Alex Port 3273995

SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
Harden Up, Ya Big Girls Blouse: New Zealand National Identity as
Gender Biased
New Zealands national identit! is "#ndamentall! gender $iased% &o
#nderstand 'ow t'is $ias exists( and 'ow it is e""e)ti*el! o$s)#red $! "alla)ies
o" egalitarianism in t'e national +s!)'e( we m#st examine t'e de*elo+ment o"
national identit! t'ro#g' ideologies t'at nat#ralise traditional $iologi)all!
de"ined gender roles and t'ere"ore +romote ine,#ities on t'is $asis%
&'e New Zealand national +s!)'e identi"ies itsel" as a land o" e,#al
o++ort#nit!( an egalitarian so)iet! t'at 'as +rogressi*el! in)or+orated women
into t'e +#$li) s+'ere and done awa! wit' t'e o++ressions o" t'e +ast%
-owe*er( r#nning #nder t'is dis)o#rse is a realit! o$s)#red $! entren)'ed
ideologies t'at en)o#rage New Zealanders to $elie*e t'emsel*es to 'a*e
.won t'e "ig't% /an! men( and alarmingl!( women t'emsel*es $elie*e
t'emsel*es to $e li*ing in a )o#ntr! "ree o" t'e s#$0#gations o" t'e old world%
&'ese $elie"s are $ased on 'istori)al *i)tories( s#)' as $eing t'e "irst )o#ntr!
to extend t'e *ote to women% &'e *er! "a)t t'at we la#d o#rsel*es as
de"enders o" t'e e,#al rig'ts o" all '#mans( means t'at )om+la)en)! 'as
$een a$le to +ro+agate #nder t'e s#r"a)e o" national identit! )onstr#)ts(
rendering t'e 'istori)al *i)tories o" en"ran)'isement and eman)i+ation all $#t
meaningless to t'e )#rrent gender1$lind dis)o#rse%
National identit! is *er! di""i)#lt to de"ine( es+e)iall! in a )o#ntr! so
e+istemologi)all! di*erse as New Zealand% &'ere is no one all1en)om+assing
identit! )ommon to all Pa2e'a New Zealanders3 'owe*er( so)ial +ower
relations em$edded in o#r national +s!)'e and widel! a))e+ted as .normal(
)reate )ertain +atterns aro#nd 'ow we *iew o#r world and w'at o++ort#nities
and o$sta)les we )an ex+e)t to en)o#nter in o#r li*es% &'ese so)ial +ower
relations o+erate s#$tl! in t'e "orm o" ideologies and dis)o#rses t'at are
ta2en "or granted as .nat#ral%
1
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
&'is essa! will ex+lore national identit! as ex+ressed t'ro#g' "amil! str#)t#re(
em+lo!ment( drin2ing )#lt#re( r#g$! and t'e news media3 and see2 to identi"!
in)ongr#en)e $etween t'e a))e+ted national )'ara)ter and t'e ideologies
t'at o$s)#re t'e realit! o" gender $ias in national identit!% &'ese dominant
ideologies re+resent and are +rod#)ed $! identi"i)ation wit' *al#es and
+ra)ti)es t'at +romote a gender $ias in New Zealand national identit!
)onstr#)ts%
Background
In t'e earl! da!s o" settlement( New Zealand was a 'ea*il! male dominated
+o+#lation( w'ere t'e a)ti*ities ex+e)ted o" t'e +o+#la)e related )losel! to
traditionall! mas)#line roles4 +enetrating and )on,#ering t'e land( "is'ing(
"arming and drin2ing al)o'ol in leis#re time% /ales were ex+e)ted to +arta2e
in +#$li) li"e and t'e +'!si)al a)ti*it! in*ol*ed in taming t'e land% &'is meant
t'at a mans a$ilit! to )arr! o#t t'is wor2 was a mar2er o" s#))ess in a land
t'at re,#ired .)on,#est in order to render it 'a$ita$le $! 5#ro+ean standards%
A"ter t'e initial )onta)t +eriod( as New Zealand $e)ame a destination "or
o""i)ial )olonisation a"ter t'e signing o" t'e &reat! o" 6aitangi( entren)'ed
5#ro+ean notions o" gender role were im+orted along wit' an in)reasing
"emale +o+#lation% 6omen were ex+e)ted to remain in t'e +ri*ate s+'ere(
$earing and )aring "or o""s+ring as well as )leaning and was'ing and ot'er
#n+aid la$o#r 7Cone!( 19934189%
a!ily
New Zealands national )on)e+tion o" t'e "amil! #nit is $ased aro#nd t'e
nat#ralisation o" t'e .n#)lear "amil!% -owe*er( as earl! as 19:3(
a++roximatel! ;0< o" New Zealand 'o#se'olds were not .t!+i)al n#)lear
"amilies 7Pearson and &'orns( 19:341;59% &'o#g' t'ere 'a*e $een s'i"ts in
2
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
t'e so)ial a))e+ta$ilit! o" single +arent1 and ot'er .at!+i)al str#)t#res( t'e
generall! a))e+ted .normal "orm o" "amil! is t'at w'ere t'e immediate "amil!
= mot'er( "at'er and )'ildren = li*e toget'er% &'e "at'er +ro*ides( t'e mot'er
+resides o*er t'e 7#s#all! #n+aid9 domesti) d#ties and )'ild)are%
&'ese a))e+ted norms arise "rom ar)'ai) Aristotelian notions o" womens
lesser +osition( $ased on $iologi)al determinist arg#ments "or womens
.+#r+ose% >e)a#se women $ear t'e )'ildren( t'e! are )onse,#entl! destined
to engage in all ?as+e)ts o" li"e t'at are asso)iated wit' )'ildrearing in a
+arti)#lar so)iet! = "rom +ro*iding "ood and +'!si)al sa"et! to )aring "or ot'er
ad#lts and ma2ing da!1to1da! li"e +leasant%@ 7Cox and Aames 19:7459%
>iologi)al determinism t'#s )on"lates womens identit! wit' t'eir .+#r+ose%
&'ese ex+e)tations are eternalised as stati) )onditions o" existen)e% >e)a#se
)#stoms and $elie"s .'a*e alwa!s $een ex+ressed t'is wa!( t'e! are
t'ere"ore +er)ei*ed to $e t'e .nat#ral order o" gender relations% C'ildren in
n#)lear "amilies are so)ialised to engage wit' t'ese str#)t#res in a non1
)'allenging wa! and t'#s( )onstri)ti*e attit#des regarding gender role and
normati*e "amil! str#)t#res are transmitted intergenerationall!%
"ork
In t'e )a+italist s!stem #nder w'i)' we li*e in New Zealand( domesti) d#ties
are widel! )onsidered to $e o" less *al#e t'an t'ose 0o$s w'ere rem#neration
is in*ol*ed% 6omen are #nder +ress#re to +ro*ide t'ese ser*i)es ."or t'e lo*e
and o#t o" a sense o" t'eir +ro+er d#t!3 and to $alan)e t'eir #n+aid la$o#r
wit' t'eir wor2 o#tside t'e 'ome to a larger extent t'an men 7No*itB( 19:74
259%
In 200;( women in New Zealand were +aid on a*erage :7< as m#)' as men
7Ce+artment o" La$o#r( 200;9% &'e! are also )'annelled into se)tors
)onsidered to $e o" less *al#e t'an t'ose o" men( t'at is( )leaning( tea)'ing(
3
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
so)ial wor2( )leri)al wor2 7No*itB( 19:74329% &'is o))#+ational segregation is
o$s)#red in New Zealand national identit! t'ro#g' )ommon dis)o#rses t'at
)laim t'at womens str#ggle is o*er( t'at e,#alit! 'as $een a)'ie*ed% &'is is
in )lear o++osition to $ot' statisti)s and man! womens ex+erien)e o" wor2ing
li"e%
In 2003 t'e Pa! and 5m+lo!ment 5,#it! Dnit was esta$lis'ed( aiming to
reg#late e,#al o++ort#nit! in rem#neration "or women em+lo!ed in t'e +#$li)
se)tor% &'is s)'eme 'as grad#all! im+ro*ed t'e lot o" women3 'owe*er( wit'
t'e re)ent e)onomi) #n)ertaint!( t'e )#rrent go*ernment made t'e de)ision to
dis$and t'e +a! e,#it! )ommittee( )iting "inan)ial in*ia$ilit! 7NZ -erald(
20E02E20099%
#rinking culture
In 1917( legislation was introd#)ed t'at re,#ired +#$li) drin2ing
esta$lis'ments to $e )losed at ;+m% Alt'o#g' t'is law was im+lemented to )#t
$a)2 on male drin2ing( its real e""e)t was to em$ed a +ra)ti)e 2nown(
i)oni)all!( as t'e .six o)lo)2 swill% &'is meant t'at men( w'o 'ad one 'o#r
$etween "inis'ing wor2 and ret#rning 'ome +a)2ed down as m#)' $eer as
t'e! )o#ld in t'e 'o#r allotted% &'#s( a +ra)ti)e o" $inge drin2ing )losel!
)onne)ted wit' 'egemoni) mas)#linit! was esta$lis'ed% &'is 'egemon! 'as
$een e""e)ti*el! de"ended in New Zealand to t'is da! 7Cam+$ell( Law and
-one!"ield( 19994 1;:9%
A )#lt#re was $#ilt aro#nd t'e male1)entri) idea o" .mates'i+( one w'ere
male )ameraderie was la#ded a$o*e an! ot'er relations'i+ t'e! 'ad% &'is
meant t'at in t'e +#$s o" t'e )o#ntr!( a )#lt#re grew aro#nd ?almost rit#alisti)
derogation o" 'omeEdomesti)it!Ewi*esEwomen@ 7Cam+$ell( Law and
-one!"ield( 19994 1;:9% &'is +ra)ti)e "#rt'er em$edded notions o"
"#ndamental gender di""eren)e and t'#s( s#+eriorit!%
8
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
>e)a#se o" t'e ex)l#sion o" women in +#$li) drin2ing esta$lis'ments
7Cam+$ell( Law and -one!"ield( 19994 1;:9( t'ese sites o" a)ti*it! $e)ame
areas o" male ex)e+tionalism( w'ere an .es)a+e )o#ld $e made "rom t'e
+er)ei*ed negati*e )onstri)tions o" 'ome li"e% &'is negati*e attit#de )ontin#es
to r#n t'ro#g' )onstr#)tions o" national identit! toda!( as women are ex)l#ded
"rom traditionall! .Fiwi rites and )#stoms%
$ug%y
New Zealand )laims m#)' o" its identit! "rom its international +arti)i+ation and
s#))ess in s+ort( most signi"i)antl!( r#g$!% G#g$! is re"erred to as t'e
.national s+ort and 'as $e)ome a '#ge so#r)e o" +ride to .New Zealanders%
6'en t'e All >la)2s lose a game( news+a+ers and news media re"er to .a
nation in mo#rning 7NZ -erald 07E10E2007( 22E10E20079 and o+inion )ol#mns
are in#ndated wit' indignant r'etori) regarding t'e "ailings o" t'e )#rrent
)oa)' or t'is or t'at +la!er% &'ere are "ew +ra)ti)es in New Zealand t'at are
gi*en t'is le*el o" im+ortan)e to o#r national identit!%
Alt'o#g' t'ere are "emale r#g$! teams in New Zealand( r#g$! is traditionall!
a male +astime t'at generall! ex)l#des women "rom +arti)i+ation( ex)e+t in
t'e )a+a)it! o" wat)'ing or( es+e)iall! in t'e +ro*in)es( $ringing .a +late%
Allo)ation o" go*ernment "#nding "or s+ort is gi*en o*erw'elmingl! to male
s+orts% In re)ent times( "#nding "or womens s+ort 'as $een de)reased in
"a*o#r o" in)reased "#nding "or male s+ort 7St#""%)o%nB 15E12E200:9% &'is is an
exam+le o" "emale ex)l#sion "rom and male +ri*ilege in a)ti*ities t'at are
)onsidered "#ndamental to w'at it means to $e a New Zealander%
News &edia
News media in New Zealand is a +aradoxi)al $east% It is res+onsi$le "or m#)'
o" t'e m!t'1ma2ing aro#nd 'ow o#r national identit! is )onstit#ted% News
5
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
media is t'e so#r)e o" man! ideologies t'at o$s)#re t'e realit! o" li"e in New
Zealand% It a)'ie*es t'is stat#s t'ro#g' its re+resentation and +er+et#ation o"
egalitarian m!t's( w'ile engaging in $iased re+orting t'at es+o#ses laB!
ass#m+tions regarding so)ial realities 7NZ -erald( 17E09E20039% &'ese arti)les
o"ten attem+t .iron! in order to sit#ate +ossi$le gender str#ggle as .ot'er to
an a))e+ta$le identit!3 "or exam+le( in t'is arti)le a$o#t a $#siness t'at allows
its sta"" "lexi$le wor2ing 'o#rs "or "amil! )ommitments4 ?So w'at 'a*e we got
'ereH &'e gender1ne#tral( so#l1)entri)( +oliti)all! )orre)t( "eel1good
wor2+la)eH ConIt 2id !o#rsel" J &'ese "amil! "riendl! wor2ing arrangements
are not t'e ex+ression o" a warm and "#BB! Dto+ian ideal% I" t'e! were( t'e!
+ro$a$l! wo#ldnIt wor2%@ 7NZ -erald( 12E07E20009%
Sex#al and domesti) *iolen)e are o*erw'elmingl! male +ro$lems t'at women
s#""er% S#)' *iolen)e is endemi) in New Zealand so)iet! and #n"ort#natel!(
)onstit#tes +art o" o#r national identit!% Kor instan)e( in 1999( 95< o" t'e
s#r*i*ors o" sex#al *iolen)e w'o )alled a Ga+e Crisis gro#+ were "emale% It is
estimated t'at onl! 27< o" t'ese )allers re+orted t'e o""en)eEs to Poli)e
7Ga+e Pre*ention 5d#)ation( 19999%
5*er! time t'e media re+orts a ."alse a))#sation o" sex#al *iolen)e( t'e!
+er+et#ate m!t's a$o#t womens .nat#rall! *indi)ti*e nat#re% 5*er! time t'e!
gi*e air time or +age s+a)e to s!m+at'ising wit' male +er+etrators o" *iolen)e
7eg% &on! Leit)' 7NZ -erald 17E08E200999( t'e! minimise t'e tr#e nat#re o"
t'e enormo#s so)ial in0#sti)es +er+etrated $! males towards women( in
"a*o#r o" re+resenting ideologies o" e,#alit!% &'e misleading in"l#en)e o" s#)'
slanted re+orting means t'at organisations dealing wit' t'e *i)tims o" t'ese
)rimes are im+eded "rom e""e)ti*el! ta)2ling t'e +ro$lems ri"e in o#r so)iet!% It
also 'as t'e e""e)t o" dis)o#raging ot'er *i)tims o" *iolent )rime "rom re+orting
to t'e +oli)e( t'#s )orr#+ting o""i)ial statisti)s%
;
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
Not 'ust wo!en
&'is gender $ias is not ex)l#si*el! 'arm"#l to women% An!one not "itting
neatl! into t'e narrow )on"ines o" w'at is )onsidered to $e t'e .rig't identit!(
$ased on s+#rio#s and stereot!+i)al o++ositionar! gender de"initions
7maleMa)ti*eE "emaleM+assi*e et cetera9( is s#$0e)t to t'e +ress#re and
ridi)#le o" t'ose w'o )'oose to ad'ere to and es+o#se ar)'ai) notions o"
normati*e gender identit!%
Na!( les$ian( $isex#al( ,#eer and transgendered )omm#nities are
marginalised and disen"ran)'ised "rom engagement wit' an ideolog! t'at
does not re+resent t'eir ex+erien)e o" t'e world% >e)a#se t'e! stand o#tside
a 'eteronormati*e )on)e+tion o" so)iet!( t'e! are still in man! wa!s
)onsidered to $e .ot'er( #nnat#ral( strange%
&asculine constructions
/en are #nder enormo#s +ress#re in New Zealand to li*e #+ to t'e
ex+e)tation o" $eing .'ard( emotionless la$o#r ma)'ines and distant sirers o"
+rogen!3 logi)al dis)i+linarians( +'!si)al "ig'ters% An! man w'o does not
en0o! .r#g$!( ra)ing and $eer( is .so"t4 an o$0e)t o" ridi)#le( alienated "rom t'e
dominant dis)o#rses o" 'egemoni) mas)#linit! 7Cam+$ell( Law and
-one!"ield( 19994 1;:9% &'e e""e)ts o" t'is +ress#re )an +ossi$l! $e seen in
o*er1re+resentation o" males in rates o" s#i)ide4 ?&'e New Zealand male rate
o" s#i)ide is t'ree times t'at o" t'e New Zealand "emale rate@ 7SPINZ( 20059
(u%)ersion
In o++osition to t'ese gender $iases in national identit!( s#$*ersi*e
ex+ressions 'a*e $een +rod#)ed t'at )'allenge t'e rigid gender stereot!+es
in New Zealand% Some o" t'ese ex+ressions 'a*e "o#nd t'eir wa! into t'e
7
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
mainstream( s#)' as t'e &o++ &wins +er"orman)es and t'e Klig't o" t'e
Con)'ords song( ?Im not Cr!ing@%
*onclusion
New Zealand national identit! )onstr#)ts )entre largel! aro#nd traditionall!
mas)#line a)ti*it!% Alt'o#g' women 'a*e $een +artl! in)or+orated into t'ese
sites o" a)ti*it!( t'e! remain inessential to t'e de"initions o" t'ese +ra)ti)es
and are t'ere"ore ex)l#ded "rom )onstr#)tions o" .t!+i)al New Zealand
a)ti*it!%
New Zealand national identit! wit' regard to gender is re+resented 'ere and
o*erseas as an egalitarian so)iet! t'at o""ers e,#al o++ort#nities to all% 6'ile
man! admira$le im+ro*ements 'a*e $een made to address s!stemi)
o++ression( t'e *er! "a)t t'at t'ese im+ro*ements exist )reate )om+la)en)!
in t'e national +s!)'e% &'is )om+la)en)! )an 'a*e t'e e""e)t o" rendering
New Zealand national identit! gender1$lind( meaning t'at t'e tr#e nat#re o"
o#r national identit! is o$s)#red and attem+ts to re)ti"! t'is sit#ation are
denigrated as #nne)essar!%
:
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
Bi%liograp+y
Cam+$ell( -%( Go$in Law and Aames -one!"ield% 719999% I6'at it /eans to $e
a /anI4 -egemoni) /as)#linit! and t'e Gein*ention o" >eer% In Cam+$ell( -%(
Go$in Law and Aames Colan 75ds%9( Masculinities in Aotearoa/ New Zealand
7++% 1;;11:;9% Palmerston Nort'4 C#nmore%
Cone!( S% 719939% Standing in the Sunshine: A History of New Zealand
Women Since They Won the Vote% A#)2land4 Peng#in%
Cox( S% and >e* Aames 719:79% &'e &'eoreti)al >a)2gro#nd% In S% Cox 75d%9(
Pulic and Pri!ate Worlds: Women in "ontem#orary New Zealand 7++% 11229%
6ellington4 Allen and Dnwin%
Ca*ison( I% 717E08E20099% OLeit)' wants to $e a "at'erO% NZ Herald$
Getrie*ed 17t' /a! 2009( "rom
'tt+4EEwww%nB'erald%)o%nBEnBEnewsEarti)le%)"mH)PidM1Qo$0e)tidM105;70;0
Ce+artment o" La$o#r 7200;9% Pa! and 5m+lo!ment 5,#it! Dnit% %e#artment
of &aour wesite$ Getrie*ed 9t' /a! 2009( "rom
'tt+4EEwww%dol%go*t%nBEser*i)esE+a!andem+lo!mente,#it!E
Cominion Post 715E12E200:9% O6omenIs teams 'it in +o)2et $! "#ndingO
Stuff$co$n'$ Getrie*ed ;t' /a! 2009( "rom 'tt+4EEwww%st#""%)o%nBEs+ortE7;2989
Klig't o" t'e Con)'ords 720079% IIm Not Cr!ing 5+ 1% (ouTue$ Getrie*ed 15t'
/a! 2009( "rom 'tt+4EEwww%!o#t#$e%)omEwat)'H*M;8aP1"6&sls
Na!( 5% 707E10E079% O20074 In,#est $egins into s'o)2 All >la)2s exitO% NZ
Herald$ Getrie*ed ;t' /a! 2009( "rom
'tt+4EEwww%nB'erald%)o%nBEnB'erald)onBs110t'1$irt'da!EnewsEarti)le%)"mH
)PidM1502:00Qo$0e)tidM10552701Q+n#mM2
9
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
Nower( P% 720E02E20099% ONo*ernment 2ills +a!1e,#it! in,#iriesO% NZ Herald$
Getrie*ed 27t' A+ril 2009( "rom
'tt+4EEwww%nB'erald%)o%nBEnBEnewsEarti)le%)"mH)PidM1Qo$0e)tidM10557718
No*itB( G% 719:79% >ridging t'e Na+4 Paid and Dn+aid 6or2% In S% Cox 75d%9(
Pulic and Pri!ate Worlds: Women in "ontem#orary New Zealand 7++% 231
529% 6ellington4 Allen and Dnwin%
Par2er( S% 712E07E20009% OKlexi$le o""i)e set#+ 0#st t'e 0o$O NZ Herald$
Getrie*ed ;t' /a! 2009( "rom
'tt+4EEwww%nB'erald%)o%nBEem+lo!mentEnewsEarti)le%)"mH
)PidM11Qo$0e)tidM183712
Pearson( C% and Ca*id &'orns 719:39% )cli#se of )*uality% Nort' S!dne!4
Allen and Dnwin%
Ga+e Crisis 719999% National Ga+e Crisis Statisti)s 1999% +a#e Pre!ention
)ducation wesite$ Getrie*ed 17t' /a! 2009( "rom
'tt+4EEwww%ra+e)risis%org%nBE)ontent%as+xHidM;7
G!an( A% 719909% Ideolog!( -egemon! and Ine,#alit!% In P% K% Nreen 75d%9(
Studies in New Zealand Social Prolems 7++% 9711109% Palmerston Nort'4
C#nmore Press%
Sarne!( 5% 717E09E20039% OGedd! to +la! $allO NZ Herald$ Getrie*ed ;t' /a!
2009( "rom 'tt+4EEwww%nB'erald%)o%nBEem+lo!mentEnewsEarti)le%)"mH
)PidM11Qo$0e)tidM3523:05
So#t'( N% 722E10E20079% ONill So#t'4 Learn to loo2 at t'e entire +ro)ess 1 not
0#st t'e +artsO NZ Herald$ Getrie*ed ;t' /a! 2009( "rom
10
Alex Port 3273995
SOCIOL221
Assignment 2 2009
'tt+4EEwww%nB'erald%)o%nBE$#sinessEnewsEarti)le%)"mH
)PidM3Qo$0e)tidM10870775
S#i)ide Pre*ention and In"ormation New Zealand 720059% SPINZ S!m+osi#m4
O/ales and S#i)ideO 1 13 Q 18 O)to$er( C'rist)'#r)'% SP,NZ News% Getrie*ed
19t' /a! 2009( "rom 'tt+4EEwww%s+inB%org%nBE+ageE871Ar)'i*eRIss#e12
&o++ &wins 720099% &o++ &wins 1 mo*ie trailer% (ouTue$ Getrie*ed 15t' /a!
2009( "rom 'tt+4EEwww%!o#t#$e%)omEwat)'H*M-tSCaOs)/PIQNGM1
6est1Newman( C% 719909% &'e Persisten)e o" Sexism at 6or2% In P% K% Nreen
75d%9( Studies in New Zealand Social Prolems 7++% 11111279% Palmerston
Nort'4 C#nmore Press%
11