Speakers
Description
Through application of an Indigenous - Māori informed theoretical framing, articulated as Mana Wāhine values, this presentation draws on fieldwork findings to considers firstly, the role of weightlifting in developing personal, relational, and collective empowerment for Aotearoa New Zealand Indigenous (Māori) women, and then secondly how this empowerment aligns with the strengthening of Mana Wāhine values and fosters social change.
Findings suggest that lifting weights and strength-based training enhanced the development of taha tinana (physical wellness), taha wairua (spiritual wellness), and this had flow on effects into other areas of life, hence they reported better taha hinengaro (mental and emotional wellness). While seemingly an individual sport, feelings of belonging and camaraderie due to being part of the lifting community and subscribing to a similar kaupapa (purpose/vision) lead to better taha whānau (social wellness). Wāhine spoke very much about having a sense of authority, notions of manakitanga (care; generosity) and giving back to publics on the ground, especially Māori publics for the purpose of promoting the kaupapa of strong wāhine. However, any broader transformative impacts will require the ongoing challenges of predetermined ideologies i.e., stereotypes of women not being strong, or norms, rules, exclusionary practices and under resourcing, for example, which sees women’s lifting to be situated at the margins.
