3. What is race?What is race?
A group of people who share similar physicalA group of people who share similar physical
(genetic) characteristics (Robertson 1989: 193)(genetic) characteristics (Robertson 1989: 193)
Race is a false classificationRace is a false classification
- It is not based on any real or accurate- It is not based on any real or accurate
biological or scientific truthbiological or scientific truth
The intense sociological interest in race is dueThe intense sociological interest in race is due
to the fact that people attach meaning andto the fact that people attach meaning and
values, either real or imaginary, to physicalvalues, either real or imaginary, to physical
differences between groups of peopledifferences between groups of people
Dawn Bolger
4. Does race exist?Does race exist?
Race has no scientific basisRace has no scientific basis
““No persuasive empirical case has been made forNo persuasive empirical case has been made for
ascribing common psychological, intellectual orascribing common psychological, intellectual or
moral capacities or the characteristics tomoral capacities or the characteristics to
individuals on the basis of skin colourindividuals on the basis of skin colour
physiognomy”physiognomy” (Donald and Rattansi, 1992)(Donald and Rattansi, 1992)
99.9% of human genetic characteristics are99.9% of human genetic characteristics are
common to allcommon to all
More variationMore variation withinwithin than between ‘racesthan between ‘races’’
Dawn Bolger
5. Race is a socialRace is a social
constructconstruct
It is something that is constructed by society;It is something that is constructed by society;
that artificially divides people into distinctthat artificially divides people into distinct
groups based on characteristics such asgroups based on characteristics such as
physical appearance (particularly skin colour),physical appearance (particularly skin colour),
heritage, cultural affiliation, cultural history, andheritage, cultural affiliation, cultural history, and
the social, economic and political needs of athe social, economic and political needs of a
society at a given period of timesociety at a given period of time
Dawn Bolger
6. Is race still relevant?Is race still relevant?
Racial categories are still prevalent in societyRacial categories are still prevalent in society
todaytoday
Used to justify social stratificationUsed to justify social stratification
It can be used to define and marginaliseIt can be used to define and marginalise
peoplepeople
Used to ideologically justify relationships ofUsed to ideologically justify relationships of
superiority and exploitationsuperiority and exploitation
Race debates fuel a politics ofRace debates fuel a politics of fearfear rather thanrather than
a politics ofa politics of hopehope
Dawn Bolger
7. EthnicityEthnicity
Ethnicity refers to the shared ancestry,Ethnicity refers to the shared ancestry,
language and traditions of a particular grouplanguage and traditions of a particular group
of people.of people.
Ethnicity may be anEthnicity may be an
important aspect of animportant aspect of an
individual’s or group’sindividual’s or group’s
identity – how they see andidentity – how they see and
define themselves, anddefine themselves, and
how others see themhow others see them
Dawn Bolger
8. Ethnicity and IdentityEthnicity and Identity
An ethnic group is a socially distinct populationAn ethnic group is a socially distinct population
that shares a way of life and is committed tothat shares a way of life and is committed to
the ideas, norms, and material things thatthe ideas, norms, and material things that
constitute that way of lifeconstitute that way of life
Ethnicity refers to the common culture of aEthnicity refers to the common culture of a
social group, such as language, religion, stylesocial group, such as language, religion, style
of dress, food, shared history and experiencesof dress, food, shared history and experiences
Miao
Yi
Hui
Han
Dawn Bolger
9. Difference between raceDifference between race
and Ethnicityand Ethnicity
The difference is that individuals can claimThe difference is that individuals can claim
ethnicity on subjective grounds, on the basis ofethnicity on subjective grounds, on the basis of
group belonging and personal meaninggroup belonging and personal meaning
Racial categorisations are often imposed byRacial categorisations are often imposed by
othersothers
Membership in ethnicity is usually voluntary,Membership in ethnicity is usually voluntary,
membership in a racial group is notmembership in a racial group is not
Loshini Naidoo
10. RacismRacism
A form of discrimination based on the belief ofA form of discrimination based on the belief of
race; that one race is superior to anotherrace; that one race is superior to another
Racism is an ideology that gives expression toRacism is an ideology that gives expression to
myths about other racial and ethic groups, thatmyths about other racial and ethic groups, that
devalues and renders inferior those groups, thatdevalues and renders inferior those groups, that
reflects and is perpetuated by deeply rootedreflects and is perpetuated by deeply rooted
historical, social, cultural and power inequalities inhistorical, social, cultural and power inequalities in
society. (Human Rights and Equal Opportunitysociety. (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission 1998)Commission 1998)
Dawn Bolger
11. Where does racismWhere does racism
come from?come from?
Belief that some people are superior becauseBelief that some people are superior because
they belong to a particular race, ethnic orthey belong to a particular race, ethnic or
national groupnational group
Three main forms:Three main forms:
- Individual- Individual
- Institutional- Institutional
- Everyday- Everyday
Dawn Bolger
12. Individual racismIndividual racism
The beliefs, attitudes, and actions ofThe beliefs, attitudes, and actions of
individuals that sustain or perpetuate racismindividuals that sustain or perpetuate racism
A belief in racialA belief in racial
stereotypesstereotypes
Black people are good atBlack people are good at
sport, Asians are smart,sport, Asians are smart,
Arabs are terroristsArabs are terrorists
Dawn Bolger
13. Institutional racismInstitutional racism
Racism that is structured within political andRacism that is structured within political and
social institutionssocial institutions
Discrimination byDiscrimination by
governments,governments,
corporations or othercorporations or other
large organisations thatlarge organisations that
is inherent in theiris inherent in their
structures preventingstructures preventing
people from entering orpeople from entering or
progressing.progressing.
Dawn Bolger
14. Everyday racismEveryday racism
Examines the lived experience of racialExamines the lived experience of racial
oppressionoppression
Connects ideological notions of racism withConnects ideological notions of racism with
daily attitudes and interprets the reproductiondaily attitudes and interprets the reproduction
of racism in terms of the experiences ofof racism in terms of the experiences of
everyday liveseveryday lives
Connects the INDIVIDUAL with theConnects the INDIVIDUAL with the
INSTITUTIONALINSTITUTIONAL
Loshini Naidoo
15. Examples of everydayExamples of everyday
racismracism
““ Where are you from” isWhere are you from” is
ethnically and raciallyethnically and racially
loadedloaded
Reproduces racistReproduces racist
constructions of a nationalconstructions of a national
identityidentity
Everyday racism is more coded; ingrained inEveryday racism is more coded; ingrained in
institutional practice; and not consciouslyinstitutional practice; and not consciously
intendedintended
Loshini Naidoo
17. Racism in AustraliaRacism in Australia
Racism linked to history of colonisation andRacism linked to history of colonisation and
migrationmigration
Aboriginal people andAboriginal people and
Torres Strait IslanderTorres Strait Islander
people werepeople were
dispossessed of theirdispossessed of their
land and discriminatedland and discriminated
against by Britishagainst by British
settlerssettlers
Dawn Bolger
18. Racism in AustraliaRacism in Australia
Forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres StraitForced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children from their familiesIslander children from their families
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peopleAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
who were not of ‘full blood’ encouraged towho were not of ‘full blood’ encouraged to
assimilate so that eventually there would be noassimilate so that eventually there would be no
more Indigenous people leftmore Indigenous people left
Dawn Bolger
20. White Australia PolicyWhite Australia Policy
Term given to a group of historical policies thatTerm given to a group of historical policies that
deliberately restricted ‘non-white’ immigrationdeliberately restricted ‘non-white’ immigration
to Australiato Australia
- Immigration Restriction Act (1901)- Immigration Restriction Act (1901)
- Pacific Island Labourers Act (1902)- Pacific Island Labourers Act (1902)
Abolished 1973Abolished 1973
Dawn Bolger
21. White Australia PolicyWhite Australia Policy
““I contend that if this young nation is to maintain the fabric of itsI contend that if this young nation is to maintain the fabric of its
liberties unassailed and unimpaired, it cannot admit into itsliberties unassailed and unimpaired, it cannot admit into its
population any element that of necessity must be of an inferiorpopulation any element that of necessity must be of an inferior
nature and character…” (Sir Henry Parkes, 1888)nature and character…” (Sir Henry Parkes, 1888)
“Our chief plan is of course, a white
AustraliaAustralia. There’s no compromise about that!
The industrious coloured brother has to go –
and remain away” (W.M Hughes, 1901)
“No nigger, no Chinaman, no lascar, no kanaka, no purveyor of
cheap coloured labour is an Australian’ (The Bulletin, 2 July 1887)
Dawn Bolger
"The doctrine of the equality of man was never intended to apply to the
equality of the Englishman and the Chinaman." (Edmund Barton 1901)
22. White Australia PolicyWhite Australia Policy
Colonial narratives of Asian invasionColonial narratives of Asian invasion
Dictation Test - Immigration officials were givenDictation Test - Immigration officials were given
the power to exclude any person who failed tothe power to exclude any person who failed to
pass a 50-word dictation test.pass a 50-word dictation test.
1945 Populate or Perish1945 Populate or Perish
1947 Non-Europeans allowed to settle1947 Non-Europeans allowed to settle
permanently in Australia for business reasons.permanently in Australia for business reasons.
1959 Australians permitted to sponsor Asian1959 Australians permitted to sponsor Asian
spouses for citizenship.spouses for citizenship.
1978 - selection of prospective migrants based1978 - selection of prospective migrants based
on country of origin entirely removed from officialon country of origin entirely removed from official
policypolicy
Dawn Bolger
23. IndigenousIndigenous
InterventionIntervention
A ‘national emergency’A ‘national emergency’
ReinforcedReinforced
negativenegative
stereotypes ofstereotypes of
IndigenousIndigenous
communities incommunities in
the Northernthe Northern
TerritoryTerritory
Dawn Bolger
24. IndigenousIndigenous
InterventionIntervention
Measures taken included alcohol restriction;Measures taken included alcohol restriction;
ban of x-rated pornography; undertakeban of x-rated pornography; undertake
compulsory health checks of all Indigenouscompulsory health checks of all Indigenous
children; quarantine welfare payments; linkchildren; quarantine welfare payments; link
family assistance and income supportfamily assistance and income support
payments to school attendance; acquirepayments to school attendance; acquire
township leases, and increase police numberstownship leases, and increase police numbers
Dawn Bolger
26. Cronulla RiotsCronulla Riots
““I do not want to rush to judgement aboutI do not want to rush to judgement about
these events…I do not accept that there isthese events…I do not accept that there is
underlying racism in this country…I take aunderlying racism in this country…I take a
more optimistic view of the Australian people”more optimistic view of the Australian people”
(John Howard, 12 Dec 2005)(John Howard, 12 Dec 2005)
“I’ll tell you what kind of Grubs this lot
were. This lot were Middle –Eastern
Grubs[…] You’re not allowed to say it, but
I’m saying it” (Alan Jones, 5 Dec 2005)
Dawn Bolger
27. CronullaCronulla
A racialised discourseA racialised discourse
““It seems the police and the council are impotent here.It seems the police and the council are impotent here.
All rhetoric, no action. My suggestion is to invite one ofAll rhetoric, no action. My suggestion is to invite one of
the biker gangs to be present in numbers at Cronullathe biker gangs to be present in numbers at Cronulla
railway station when these Lebanese thugs arrive…It’drailway station when these Lebanese thugs arrive…It’d
be worth the price of admission to watch thesebe worth the price of admission to watch these
cowards scurry back onto the train for the return trip tocowards scurry back onto the train for the return trip to
their lairs …Australian’s old and new shouldn’t have totheir lairs …Australian’s old and new shouldn’t have to
put up with this scum” (Alan Jones 7 Sept, 2005)put up with this scum” (Alan Jones 7 Sept, 2005)
Dawn Bolger
28. Australia’s treatmentAustralia’s treatment
of refugeesof refugees
Dawn Bolger
““You can’t call them refugees”You can’t call them refugees”
(John Howard, 3 Sept 2001)(John Howard, 3 Sept 2001)
29. Australia’s treatmentAustralia’s treatment
of refugeesof refugees
Tampa/ChildrenTampa/Children
OverboardOverboard
Refugees as criminalsRefugees as criminals
““We will decide whoWe will decide who
comes to this countrycomes to this country
and the means by whichand the means by which
they come” (Johnthey come” (John
Howard, 6 Dec 2001)Howard, 6 Dec 2001)
Dawn Bolger
30. Australia’s treatmentAustralia’s treatment
of refugeesof refugees
Mandatory detentionMandatory detention
Border ProtectionBorder Protection
- link to terrorism- link to terrorism
- racialised discourse - refugees- racialised discourse - refugees
recast as ‘boat people’, ‘illegalrecast as ‘boat people’, ‘illegal
immigrants’, ‘queue jumpers’immigrants’, ‘queue jumpers’
Australian governments have consistently recast refugeesAustralian governments have consistently recast refugees
- from non-citizens escaping war, famine, economic- from non-citizens escaping war, famine, economic
instability or political persecution, deserving of publicinstability or political persecution, deserving of public
sympathy to invaders and possible terrorists intent onsympathy to invaders and possible terrorists intent on
destroying the traditional Australian way of lifedestroying the traditional Australian way of life
Dawn Bolger
31. Social marginalisationSocial marginalisation
Concept of the ‘Other’ – immigrants areConcept of the ‘Other’ – immigrants are
not seen as Australiannot seen as Australian
Consequences for individuals includingConsequences for individuals including
social marginalisation. Individuals aresocial marginalisation. Individuals are
forever on the outside and seen as ‘un-forever on the outside and seen as ‘un-
Australian’Australian’
Dawn Bolger
32. Justifications for racismJustifications for racism
RELIGIONRELIGION
- During the reformation (16- During the reformation (16thth
and 17and 17thth
Century) a keyCentury) a key
question among Christian religious hierarchy wasquestion among Christian religious hierarchy was
whether Blacks and “Indians” had souls and/or werewhether Blacks and “Indians” had souls and/or were
humanhuman
PSEUDO-SCIENCEPSEUDO-SCIENCE
- Humankind classified into three distinct ‘races’ –- Humankind classified into three distinct ‘races’ –
Mongoloid, Caucazoid and Negroid.Mongoloid, Caucazoid and Negroid.
- Two of the words (Mongoloid and Caucazoid) have- Two of the words (Mongoloid and Caucazoid) have
linguistic bases that refer to geographic areas. Negroidlinguistic bases that refer to geographic areas. Negroid
– refers to colour.– refers to colour. Loshini Naidoo
33. Justifications for racismJustifications for racism
MEDICINEMEDICINE
- Robert Knox, a famous English anatomist- Robert Knox, a famous English anatomist
concluded that people of colour wereconcluded that people of colour were
intellectually inferior, not because of brain sizeintellectually inferior, not because of brain size
but rather because of brain texture and lack ofbut rather because of brain texture and lack of
nerve endings.nerve endings.
- It was later found that his conclusion was- It was later found that his conclusion was
based on only one man of colourbased on only one man of colour
Loshini Naidoo
34. Justifications forJustifications for
racismracism
EUGENICSEUGENICS
- Attempt to breed better humans through- Attempt to breed better humans through
breeding restrictions to eliminate the ‘feeble-breeding restrictions to eliminate the ‘feeble-
minded’ from humanityminded’ from humanity
- Used ‘scientific proof’ to justify the- Used ‘scientific proof’ to justify the
mistreatment of ‘inferior races’mistreatment of ‘inferior races’
- Policy of breeding out ‘inferior races’ –- Policy of breeding out ‘inferior races’ –
evident in Australian Indigenous historyevident in Australian Indigenous history
Dawn Bolger
37. Some theories toSome theories to
understand raceunderstand race
Post ColonialismPost Colonialism
Critical Race TheoryCritical Race Theory
WhitenessWhiteness
Dawn Bolger
38. Post ColonialismPost Colonialism
Social and political critiques that consider theSocial and political critiques that consider the
lingering effects of colonialism and thelingering effects of colonialism and the
conditions of human experience in its aftermathconditions of human experience in its aftermath
Colonialism enabled the justification of aColonialism enabled the justification of a
‘superior’ civilised order‘superior’ civilised order
Coloniser as civilised, rational intelligent: non-Coloniser as civilised, rational intelligent: non-
white remains ‘other’white remains ‘other’
Edward Said and Franz FanonEdward Said and Franz Fanon
Dawn Bolger
39. Post Colonialism andPost Colonialism and
AustraliaAustralia
The Britain Empire as coloniserThe Britain Empire as coloniser
Seizing of ‘foreign’ lands for government andSeizing of ‘foreign’ lands for government and
settlement for Western goods/cheap laboursettlement for Western goods/cheap labour
Economic exploitation of othersEconomic exploitation of others
How?How?
- Superior military, organisation and technology- Superior military, organisation and technology
- Control of government- Control of government
- Held key positions in society- Held key positions in society
- Divided Indigenous populations, exploited- Divided Indigenous populations, exploited
existing tensionsexisting tensions Dawn Bolger
40. Critical Race TheoryCritical Race Theory
Examines the relationship between race,Examines the relationship between race,
racism and powerracism and power
Can be conscious or unconsciousCan be conscious or unconscious
Builds on insights of previous movementsBuilds on insights of previous movements
(critical legal studies and feminism)(critical legal studies and feminism)
- Not every legal case has one correct- Not every legal case has one correct
outcomeoutcome
- Power, patriarchy and domination- Power, patriarchy and domination
Dawn Bolger
41. Critical Race TheoryCritical Race Theory
Racism is ordinary, common, everyday-Racism is ordinary, common, everyday-
endemic to societyendemic to society
Scepticism towards dominant claims ofScepticism towards dominant claims of
neutrality, objectivity and colourblindnessneutrality, objectivity and colourblindness
Presumes that racism has contributed to allPresumes that racism has contributed to all
contemporary manifestations of groupcontemporary manifestations of group
advantage and disadvantageadvantage and disadvantage
Derrick BellDerrick Bell
Antonio Gramsci, Jacques Derrida, W.E.B. DuAntonio Gramsci, Jacques Derrida, W.E.B. Du
Bois, Martin Luther King Jr.Bois, Martin Luther King Jr. Dawn Bolger
42. Critical Race TheoryCritical Race Theory
and Educationand Education
Used to understand issues of school discipline andUsed to understand issues of school discipline and
hierarchyhierarchy
Academic Testing, classroom dynamicsAcademic Testing, classroom dynamics
Curriculum BiasCurriculum Bias
- Does not account for differences in learning- Does not account for differences in learning
IQ/Achievement Testing (ie. NAPLAN)IQ/Achievement Testing (ie. NAPLAN)
- Presents a very narrow view of student achievement- Presents a very narrow view of student achievement
- Schools do not operate in a vacuum- Schools do not operate in a vacuum
- Schools with a high Indigenous or ESL- Schools with a high Indigenous or ESL
population marked as failurespopulation marked as failures
- Students are ‘taught to the test’- Students are ‘taught to the test’
Dawn Bolger
43. WhitenessWhiteness
White is the dominant framing positionWhite is the dominant framing position
against which difference is measuredagainst which difference is measured
Is rendered invisible under the weight ofIs rendered invisible under the weight of
accumulated privilegesaccumulated privileges
Provides material and symbolic privilegeProvides material and symbolic privilege
to whites or those who become ‘white’to whites or those who become ‘white’
Dawn Bolger
44. Whiteness StudiesWhiteness Studies
Intends to make visible the cultural and politicalIntends to make visible the cultural and political
assumptions and privileges afforded to ‘whites’assumptions and privileges afforded to ‘whites’
Whiteness is not a statement of the naturalWhiteness is not a statement of the natural
order – it is a position largely gained at theorder – it is a position largely gained at the
expense of people of colour.expense of people of colour.
Dawn Bolger
45. Whiteness -Whiteness -
importanceimportance
White cultural norms are systematicallyWhite cultural norms are systematically
enforced in schoolsenforced in schools
Teachers able to deconstruct his/her ownTeachers able to deconstruct his/her own
whiteness is in a far better position to see whywhiteness is in a far better position to see why
prevailing pedagogical and curricular patternsprevailing pedagogical and curricular patterns
may not work for studentsmay not work for students
Even white teachers who are fully committed toEven white teachers who are fully committed to
multiculturalism often fail to see how their ownmulticulturalism often fail to see how their own
investments in white culture as a universalinvestments in white culture as a universal
culture get in the way of their good intentionsculture get in the way of their good intentions
Loshini Naidoo
46. Whiteness andWhiteness and
educationeducation
Whiteness as privilegeWhiteness as privilege
Monitor your defensiveness about whiteness -Monitor your defensiveness about whiteness -
no one in academia, regardless of colour,no one in academia, regardless of colour,
escapes whiteness altogether.escapes whiteness altogether.
Many of the values and privileges of whitenessMany of the values and privileges of whiteness
are built into academic discourse. If you haveare built into academic discourse. If you have
made it this far, you are participating in somemade it this far, you are participating in some
of the privileges of whiteness, even if you are aof the privileges of whiteness, even if you are a
person of colour.person of colour.
Loshini Naidoo
47. Why teach aboutWhy teach about
whiteness?whiteness?
Silence about whiteness lets everyoneSilence about whiteness lets everyone
continue to harbor prejudices andcontinue to harbor prejudices and
misconceptions -“white” equals normal.misconceptions -“white” equals normal.
Whiteness oppresses when it operates as theWhiteness oppresses when it operates as the
invisible regime of normality, and thus makinginvisible regime of normality, and thus making
whiteness visible is a principal goal of anti-whiteness visible is a principal goal of anti-
racist pedagogyracist pedagogy
Loshini Naidoo
48. Why teach aboutWhy teach about
whitenesswhiteness
Teaching about whiteness helps move classesTeaching about whiteness helps move classes
beyond the "celebrate diversity" model ofbeyond the "celebrate diversity" model of
multiculturalismmulticulturalism
Teaching about whiteness moves antiracistTeaching about whiteness moves antiracist
education in new directions by presentingeducation in new directions by presenting
difficult challenges to the very idea of "race."difficult challenges to the very idea of "race."
Loshini Naidoo
49. Appiah, Kwame Anthony. "Is the Post- in Postmodernism the Post- in Postcolonial?" Critical Inquiry 17 (1991) 336-57.
Ashcroft, Bill, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures. London:
Routledge, 1989.
Bhabha, Homi K. "Of Mimicry and Men: The Ambivalence of Colonial Discourse" October 28 (1984) 125-33
Carter, Nick, ed. The Howard Factor: A Decade that Changed the Nation, Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 2006.
Donald, James and Ali Rattansi, ed. Race, culture and difference, London: Sage Publications, 1002
Fanon, Frantz. Black Skin, White Masks. New York: Grove Press, 1967.
Gilroy, Paul. The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1993
Gramsci, Antonio. Selections from the Prison Notebooks, trans. Quentin Hoare and Geoffrey Nowell Smith. London: Lawrence and
Wishart, 1971.
Hall, Stuart. "Cultural Identity and Diaspora." Colonial Discourse and Post-Colonial Theory. Eds Patrick Williams and Laura Chrisman.
New York: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1993. 392-403.).
Jupp, James. From White Australia to Woomera: the story of Australian immigration, Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Lawrence, Carmen. ‘The “Emergency Intervention” in Northern Territory Indigenous Communities’, The New Critic, Issue 7, May
2008.
Loomba, Ania, ed. Colonialism/Postcolonialism. New York: Routledge, 1998.
Markus, Andrew. John Howard and the Remaking of Australia. NSW: Allan and Unwin, 2001.
MacCallum, Mungo. ‘Girt by Sea: Australia, the Refugees and the Politics of Fear’, Quarterly Essay, Vol. 106, 2002.
Mongia, Padmini, ed. Contemporary Postcolonial Theory: A Reader. New York: St. Martins, 1996.
Poynting, Scott, Greg Noble and Paul Tabar. Bin Laden in the Suburbs: criminalising the Arab Other. Melbourne: Federation Press,
2004
Robertson, Ian. Society: A Brief Introduction, New York: Worth Publishing, 1989.
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