Language Defended (Press, 2 March 1982)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: Language Defended (Press, 2 March 1982)
On 2 March 1982, P. W. Tapsell, the Member of Parliament for Eastern Maori, acknowledged that he had used "intemperate language" during a Labour Party regional conference in Hamilton while discussing topics related to lesbians and motherhood. Tapsell made these comments to raise awareness about what he perceived as societal belittlement of mothers who choose to care for their families at home. He expressed concern that traditional homemakers, particularly young Maori mothers, were at risk of being overshadowed by women who do not have children, specifically singling out lesbians as receiving undue prominence in society. During his speech, Tapsell lamented that the efforts of mothers dedicated to raising their children were often undervalued in contemporary culture. He argued that these women, who chose to stay at home, should be respected and that their decision should not be dismissed in favour of those who are childless. He highlighted a situation where society seemed to celebrate the accomplishments of a "barren lesbian" over the vital role of mothers nurturing their families in the home environment. Tapsell also pointed out that young mothers often felt pressured to enter the workforce due to economic needs. He mentioned that this necessity could lead to a disruption in family life, which he believed was particularly evident within communities like Rotorua, where there is a substantial Maori population. He urged that society should ensure that mothers have genuine choices regarding their roles and responsibilities, particularly in light of the growing economic pressures they faced. Through his remarks, Tapsell attempted to advocate for the interests of homemakers and bring attention to what he saw as broader social issues affecting family dynamics. While he accepted that his choice of words was regrettable, his intent was to spark discussion on the dignity and respect owed to mothers, and the challenges they endured in a rapidly changing society.
Important Information
The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact
The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand