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Start date: 2021Subject: search.filters.subject.441012 Sociology of inequalities

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    Social privilege in the context of therapeutic groups : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Psychology), Massey University, Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025) Peace, Charlotte E.
    In Aotearoa-New Zealand, mental health services are under strain, and group therapy is increasingly used as a modality that provides economic access to therapy to a large number of people. Therapeutic groups are typically diverse, comprised of a complex constellations of identity dimensions, values, and characteristics. Race, class, gender, sexuality, and religious positions confer privileges, marginalising those not occupying such dominant positions. Privilege can subsequently manifest as tension and conflict between individuals within therapeutic groups. Researchers have noted the need to study how privilege manifests and is managed in therapeutic groups. Furthermore, research tends to focus on oppression and marginalisation in therapy groups as the focal point to address, rather than on privilege as a cause of marginalisation and oppression. Through semi structured interviews, the researcher explores how eight group therapists understand and manage privilege in group therapy. Privilege emerges as relational, dynamic, and complex, presenting partial challenges to social microcosm theory. In therapeutic groups, privilege may not always be held by those who hold it on broader society. Therapists manage the potential risk of privilege having negative effects on group members, either through pre-emptively excluding some privileged people or utilising the exploration of its manifestations as a mechanism for individual change and growth. The findings support the need for targeted training in the understanding and management of privilege in group facilitation.
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    Ringleaders in mischief : a study of one Māori whānau in New Zealand child welfare case records, 1926-1948 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Psychology) at School of Psychology, Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Austin-Collins, Summar
    The causes of Māori over-representation in state care have been connected to enduring symbolic and structural violence and can be linked to processes of colonisation. Recent survivor testimony has highlighted the need to critically examine the way welfare service providers understand and engage with service users. However, limited opportunities exist to examine the historical roots and impacts of violence on Māori in their engagement with the foundational child welfare agencies of the settler society. This research seeks to address this gap, by documenting an exemplar of the relationship between four Māori siblings - who were rendered wards of the state - and the Child Welfare Branch of the Education Department between the years 1926 to 1948. The inquiry applies a narrative analytical framework to examine the way power was expressed and contested within the case file records of these siblings. The analysis identified several broad themes in the representation of power. These related to the construction of the state’s actions as heroic, and the behaviours and identities of the Cole whānau as threatening. The goal of state intervention was assimilation, and success was measured against a set of assumptions of good citizenship, which limited the siblings’ capacity to thrive. The research theorises that stigmatising narratives take on the guise of truth, and these create the context for the state’s engagement with whānau. Creating a more empowering social context requires targeting the narrative social field as well as the legitimating political structures. Limitations of the research are discussed, and recommendations made that link historical antecedents to the current welfare environment.
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    Disability work matters : employment opportunities for disabled people in the New Zealand disability sector : a thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023-12-30) MacNeill (née Crothall), Pamela
    Although disabled citizens represent almost a quarter of the total population in Aotearoa New Zealand, they experience significant and persistent barriers to employment. This research examined the barriers and enablers to employment for disabled New Zealanders, both generally and those specifically relevant to the disability sector. The research had four aims: to examine the navigation of family, identity, and education by disabled people; to identify barriers to paid employment in both mainstream and disability sector settings; to investigate potential employment enablers; and develop recommendations. This research employed a qualitative thematic analysis approach, underpinned by the social model of disability and the theoretical concepts of Pierre Bourdieu, guiding interpretation of results. The study began with a focus group of six disabled people, to discuss possible themes for the research. Results from the focus group were then developed further to inform interviews with 13 disabled and 12 nondisabled people, on topics relating to: the navigation of family, identity, and education by disabled people; barriers to paid employment in mainstream and disability sector employment; and potential employment enablers. Key research findings include: the development of individual agency is critical to build the resilience necessary to navigate many environmental, structural, and attitudinal barriers encountered in education and employment; similar employment barriers are experienced by disabled people in all employment settings; the creation of opportunities for employers to meet with disabled people could be valuable and may lead to job offers; time-limited voluntary work, which includes pathways to paid employment, may assist to both allay employer apprehension, and enable disabled people to demonstrate capability. Research strongly suggests that the disability sector would benefit from including the lived experience of disability as a key competency for employment within a sector which exists in the name of disabled people. Ensuring disabled people achieve greater authority in their sector is an equity issue in urgent need of attention, and this study takes a step forward to address this need.
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    Healthcare and the oppression of sexual and gender diverse communities in Bangladesh : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the School of Social Work, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Khan, Kanamik Kani
    Since Bangladeshi society is socio-culturally and religiously conservative, sexual and gender diverse communities live with stigma, violence, and discrimination. One form of discrimination lies in the healthcare system. The purpose of this study is to investigate the healthcare experiences of these communities to depict the oppression they face, and to understand the continuing influence of colonialism and patriarchy that maintain this oppression. To investigate this, healthcare is argued as either a human right from the social justice point of view or a tool for oppression for marginalised communities. The methodology used is phenomenological to examine the lived healthcare experiences of the participants. To collect data, I used qualitative methods including participant interviews, a focus group discussion, and key informant interviews. I worked as a volunteer with one local agency that works with sexual and gender diverse communities in Bangladesh. Volunteering helped to build networks and recruit participants. Thematic methods are used for data analysis and full ethics approval is obtained from Massey University, New Zealand. The participants live in a repressive environment with stigma, harassment, limited education and employment opportunities, lack of family support, mental health issues, and inadequate health support. They frequently experience — depending on their disclosure — humiliation, neglect, insults, and discrimination in healthcare settings. Lack of awareness and an unsupportive attitude from government representatives and institutions further contribute to their oppression. Although healthcare, in theory, is regarded as a human right, it is not fairly and equally provided for marginalised communities and thus cannot be claimed as a universal human right. Discriminatory healthcare experiences, stigma, colonial law, and sexual assaults imply that colonial values and patriarchy have an influence on the overall oppression of these communities. The most significant contribution of this study is to expose the patriarchal nature of Bangladeshi society as a legacy of the British Regime. This study offers methodological insights into how to conduct research in politically sensitive environments, which is another unique contribution to methodological knowledge. As a result of this research, it is clear that the Bangladeshi government needs to change its attitude, acknowledge the existence of these communities, and take initiatives to provide equal healthcare facilities for all.