About this research
PhD Researcher: Fern Miro Smith, Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi, University of Auckland
Primary supervisor: Dr Jade Le Grice, University of Auckland
Project summary:
Despite Māori women undergoing abortion at higher rates than Pākehā (Ministry of Health, 2022), there is a paucity of research that explores Māori experiences of abortion and none that explore the unique pressures, tensions and considerations that taitamawahine (Māori girls, Māori non-binary people) may navigate when deciding whether to have an abortion. How then do taitamawahine in Te Tai Tokerau enact their reproductive autonomy when making decisions to have an abortion? In her research, Fern seeks to answer this question by speaking with Māori experts who work in the broad field of reproductive justice, and Māori women who accessed, or tried to access an abortion in Te Taitokerau when they were a taitamawahine. Here, she hopes to understand how taitamawahine enact, or have their reproductive and bodily autonomy restricted in the context of abortion. There is keen government interest to ensure that taitamawahine have equitable access to abortion services and this research aims to fill this gap. This research will increase our understanding of the sexual and reproductive journeys of taitamawahine to make clear recommendations to improve the provision of abortion healthcare so it’s accessible and culturally relevant to taitamawahine.
This research will increase our understanding of the sexual and reproductive journeys of taitamawahine to make clear recommendations to improve the provision of abortion healthcare so it’s accessible and culturally relevant to taitamawahine.
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