New Zealand

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History

The Maori people migrated to New Zealand about 1000 years ago, and they developed a system of tribes and sub-tribes with an even smaller group of families as the center of morals and life. Men would hunt, fish, and plow while women weeded, wove, cooked, and took care of the small children. They created a balance where needed work got done and women and men had their own places. Then, at the end of the 17th century, Europeans discovered New Zealand, and began to colonize it, bringing new their influence into the Maori culture, and changing the overall position of women.

New Zealand remained it’s own country, but it was under the protection and jurisdiction of the British crown. This connection to the British influenced the women’s suffrage movement. In the 1860’s, women all over Europe, the United States, and New Zealand were pushing for women’s suffrage, equal rights, and a different moral base to society. New Zealand suffragists worked closely with British suffragists, sharing ideas and building emotions in each other. Women in the workforce and seen actively in society grew in number, and this helped to create a more equal balance between men and women. In the 1880’s the issue of women’s suffrage was brought up repeatedly in the New Zealand parliament. Suffragists persisted, and finally in 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the modern world to grant women’s suffrage. The suffragettes continued to push for suffrage in other countries, and also turned their attention to other feminist and humanitarian issues within their own country.

Present

Politics

Women’s involvement in politics, after they were granted suffrage in 1893, was rather slow in developing. In the last 10 years, however, women have become drastically more involved in politics. In 1997, 30 percent (36/120 seats) of parliament was composed of women. The Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition are also women. Women have equal political and legal rights to men, and they are being encouraged by the government to utilize those rights. The ministry of women’s affairs has conducted extensive research into women’s rights and other women’s issues, and is instrumental in developing changes. The government is especially concerned about the status of Maori women, and there are many programs designed to advance their position. There are also around 95 non-governmental women’s organizations.

Society/Domestic

One of the big issues (other than suffrage) among the early feminists was equality within marriage and that women should be the moral base of society. Today, women are legally viewed as equal partners in marriage, and have equal property rights after a divorce. Domestic violence levels are high, but the government is cracking down and is working to provide shelters for abused women. Women often work part time or work as housewives in order to balance family and home responsibilities with outside jobs. Growing numbers of women, however, send their children to early child care centers. Maori women are more likely to stay at home and work within their small groups of families than to attempt to change their entire tribe or community. However, women in general are taking a more active role than they did in the past in their community governments and in public services. They are also encouraged to participate in sports and join recreational facilities.

Economic

In 1993, New Zealand passed a bill prohibiting discrimination in the work, home, politics, and legal issues on the basis of gender, disability, racial background, economic status, age, and other factors that often are causes of discrimination. In 1997, women composed 45% of the total labor force. Many of these women work in lower paying jobs, teach preschool or primary school, or work part time in order to balance family life. Many other women do work full time, although more full time female workers are working in low paying jobs than their male counterparts. Women from minority groups are less likely to find outside of the home employment. Full time employed women earn about 77% of full time employed men, but much of this wage gap is due to different skill and experience levels and to the fact that women accept lower paying occupations. There are a rising number of women in administrative positions, but are still more male managers and administrators. Also, between 1993 and 1997 there was about a 30% increase in the number of self-employed women. Women are about 90% of all nurses in the country, and 95% of all preschool teachers. The number of male and female doctors in training is about equal.

Education

The numbers of children, male and female about equal, enrolled in early childhood schools are increasing. Primary and Secondary school (age 6-15) is free and compulsory for all citizens. 49% of these primary and secondary school students are girls. The literacy rate was estimated at 99% in 1980. About 21% of girls go on to pursue full time higher education after secondary school. (Compared to 19% of boys). A study showed that females tended to do better in school (get better grades) than males.