Indigenous Australian Stereotypes

Despite living in a time of formal equality, Indigenous Australian youth still face many challenges growing up in contemporary Australian society. The marginalisation effects of poverty influenced lifestyles, in conjunction with the stereotypical opinions the dominant white Australian society obtain, influence one’s self worth and esteem, and consequently, their ability to thrive in this modern society. The 2001 motion picture, ‘Yolngu Boy’ directed by Stephen Johnson, clearly demonstrates how Australia’s Indigenous youth are influenced – both negatively and positively – by two opposing forces: the historic Aboriginal traditions, and the modern western culture. However, the film additionally replicates the interdependence between the two conflicting

When looking at Aboriginal life and culture, through the lens of fiction, there is often a heavy emphasis of the supernatural, many times portrayed through the images and stories of mythical creatures. These spiritual beings, such as the Weetigo, a cannibalistic creature of Cree mythology, can be seen as a representative of a society in which trauma plays an influential role in origin stories and in life; thus such stories often have a strong 'traumatic' base to them. Tomson Highway's Kiss of the Fur Queen and Eden Robinson's Monkey Beach, both utilize mythology and the spiritual world to describe the battle of dealing with various traumas. Through these novels the role of mythology and storytelling within Aboriginal trauma, and how to

The author uses stereotypes to portray this. An example of this

The Impact of Stereotyping on Aboriginals First of all, what are Aboriginal stereotypes? Aboriginal stereotypes are the negative depictions of the First peoples prior to Columbus. Also, the stereotypes served as an imprint on society as to what an Aboriginal First Nation is ‘supposed’ to look like. Some examples of these stereotypes are; Still live in Igloos or Tipi; The Indian Princess; the noble savage; the Native Warrior; the drunk; the wise elder; and etc.

The White Australian Policy is introduced to prevent individuals who weren’t white from entering Australia that draws upon the concepts of race and stereotype. The Stimulus (Creative Spirits, 2017), looks at a timeline that refers to the Indigenous Australians while the White Australian Policy was active and it shows how the Indigenous Australians were receiving policies that are able to protect them. The reason why I see this relevance to myself is the irony in that, how the Australian Government is only accepting white British settlers into Australia and wouldn’t allow those who distributed the race and stereotype of non-whites. Yet while this Policy is active the government assigns “Queensland Aboriginal Protection Act in 1904, The NSW Aborigines Protect Act in 1909” as stated in (Creative Spirits, 2017). It does not make sense in the ways the Government excludes one race and ethnicity and yet employs new laws and legislation to protect another.

This article discusses the speech given by an Indigenous journalist, Stan Grant who participated in a debate where he spoke for the motion “Racism is destroying the Australian Dream’’. Hence, the main points of this article are mostly evidence given by Grant in his debate to support his idea that the Australian Dream is indeed rooted in racism. One of the main points is that the indigenous Australians are often excluded and disregarded as non-Australians simply due to their race and skin colour. Grant pointed out the incident where AFL player Adam Goodes was publicly jeered and told that he did not belong to his country as he was not an Australian despite the fact that Australia indeed is the land of his ancestors.

Stereotypes have helped to build Australia’s identity, some true and some false. Different images such as Text One: “Australia Day Barbeque” and Text Two: “Farming Family” provide representations of Australian identity however they are different in how they represent Australia. There are some similarities, for example in both texts a sense of togetherness is present. When comparing both texts the Australian identity is represented with similar attitudes, values and beliefs, the pictures also reinforce particular stereotypes. These images also portray a side of the Australian culture that is privileged rather than those who are marginalised.

Deadly Unna by Phillip Gwynne explores racial issues directed at the Indigenous Australians. Gwynne’s story is based on events that occurred in the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. This book clearly shows that Australia is not the land of the fair go for certain demographics, while other demographics do experience Australia as the land of the fair go. People who have money will experience Australia as the land of the fair go, but the people who do not will not be able to experience Australia as a land of equal opportunity. Indigenous Australians are also included in the demographic of people who cannot experience Australia as the land of the fair go.

They are continually faced with prejudice and discrimination as they do the simple everyday things. The vast majority of Indigenous Australians experience the major social issue of discrimination within schools, workplaces and throughout communities. In December 2000 the Final Report of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation noted: ‘Despite major advances, Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders often still face prejudice when trying to rent a home, find a job, hire a taxi, get service in shops and banks, and when doing the simple everyday things’ (Reconciliation Australia,

What happens when humour is combined to talk about difficult subjects in novels? In order to address the severe problem of stereotypes and bring to light that Indigenous people face, these two authors: Thomas King and Drew Hayden Taylor use a unique type of humour. Instead of ignoring unsettling topics, they use humour as a tool to talk about these biases and bring to light these issues. Their work acknowledges the strength of humour and its ability to challenge biases and stereotypes.

Native Americans and Popular Stereotypes Stereotyping others is a huge problem in society today, and Native Americans are no exception to this problem. According to Shusta et al. , (p. 230, 2015) many people in the United States sense that Native Americans were not treated with dignity in U.S. history, but many are not aware of the extent of current societal prejudices against them.

Indigenous Australians, in many states, were denied full citizenship on grounds of their race. Migration laws were set up at every opportunity to support "white" European outsiders to Australia. However, gradual change in people’s perceptions began in the late 1960 's. Racism all through the 1960 's impacted the characters in the way that it improved certain qualities, and got the perusers to additionally comprehend the characters themselves, and in addition feel certain feelings towards them. Supremacist mentalities and activities are obvious all through the novel. For instance, the Lu family are over and over separated because of the way that they are Vietnamese migrants.

Due to the power of perceptions, the Australian identity has for a long time been negatively associated with racism, homophobia, and hostility to culturally different ethnicities. The misrepresentation of identity is also a result of long-held stereotypes and generalizations, which are an exaggeration of actions or beliefs of a few people in the Australian society. The misconceptions, perceptions, and stereotypes have unfortunately created a false identity that all Australians are racists, biased and hostile when it comes to people of other ethnicities and cultures, or beliefs that they

Disadvantage and marginalisation of indigenous Australian 's began with the dispossession of land, displacement of their people, and separation of families. Indigenous Australian 's have difficulty in gaining access, to the same degree, to what white Australian 's have ready access such as housing, employment and general services. Indigenous Australian 's are one of the most disadvantaged groups in this country in social and economic areas such as employment, housing, income, and health. The burden of poor health among aborigines is of particular concern. The health disadvantage of indigenous people begins in infancy and continues throughout their life.

Authors often employ narrative convention within Australian fictions to provide insights and ideas about the Australian identity. Within the short stories, “Neighbours”, written in 2000 by Tim Winton, and “Growing Up”, written in 1985 by Anthony Hill, implemented narrative conventions to produce ideas and critique of the Australian identity. “Neighbours” highlights an Australian young couple within the 1980’s who resided to a culturally diverse neighbourhood and faces ethnocentric pressures, but eventually, the couple united with their neighbours, metaphorically destroying their cultural barriers. “Growing Up” provides a perspective of an Aboriginal man who reminiscence the segregation, discrimination, and the ruination of childhood innocence and friendships due to racism during the 1950’s Australia. “Neighbours” strengthens the idea of egalitarianism, cultural diversity and tolerance which portrays Australia as a