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    Don't ask, don't tell : a hidden tool of oppression : single mother's beliefs, media, stereotypes, and stigma : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) McFadyen, Joanne C. A.
    As a social construction at structural level, stigma exerts significant impact on the wellbeing of individuals, yet within the socio-cultural and political landscape stigma is utilised as legitimate form of social control with few mechanisms for limitation – despite links to discrimination and prejudice. Previous literature has found associations between discrimination and long term ill-health of those targeted, with relationships identified between system-justification (belief in the justness of society) and threat cardiovascular reactivity. Dominant mainstream media have been identified performing a significant structural role in the propagation of stigma. Single mothers are stigmatised and targeted by media and society, with a growing body of research reporting health disparities for them in poorer psychological and physical health outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore single mothers’ system beliefs, views of media and their lived experience of stigma, whilst collecting contextual demographic and health data. Eleven women participated, watching mainstream media headlines with interviews conducted afterwards. A social constructionist orientation and thematic approach was employed to analyse the women’s talk. Thematic analysis revealed a hidden culture single mothers recognised underlying injustices. Where “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has previously been utilised to ease participation for stigmatised individuals, this was identified in this study as a discourse of dehumanisation. Single mothers illuminate this as strategic practice employed by media, society, and institutions to mutual benefit, perpetuating single mothers’ oppression – irrespective of their adherence to neoliberal dogma.
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    Public perceptions, gang "reality" and the influence of the media : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology
    (Massey University, 1997) Green, Alexandra
    This research was designed to address the hypothesis that there is a wide disparity between how the public perceive gangs and the 'reality' from the gang's perspective and; that in part, the New Zealand media are responsible for this difference, portraying a negative image of gang members. Sixty members of the Horowhenua public and seven gang respondents were interviewed. The small sample size of the gang respondents made it impossible to statistically compare the two groups. Analysis was carried out on the spoken discourse of the public and gang respondents and the printed discourse of the news media. Chi square analysis was used on the public respondent sample. Demographic characteristics of the public respondents such as gender, ethnicity and employment status resulted in observable differences in the public's perceptions of gangs. In particular, feelings of having a gang resident in their neighbourhood, estimates on the number of people involved with gangs in New Zealand and perceptions of the media accuracy in reporting about gangs. Previous contact with a member of a gang was also found to influence respondents' perceptions of media accuracy. Increasing the sample size is likely to clarify these findings. Ethical and practical implications in conducting research on gangs are discussed and suggestions for future research are identified. Some practical implications of the present findings are mentioned.
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    Understanding health and illness : an investigation of New Zealand television and lay accounts : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2000) Hodgetts, Darrin
    Within contemporary society, television is a prevalent source of health information. This thesis draws on insights from health psychology, media studies, and medical sociology to explore the ways that people of lower socio-economic status draw on television health coverage to construct their views on health and illness. Three primary data sets are used in an interrelated manner to investigate the complexities of this process. First, an analysis of four New Zealand health documentaries investigates the ways contemporary health concerns are covered on television. Second, an analysis of the accounts constructed in twenty individual interviews is used to explore participants' views on health, illness, and these same health concerns. Third, an analysis of four focus group discussions is used to investigate the processes through which participants construct interpretations of the health documentaries and reconstruct their views. Generally, findings indicate that the programmes, individual interviews, and focus group discussions function as cultural forums within which various shared explanations are drawn on in order to make sense of four contemporary health concerns: the health reforms, the privatisation of medical services, men's health, and aging. By exploring these processes, this thesis contributes to knowledge of the shape and focus of health coverage and the role of health communication in the refinement of lay views.