“Oh you don’t look Māori”: Social Ascription and Te Haerenga o Tuakiri: The Journey of Identity

Abstract

Background: Māori identity is fluid and contextual. Māori who are socially assigned as Pākehā often experience racism, privilege and Te Ao Māori differently from Māori who are assigned Māori ethnicity. The contested space occupied by Māori who are socially assigned as Pākehā is one that has been explored briefly in the Aotearoa context. The impact of social assignment as Pākehā has implications for Māori identity and wellness. Aims: This research sought to explore socially assigned ethnicity for Māori who self-report that they get assigned as Pākehā in order to examine the impact this has on their identity and wellbeing. Methods: This research used a Kaupapa Māori epistemology, theory and research methodology to inform interviews to explore Māori experiences of social assignment. Kaupapa Māori provided the foundation for creating a meaningful dialogue with participants. Māori who self-report being socially assigned as Pākehā (or not Māori) who work or study in a tertiary institute in Aotearoa were invited to participate in this research. Ten interviews were undertaken with one male and nine females. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to guide the conversations during data collection. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Three meta-themes were identified from the interviews: Claims of Identity; Challenges to Identity; and, Reinforcement of Identity in order to tell the story of the Journey of Identity. The findings of this research indicate that social ascription of Māori identity impacts on Māori wellbeing and identity in various, intricate ways, that can have both challenges and benefits. Conclusion: Māori identity is complex, it involves an intricate relationship between cultural, social and personal understandings of Māoritanga and Māori ethnicity, as well as the influences of colonisation and colonial structures. Social ascription can impact upon Māori identity and wellbeing through challenges to authenticity, and through providing ‘white advantage’ in a racialised society. Identities are fluid, progressive and contextual, and as such, despite the challenges to Māori identity of Māori who are socially assigned as Pākehā, the participants of this study all exhibit immense pride and honour in being Māori and in claiming their identity.