Abstract:
In Asia, women and girls are exposed to excess morbidity and mortality compared to their male
counterparts. This trend is driven by the preferential treatment of sons over daughters in both prenatal
and postnatal infant settings. While there is abundant evidence of gender discrimination in infant health
outcomes in Asia, little is known about whether this discrimination translates to Asians who migrate
overseas. This thesis explores whether son preference is present within the Asian migrant community in
New Zealand. Utilising data from the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) study, this thesis focuses on
gender bias during the postnatal period through a mixed-methods analysis.
Drawing on the data from 348 infants, their mothers and their mothers’ partners, firstly, this
study quantitatively explores whether gender differences exist in the treatment of Asian migrant infants
within the realms of nutrition and healthcare access, specifically in (a) breastfeeding; (b) GP/doctor
visits; (c) hospitalisation; and (d) immunisation outcomes. Secondly, it qualitatively investigates how
gender interacts with Asian migrant parents’ expectations for their children, to articulate how gender
influences postnatal health outcomes. This research draws on migration theory and Asian gender theory
to identify the root causes of gendered postnatal outcomes among infants from Asian migrant families in
New Zealand. It also adopts a framework informed by Williams’ (1997) model studying the influence of
race on health, adapted to the context of gender and Asian migrant health.
The quantitative analyses revealed no significant gender differences in infant GP visits within the
past 12 months; hospitalisations since birth; receipt of additional immunisation; or breastfeeding status
at nine months. Significant gender differences were found in rates of GP visits and receipt of additional
immunisation when accounting for household income as a covariate. Several other significant
relationships were found independent of gender, including mother’s length of residence in New Zealand
and receipt of additional immunisation; mother’s paid employment status and infant breastfeeding status
at nine months; infant birth order and the number of GP visits in the past 12 months; and mother’s main
ethnicity and infant breastfeeding status at nine months. The themes derived from the qualitative analysis
were separated into two overarching thematic categories: parental expectations influenced by
traditional gender roles and parental expectations influenced by migration. The former included
gendered expectations surrounding the economic, familial and filial roles that sons and daughters were
to adopt. The latter highlighted the hopes and concerns parents expressed about raising their child in
New Zealand.
This study proposes that gender and migration interact to inform the distinct experiences of
infants from Asian migrant families in New Zealand. Further research, including primary qualitative
work, is recommended to confirm the relationships between gender and infant health outcomes
investigated within this thesis and to extend research to periods throughout their life course beyond
infancy.