Reproductive justice in Aotearoa New Zealand—A viewpoint narrative

Authors

  • Tania Huria Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri, Family Planning New Zealand
  • Amy Beliveau Family Planning New Zealand
  • Olive Nuttall Family Planning New Zealand
  • Sue Reid Family Planning New Zealand

Keywords:

reprductive justive

Abstract

The term reproductive justice originated in the United States in 1994 (Ross, 2017; Ross & Solinger, 2017; SisterSong, n.d.). It was coined by a group of Black women who organised under the name Women of African Descent for Reproductive Justice (Zavella, 2020). These women recognised that the reproductive rights movement was not only led by wealthy and middle- class white women, but it was also focused exclusively on the needs and experiences of wealthy and middle-class white women. The reproductive rights movement did not value or account for the experiences of women of colour, other marginalised women, and trans people—or the unique threats that these people face to their reproductive autonomy. The reproductive rights movement was centred on the idea of “choice”.

References

Abortion Legislation Act 2020. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/ act/public/2020/0006/latest/LMS237600.html

Burry K., Thorburn N., & Jury A. (2018). Reproductive Coercion in Aotearoa New Zealand. National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges. Wellington. https:// womensrefuge.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Reproductive-Coercion.pdf

Collins, P. H. (2015). Intersectionality's definitional dilemmas. Annual Review of Sociology, 41(1), 1–20. https://doi. org/10.1146/annurev-soc-073014-112142

Cooper J. M., & Sánchez P. J. (2018). Congenital syphilis. Seminars in Perinatology, 42(3), 176–184. https://doi. org/10.1053/j.semperi.2018.02.005. Epub 2018 Apr 5. PMID: 29627075.

Dixon, R., Robertson, J., Beliveau, A., Reid, S., Maitland, R., & Dalley, J. (2022). New Zealand secondary school teachers’ perspectives on teaching Relationships and Sexuality Education. https://www.familyplanning.org.nz/media/305050/teachers-rse-survey-2022.pdf

Education and Training Act 2020. https://www.legislation. govt.nz/act/public/2020/0038/latest/LMS170676.html

Education Review Office. (2018). Promoting wellbeing through sexuality education. https://ero.govt.nz/ our-research/promoting-wellbeing-through-sexuality- education

El-Mowafi, I. M., Yalahow, A., Idriss-Wheeler, D., & Yaya, S. (2021). The politest form of racism: Sexual and reproductive health and rights paradigm in Canada. Reproductive Health, 18, 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01117-8

Ellis, K., Munro, D., & Wood, R., (2022), The experiences of endometriosis patients with diagnosis and treatment in New Zealand. Frontiers in Global. Women’s Health, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2022.991045

Ellis, K., Munro, D., & Wood, R. (2023). Dismissal informs the priorities of endometriosis patients in New Zealand. Frontiers in Medicine, 10, 1185769. https://doi. org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1185769

ESR. (2022). ESR undertakes STI surveillance on behalf of the Ministry of Health. unpublished data.

Family Planning. (2020). Contraceptive Use Survey. https:// www.familyplanning.org.nz/media/304436/contraception- use-survey-2020_final.pdf

Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand. (2020).

Atlas of healthcare variation: Contraceptive use by women: Key findings. https://www.hqsc.govt.nz/assets/ Our-data/Publications-resources/Contraceptive-use- infographic-Nov-2020.pdf

Innes, C. R., Williman, J. A., Simcock, B. J., Hider, P., Sage, M., Dempster-Rivett, K., Lawton, B., & Sykes, P. H. (2020). Impact of human papillomavirus vaccination on rates of abnormal cervical cytology and histology in young New Zealand women. New Zealand Medical Journal (Online), 133(1508), 72–84.

Laurence, R. (2019). Māori women and abortion: A Kaupapa Māori literature review. Te Whāriki Takapou. https://tewhariki.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/19_582_ Laurence_M%C4%81ori-women-and-abortion_A- Kaupapa-M%C4%81ori-review-1.pdf

Lawton, B., Makowharemahihi, C., Cram, F., Robson, B., & Ngata, T. (2016). Pounamu: E Hine: access to contraception for indigenous Māori teenage mothers. Journal of Primary Health Care, 8(1), 52–59. https://doi. org/10.1071/HC15021

Lee, S. C., & Norman, W. V. (2022). Emergency contraception subsidy in Canada: A comparative policy analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1110. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/ articles/10.1186/s12913-022-08416-1

Le Grice J., & Braun V. (2018). Indigenous (Māori) sexual health psychologies in New Zealand: Delivering culturally congruent sexuality education. Journal of Health Psychology, 23(2), 175–187. https://doi. org/10.1177/1359105317739909

Le Grice, J., Turner, C., Nikora, L., & Gavey, N. (2022). Indigenous sexual & reproductive Justice in Aotearoa New Zealand: Mitigating ongoing colonial harm in the revitalisation of Māori sexual violence prevention knowledge, expertise, and practice. In T. Morison & J. M.-J. J. Mavuso (Eds.), Sexual and reproductive justice: From the margins to the centre (pp. 41–59). Lexington Books.

Lourie, R. (2020). Māori women and cervical screening: A Kaupapa Māori literature review. Te Whāriki Takapou. https://tewhariki.org.nz/assets/Maori-women-and- cervical-screening-A-Kaupapa-Maori-Literature-Review. pdf

McGinn, O., Mount, V., & Fulcher, H. (2021). Increasing access to contraception in New Zealand: Assessing the impact of a new funding initiative. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1528). https://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal- articles/increasing-access-to-contraception-in-new- zealand-assessing-the-impact-of-a-new-funding-initiative

Messenger, B., Beliveau, A., Clark, M., Fyfe, C., & Green, A. (2021a). How has long-acting reversible contraceptive provision at Family Planning clinics in Aotearoa New Zealand changed since PHARMAC funded intra- uterine systems for contraception? New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1543). https://journal.nzma.org. nz/journal-articles/how-has-long-acting-reversible- contraceptive-provision-at-family-planning-clinics-in- aotearoa-new-zealand-changed-since-pharmac-funded-intra-uterine-systems-for-contraception

Messenger, B., Beliveau, A., Clark, M., Fyfe, C., & Green, A. (2021b). How has contraceptive provision at Family Planning clinics in Aotearoa New Zealand changed between 2009, 2014 and 2019: a cross-sectional analysis. New Zealand Medical Journal, 30, 134(1539), 21–32.

Ministry of Education. (2020). Relationships and sexuality education, a guide for teachers, leaders, and boards of trustees. https://hpe.tki.org.nz/guidelines-and-policies/relationships-and-sexuality-education/

Minsitry of Health. (n.d.). Definition of equity. https://www. health.govt.nz/about-ministry/what-we-do/achieving- equity#:~:text=World%20Health%20Organization.-,The%20 definition,to%20get%20equitable%20health%20 outcomes

Ministry of Health. (2019). Sexual and reproductive health 2014/15: New Zealand Health Survey. Sexual and Reproductive Health Data Explorer. https://minhealthnz. shinyapps.io/nz-health-survey-2014-15-srh-data- explorer/

Ministry of Health. (2022). Abortion Services Aotearoa New Zealand: Annual Report 2022. Ministry of Health. https:// www.health.govt.nz/publication/abortion-services- aotearoa-new-zealand-annual-report-2022

Ministry of Health. (2023a). Women’s Health Strategy. https:// www.health.govt.nz/publication/womens-health-strategy

Ministry of Health. (2023b). Ngā Pokenga Paipai Me Ngā Pokenga Huaketo Mā Te Toto: Te Rautaki O Aotearoa 2023–2030 | Aotearoa New Zealand Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection Strategy 2023– 2030. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/aotearoa- new-zealand-sexually-transmitted-and-blood-borne- infection-strategy-2023-2030#:~:text=The%20vision%20 of%20the%20Sexually,free%20from%20stigma%20 and%20discrimination.

Moewaka Barnes, H., & McCreanor, T. (2019). Colonisation, hauora and whenua in Aotearoa. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 49:sup1, 19–33. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/03036758.2019.1668439

Munari, S. C., Goller, J. L., Hellard, M., & Hocking, J. S. (2022). Chlamydia prevention and management in Australia: Reducing the burden of disease. The Medical Journal of Australia, 217(10), 499–501. https://doi. org/10.5694/mja2.51749

New Zealand Herald. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ the-front-page-ethnicity-in-healthcare-is-te-whatu-oras-new-policy-ethical/ICUSVYKJAVDGPPNUIEM6WVOL5 Q/#:~:text=%E2%80%9COne%20example%20that%20 concerns%20gender,They%20might%20not%20be%20 believed

Ross, L. (2006). Understanding reproductive justice: Transforming the pro-choice movement. off our backs , 36, 14–19. https://doi.org/10.2307/20838711

Ross, L. J. (2017). Reproductive justice as intersectional feminist activism. Souls, 19(3), 286–314. https://doi.org/1 0.1080/10999949.2017.1389634

Ross, L., & Solinger, R. (2017). Reproductive justice: An introduction. University of California Press.

SisterSong. (n.d.). Reproductive justice. https://www.sistersong.net/reproductive-justice

Somigliana, E., Mangili, G., Martinelli, F., Noli, S., Filippi, F., Bergamini, A., Bocciolone, L., Buonomo, B., & Peccatori, F. (2020). Fertility preservation in women with cervical cancer. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 154, 103092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103092

Te Karu, L., Habib, T., & Crengle, S. (2021). The inequity of access to contraception for women in Aotearoa: an unfair, unsafe and ineffective system. The New Zealand Medical Journal (Online), 134(1532), 86–88.

Te Puna Aonui. (2022). Te Aorerekura: National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence. https:// tepunaaonui.govt.nz/national-strategy/#download

Thompson T. M., Young Y. Y., Bass T. M., Baker S., Njoku O., Norwood J., & Simpson M. (2022). Racism runs through it: Examining the sexual and reproductive health experience of black women in the south. Health Affairs, 41(2), 195–202. https://doi.org/10.1377/ hlthaff.2021.01422

Tsevat, D. G., Wiesenfeld, H. C., Parks, C., & Peipert, J. F. (2017). Sexually transmitted diseases and infertility. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 216(1), 1–9.https://doi/10.1016/j.ajog.2016.08.008.

Turia, T. (2004). 1st National Māori Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference. Wainuiomata Marae, Wellington,

November. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0411/ S00021.htm

United Nations. (2015). Trends in contraceptive use worldwide 2015. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. https://www.un.org/ development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development. desa.pd/files/undesa_pd_report_2015_trends_ contraceptive_use.pdf

UN Women. (n.d.). Intersectional feminism: What it means and why it matters right now. https://un-women.medium. com/intersectional-feminism-what-it-means-and-why-it- matters-right-now-7743bfa16757

Van Gerwen, O. T., Muzny, C. A., & Marrazzo, J. M. (2022). Sexually transmitted infections and female reproductive health. Nature Microbiology, 7(8), 1116–1126. https://doi. org/10.1038/s41564-022-01177-x.

Venuto, D. (2023, June 21). The Front Page: Ethnicity in healthcare: Is Te Whatu Ora’s new policy ethical?

Zavella, P. (2020). The movement for reproductive justice: Empowering women of color through social activism (Vol. 5). NYU Press.

Downloads

Published

2023-12-18

How to Cite

Huria, T., Beliveau, A., Nuttall, O., & Reid, S. (2023). Reproductive justice in Aotearoa New Zealand—A viewpoint narrative. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 35(4), 136–143. Retrieved from https://anzswjournal.nz/anzsw/article/view/1149