Indigenous (Māori) sexual health psychologies in New Zealand: Delivering culturally congruent sexuality education

J Health Psychol. 2018 Feb;23(2):175-187. doi: 10.1177/1359105317739909. Epub 2017 Dec 13.

Abstract

Indigenous (Māori) psychologies of sexual health occur at the cultural nexus of Indigenous and Western knowledge, colonising influence and intervention. Formal school-based sexuality education holds potential to intervene in this psychological space by decolonising notions of Māori sexuality, relationships and reproduction. This research utilises an Indigenous feminist (Mana Wāhine) methodology and interviews with 43 Māori participants (26 women and 17 men). We explore how Māori knowledges (mātauranga Māori), responsive to the surrounding colonising context, were interwoven through four themes: relationships, reproductive responsibility, open conversations about sexuality and contraceptive education. Indigenous knowledges can contribute to good sexual health psychologies for all.

Keywords: Indigenous psychology; colonisation; sexual health; sexuality; sexuality education.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Behavioral Medicine*
  • Ethnicity / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • New Zealand
  • Sex Education / methods*
  • Sexual Health / education*
  • Sexual Health / ethnology*
  • Sexuality / ethnology*
  • Sexuality / psychology*