Picturing Difference: An investigation of Maori women's characters in New Zealand picturebooks

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Research purpose and research questions

1.2 Prior Research

Chapter 2: CULTURAL BACKGROUND

2.1 Maori in New Zealand – a socio-historical context

2.2 Maori and the media

Chapter 3: THE PICTUREBOOK

3.1 The nature of modern picturebooks

3.2 The interaction of image and word in picturebooks

Chapter 4: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

4.1 Social Constructionism

4.1.1 George Herbert Mead

4.1.2 Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann

4.2 The Social Construction of Gender

4.3 The Social Construction of Maori Women: Maori Feminist Theory

4.3.1 Key themes of Mana Wahine

4.3.1.1 Whakapapa (genealogy)

4.3.1.2 Whanau (extended family)

4.3.1.3 Wairua (spirit)

4.3.1.4 Atua Wahine (female goddesses)

4.3.1.5 Te Tiriti (The Treaty of Waitangi)

4.3.1.6 Decolonisation

4.4 The Social Construction of picturebooks

4.4.1 Typifications

4.4.2 Objectivation and signification

4.4.3 Symbolic Universes

4.4.4 Socialization

4.4.5 The social self

4.4.6 Language in picturebooks

4.4.7 The Social Construction of gendered Ideology in picturebooks

4.5 Conclusion: A Model of picturebook Communication

Chapter 5: METHODOLOGY

5.1 Research Approach

5.2 Method

5.3 Data gathering

5.4 Sampling

5.5 Coding

5.5.1 The societal coding frame

5.5.1.1 Whakapapa (genealogy)

5.5.1.2 Wairua (spirit)

5.5.1.3 Whanau (extended family)

5.5.1.4 Atua Wahine (female ancestors)

5.5.2 The individual coding frame

5.6 Credibility and Dependability

5.7 Confirmability and Transferability

5.8 Limitations

Chapter 6: RESULT AND ANALYSIS

6.1 Words around pictures

6.2 The findings

6.2.1 Societal coding

6.2.1.1 Whanau (extended family)

6.2.1.2 Atua Wahine (female goddesses/nature)

6.2.1.3 Whakapapa (genealogy/traditions)

6.2.1.4 Wairua (spirit)

6.2.1.5 Societal coding – a conclusion

6.2.2 Individual coding frame

6.2.3 Maori women in New Zealand picturebooks – three typifications

6.2.3.1 The Teacher

6.2.3.2 The Entertainer

6.2.3.3 The Spiritual Maori woman

6.2.3.4 Maori women in New Zealand picturebooks – Making a difference!

Chapter 7: CONCLUSION

7.1 The media’s social construction of reality

7.2 Final Words

Research Objectives and Thematic Scope

This thesis investigates the visual and verbal representation of Maori women in contemporary New Zealand picturebooks. It aims to analyze how these narratives contribute to the social construction of Maori women's identity, exploring whether these depictions reinforce stereotypes or offer authentic portrayals by integrating bicultural perspectives.

• Social constructionism as a theoretical framework (Berger, Luckmann, Mead).
• Maori feminist theory (Mana Wahine) and its core themes.
• The role of picturebooks as socializing tools in New Zealand.
• Typifications of Maori women: The Teacher, the Entertainer, and the Spiritual Maori woman.
• The necessity of integrating bicultural symbolic universes for authentic representation.

Auszug aus dem Buch

Summary of Chapters

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the research purpose regarding Maori women's characters in New Zealand picturebooks and reviews existing literature to identify gaps.

Chapter 2: CULTURAL BACKGROUND: This chapter explores the socio-historical context of Maori people in New Zealand and their evolving representation within the media landscape.

Chapter 3: THE PICTUREBOOK: This chapter analyzes the unique nature of modern picturebooks, specifically focusing on the complex interrelationship between text and images.

Chapter 4: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: This chapter outlines social constructionist theories and Maori feminist perspectives (Mana Wahine) that serve as the foundation for the subsequent content analysis.

Chapter 5: METHODOLOGY: This chapter details the qualitative research approach, the data gathering process, and the specific coding frames used to analyze the picturebooks.

Chapter 6: RESULT AND ANALYSIS: This chapter presents the findings, identifying three primary typifications of Maori women and discussing how these contribute to or challenge existing social stereotypes.

Chapter 7: CONCLUSION: This chapter synthesizes the research results and suggests that integrating diverse cultural symbolic universes is essential for more authentic representations.

Keywords

Maori women, New Zealand picturebooks, social constructionism, gender representation, Mana Wahine, Whakapapa, Wairua, Whanau, Atua Wahine, cultural identity, symbolic annihilation, typifications, socialization, biculturalism, media studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The research examines the visual and verbal representation of Maori women in contemporary New Zealand children's picturebooks to understand how their identities are socially constructed.

What are the primary thematic fields covered?

The study covers social constructionism, Maori feminist theory (Mana Wahine), gender studies, and the specific role of children’s picturebooks in the process of socialization.

What is the primary objective of this thesis?

The objective is to determine whether contemporary picturebooks reinforce negative stereotypes or contribute to an authentic portrayal of Maori women by analyzing the interaction of different cultural symbolic universes.

Which scientific methods are applied?

The author uses a qualitative content analysis, combining inductive and deductive techniques, guided by theoretical frameworks from Peter L. Berger, Thomas Luckmann, and George Herbert Mead.

What does the main body of the work address?

The main body investigates the coding of Maori women through a societal and individual lens, identifying three specific character typifications: The Teacher, The Entertainer, and The Spiritual Maori woman.

Which keywords characterize this work?

Key terms include Maori women, picturebooks, social constructionism, Mana Wahine, typifications, and biculturalism.

How do picturebooks specifically impact children's identity formation according to the author?

The author argues that picturebooks act as socializing tools, providing role models that help children internalize societal values, ideologies, and beliefs regarding gender and cultural identities.

What is the conclusion regarding the representation of Maori women?

The conclusion states that most picturebooks represent a confined image, but that integrating the symbolic universes of both Pakeha and Maori can lead to a more authentic and diverse portrayal.