Notes for Identity and Belonging

Language use in Australia constantly and rapidly changes to reflect the ever-evolving Australian national identity. It is being influenced by American culture, through its pervasive media, and altered to create a unique identity that addresses the needs of the younger Australians. Technology, the loss and gain of expressions, changing perception of taboo words and political correctness also attribute to the way that language has evolved to fabricate our national identity.

To understand the true nature of an Australian’s racism, one must take the perspective an immigrant. What better way to put ourselves in the shoes of an immigrant than a

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Migrants and immigrants are from a whole different world, although many authors in Growing up Asian in Australia were born in Australia and while their customs and traditions are seen as the norm to them they are seen as different by many Australians. These cultural traditions and practices are far from what the majority are used to and so are neither known nor understood. This result usually in people misunderstanding migrant’s individuality and can cause unfair exclusion. Governed was horrified when the school bully accused her of wiping her “butt with her hands” on the terms of her Indian background and as a result had to deal with constant teasing and taunts

Culture can shape a person’s identity because it is something that directly affects all people. People who grow up in a culture that is quite different from that experienced in the home or local community may feel isolated and may struggle to forge an identity. At times it is necessary to make some concessions in order to belong. Very often new arrivals to Australia find themselves struggling with the demands that their original culture places upon them as well as the pressures of Australian culture.

Most migrants that came to Australia to grab a share of the gold rush, left behind family and home. In traditional Chinese culture this was particularly difficult for them to come from a parent’s heavy focused family system, to an alien country to live.

It is thought by many that part of the Australian identity is being a very tolerant country that accepts and includes all cultures and people from all walks of life; however, after coming across the poems No More Boomerang by Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Be Good, Little Migrants by Uyen Loewald, the experiences felt by two Australians prove that this idea is... questionable.

‘The French are sophisticated. The Americans are brash. The Japanese polite. As for the English, well, they’re just so damned proper about everything. And let’s not even talk about the Kiwi’s, shall we? But what about the Australians?

The impact of the Stolen Generations on Australian Indigenous peoples is seen in the sense of isolation and separation that overwhelms the children that were forcibly removed under the policies of the assimilation legislation. The children experienced not only separation from their family but also had their identity taken away, this includes not being able to speak their own language or practice their culture and religion practices.

The Stolen Generation is the generation of children that were taken from their families and adopted by white families or placed in government-owned facilities. It was part of the assimilation process that aimed to make Aboriginal Australians blend into white society. It did not work and left the victims feeling neither white nor black, unable to fit in with either society (Australians together- no date). Children were made to forget about their Indigenous heritage and forced to adapt to white society. Their names were changed and it was prohibited for them to speak their original languages. The assimilation process focused more on “half-caste” children because they looked whiter than full blood children, so would be more accepted into white society. (Australians Together- no date). This meant that “half-caste” children were more at risk of removal. Nonetheless, anyone part of the Stolen Generation definitely suffered a great deal.

Many argue that Australians are becoming too attached to the American culture, and therefore, are becoming ‘too Americanised’. People may associate this idea with Australian’s participating in some American recreation activities and celebrating different occasions. Society should be looking deeper into Australia’s past and what major events have made Australian’s who we are today. I believe Australia has a strong individual identity and is not becoming too Americanised.

Culture is always changing. Beliefs, behaviours and presentation, religion and language all form part of what is an individual’s or community’s culture. (Bowes, Grace, & Hodge, 2012, p.75 & 77). Due to its intrinsic nature, when people migrate to Australia, they bring their culture with them. As migrants come from all over the world, and not the one place, their

Leunig begins by stating that he “arrived in Australia in 1945,” before clarifying that he was, in fact, born there, and did not immigrate as otherwise suggested by his choice of language. He likens his ‘arrival’ to one an immigrant might face through referring to his birth as “disembarking from [his] mother’s womb.” His choice of language suggests he is desperate to establish himself as a misnomer amongst other Australian-borns; implying that he has a strong prejudice against Australians and Australian society. Leunig claims he had “resisted such assimilation with all [his] heart and soul,” clearly contradicting himself, as earlier he stated he “was becoming fluent in the basic language,” and “had also made a few connections and was getting the lie of the land.” These are all smaller forms of assimilation. Adopting a country’s most-spoken language is assimilation. Making new friends and acquaintances in a new society is also assimilation. Leunig’s statement that he did not assimilate into Australian society is thus a flawed one. Furthermore, this proves to the reader that assimilation is in fact a vital tool for functioning in society. Assimilation is not solely about stripping down creativity and becoming empty husks of human beings. The dictionary defines assimilation as “the process by which a person or persons acquire the social and psychological characteristics of a group.” This includes adopting a language and making new friends. Assimilation is not the opposite to being an individual, as Leunig would have his audience believe. “Assimilation means you become like a regular Australian,” Leunig speculates, before concluding with his thought that “that could be a personal disaster,” completely ignoring the fact that ‘regular Australians’ are creative, intelligent people. Australia is not known for having a rigid work ethic, unlike countries such as China

The Australian identity is progressively constructed through political and societal ideologies that have shaped views on morality, race, character, values and religion (Cousins, 2005). The genesis of an Australian identity dates back to the white settlement, where culture was dominantly influenced and controlled by an Anglo-Saxon heritage and harsh circumstances due to terrain and climate (Moran, 2011). Thus, physical rigorousness, mateship and the capability to endure hardship were foundational in the development of identity (Baum & Butler, 2014). Mono-racialism in mainstream media has become a paramount realisation amongst minority groups in society (Aquilia, 2001). ABC program, ‘The Drum’, demonstrated the lack of non Anglo-Saxon actors

The need to belong in an integral part of the human psyche. All people, on some level, desire to feel a sense of belonging that will emerge from the connections made with people, places, groups, communities and the larger world. Belonging cannot be achieved without an understanding of oneself and their surroundings.