Knowing their place: the political socialisation of Maori women in New Zealand through schooling policy and practice, 1867-1969
Resource type
Authors/contributors
- Jenkins, Kuni (Author)
- Matthews, Kay Morris (Author)
Title
Knowing their place: the political socialisation of Maori women in New Zealand through schooling policy and practice, 1867-1969
Abstract
Nineteenth-century British missionaries and the colonial government in New Zealand adopted a policy of assimilation of Maori into Pakeha (European) culture through actively discouraging Maori language, belief systems and culture. Central to the goal of assimilation was a Native School policy which in particular, emphasised the ‘Europeanising’ of young Maori. Church-run schools for Maori, which were subsidised by the state, aimed to return young Maori to their homes to model a Christian Pakeha lifestyle. This article argues that it was Maori girls, rather than Maori boys who were viewed as critical agents of change in the transformation of Maori society and that the colonial curriculum they were taught led to a political socialisation of generations of Maori women.
Publication
Women's History Review
Date
1998-03-01
Volume
7
Issue
1
Pages
85-105
Accessed
12/11/22, 12:09 AM
ISSN
0961-2025
Short Title
Knowing their place
Library Catalog
Taylor and Francis+NEJM
Notes
- Maori believed that educational initiatives led by Maori could not do any worse than the state’s efforts to date and, at least, by teaching Maori language and culture they could and would validate their own identity. A do-it-yourself campaign was launched whereby Maori Maori are reclaiming their right to be funded by the state to provide systems of schooling commensurate with Maori notions of teaching and learning. Much of the vision and energy for these initiatives has come from Maori women who continue to play a vital role in the teaching, the administration and the fund-raising necessary to maintain the schools. Maori women are reconstructing their knowledge of their place within New Zealand society – a knowledge over which they now have the control.provided their own solution to educate Maori children at pre-school (Te Kohanga Reo) and primary (Kura Kaupapa Maori) levels.
- Maori educational initiatives in establishing their own schools can be regarded as a resistance to over 100 years of denying Maori language as a legitimate medium of instruction.
Citation
Jenkins, K., & Matthews, K. M. (1998). Knowing their place: the political socialisation of Maori women in New Zealand through schooling policy and practice, 1867-1969. Women’s History Review, 7(1), 85–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/09612029800200163
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