The Contemporary Meanings of Feminism in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Celebrated in 2018, the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage was a unique occasion for New Zealand to reflect on the state of its feminist movement. Seeking to gain a deeper understanding of it, this thesis explores the relation between ethno-cultural identities, political orientations and the meanings young adults aged 18-25 attribute to feminism in New Zealand today. Influenced by a constructivist epistemology, this research relies on a mixed-method approach, having conducted a short and anonymous online questionnaire followed by semi-structured interviews with participants from diverse backgrounds. Participants did not have to participate in both. Data analysis has revealed three findings of particular importance to this study. It first confirms the existence of a connection between political ideologies, ethno-cultural backgrounds and feminist interpretations among the youth of New Zealand. The latter must nonetheless be explored at an individual, rather than community, level. This relation is indeed heterogenous, signifying that the extent to which political orientations and ethno-cultural identities influence young adults’ feminist visions varies greatly between individuals. It moreover reveals that political engagement and attitudes toward New Zealand’s colonial history can be used to negotiate this relation. It then sheds light on the multiplicity of feminist meanings in New Zealand. While most young people embrace a mainstream understanding of feminism centred around equality of the sexes/genders, they often display disparate conceptions of sex, gender and do not adopt the same model of equality. A minority group also offers alternatives to this mainstream vision, focusing instead on women’s empowerment and political representation. It finally indicates that intersectional feminism constitutes a reference point for young adults aged 18-25. More specifically, this research highlights that radical feminism, TERFs, egalitarianism, postmodern and intersectional feminism are the approaches taken by this age group. Whether embraced or opposed, intersectionality is nevertheless the one that regulates this diversity and allows individuals to mediate and agree on the weaknesses of the current New Zealand women’s movement.