Preview

Australian National Identity

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
334 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Australian National Identity
The debate about identity is that many believe that it is a ‘crucial part of the individual self, sense of belonging and continuity’ (Schwartz, 2006). Recognition of a country or nation essentially influences ones behaviour in relation to their nation, national identity impacts every aspect of one’s everyday practices; this includes food, education, lifestyle which is adopted and language taught in education (Billig, 1995). Subsequently, the notion of national identity is based on one's place of birth, residence, and religion. However, some scholars argue that national identities have the capacity to be flexible; in regards to Australia, it is possible to attain dual identification. For example, immigrants still have a connection with their homeland while also developing a relationship with their current country of residence. …show more content…
Which placed privilege upon European identity and whiteness; demonstrating the influence which the western had on Australia’s culture. Prior to this, the “White Australian Policy” introduced in 1907 as a result of colonization, white Australians desired to preserve social and cultural superiority (Hampton,
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    In what ways does one's race/ethnicity shape one's life-chances in contemporary society?
    • 1704 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In what ways does one's race/ethnicity shape one's life-chances in contemporary society?

    Our lives are shaped by who we are and what we are and where we come from. What race or ethnic group we belong to determines our life chances in contemporary society. Ethnicity is the cultural background of a group of people who share a belief in common ancestry. According to Max Weber, ethnic groups are formed by colonisation and immigration. Ethnicity is something we all have but in Australia and in many parts of the world, ethnicity is often applied on minority groups to highlight dominant groups of people on the bases of physical appearance, race, origins or culture. Being part of a dominant group provides prestige, power and control over the running of societies. The term ethnic comes from ancient Greek to mean gentile or non Christians. It was also used to refer to 'other people', separating 'us' and 'them'. The definition of ethnicity changes over time and place. In the case of Australia and in many parts of the western world, the recognition of a dominant ethnic group is through their 'whiteness' of their appearance (Holmes at al 2007:144 - 154). 'Whiteness' played a central part in Australia's history. The white Australia policy of 1902 paved the way to a white, democratic society for those who were allowed into the country to shared in the prosperity and discriminated against migrants who were regarded as 'others' based on their colour, race and ethnicity (Jakubowicz 2002:107). Anglo-Celtic individuals from countries like Australia, the United Kingdom and North America were considered white whereas other Europeans like the Greeks and the Italians were considered not as white as people from Anglo-Celtics origins but were whiter than the Asians (Holmes at el 2007: 159).…

    • 1704 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Gough Whitlam Case Study
    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Gough Whitlam Case Study

    The abolition of the White Australia Policy opened the way for a new immigration policy and improved relationships with Australian’s Asian neighbours…

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    White Australia Policy Definition
    • 263 Words
    • 2 Pages

    White Australia Policy Definition

    The White Australia Policy describes Australia's previous approach to immigration which favoured applicants from certain countries.…

    • 263 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Komninos Zervos and Ahn Do’s Experience of Identity in Multicultural Australia
    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Komninos Zervos and Ahn Do’s Experience of Identity in Multicultural Australia

    Question- What do we learn from Komninos Zervos and Ahn Do’s experience of identity in multi-cultural Australia and how are their ideas effectively expressed?…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comparison Of Hughes's Argument Against The Treaty Of Versailles
    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Comparison Of Hughes's Argument Against The Treaty Of Versailles

    (Bridge C, 2014) William Hughes felt that the White Australia Policy of 1901 was threatened by the equality of different races. His successful lobbying prevented nations such as Japan from privately joining the League of Nations. Mr Hughes’ final request was for ownership of former German New Guinea. The Prime Minister believed the portion of land to be Australia’s ‘strategic front door,’ protecting us from attack and so securing our great nation’s safety.…

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Elements Of Australian Identity
    • 119 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Elements Of Australian Identity

    Her childhood was filled with memories such as "[camping] out often". In page 9 and 10 Ellie compares her life to her friend Fiona's saying; "unlike us rurals, she [lives] in town and spends more time playing piano then drenching sheep or marking lambs". Ellie is a genuine rural. Throughout the book Ellie also exhibits another element of Australian Identity, a fighting spirit. Many times she is pushed to the limits and comes up with brilliant plans and keeps going in desperate and tough times whcih ensure her friends and her own survival, for example the time when Ellie bravely stepped into the light of the car park to see what was going o ndown at the show…

    • 119 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Modern History Australian Identity
    • 1239 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Modern History Australian Identity

    One thing that was shared by all colonies was the idea of a ‘white’ Australia. A great percentage of the population were of Caucasian decent, and Australia had been a British Dominion. Many politicians believed that the Anglo-Saxon race was superior. They were afraid that cheap Asian labourers would destroy good working conditions and destroy racial impurity. William Lane was extremely blunt on his very of intermarriage; he would rather see his daughter ‘dead in her coffin than kissing one of them’. The idealism of the superior Caucasian race was demonstrated by the texts that were printed such as ‘the facial angle is greater in this race than in any other…brain is usually heavier and of grater size’. (Outlines of Geography, 1878) This common idea increased a sense of unity.…

    • 1239 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Australian Identity
    • 1628 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Australian Identity

    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
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Some people consider that it is essential for a nation’s sense of identity to have a common language shared by all its citizens.
    • 1038 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Some people consider that it is essential for a nation’s sense of identity to have a common language shared by all its citizens.

    There are many ways national identity can be described. One may associate it with sharing a nation’s…

    • 1038 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Identity Theories
    • 1112 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Identity Theories

    Summarise two theories of identity and compare their usefulness for explaining the real-world issues discussed in Chapter 1, ‘Identities and Diversities ’…

    • 1112 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Identity: Culture of Australia
    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Identity: Culture of Australia

    The question of identity is always a difficult one for those living in a culture or group, yet belonging to another. This difficulty frequently remains in the mind of most immigrants, especially the second generations who were born in a country other than their parents. Younger generations feel as if they are forced to change to fit the social standards despite previous culture or group. Furthermore those who wish to adopt a new identity of a group or culture haven't yet been fully accepted by original members due to their former identity.…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    British National Identity Among Ethnic Minorities
    • 1553 Words
    • 7 Pages

    British National Identity Among Ethnic Minorities

    Identity is something many of us don’t think about, but it is the main force behind our daily decisions. Britishness is defined as the state or quality of being British. This means that Britishness involves habits, behaviors, language, culture, and symbols that are common, recognizable, and iconic to the United Kingdom. Sometimes however, it is hard to define Britishness because it cannot be defined as one thing, like many identities, it evolves and transforms ever so often. British identity has been a subject of many debates since the 1960s, prompted initially by “the loss of empire, then by the rise of the welfare state, postwar black and Asian migration and entry into the European Community, and more recently by the devolution of power to Scotland and Wales” (Parekh, 1). “Some claim that the most challenging minority integration in contemporary society is immigrant-origin non-white communities” (Maxwell, 2), but this is becoming a false claim. The British national identity has been on a decline with more Britons claiming their identity as English, Scottish, Irish, or Welsh. This however, is not true for ethnic minorities in the UK.…

    • 1553 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    National Identity
    • 412 Words
    • 2 Pages

    National Identity

    I agree that education has succeeded in fostering a positive sense of national identity. To both the citizens of Singapore and international bodies, a strong national identity of Singapore would be the multiracial society we have and still being able to live harmoniously with one another. From the 1960s, various schemes were introduced in bid to bring together students from the different language streams. One such scheme was the integrated schools, whereby schools from difference language streams were brought together on one compound and ran by one administration. The first integrated government school was Bukit Panjang Government High School, which managed to bring together the English and Chinese streams under one roof. Also, measures were taken to place the different language streams on equal footing, for example, by introducing common examinations. Before the scheme was introduced, there was no universal education for children of all races and background, resulting in lesser children attending schools then. However, with the scheme introduced, children of all races and backgrounds can grow and learn together in harmony, without any form of biasness.…

    • 412 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    British National Identity
    • 8201 Words
    • 33 Pages

    British National Identity

    21st century Europe. Postmodernism. European Union. Capitalism. Fragmentation. In search of a new identity. Divided and together facing the rest of the world. History turns to be an invaluable source for the researchers to tackle properly the term. But history was written by the conquerors. The truth is probably in-between.…

    • 8201 Words
    • 33 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    National Identity
    • 522 Words
    • 3 Pages

    National Identity

    Prompt: You have read the extract below as part of a newspaper article on the loss of national and cultural identity. Readers were asked to send in their opinions. You decide to write a letter responding to the points raised and expressing your own views.…

    • 522 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics