title: Doing the damage? An examination of masculinities and men's rugby experiences of pain, fear and pleasure

authors: Pringle, Richard

abstract: Rugby union's prominent and historic link with males, within Aotearoa/New Zealand, has helped constitute it as a key signifier of masculinity. Feminist-inspired research suggests, however, that heavy-contact sports, like rugby, help (re)produce a problematic form of masculinity that marginalises other masculinities, contributes to health problems and facilitates male privilege in society. Despite these points of view, there have been relatively few empirical examinations of relationships between sport, pain and masculinities. This thesis provided such an examination. 
The prime research question, that underpinned this study, was: "How do men's rugby experiences of fear, pain and/or pleasure articulate with discourses of masculinities?" The research approach used to examine this question was based on semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of fourteen men, and differed from previous such research in three key ways. Firstly, I interviewed men with abroad range of rugby experiences and did not specifically examine the experiences of elite sportsmen. Secondly, I analysed the men's rugby experiences of pain and injury, as well as their emotional experiences of fear and pleasure. Thirdly, I used Foucauldian theory to analyse the men's interview accounts rather than drawing on the Gramscian inspired concept of masculine hegemony. 
The results suggested that rugby was typically linked to dominating discourses of masculinities, through promoting belief that males should be tough, relatively unemotional, tolerant of pain, competitive and, at times, aggressive. This linkage was particularly influential during the men's school years. At this time, rugby acted as a normalising practice for males, a dividing practice between males and females, and as a producer of pleasure, but also, at times, tension, fear and pain. Rugby's pervasive influence provided a discursive space within which the men negotiated understandings of masculinities and self. However, these negotiations did not result in the simple affirmation and reproduction of dominating discourses of masculinity. In contrast, these negotiation processes were often undertaken with varying degrees of tension. The dominance of rugby in the men's schools, for example, resulted in many of the men experiencing tensions between fears of pain, skill limitations and the knowledge that participation in rugby was normal, and expected, for all males. These tensions encouraged many of these men to quit participation in rugby at a young age and for some, when older, to develop resistant readings of rugby and masculinities. These resistant readings positioned rugby players as uncritical thinkers, weak in character and foolish for risking injury. Yet, the men's relationships with rugby were not only complex and divergent but also, at times, paradoxical: many of the men performed an inconsistent range of practices in relation to rugby that simultaneously disturbed and supported dominating discourses of masculinities. 
Despite nearly all of the interview participants expressing some concerns about aspects of rugby with respect to violence, risk of injury and/or its links to masculinities, the men reported that they rarely disclosed their concerns in public. The dominating discourses of rugby, that positioned rugby as 'our national sport' and as a 'man's game', made it a formidable task to publicly critique rugby. The technologies of domination associated with rugby and masculinities still exerted considerable influence over the adult men. However, many of the men, including some who had been passionate adult rugby players, did exercise power against rugby and dominant masculinities. This resistance was exercised primarily through discouraging others, typically their sons, from playing rugby. Although not revolutionary, this micro-level form of resistance, if repeated on a grander scale, would contribute a challenge to rugby's state of dominance. 
The dominance of rugby provided a discursive space that produced, challenged and resisted dominating discourses of masculinities. My research findings, therefore, support the recognition that sport does not consistently or unambiguously produce culturally dominant conceptions of masculinities. In contrast to researchers who have examined institutionalised heavy-contact team sports through a lens filtered by hegemony theory, my results question the extent to which sports like rugby can be primarily regarded as producers of dominant and problematic masculinities. Although this finding could be regarded as a more optimistic reading of sport/masculinity relationships, my results reveal that concern about rugby's dominant social position within Aotearoa/New Zealand is still warranted.

text: Doing the damage? An examination of masculinities and men's rugby experiences of pain, fear and pleasure Rugby union's prominent and historic link with males, within Aotearoa/New Zealand, has helped constitute it as a key signifier of masculinity. Feminist-inspired research suggests, however, that heavy-contact sports, like rugby, help (re)produce a problematic form of masculinity that marginalises other masculinities, contributes to health problems and facilitates male privilege in society. Despite these points of view, there have been relatively few empirical examinations of relationships between sport, pain and masculinities. This thesis provided such an examination. 
The prime research question, that underpinned this study, was: "How do men's rugby experiences of fear, pain and/or pleasure articulate with discourses of masculinities?" The research approach used to examine this question was based on semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of fourteen men, and differed from previous such research in three key ways. Firstly, I interviewed men with abroad range of rugby experiences and did not specifically examine the experiences of elite sportsmen. Secondly, I analysed the men's rugby experiences of pain and injury, as well as their emotional experiences of fear and pleasure. Thirdly, I used Foucauldian theory to analyse the men's interview accounts rather than drawing on the Gramscian inspired concept of masculine hegemony. 
The results suggested that rugby was typically linked to dominating discourses of masculinities, through promoting belief that males should be tough, relatively unemotional, tolerant of pain, competitive and, at times, aggressive. This linkage was particularly influential during the men's school years. At this time, rugby acted as a normalising practice for males, a dividing practice between males and females, and as a producer of pleasure, but also, at times, tension, fear and pain. Rugby's pervasive influence provided a discursive space within which the men negotiated understandings of masculinities and self. However, these negotiations did not result in the simple affirmation and reproduction of dominating discourses of masculinity. In contrast, these negotiation processes were often undertaken with varying degrees of tension. The dominance of rugby in the men's schools, for example, resulted in many of the men experiencing tensions between fears of pain, skill limitations and the knowledge that participation in rugby was normal, and expected, for all males. These tensions encouraged many of these men to quit participation in rugby at a young age and for some, when older, to develop resistant readings of rugby and masculinities. These resistant readings positioned rugby players as uncritical thinkers, weak in character and foolish for risking injury. Yet, the men's relationships with rugby were not only complex and divergent but also, at times, paradoxical: many of the men performed an inconsistent range of practices in relation to rugby that simultaneously disturbed and supported dominating discourses of masculinities. 
Despite nearly all of the interview participants expressing some concerns about aspects of rugby with respect to violence, risk of injury and/or its links to masculinities, the men reported that they rarely disclosed their concerns in public. The dominating discourses of rugby, that positioned rugby as 'our national sport' and as a 'man's game', made it a formidable task to publicly critique rugby. The technologies of domination associated with rugby and masculinities still exerted considerable influence over the adult men. However, many of the men, including some who had been passionate adult rugby players, did exercise power against rugby and dominant masculinities. This resistance was exercised primarily through discouraging others, typically their sons, from playing rugby. Although not revolutionary, this micro-level form of resistance, if repeated on a grander scale, would contribute a challenge to rugby's state of dominance. 
The dominance of rugby provided a discursive space that produced, challenged and resisted dominating discourses of masculinities. My research findings, therefore, support the recognition that sport does not consistently or unambiguously produce culturally dominant conceptions of masculinities. In contrast to researchers who have examined institutionalised heavy-contact team sports through a lens filtered by hegemony theory, my results question the extent to which sports like rugby can be primarily regarded as producers of dominant and problematic masculinities. Although this finding could be regarded as a more optimistic reading of sport/masculinity relationships, my results reveal that concern about rugby's dominant social position within Aotearoa/New Zealand is still warranted.

year: 2003

title: Experiences of Congolese refugee families in New Zealand: Challenges and possibilities for early childhood provision

authors: Mitchell, Linda

abstract: Internationaly, there has been a broad commitment to seeking refugee perspectives on resettlement experiences. Recent research has highlighted challenges for refugees in accessing school and tertiary education that is responsive to their ethnic and cultural identities and to the contexts of their lives. There are few studies, however, of refugee perspectives on early childhood education. This absence is worrying, given the growing number of refugee families with preschool children and the potential for early childhood education to play a transformative role in family lives. In a small community research study we analyse the drawings, stories and focus group discussions of Congolese refugee families who talked about living in New Zealand, their aspirations for their children and for early childhood education and care. We argue that understanding these points of view could be the basis for creating new possibilities that enable cultural and social connectedness, social justice and equity, and agency within early childhood provisions.

text: Experiences of Congolese refugee families in New Zealand: Challenges and possibilities for early childhood provision Internationaly, there has been a broad commitment to seeking refugee perspectives on resettlement experiences. Recent research has highlighted challenges for refugees in accessing school and tertiary education that is responsive to their ethnic and cultural identities and to the contexts of their lives. There are few studies, however, of refugee perspectives on early childhood education. This absence is worrying, given the growing number of refugee families with preschool children and the potential for early childhood education to play a transformative role in family lives. In a small community research study we analyse the drawings, stories and focus group discussions of Congolese refugee families who talked about living in New Zealand, their aspirations for their children and for early childhood education and care. We argue that understanding these points of view could be the basis for creating new possibilities that enable cultural and social connectedness, social justice and equity, and agency within early childhood provisions.

year: 2012

title: Te Ika Huirua o Te Mate

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: This composition is a lament to two staesman of the Māori world Apira Mahuika of Ngāti Porou and Tama Huata of Ngāti Kahungunu. Both men were giants in their respective areas, governance, tribal politics cultral revival language revitalisation, Treaty settlements they both died within days of each other. This compostion also talks about how Pākeha law clashes with Māori lore with the James Takamore case where his whanau took his body and returned it to James ancestral home Whakatohea and the widow laid charges to have her husbands remains dug up and returned to Christchuch. I thought it appropriate to protest about this being the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition was held in Christchurch March 2015. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti.

text: Te Ika Huirua o Te Mate This composition is a lament to two staesman of the Māori world Apira Mahuika of Ngāti Porou and Tama Huata of Ngāti Kahungunu. Both men were giants in their respective areas, governance, tribal politics cultral revival language revitalisation, Treaty settlements they both died within days of each other. This compostion also talks about how Pākeha law clashes with Māori lore with the James Takamore case where his whanau took his body and returned it to James ancestral home Whakatohea and the widow laid charges to have her husbands remains dug up and returned to Christchuch. I thought it appropriate to protest about this being the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition was held in Christchurch March 2015. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti.

year: 2015-02-12