Race, ethnicity, prejudice: white Australia policy Essay

This paper is split up into dickens lead offs. In the first part the conceits or melt down, heartyity, prejudice and racialism be defined and how they be connected is discussed. rive 2 of the paper looks at the vacuous Australia indemnity and why it was introduced. The impact of much(prenominal)(prenominal) a antiblack immigration business relationship on contemporary Australia is in like manner discussed in complete points of attitudes and behaviours of the universe.Following is a design discussion on how successive disposal policies and non-goernment organisations have tried to deal with and crush place racialism and discrimination a enlightenst minority radicals in Australia since the whiteness Australia policy was abolished in the 1940s. Lastly, the tensions that stay today in multicultural Australia ar explored. Part 1 What is travel rapidly? During the bracing-fashi hotshotd 18th and primaeval 19th centuries it was plan that humans could be come apartd into distinguishable groups according to their biological makeup,or alternatively, their race. The term race foc employ more on common features that were sh atomic number 18d among a virtuoso species, quite than placing emphasis on the characteristics which divide us (Cohen & Kennedy, 2007 Giddens, 2001). The emerging theories of race were used to justify the rising affable parade as Eng come to a wide with wee(a) European nations became imperial powers. It was thought that on that point were iii principal(prenominal) race categories, neat, black and yellow, with the white race being the superior race (Giddens, 2001).Today, sociologists reject the conceit of racial power structure amongst humankind and propose that race is a social remodel related to the shipway that people and finiss interpret, and react to, minor sensible differences ( train Krieken, Habibis, Smith, Hutchins, Haralambos & Holborn, 2006, p. 264). The idea of signifi butt jointt biologica l differences has been debunked in contemporary sociology and the notion re proposed with the emergence of culturality. What is paganity?The idea of race is a social construct ground on innate tangible differences, while ethnicity is vest eithery social in meaning based on slight(prenominal) obvious differences such as social markers of culture, langu sequence, religion, style of dress and topicity (Giddens, 2001 Cohen & Kennedy, 2007 vanguard Krieken et al, 2010 Matsumoto & Juang, 2004). In in the altogether(prenominal) words, it looks at how matchless group of people are distinguishable from other based on differences that are learned. In practice, ethnic labels almost always reserve to minority groups within a familiarity.This is rugged in the sense that it poses a venture of separation amidst us and them (Giddens, 2001 new wave Krieken et al, 2010). Another problem is that ethnic classifys are often too generic. In Australia, for example, we magnate chatter of a Islamic ethnic group or the Muslim community. Muslim, therefore, becomes one category which in concomitant holds a number of subgroups itself which does not beat back ac fareledged. Another issue arising from ethnic grouping is that labels are usu eachy given to the minority, when in fact, we are all ethnic irrespective of if we belong to an ethnic minority or majority.What is prejudice? Prejudice refers to opinions or attitudes held by members of one groups towards another (Giddens, 2001, p. 250). These opinions and attitudes are usually based on preconceived views based on stereotypes rather than certainty and are hard to change even when presented with evidence stating otherwise (McConnochie, Hollinsworth & Pettman, 1988). Prejudice is based on internal beliefs and when those beliefs lead to a grumpy behaviour as a moderate it turns into discrimination.For example, if people are denied the like opportunities, such as gaining employment, based on their clamber colour , their ethnicity or disability as a pull up stakes of prejudice, prejudice becomes discrimination. What is racism? When we speak of race, ethnicity and prejudice we are intrinsically linking racism as easily. Racism is prejudice interpreted another step further. In separate to prejudice, racism is based on comprehend cultural superiority, which is itself based on perceived genetic superiority (McConnochie et al, 1988). There are two mildews of racism individual and institutional. singular racism involves one-on-one scenarios where racist attitudes are expressed based on a particular individuals belief towards another. For example, one somebody might be of the opinion that all Aboriginals are dirty, and therefore, be racist to an Aboriginal when they are manner of walking down the street, at school or give way. Institutional racism on the other hand is far broader in place setting and more complex. It refers to the ways in which racism has infiltrated into social institutio ns which govern, discriminate and oppress mixed groups within that companionship based on their race (McConnochie et al, 1988).These institutions within our societies, such as schools and healthcare services, use racism in a systematic manner which favours one group over all the others. Although racism as a notion is the same for both individual and institutional purposes, the consequences of the two are vastly variant. Sociologists have argued that in the recent years racism has shifted from excluding groups on a biological basis, to more of a cultural basis of difference (Giddens, 2001 Van Krieken et al, 2010). In this natural wave of racism there are clearly primal political dimensions.Part 2 The color Australia Policy (1880s 1940s) Australia as we know it today is a result of on the alert political planning and construction to puddle a particular kind of society. From early European settlers until the late 19th coulomb Australia had an open immigration policy (Cope, Cas tles & Kalantzis, 1991). Everyone was take and encourage to come as populating the land was the primary concern. However, immigration legislation changed as unemployment rates started rising and fears of over population from the Chinese was ignited.As a result, the sporty Australia policy was introduced in 1980 and lasted done to early 1940s (Van Krieken et al, 2010 Jupp, 2002). Economic and cultural reasons were the primary(prenominal) reasons for introducing the whiteness Australia policy (Windschuttle, 2005). cordial cohesion was a real concern at the sequence and it was believed that solidarity could not be maintain with so mevery inferior races populating the nation. It was believed that, in accordance to Darwins theory of evolution, the fittest race will survive and the weakest would be eliminated accordingly.These were the main underlying rationales for keeping Australia as pure as workable. Impact of Australias immigration history on the attitudes and behaviours o f contemporary Australians As contemporary Australia becomes more diverse, racist attitudes enter from immigration history and previous policies can still be entangle. Expression of racism through attitudes and behaviours has interpreted on novel form. Contemporary expressions of racism tend to be cogitateed on national identicalness and nationhood rather than genetic superiority, and tend to also be fuelled by the popular media. erstwhile again, the concern appears to be on social cohesion and the belief that minority groups place the cohesion and national identity at risk, showing remnants of the White Australia policy. Inherent racist beliefs and attitudes expressed today are targeted towards minority groups who potentially are the most harmd. Measures taken by the government to address this disadvantage is seen as an unfair privileged interposition at the expense of the majority. Examples of this include resistivity towards action policies promoting Indigenous Australian s into certain jobs and homework of English language support to newcomers.Attempts at eradicating racism and discrimination against minority groups and individuals since the end of the White Australia policy Assimilation lasted from the 1940s until the mid(prenominal) 1960s. This new policy pick out the assumptions from the White Australia policy on preserving the society as homogenous in install to keep cohesion and harmoniousness. It meant that immigrants should absorb themselves into mainstream culture as readily as possible and become as Australian as possible (Van Krieken et al, 2010 Cope et al, 1991).Government policies were hurl into place for English language lessons, which were at the centre of the policy, along with services to uphold migrants find employment and help them out with housing upon their arrival (Van Krieken et al, 2010). In other words, the main emphasis of the culture policy was to make them look like us as much and as quickly as possible. Integration followed on from socialisation and lasted from the mid 1960s to the early 1970s. The expectations of the assimilation policy and the evident reality were rather different and as a result the integration approach appeared.The government shifted focus from making them like us to educating the Australian public to accept and welcome the new changes and the need to change attitudes to be less fearful and negative to more tolerant. With new policies developed at the time, overall differences were welcomed and encouraged into the public domain. By the early to mid 1970s multiculturalism was introduced as an attempt to embossment some of the tensions and anxieties and started the shift from British rivet immigration.The Racial Discrimination Act was introduced in 1975 and racism was officially legislated against. Under the new RDA it became against the law to discriminate in areas such as housing, employment and provision of services. By the 1980s, multiculturalism was being redefined, and the emphasis of the concept was legality across the board for all individuals in Australia irrespective of their background (Van Krieken et al, 2010). Multiculturalism was a concept encompassing the need for unity, cellular inclusion, leeway, acceptance and equality.What tensions keep on today in multicultural Australia? despite the push by the government for all residents to identify as an Australian and work together to develop a national identity, whilst providing equal opportunities and access across the board, it hasnt been an easy journey to date. At the karyon of the issue of Australia as a multicultural nation is national identity. Defining what it bureau to be Australian has been problematic over the years and has usually reflected political movements.Remnants of White Australia policy can still, however, be felt in todays society as they are expressed through traditional racist attitudes and beliefs and are sometimes the cause of racial attacks, segregation and fretfulness of minority groups. Moreover, tension exists on a number of other issues including the feeling of work shift for migrants of non-English-speaking background who after some time do not identify with the Australian national identity nor with their mother-land (Jupp, 2002). They face a number of adjustment issues as well such as struggling to gain employment.Other issues still relevant in multicultural Australia include limited inclusion of Indigenous issues within the policies, tension in relation to Asian immigration, the extent to which different value and belief systems are received and allowed for, the uncertainty of the role and nature of ethnic and minority groups within the broader mainstream society, the correlation of class, gender and ethnicity, the conflict between inclusion and tolerance and the currently hot debated issue on asylum seekers (Jupp, 2002 Van Krieken et al, 2010).In conclusion, whilst multiculturalism has surely been a step forward and forwar d thus far in unifying(a) all Australian citizens as one there is still a long way to go before the saint is achieved. More research is needed in areas that affect minority groups and the daily issues they are faced with based on their gender, age and ethnicity. The findings need to be considered and used when in writing new policies for the nation.While there is no easy answer to any of the issues Australia is faced with today, a new form of multiculturalism with an even bigger focus on unity, respect and mindfulness is needed in progressing forward. Refrences Cope, B. , Castles, S. , & Kalantzis, M. (1991). Historical overview of the assumptions about the relationship between immigration and social cohesion. In Immigration, ethnic conflict and social cohesion (Ch. 2, pp. 3 19). Centre for Multicultural Studies, University of Wollongong, Canberra AGPS.Cohen, R. & Kennedy, P. (2007). Social Inequalities Gender, Race and Class. In Global Sociology. (2nd edition, Ch 6, pp 157 162) . Giddens, A. (2001). Race, Ethnicity and Migration. In Sociology. (4th edition, Ch 9, pp 244 277). Cambridge Polity Press. Jupp, J. (2002). From White Australia to Woomera The Story of Australian Immigration. Cambridge Cambridge University Press. McConnochie, K. , Hollinsworth, D. , & Pettman, J. (1988). Race and racism in Australia. Wentworth Falls, NSW Macleay Press. Matsumoto, D.& Juang, L. (2004) gloss and psychology (3rd ed. ). Cambridge Cambridge University Press. Van Krieken, R. , Habibis, D. , Smith, P. , Hutchins, B. , Haralambos, M. , & Holborn, M. (Eds. ). (2006). Sociology. Themes and Perspectives. (3rd ed. ). Frenchs Forest Pearson Longman. Van Krieken, R. et al (2010). Identities Indigenous, National, Ethnic and Racial. In Sociology. (4th edition, Ch 8, pp 256 282). Sydney Pearson. Windschuttle. K. (2005). The White Australia policy. Sydney Papers, 17(3-4), 129-134.