Preview

Argumentative Essay: The True Australian National Identity

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
998 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Argumentative Essay: The True Australian National Identity
The Australian identity has in fact a number of identities competing to be the true Australian national identity. The two main parts of this competition is the bush legend and the beach and suburbs. However it should not be thought that either of these parts is a completely set idea and image of Australia. This essay will argue that the Australian identity to a great extent is now based on ideas and images that relate to the beach and suburbs rather than the bush. Although it is important to know that the bush legend has not been wiped out totally and still exists. Multiculturalism is just one of the main factors in modifying the Australian identity from a rural to a more urban based landscape and way of life. This essay will begin by discussing …show more content…
There are two main stories of multiculturalism in Australia. One is that of an Anglo Australian nation and one of an immigrant nation. First Australia only federated as a white British nation in 1901. Moran assertively states Australia's national identity has then shifted from a white based British Australia, to a diverse, multiethnic, and officially multicultural Australia since the 1970s. (p 2153-2172, 2011). The change of ethnicity through Australia has made drastic changes to the country. Firstly Elder (2007 P118) suggests between the 1900s and 1945 it was strongly felt that Australia could be a country of loyalty, instead of a prison. The idea had come to populate Australia with hard working people rather than convicts which was the case pre 1900s. After 1960 more immigrants were brought to Australia, countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Turkey, other non-British source countries and a small amount of Asians. Eventually Australia’s population grew, more immigrants entered Australia. From the arrival of the Europeans and people from other countries Australia has adapted a lot of different cultures and way of life through activities such as cooking, building, creating and accomplishing

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    This report will be examining the impact that stereotypical contradictions have on the development of the Australian Identity. In a variety of ways stereotypical contradictions are one of the most significant topics to discuss when talking about the concept of the development of the Australian Identity. The research process of this report focused on newspaper articles written by Australian and non-Australian journalist showing their perspective on Australian identity. Also the works of major Australian pop culture icons such as Steve Irwin, Crocodile Dundee, Men at Work and Priscilla Queen of the Desert have also been analytically focused upon. The findings of the report show that there are definitely stereotypical contradictions prevalent within not only Australia but also the rest of the world who participate. These contradictions are shown to have negative and positive implications on Australia’s development of its identity.…

    • 1603 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    White Australia Policy

    • 2654 Words
    • 11 Pages

    From the outset of federation, Australia immediately constructed what has been termed the ‘White Australia Policy’. This consisted of attempts to keep Australia’s image to the rest of the world as a white European society, devoid of any other colors and ethnicities. Those that were of non-European descent were forced to assimilate to the European mode or face being ostracized from society. Following World War 2, there was increased pressure from the international community for Australia to change its current migration policy. In 1966, the Liberal-Country party made its first attempts to dismantle the notion of a white Australia by permitting the immigration of ‘distinguished’ non-Europeans . Throughout the remainder of the 60s and into the 1980s, Australia continued to shed its ‘White Australia’ image and focused on promoting multiculturalism. This was partially accomplished through federal and state funded associations that focused on preserving the “language and heritage” of immigrants within the mainstream environment . The promotion of multiculturalism…

    • 2654 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Non-voters are often generalized as lazy or selfish, but it viable that it is in their own self-interest not to vote. Forcing someone to betray their own self-interest it strictly undemocratic. A non-vote can mean apathy, but it can also mean disagreement or contentment with all candidates. Even if a compulsory system could be considered constitutional, how would the finer point be determined? To what extend will the United States go to enforce it? Furthermore, to what degree of punishment does the citizen have to pay if they neglect the “democratic duty” to cast a vote? Even further, how many strikes does that citizen get? Will the punishments continue to get worse as they continue to abstain from placing their vote? These are all crucial questions that would take…

    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since 1945, immigration from Southern-European nations, such as Greece and Italy, and more recently from Asian nations has turned Australia into one of the most multicultural countries in the world.…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    White Australia Policy

    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the time of the White Australia policy it was hard for people that weren’t white to be respected as White Australians believed that if you were white you were superior. Today Australia is encouraging a multicultural country. Many anti-discrimination campaigns promote cultural diversity. Although Australia had a racist history, people aren’t trying to change the past instead change the future to lead Australia to be a diverse country. Many Australians are ashamed of the history. Today white Australians are encouraging people to immigrate and live a better way of life. White Australians are intrigued by culture and beliefs of many other races. People have learnt the benefits of having a nation that is diverse to create harmony among everyone. Through the abolition of the policy, Australia has evolved into a multicultural country. Australia is a successful country and the multiculturalism now is a major improvement from the past. The White Australia Policy left behind a legacy today that many Australians are ashamed about but want to help make everyone in Australia feel equal no matter what colour skin you have. In the past they discriminated against people’s religions, beliefs, appearances and even their lifestyles. The policy effected immigration allot over the years after it was abolished. People were scared or nervous to come to…

    • 1080 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From the period of 1975 up until now, Asian immigration has had both a positive and negative impact on Australian heritage. The two significant, positive contributions from Asians immigrating are cultural diversity and developing trade relationships overseas. There is also a major negative impact caused by Asian immigration, which is cheap labour undermining Australian businesses and stealing jobs. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Firstly, as a result from Asian immigration to Australia, we have greatly expanded our nation’s cultural diversity, which has propelled us to the multicultural country we are…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Australian Identity

    • 1628 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Australian identity refers to how a country is depicted as a whole whilst encompassing its culture, traditions, language and politics. Australia is the smallest, youngest continent with the lowest population density, which often struggles to define its national identity. As Australia originates from British descent, it lacks originality in culture and heritage. One aspect as portrayed by Tim Winton in his narrative style article Tide of Joy is an Australian identity revolving around summer by the sea with family. Danny Katz emphasises the difference between those considered ‘worthy’ of celebrating Australia Day and those that do not meet the criteria in his editorial Aussie, Aussie, Aussie? No, No, No. These two texts help to define the open-ended question of, ‘How do we define Australian identity?’ However, the texts both represent a narrow range of individuals in Australian society and therefore by reading these two texts alone, it is a rather biased view of the Australian stereotype.…

    • 1628 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Australian Identity

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages

    For decades people have contributed to the expansion and change of the Australian identity, however because of Australia’s cultural diversity Australia has come to discover many but one, and be known as a stereotyped nation rather than a nation of identity because we are known for many things but one.…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Idea in History

    • 3159 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Considering the ways in which people are living and based on the combination of traditional and modern values it is possible to evaluate multiculturalism in Australian society. It is the combination of both traditional cultural values and modern cultural values that make up the diverse cultures of the East and West. The Europe colonized Australia and transformed the traditional Aboriginal society to a civil and modern society that represents Western ideals. However immigration of other peoples from different nations such as, China, Vietnam and Africa now make up multicultural Australia. A case study of Campsie suburb will reveal the modern values of the ‘West’ such as technological development, the urbanized architecture and public infrastructure that facilitate people to live a convenient life. The suburb of Campsie also represents traditional lifestyles of immigrant populations, exemplified by religious spaces, traditional stores and so on that embody the diversity of contemporary Australian society. This essay will argue that multiculturalism is a great idea in theory but in reality it is difficult to attain.…

    • 3159 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Red Cross Diversity Report

    • 1756 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In the 1950’s Australia encouraged immigration, though limiting it to whites only abiding by ‘The white Australia Policy’ for labour, which led to prosperity and the economic boom in the 60’s and early 70’s. However immigrants were encouraged to become indistinguishable from the Australian born population, continuing with total assimilation. Post the abolition of ‘The White Australia Policy’ in 1973 (www.aph.gov.au) and under both the Fraser and Hawke governments immigration continued into the 80’s and 90’s with cultural diversity, and multiculturalism being embraced as it was having a positive effect on the food and entertainment industries. There seemed to be a shift towards integration instead of assimilation. In the 1980s real progress was made in all aspects of multiculturalism with a lot of support through several non - profit organisations (NGOs), community organisations and the Australian Human Rights Commision (AHRC). Australia was actually known as having one of the most successful multicultural societies in the developed world with well over 100 distinct ethnic groups living together (Jamrozik, 2009). However over the last fifteen years there has been criticism of Australia’s multicultural policy in the both the public and political eye. This has been impacted by the concern of global…

    • 1756 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Australia is seen as a multicultural country. We as a nation don't discriminate against other cultures. This is seen by accepting different cultures and customs into Australia. By Australia welcoming other cultures in our community with open arms it benefits us as a nation by allowing us to experience new foods, little businesses and different religions.…

    • 56 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    White Australian Policy

    • 141 Words
    • 1 Page

    The white Australian policy spanned from 1901 to 1973. The White Australian Policy was an entering into Australian policy, to leave out/ keep out Travelling workers, who were not from a European background out of the country. The laws also restricted the lives of the Australians in the country. More and more Australians argued against this policy especially after world war II. The other countries criticized Australian racism due to this period. This essay argues that The White Australian policy has had a significant impact on the Australian culture and the success of multiculturalism. first, this essay explains What the White Australian policy is. Next This essay discusses what led to the White Australian Policy. Lastly, the success of the…

    • 141 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    During the last Australian Census in August 2006, 22.2% of the Australian population was born overseas (ABS, 2006). Even with this vastly multicultural society however, racism is prevalent and is still…

    • 1918 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Australia, to many, is known as a "classical country of immigration." All but about 300,000 of the approximate 20,305,486 in Australia descended from immigrants who originally arrived with a settlement of British convicts in 1788. In July of 2001 Australia's population consisted of approximately 92% Caucasian, 7% Asian, and only 1% Aborigine.(native Australian). Australia has an estimated net gain of one international migrant every 4 minutes and 9 seconds. As of September of 1999 there was an approximated total of 53,143 illegal immigrants, over staying their welcome. After World War II, an immigration program was introduced with an aim of bringing mainly British immigrants to Australia. The majority of immigrants however, wound up coming from Eastern and Northern Europe, and then Southern Europe in the 1950's and 60's. Once into the 1970's Australia began to see an all new wave of immigrants taking a stand in their new grounds. This new group, still the predominant immigrants to the country of today, made their journeys from the Middle East, Latin America and Asia (where over half of today's immigrants to Australia come from). The high numbers of migrants into Australia has helped in more ways than it's hurt. There has been a higher number of people coming into the country with a high skill level than low skill level. This has produced a higher working rate and helped the economy a lot.…

    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Today people struggle with gardening where they find it hard working but worth the sweat. Cain state that gardening is free but it is also very expensive. The question is should a person garden their own food or purchase from markets. For gardening a person would have to buy tools, fertilizer, and other stuff for gardening which is expensive. A little over half of Australia grow their own garden. A big amount of Australians agree that it save money. Rochelle Stone whom is the president of Barefoot Basics. She is also one of the Australians who grow their own garden.…

    • 100 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays