The national identity of Australians has been one of the controversial issues among the region. Fair go, mateship, equalitarianism, multiculturalism are some commonly accepted national identities among Australians. Nonetheless, since the British’s in1788, the Anglo-Saxon heritage had inevitably led to the developing of “Britishness” and “whiteness” as one of the core national identity of Australians. This essay will focus on how the Australian national identities of “whiteness” and other identities have been constructed by silencing and exploiting the ‘Other’ non-white histories as on political, economic and cultural aspects. Examples would be given as evidence to support the standpoint of this essay.
“Whiteness” is one of the core and crucial national identity of Australians. The construction of “whiteness” as an identity is apparently linked to Australian’s colonial history. Robinson (2004) suggested that “Whiteness is not a basic categorical object and being socially constructed. Instead the concept 'white' denotes nothing more than skin colour. It is the Indigenous 'other' who is the focus of racialisation and its effects.” (ppg 145) His statement implies that Aboriginals are the major community being silenced and discriminated in the Australian society. There is a prevailing belief among Australians that “White represents the norm, the natural order of things, or self while non- White represents the Other who may threaten, degrade, pollute or contaminate the White race” (Kamp, 2008,ppg.413). Those who are considered as “white” are mainly determined by sharing common interests and culture with the British colonizers.
The British invasion in Australia in 1788 has already symbolized a starting of non-white histories bei...
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...y, economically and culturally and Australian identities have developed on the basis on silencing the non-whites.
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The idea that indigenous Australian communities are underprivileged and do not receive the same justice that the white community accrues is represented through Jay Swan and his interactions with the corrupt white police officers and the indigenous locals of the town. My empathetic response to the text as a whole was influenced directly by way the text constructs these ideas as well as my knowledge of the way indigenous Australians are represented in the mainstream media and the behaviour of the police force as an institution. These contextual factors and the way Sen has constructed ideas influenced me to empathise with the indigenous
Over the years Australia has had many different problems with racism and racism affecting peoples’ lives. Many racial groups have been affected, most significantly the Aboriginals. The end of world war two in 1945 marked a huge change in types of racism. Australia went from the ‘superior’ white Australians dominating over immigrants and aboriginals. To a relatively multicultural and accepting society that is present today.
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