Annotated Bibliography: Sociological Factors in New Zealand

This assignment is an annotated bibliography exploring sociological factors relevant to diverse families in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The student analyzes four scholarly sources: a textbook chapter on class stratification, and three other articles or book chapters focusing on mental health of trans and gender diverse people, the health and wellbeing of urban Māori, and inequalities within the child protection system. Each source is summarized, evaluated for its usefulness, and connected to potential teaching practices. The assignment concludes with a reflection that synthesizes key ideas from all four sources, highlighting the impact of gender discrimination, colonization, and educational disparities on the indigenous population, and calling for concerted efforts to improve their lives.

Running head: RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
Relevance of sociological factors
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
Table of Contents
Annotated Bibliography...................................................................................................................2
Reflection.........................................................................................................................................5
References:......................................................................................................................................7

2RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
Annotated Bibliography
1. McManus, R., Matthewman, S., Brickell, C., McLennan, G. & Spoonley, P. (2019).
Stratification and class. In R. McManus, S. Matthewman, C. Brickell, G. McLennan & P.
Spoonley (Eds.), Exploring society: Sociology for New Zealand students (4th ed., pp.111-
130). Auckland University Press.
This chapter of the book talks about how the issue of class and its stratification affect the
social status of the people living in the society. The issue of class is a sociological phenomenon
which had arisen in the society with the advent of monetary resources. The indigenous
population of any society are mainly those individuals who prefer living closer to the nature and
therefore, does not believe in earning more finances. However, this is looked down upon by the
other urban population as they believe that with more money, they would be able to afford a
decent standard of living. In this context, the status of the indigenous people living in Aotearoa
of New Zealand is frowned upon by the urban population.
The advantage of this chapter is that it has been organized in a comprehensive and holsitc
manner and therefore, the readers can make sense of the information provided. However, an
important limitation of this chapter is that it has not looked at the prevailing culture of the region
which has led to the growth and institutionalization of such sociological factors.
This book would be important for me as it has increased my understanding of how the
sociological factors play a significant role in determining the lives of the people living in a
community. This book has made a reference to the people living in Aotearoa in New Zealand
while undertaking the analysis of the importance of sociological factors and their impact on the
individuals.

3RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
2. Tan, K. K., Schmidt, J. M., Ellis, S. J., & Veale, J. F. (2019). Mental Health of Trans and
Gender Diverse People in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A Review of the Social Determinants of
Inequities. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 48(2), 64.
This article focuses on the aspect of mental health and well-being of the trans-people and
the gender diversified individuals living in Aotearoa in New Zealand. The research provides an
overarching empirical view of the prevailing mental health status of such transgender and gender
diverse individuals. The main objective of this research is to look in to how the aspects of the
society like that of gender discrimination and other forms of social disparity affects the well-
being of the individuals whose sexuality are not recognized in the society. They face a lot of
challenges in the community because of their different orientation. The culture of the society
does not accord them a safe space in the community and the authors have tried to focus on this
sociological factor.
The advantage of this article lies in the fact that the authors have been able to
comprehensibly organize the data collected and analyzed them in a systematic manner. However,
an important limitation of this article is that it has not made a note of how the political nature of
the country also inspires the formulation of a culture within the designated community.
This document would be helpful to me in the sense that I will now have a clear
understanding of how the sociological factor of gender discrimination is prevalent within the
region of Aotearoa in New Zealand. Furthermore, this would be used by me in making a research
in the future with regard to the issues of the society and their influence on the individuals.
3. Ryks, J., Simmonds, N., & Whitehead, J. (2019). The Health and Wellbeing of Urban
Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. Handbook of Global Urban Health, 283.

4RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
This book has approached the issue of mental health and well-being of the indigenous
people living in Aotearoa in New Zealand from the angle of colonization. The authors have
noted that the marginalized nature of such indigenous people of the Aotearoa region adversely
impacts their mental well-being since they are not recognized by the other individuals of the
urban population. Thus, they face a lot of challenges in the fields of equality and freedom. Due to
the under recognition of the important space occupied by them in the society, the urban
population does not treat them as an equal to themselves. They are subjected to situations of
disrespect and humiliation. The children also face a lot of challenges in the schools where they
attend for educational purposes. Thus, the authors conclude that the colonizing nature of the
world is still very much present in the contemporary world order and impacts the lives of the
individual, leading to their marginalization.
The advantage of this book lies in the fact that it has been organized in a holistic manner
and all the data are reliable and validated. However, an important limitation is that the book does
not look in to the individualistic tendencies of such indigenous people to remain marginalized in
the community.
This book would be of significant help to me as it approaches the issue of marginalization
of the indigenous population of New Zealand through the lens of colonization. The social evil of
colonization has been brought to the limelight through this book.
4. Keddell, E., & Davie, G. (2018). Inequalities and child protection system contact in
Aotearoa New Zealand: Developing a conceptual framework and research agenda. Social
Sciences, 7(6), 89.

5RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
This article lays emphasis on the important position occupied by the children of the
society. The authors have made a note that the social inequality that exists in the region of
Aotearoa in New Zealand with regard to the indigenous population has led to the
underdevelopment of the children of such marginalized groups. They are unable to receive
quality education from their educators, primarily because of the prevalence of an unfriendly and
despairing environment which exists in the class room. The different kinds of social
discriminations that they gave to face in the light of their origin, ensures their inability to emerge
as responsible and enlightened citizens of the society. Thus, the authors have harped in the
removal or mitigation of the social inequalities and discrimination through the institution of child
protection. It is considered to be the primary responsibility of the child protection agencies to
ensure the holistic development of all children of the society barring any discrimination.
The advantage of this article lies in the fact that it has been able to consider the important
position of the children of the society. However, its limitation lies in the fact that it has not taken
a political lens of how the government can contribute to this social evil.
This article is beneficial to me in the sense that it looks in to the structural needs of the
society. The institution of the child protection agencies can be analyzed in determining their
effectiveness.

6RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
Reflection
The issue of the people living in the Aotearoa in New Zealand needs to be looked at from
a sociological lens. Most of this area is inhabited by the indigenous population. Even in the
contemporary world, the indigenous people are subjected to a number of social inequality which
means that they are not accorded the same status in the society as the other urban population. The
purpose of this reflection is to look at how the lives of the people living in Aotearoa in New
Zealand is affected due to certain sociological factor.
The first sociological factor which has been noted is that of gender discrimination. Within
the community of the indigenous people itself, their lives many trans-gender and other gender
diverse population. Due to limited education and knowledge that they possess, they have not
been endowed with the ability to rationalize their living, instead deciding to stick to the age old
classification of two genders. Thus, such trans-gender and gender diverse individuals are seen to
face many issues, arising out of their preferred notion of sexuality and identification.
This mental well-being of the indigenous population living in Aotearoa in New Zealand
is also affected as a result of the colonial hangover. It is my observation too that the aspect of
racism and racial discriminations very much prevalent in the society. In the context of the
indigenous population of the Aotearoa in New Zealand. It can be seen that they are accorded a
marginalized place in the society. This affects the extent of equality and freedom they enjoy, in
spite of the efforts of the world leaders to give equal dignity and integrity to the individuals of
the society.
Thus, such indigenous population are not able to live a life filled with dignity and respect.
They are made to doubt their ability and are seen in the light of a secondary race.

7RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
I have also come across the notion that the children of the people living in Aotearoa in
New Zealand are affected because of their indigenous origin. The other urban and main stream
population of the community do not accept their presence in the educational institution. This is
again seen to have a prevailing impact on the mental well-being and health of the indigenous
population. They are not treated with respect and from a very early young age itself, they are
made to feel as if they do not form an important part of the society.
Analyzing all these aspects and sociological factors of gender discrimination,
colonization and educational disparity, I have come to the conclusion that a concerted effort is
needed by the individuals of the society along with the governing bodies to establish an
environment which would facilitate the development of the indigenous people living in Aotearoa
in New Zealand. They are a part of the community as much as the urban mainstream population.
Hence, they should also get a voice on how the community can be better organized and how their
lives can improve.

8RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
References:
Keddell, E., & Davie, G. (2018). Inequalities and child protection system contact in Aotearoa
New Zealand: Developing a conceptual framework and research agenda. Social Sciences,
7(6), 89.
McManus, R., Matthewman, S., Brickell, C., McLennan, G. & Spoonley, P. (2019). Stratification
and class. In R. McManus, S. Matthewman, C. Brickell, G. McLennan & P. Spoonley
(Eds.), Exploring society: Sociology for New Zealand students (4th ed., pp.111-130).
Auckland University Press.
Ryks, J., Simmonds, N., & Whitehead, J. (2019). The Health and Wellbeing of Urban Māori in
Aotearoa New Zealand. Handbook of Global Urban Health, 283.
Tan, K. K., Schmidt, J. M., Ellis, S. J., & Veale, J. F. (2019). Mental Health of Trans and Gender
Diverse People in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A Review of the Social Determinants of
Inequities. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 48(2), 64.