{"id":{"repo_id":"brock","oai_identifier":"oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/14926"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/brock/oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/14926","repository":{"repo_id":"brock","name":"Brock University","base_url":"https://brocku.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Exploring the Use of a Gender Equity Lens in Local Government Recreation Policies","abstract":"This single instrumental case study sought to explore how a local government recreation department applies gender equity in its policies. Relying on Merriam’s (2009) case study approach and the Advocacy Coalition Framework developed by Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith (1988) and adapted by Jenkins-Smith, Nohrstedt, Weible, and Sabatier (2014), the perspectives of ten recreation professionals within an Ontario local government recreation department were examined through document analysis and semi-structured interviews. This study uncovered the complexities surrounding meanings associated with gender equity and strategies and related challenges when trying to operationalize gender equity into new and existing policies. Findings contributed to existing research gaps by uncovering four key themes: (1) foundations of gender equity policy in parks, recreation and culture, (2) information and guiding principles that direct practice, (3) fostering gender equity and inclusivity, and (4) challenges associated with gender equity. This study contributed to existing policy studies by identifying subsystem actors including city staff from other departments, library services, emergency services, and elected officials, Inclusivity Advisory Committee, users’ groups, and private organizations (i.e., Girl’s Hockey League, Minor Hockey Association, Skating Club, Ringette League), and individual residents who presented short-term constraints and resources for recreation professionals who sought to advance inclusion and gender equity goals. The findings of this study highlighted a need to increase gender equity policy awareness, policy support for transgender community members, dialogue between subsystem actors to establish concrete understandings of gender equity and gain support from the public to advance gender equity goals.","abstract_html":"This single instrumental case study sought to explore how a local government recreation department applies gender equity in its policies. Relying on Merriam’s (2009) case study approach and the Advocacy Coalition Framework developed by Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith (1988) and adapted by Jenkins-Smith, Nohrstedt, Weible, and Sabatier (2014), the perspectives of ten recreation professionals within an Ontario local government recreation department were examined through document analysis and semi-structured interviews. This study uncovered the complexities surrounding meanings associated with gender equity and strategies and related challenges when trying to operationalize gender equity into new and existing policies. Findings contributed to existing research gaps by uncovering four key themes: (1) foundations of gender equity policy in parks, recreation and culture, (2) information and guiding principles that direct practice, (3) fostering gender equity and inclusivity, and (4) challenges associated with gender equity. This study contributed to existing policy studies by identifying subsystem actors including city staff from other departments, library services, emergency services, and elected officials, Inclusivity Advisory Committee, users’ groups, and private organizations (i.e., Girl’s Hockey League, Minor Hockey Association, Skating Club, Ringette League), and individual residents who presented short-term constraints and resources for recreation professionals who sought to advance inclusion and gender equity goals. The findings of this study highlighted a need to increase gender equity policy awareness, policy support for transgender community members, dialogue between subsystem actors to establish concrete understandings of gender equity and gain support from the public to advance gender equity goals.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["McGinnis, Megan"],"institution":"Brock University","degree_name":"M.A. Applied Health Sciences","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Faculty of Applied Health Sciences","degree_department":"Applied Health Sciences Program","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-09-23T17:25:28Z","date_published":"2020-09-23T17:25:28Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:22:56Z","subjects":["advocacy coalition","gender equity","local government recreation","policy","subsystem actors"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10464/14926","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Applied Health Sciences Program"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["McGinnis, Megan"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2020-09-23T17:25:28Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2020-09-23T17:25:28Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2020-09-23T17:25:28Z"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Electronic Thesis or Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Faculty of Applied Health Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M.A. Applied Health Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Brock University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["advocacy coalition","gender equity","local government recreation","policy","subsystem actors"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10464/14926"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This single instrumental case study sought to explore how a local government recreation department applies gender equity in its policies. Relying on Merriam’s (2009) case study approach and the Advocacy Coalition Framework developed by Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith (1988) and adapted by Jenkins-Smith, Nohrstedt, Weible, and Sabatier (2014), the perspectives of ten recreation professionals within an Ontario local government recreation department were examined through document analysis and semi-structured interviews. This study uncovered the complexities surrounding meanings associated with gender equity and strategies and related challenges when trying to operationalize gender equity into new and existing policies. Findings contributed to existing research gaps by uncovering four key themes: (1) foundations of gender equity policy in parks, recreation and culture, (2) information and guiding principles that direct practice, (3) fostering gender equity and inclusivity, and (4) challenges associated with gender equity. This study contributed to existing policy studies by identifying subsystem actors including city staff from other departments, library services, emergency services, and elected officials, Inclusivity Advisory Committee, users’ groups, and private organizations (i.e., Girl’s Hockey League, Minor Hockey Association, Skating Club, Ringette League), and individual residents who presented short-term constraints and resources for recreation professionals who sought to advance inclusion and gender equity goals. The findings of this study highlighted a need to increase gender equity policy awareness, policy support for transgender community members, dialogue between subsystem actors to establish concrete understandings of gender equity and gain support from the public to advance gender equity goals."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Exploring the Use of a Gender Equity Lens in Local Government Recreation Policies"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.department":["Applied Health Sciences Program"],"dc:creator":["McGinnis, Megan"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2020-09-23T17:25:28Z"],"dc:date.available":["2020-09-23T17:25:28Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2020-09-23T17:25:28Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This single instrumental case study sought to explore how a local government recreation department applies gender equity in its policies. Relying on Merriam’s (2009) case study approach and the Advocacy Coalition Framework developed by Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith (1988) and adapted by Jenkins-Smith, Nohrstedt, Weible, and Sabatier (2014), the perspectives of ten recreation professionals within an Ontario local government recreation department were examined through document analysis and semi-structured interviews. This study uncovered the complexities surrounding meanings associated with gender equity and strategies and related challenges when trying to operationalize gender equity into new and existing policies. Findings contributed to existing research gaps by uncovering four key themes: (1) foundations of gender equity policy in parks, recreation and culture, (2) information and guiding principles that direct practice, (3) fostering gender equity and inclusivity, and (4) challenges associated with gender equity. This study contributed to existing policy studies by identifying subsystem actors including city staff from other departments, library services, emergency services, and elected officials, Inclusivity Advisory Committee, users’ groups, and private organizations (i.e., Girl’s Hockey League, Minor Hockey Association, Skating Club, Ringette League), and individual residents who presented short-term constraints and resources for recreation professionals who sought to advance inclusion and gender equity goals. The findings of this study highlighted a need to increase gender equity policy awareness, policy support for transgender community members, dialogue between subsystem actors to establish concrete understandings of gender equity and gain support from the public to advance gender equity goals."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10464/14926"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:subject":["advocacy coalition","gender equity","local government recreation","policy","subsystem actors"],"dc:title":["Exploring the Use of a Gender Equity Lens in Local Government Recreation Policies"],"dc:type":["Electronic Thesis or Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Faculty of Applied Health Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["M.A. Applied Health Sciences"],"thesis:institution_name":["Brock University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:22:56Z"}