From: james@jameshogan.nz
Sent: Wednesday, 12 May 2021 12:59 pm
To: ‘mark.jennings@newsroom.co.nz’
Subject: Woman’s rugby as a process of colonisation?
Hi Mark and Tim,
I was reading Ashley Stanley’s article on woman’s sports (https://www.newsroom.co.nz/lockerroom/womens-rugby) and was interested in the connection made between where the professional game is now between the genders, in 2021, and what Ashley’s arguing as the reason.
Ashley’s point is: ” …justifying the disparities in salaries, (support and resources) completely ignores historical factors that explain where the women’s game and sport is, to this day.”
Ok.
But I was surprised to read the factors behind the lack of support and resources was “the process of colonisation”:
• “The game of rugby was brought to Aotearoa New Zealand more than 150 years ago by English settlers and was one of many tools in the process of colonisation. It was used in a way to disguise power relations and inequality between settlers and Māori – a facade to ‘level the playing field’. “
Might this be drawing from a long-bow? I’m pretty sure the New Zealand Rugby Union wasn’t planning on colonising Maori through introducing the game to New Zealand.
If so, what’s the evidence?
Regards,
James
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James Hogan
Email: james@jameshogan.nz
Website: www.jameshogan.nz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hogan-23107769/
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