Abstract
In this chapter, feminist historian Harriet Winn traces the origins and development of Thursdays in Black, a grassroots activist movement to combat global gender violence, which was developed by the World Council of Churches in the 1980s. Revived in 2015 as a student-led group campaigning against campus rape, Thursdays in Black NZ has become a timely response to the urgent crisis of sexual violence within Aotearoa New Zealand, utilizing prevention and awareness-raising methods to educate students about sexual violence and to tackle rape-supportive cultures that pervade university campus life. Winn outlines the religious origins of Thursdays in Black, before exploring its attempts to combat sexual violence within Aotearoa in contextually specific ways, particularly with regard to its commitment to feminist praxis and its adoption of mātauranga Māori—Māori knowledge—as a core part of the movement’s identity and philosophy.
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Notes
- 1.
Aotearoa is the most widely used Māori name for New Zealand, and often precedes its English counterpart when the country is written or spoken about, or may be used on its own. The precise origins and meaning of Aotearoa are uncertain, but it is often translated as “land of the long white cloud.”
- 2.
Mātauranga Māori can be translated as the body of Māori knowledge originating from Māori ancestors. It includes the Māori worldview, creativity, and cultural practices. All translations of Māori words in this chapter are derived from the Māori Dictionary website, http://maoridictionary.co.nz/. Accessed 13 July 2017.
- 3.
Within this chapter I have decided to use the term “victim” when referring to those who have experienced sexual assault. My reasoning for this is twofold: first, “victim” is often regarded as an overarching term, while “survivor” generally refers to those who have begun to embark on the recovery process. Second, one of the most destructive aspects of rape culture is the denial of victimhood for those who have experienced sexual assault; therefore, I believe “victim” is fitting as it acknowledges the trauma wrought. You can read more about the importance of terminology at Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN’s) website: https://www.rainn.org/articles/key-terms-and-phrases.
- 4.
All details about the origins of TIB and TIB Aotearoa, which I allude to throughout this chapter, are included on the Thursdays in Black Aotearoa website, particularly its “Whakapapa of the Campaign” page. I will reference these hereafter as TIBA (2016).
- 5.
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) was established by the New Zealand government in 1974. The scheme provides financial support and compensation for those injured or ill in order to aid their recovery. See https://www.acc.co.nz/about-us/who-we-are/what-we-do/?smooth-scroll=content-after-navs. Accessed 19 August 2017.
- 6.
In New Zealand, Commissions of Inquiry are set up by the governor-general, independent of the government, to investigate various issues, report findings, and make recommendations based on these findings. Although they are not legally binding, reports issued by Commissions of Inquiries can nevertheless carry considerable political and social influence. For further details, see Simpson (2012).
- 7.
TIBNZ pin badges and T-shirts can be viewed here https://www.trademe.co.nz/clothing-fashion/men/other/auction-1443197801.htm. Accessed 21 October 2017.
- 8.
- 9.
Pākehā generally refers to a white New Zealander of European descent but is often used in a broader sense to mean “foreigner.”
- 10.
For further details about TOAH-NNEST, see their website http://toah-nnest.org.nz/. Accessed 4 September 2017.
- 11.
The Treaty of Waitangi was a document signed in 1840 by Māori chiefs and Crown representatives. Its principles provide the framework for Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural society and obligate the Crown (or the government) to protect Māori interests and uphold Māori rangatiratanga (authority or self-management) over their resources such as land and waterways. For further details, see Hayward (2012).
- 12.
For further details on Shakti in Aotearoa New Zealand, see their website http://shakti-international.org/shakti-nz/. Accessed 4 September 2017.
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Winn, H. (2018). Thursdays in Black: Localized Responses to Rape Culture and Gender Violence in Aotearoa New Zealand. In: Blyth, C., Colgan, E., Edwards, K. (eds) Rape Culture, Gender Violence, and Religion. Religion and Radicalism. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72224-5_4
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