Report: Australian Stereotypical Contradictions Essay

The injustice of stereotypes begins with depictions of diverse groups as uniform. For Indigenous Australian stereotypes, there are prevailing negative views of laziness, welfare abuse, substance abuse, and criminality (Perkins, 2014). Initial negative stereotypes of Indigenous Australians were based on social-Darwinist theories (Harrison & Sellwood, 2016). However, contemporary stereotypes might be attributed to ignorance of Australia’s past paternalistic colonialism on contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Stereotypes negatively impact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is clear in constructing identity, and the expectations others have of Indigenous Australians.

Australia’s identity has always been a complicated one. Starting with Aboriginal genocide, 1800’s cowboys and villains, two world wars and a bunch of poems describing them, it makes it difficult to conclude on what being an ‘Aussie’ really is. Thankfully, the two thought-provoking poems Nobody Calls Me a Wog Anymore by Komninos Zervos, and My Country by Dorothea Mackellar both use their discerning selection of themes to reflect modern attitudes in some extent. Along with their themes, Nobody Calls Me a Wog Anymore and My Country both use their story to capture the attributes modern Australians possess to some degree.

Australia is a country filled with many stereotypes, including people riding kangaroos, wearing cork hats, wrestling crocodiles and cooking snags on the barbeque while having a beer. However, Australians are usually easy-going people, unlike what stereotypes suggest. The worldwide film industry uses these stereotypical images of Australia to mock and parody Australians. However, the Australian film industry uses these images to their advantage to create intelligent, satirical comedies of the Australian way of life. The 1997 Australian comedy movie, The Castle, directed by Rob Sitch, is an amusing satire of a stereotypical Australian family fighting for their rights.

It is applied indiscriminately within the Australian media to label array of factors seen as threatening to national identity, way of life or values. This uncomplimentary use of Americanisation sees Australia as adopting social practices and cultural values which originates in the United States. (Bennett 1999)

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website provides highly relevant information regarding the chosen group’s population demographic, as it shows only Australian statistics. The ABS is an authoritative source, being the national statistical agency in Australia. It provides the most accurate and up-to-date figures regarding Australia’s population. It is a purely factual therefore objective database. This site identifies the proportion of the population being examined.

We Aussies are proud of our culture. But is binge drinking part of our culture? Australia is one of the heavy drinking nations around the world as the alcohol consumption dates to the arrival of the First Fleet in the year 1788. Since then there has been a

The concept of being a ‘nation of immigrants’ is at the center of Australian identity.

In addition, Aboriginals have been discriminated against and seen as beneath Europeans throughout Australian history; the use of film codes throughout the movie aid in displaying this social construct. This stereotype has been perpetuated in Bran Nue Dae as Aboriginals have been portrayed as homeless, alcoholics and thieves – traits commonly associated with individuals of low socio-economic class. Technical codes such as high angle shots of Benedictus looking down on Willie positions the audience to perceive Indigenous Australians as inferior and subordinate to Catholics; maintaining the theme seen throughout history that Indigenous Australians are lower class citizens. Furthermore, technical codes found in the scene where Willie first meets

The representation of Indigenous Australians in fiction and nonfiction texts are influenced by a range of factors. In the contemporary world of multicultural Australia, there has been a variety of ways groups of people are represented in texts. The Indigenous population is often portrayed in ways that strengthen harmful stereotypes. However, there are also a variety of positive outlooks and portrayals expressing their strength and achievements. In texts studied in year 8 English, the representation of Indigenous Australians in Crow country are characterized as outcasts and reflect cultural distinction. Newspaper articles regarding “Adam Goodes” demonstrates how preconceived thoughts from many Australians destroys sporting stars outlook upon

Australia’s population is culturally and ethnically diverse. As at June 2010, there were 22.3 million residents in Australia, around one-quarter of the population was born overseas and many residents who were born in Australia have a parent who was born in another country. Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders represent 2.3% of the population

Australia has always been centered around diversity and change, specifically with the vast multiculturalism and migrant culture throughout the nation. The specifics of Identity hold an important role in shaping our identity as students and as a nation. Australians pride themselves on being a land of the free and full of diverse culture. This is specifically referred to in our national Anthem; “For those who've come across the seas, We've boundless plains to share; With courage let us all combine,”(McCormick, 1984). Displaying Australia’s open attitude towards immigrants and contributes to the diversity present within our society today. Even before this, much of Australia’s Identity was associated with caucasian culture (Originating from British Settlers). Which is the dominant perception of Australia through the media with australian representation being present through the stereotypes of Bogans, which was made popular through shows like Kath and Kim (ABC, 2007). Also, represented through the popular depiction of Australian people - the bushman made popular by movies like Crocodile Dundee (Faiman, 1986) and through famous real life bushman; Steve Irwin. An important aspect of Australian identity which is consistently neglected is the culture and representation of the initial owners of the land; the aboriginal people. Throughout history the constant mistreatment and neglect of the indigenous, has lead to a massive gap in privilege between the aboriginal people and our

Aboriginals were stereotypically judged by others throughout the whole world. They thought all Aboriginals have the same physical and mental abilities. The idea of these stereotypical judgements came from comics, books and movies containing Aboriginals who are super talented and can do miraculous things.

Given the diversity of Australia and the increase in multiculturalism, the definition of the true Australian identity has changed over time. However, I believe the two main characteristics

Mateship. Adventurous. Loyal. Free. Proud. These are the typical words Australians use to describe themselves, to identify themselves as different from the rest of the world. But who is an Australian? Someone that was born in Australia? Only people we choose to call Australian? People with great achievements that we choose to take credit for? Only people that love sport and vegemite? Or maybe only people with ‘Aussie’ accents? The Australian population is a proud one indeed, proud of their nation, their achievements and their own independent way of life, but sometimes us Aussies, forget about the rest of the world and all those other people that make us, who we are.

A bartender mixes cheap, terrible powdered drinks and tests it on customers in order to make more money. One woman runs into the bar and demands alcohol, shouting “It’s time to liven up this place” (Newman). In Coronation Street, every other scene features alcohol. Two young men, pessimistic about their futures, guzzle beers in a room littered with empty beer cans. Two other characters pour whiskey into a teapot and have straight alcohol teatime, complete with milk. In Emmerdale, a depressed father meets the vicar in the pub for a drink. Of course, alcohol consumption in these shows is never the cause of problem—but it is interesting to note that in most of the dramatic scenes, alcohol is consumed, possibly fueling these confrontations.