets. Identified gaps in scientific evidence regarding the health effects of pulses, especially as protein alternatives, prompted a comprehensive exploration combining classical nutrition research tools with molecular biology and metabolomics techniques. A quasi-experimental dietary intervention was designed involving a single group of volunteers. Non-vegetarian individuals aged 18 to 45 were provided with a pulse-based vegetarian meal on weekdays for eight consecutive weeks in Porto, Portugal. Sociodemographic data, health-related information, and lifestyle details were recorded for each volunteer. A post-meal satisfaction questionnaire assessed participants' satisfaction with each meal using a nine-point hedonic scale. Untargeted 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics was applied to plasma, urine, and fecal samples (totaling 248 samples), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) molecular biology was used on fecal samples (34 samples) to obtain holistic and integrated information on the impact of pulse diets on the metabolome and intestinal microbiota. Additionally, three-day food diaries, anthropometric parameters, and blood biochemical analyses were obtained for each individual, contributing to a comprehensive data collection. Data analysis, including comparison of different parameters at the intervention's start and end, utilized various statistical tests for proportion and mean comparisons, and multivariate analysis. Significant differences were considered when the p-value was below 5%. The meal satisfaction analysis highlighted the significant role of cooking methods in determining food preferences, with greater satisfaction for stewed dishes and lower ratings for boiled dishes. Peas received lower appreciation, likely reflecting them being less preferred as protein alternatives. Moreover, most participants were able to meet national and international guidelines for pulse consumption without exacerbating nutritional inadequacies for the tested macro- and micronutrients, except for vitamin B12. The intervention demonstrated potential benefits in reducing blood lipids, with decreases in total and LDL cholesterol levels, supporting cardiovascular health benefits associated with pulse-rich diets. Using NMR spectroscopy, a dynamic metabolic response to pulse consumption was identified in plasma and urine samples, emphasizing the modulation of protein and energy metabolism, as well as the identification of potential intake markers. Correlations between bacterial quantification and fecal metabolome suggest possible metabolic patterns of some of the 8 studied bacterial groups. The results highlight the potential benefits and challenges of adopting pulse-based diets but suggest that pulses would be readily accepted in dietary habits if prepared and presented pleasantly. While positive impacts on cardiovascular health and metabolic activity are evident, the results emphasize the need to avoid nutritional deficiencies, especially in vitamin B12, when substituting animal-origin foods with pulses. Metabolomic analysis highlighted the dynamic nature of the response to pulse consumption, and its combination with molecular biology revealed the potential impact of these foods on the intestinal microbiota. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this study elucidated the potential of pulse-based diets in promoting individual well-being and sustainable food choices. These results need confirmation in experimental studies involving a larger number of participants and a control group, but they identify potential biomarkers and advance the understanding of the broader effects of pulses on human health. Future work should further optimize pulse-based dietary recommendations and explore innovative strategies to enhance the adoption of sustainable dietary patterns on a larger scale.
- A dialogue on shock and culture: the queer case of BeirutPublication . Khairallah, Jad; Barba, Maria Luísa Homem Leal de Faria GeraldesThe aim of this dissertation is to locate the concept of shock within a political economy formation that responds to the queer situation of the city of Beirut. Moving away from shock as trauma, I redefine the notion as an investigative tool and lens, transcending a reactionary feeling. Shock, in this context, is understood as a phenomenological and embodied experience that is temporal, affective and relational, one that communicates within a triangulation of triggers, players and culture. Instead of pursuing reasons and causes, the thesis explores shock operations, focusing on how it exists, it maneuvers, and is applied. The dialogue between shock and culture establishes a methodological foundation within Lebanon, specifically emphasizing queerness in Beirut. In a setting where regional disconnects, colonial histories and pseudo religious socio-political powers intersect normativity with continuous instabilities, the research investigates the shock’s affective valence and queer future within its cityscape. I contextualize shock by means of analytical engagements that are informed by culture studies as an essential component for understanding the site and development of a culture that assimilates with shock as it moves along through societies, community dynamics and power structures. I underscore queer theoretical approaches that hone in on the relational figure of ‘the shocking other,’ to reveal the intricate negotiation of implied normativity, difference, and otherness within broader social, economic and political systems. I explore the shock’s navigation in both the digital and material landscapes of Beirut by means of LGBT subjectivities. Through field visits to the city, auto-ethnography, and an analysis of the October 17th protest ground in 2019, I account for embodied shock experiences that document shock traces. Additionally, I integrate conceptual, practical, and lived applications that encourage a reflexive approach, especially when recalling the August 4th Beirut port explosion in 2020. By dwelling on the shock’s destructive path, both literally and metaphorically, the thesis identifies shock as a political tool, particularly advantageous for the queer body. It highlights the economy of shock within discussions of temporalities, emphasizing affective exchanges with established cultural concepts. Furthermore, it serves as a hopeful opening carrying potentiality in its aftermath. This dynamic interplay between shock and culture offers a fresh investigative lens into the evolving human outlook amid unexpected escalations and an abundance of shocks from within the contemporary experience.
- Bem-estar espiritual da pessoa idosa : contributos na capacidade de autocuidadoPublication . Tavares, Maria de Fátima Caixeiro da Cunha; Vieira, MargaridaUm número crescente de estudos relacionados com a espiritualidade/ religiosidade e bemestar espiritual evidenciam resultados positivos no domínio da saúde. Contudo a evidência científica não é unânime quanto à relação entre a espiritualidade e a capacidade de autocuidado da pessoa idosa. Objetivos: Analisar a relação entre o Bem-estar Espiritual e Capacidade de Autocuidado em pessoas idosas; compreender a relação entre as dimensões do Bem-estar espititual e as dimensões da Capacidade de Autocuidado, assim como, analisar a relação entre as variáveis sociodemográficas e autoperceção do estado de saúde no Bem-estar Espiritual e na Capacidade de Autocuidado. Metodologia: Estudo de natureza não experimental, transversal, quantitativo de tipo descritivo e correlacional, desenvolvido em duas etapas. A primeira etapa refere-se ao processo de tradução, adaptação cultural e validação da Exercise of Self-care Agency Scale (ESCA) para a versão portuguesa em pessoas idosas residentes em contexto domiciliário. A segunda etapa visou dar resposta aos objetivos propostos e integrou 400 pessoas idosas residentes em contexto domiciliário. Resultados: Do processo de tradução, adaptação e validação da ESCA, apresenta-se um instrumento constituído por 29 itens com características psicométricas adequadas para utilização em pesquisas futuras (escala global α = .871). O género, idade, escolaridade e autoperceção do estado de saúde, demonstram estar associados a diferenças significativas no Bem-estar espiritual, com resultados superiores no género feminino, nas pessoas mais idosas, em níveis mais baixos de escolaridade e nas pessoas idosas que se autopercecionam como incapazes de cuidar de si. A idade, escolaridade e a autoperceção do estado de saúde, demonstram estar associados a diferenças significativas em algumas das dimensões da capacidade de autocuidado. O Bem-estar espiritual, nas suas dimensões constituintes Fé pessoal, Prática religiosa e Paz espiritual, explicam 16% capacidade de autocuidado. A influência das dimensões do Bem-estar espiritual na autoperceção do estado de saúde, mediado pela Capacidade de autocuidado, revelou que a Paz espiritual agindo positivamente sobre o Autoconceito, Iniciativa e responsabilidade e atividade para o autocuidado detém uma influência positiva na autoperceção de saúde. A Fé pessoal e a Prática religiosa constituem-se como impulsionadoras da capacidade de autocuidado, desempenhando um papel fundamental nas pessoas idosas que se autopercecionam como incapazes de cuidar de si. Conclusões: O Bem-estar espiritual constitui-se como um tipo de apoio capaz de potenciar a capacidade de autocuidado. Como tal, os enfermeiros, integrando uma abordagem holística do cuidar, devem promover o bem-estar espiritual da pessoa idosa no decorrer dos processos de saúde/doença. Implicações do estudo para a educação em enfermagem e investigação foram discutidas.
- O perfil podológico de estudantes de enfermagem em ensino clínico : recomendações para o autocuidadoPublication . Bernardes, Rafael Alves; Berenguer, Sílvia Maria Alves Caldeira; Cruz, Arménio GuardadoIntrodução. O ensino clínico é um ambiente potencialmente agressivo para o pé e tornozelo dos estudantes de enfermagem. A dor e desconforto nesta região tem consequências negativas para a qualidade de vida dos estudantes e pode contribuir para a intenção de desistir do curso. A capacidade de cuidar de si é essencial para cuidar dos outros, pelo que é importante ajudar os estudantes a implementarem intervenções de autocuidado, bem como dotarem as instituições de ferramentas eficazes nesse sentido. Atualmente, não existem recomendações específicas nesta área. Objetivos. Identificar a caracterizar o perfil podológico de estudantes de enfermagem em ensino clínico e desenvolver recomendações para o autocuidado com o pé. Métodos. A investigação foi dividida em cinco estudos: uma revisão scoping, para mapear as principais lesões no pé em enfermeiros; uma revisão narrativa, de forma a descrever características adequadas para calçado em enfermeiros; um estudo metodológico, para adaptação e validação de dois instrumentos associados à saúde do pé (Nurses Foot Care Knowledge test e Self-Administered Foot Health Assessment Instrument); um estudo longitudinal prospetivo, para avaliar a alteração do perfil podológico dos estudantes em Ensino Clínico; e um painel de peritos, para validação de uma versão preliminar das recomendações para autocuidado. Resultados. A lesão mais comum a nível do pé e tornozelo em contextos de ortostatismo prolongado é a dor, que pode ser mais prevalente do que noutras regiões, como a lombar ou cervical. Neste sentido, e atendendo também à fadiga muscular associada, o calçado suave, antiderrapante e com palmilhas amortecidas é o mais indicado. O estudo metodológico permitiu obter dois instrumentos com valores aceitáveis de validade interna e simples de utilizar pelos estudantes. O instrumento de autoavaliação da saúde do pé (IAASP) obteve um alfa de Cronbach de 0,653 e o do conhecimento acerca do cuidado ao pé (TCE-CP) um valor de 0,893. O estudo prospetivo realizado com 54 estudantes revelou que, após cinco meses de ensino clínico, cerca de 25% reportaram sintomatologia dolorosa pela primeira vez, com uma correlação positiva com ansiedade/depressão (0,540; p<0,05). Após cinco meses, as lesões reportadas pela primeira vez, ou com um aumento significativo em relação ao início, foram edema (11; 20,4%) e dor (23; 43,6%). Por outro lado, valores elevados de pressão no calcanhar correlacionaram-se positivamente com a força máxima e área de contacto, bem como com dor na coxa. A pressão foi considerada um preditor importante do perfil podológico dos estudantes. As recomendações de autocuidado devem focar o calçado personalizado, um programa de exercícios com recurso a imagens e vídeos, promoção da saúde através de avaliações pela saúde escolar e consciencialização das instituições para a temática. Conclusão. O perfil podológico dos estudantes de enfermagem expostos a contextos de ortostatismo prolongado é caracterizado por um aumento discreto na força máxima e área de contacto exercida, cujo preditor principal é a pressão, e cujos antecedentes primários são as lesões anatómico-funcionais do pé (ex.: calos, calosidades, deformidades menores). As principais recomendações que os estudantes devem seguir para cuidar do pé são: utilizar calçado personalizado, dependente não só do seu perfil podológico, como do estilo de vida que adota; avaliar a força e pressão que exercem obrigatoriamente uma semana antes do Ensino Clínico e, opcionalmente, aos três, seis e doze meses; praticar exercício físico frequente, focando os membros inferiores e pé.
- Online activism : social media and socio-political activism by young women in Saudi ArabiaPublication . Yousef, Rola Khalid Ahmad; Ribeiro, Nelson CostaIn most democratic countries around the world, ordinary citizens in general and young women in particular have access to different avenues to participate and demand social and political changes and rights. However, in Saudi Arabia, access to and participation in social and political activism were and are still highly limited and restricted, especially for women. Therefore, the emergence of "online activism", which was aided and facilitated by new communication technologies and social media platforms, offered Saudi women enormous potential for democratic exchange, to pressurize state institutions, foster political participation, and foster social change. In this regard, young Saudi women are establishing their own virtual communities and advocacy campaigns in the online sphere in order to fight for their political and social rights and the right to participate, as we witnessed in the Twitter campaign against the male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia. In line with the volatile political and social situations and the authoritative environment in Saudi Arabia and based on 3500 tweets and six semi-structured interviews, this thesis explores young Saudi women's participation, activism, and usage of social media platforms to demand political and social change. In particular, it investigates the context of Saudi Arabia and its effect on Saudi women's online engagement and activism on social and political issues and the rise of the phenomenon of Saudi online feminism. This research shows that social media platforms were a potential tool for women's activism and played an unprecedented role in paving the way for Saudi young women's participation in socio-political issues in general and activism against the male guardianship system in particular despite the several obstacles that had to be dealt with within the country9s authoritarian context. The anti-male guardianship campaign's internet observation revealed that there was no set model of communication that was adhered to. The communication was informal and approachable, but because every participant made their own posts independently, it was challenging to standardize the messaging. However, the message is intended to reach men, women, and society at large, as well as political and religious organizations. Finally, this study demonstrates that Twitter, in particular, and social media in general were particularly useful tools for women living in challenging social, political, and economic contexts. By addressing the obstacles and constraints that feminism movements face and exposing the limitations and repression that the Saudi government and the general public impose on internet activism in general and women's activism in particular, this study also sheds light on another crucial fact that contradicts the first.