Māori and Reproduction, Sexuality Education, Maternity, and Abortion

Abstract

This thesis investigates Māori and reproduction, casting a net around the wider phenomenon to understand reproductive decisions, parenting, sexuality education, maternities and abortion, as spheres of mutual influence. This contextual and holistic approach crafts a different form from prior deficit focused research in this area that sidelines Māori agency. This research has been conducted from my standpoint as a female Māori researcher, drawing on a Mana Wāhine1 theoretical approach, attending to diversity and socio-cultural intersections of experience. The first comprehensive literature review of traditional mātauranga2 and tikanga Māori,3 colonising impacts and current demographic patterns pertaining to reproduction backgrounds later analysis. The reproductive histories of 15 tāne,4 16 wāhine,5 and 12 key informant participants were elicited through qualitative individual interviews and thematically analysed by a Māori critical realist ontology and Māori social constructionist epistemology. Drawing upon the social psychological model of the dynamic cultural actor, Māori skilfully made reproductive decisions through an intricate tapestry of various cultural influences. In the first empirical chapter I describe how Māori reproductive decisions were backgrounded by traditional mātauranga and tikanga Māori including he tamaiti he taonga,6 whānaungatanga,7 whakapapa8 and wairua9 that were resilient to colonising pressures and reworked in the context of contemporary lives. In the second empirical chapter I describe the influence of western patterns of reproductive practice including managing reproduction alongside individualising pressures, challenges associated with living in a market based economy, disempowerment by further intersections of culture, race and gender, and the various standpoints and strategies utilised by Māori. The final chapter describes innovative potential in applying contemporary mātauranga and tikanga Māori in reproductive health services positioned at key developmental intersections through sexuality education, maternity and abortion services. 1 An approach that privileges the perspectives and protocols of Māori women. 2 Education, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, skill. 3 Correct procedure, custom, manner and practice, pertaining to Māori. 4 Men, males, husbands. 5 Women, females, ladies, wives. 6 A child is a gift. 7 Relationship, kinship, sense of family connection. 8 Genealogy, lineage, descent (also means genealogical table). 9 Spirituality (also means soul, quintessence - spirit of a person which exists beyond death).