Culture and Society
Introduction
Australia is identified as an egalitarian nation where fairness is prioritised as fundamental right whilst; it does not accurately represents the realities of life experienced by different groups. Bessant and Watts (2002) depicts that inequality articulated as a phenomenon where all individuals are not able to experience equal access to prestige, power, wealth and income. These differences underpin strong criticism of nations “fair go” concept and often this is recognised as a myth more than fact.
However, colonialism played significant role in expanding these disparities specifically for Indigenous people; colonialism led to impact social and economic structure within Australian society that integrated structural inequalities and these differences are still persisting (Robinson, 2015). Hence, colonial dispossessions continuing from varied years and as a result, First Nations people are subjected to discrimination in varied areas comprehends with education, health, legal and employment contexts. The present essay will undertake an in-depth analysis of how colonialism created significant impact on Australian Social and Economic disparities while highlighting how egalitarian principles contributed in serious structural differences.
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MAIN BODY
Colonial Foundations of Inequality
The foundations of inequality in Australia lie in colonial dispossession, the legal fiction of terra nullius, and the denial of Indigenous sovereignty; this statement proves to be correct as colonial dispossession led to forcefully remove Indigenous people from their land and this led to lose of their spiritual connections, economic base and cultural resources (Moreton-Robinson, 2015). However, legal fiction of terra nullius falsely claimed that Australia vested ownership in British government led to deny property rights of Indigenous individuals; this legal fiction was used by European Colonizer for justifying seizure of land. The colonial dispossession created varied complexities for First Nations People their deep spiritual connections was harmed and as a result, they were unable to practice spirituality on their own land (Hodge and Mishra, 1991).
Moreover, Indigenous people were discarded from undertaking land management practices and this led to impact both people and ecosystems within millennia, losing land was not merely limited to spiritual tragedy however, it is also recognised as an economic dispute due to which Indigenous people were not able to use their economic and cultural resources.
Land theft led to destroy the economic independence of Aboriginals community and this contributed in intergenerational poverty; individuals from this groups still experiencing intergenerational poverty due to colonial obsession and as a result, they are facing persistent discrimination in varied context. Imposing British law and governance comprehend with systematic denial and usurpation of existing political system and as a result, Indigenous sovereignty were never got recognised in colonial period and further it never acknowledged by Australian government (Hodge and Mishra, 1991).
This historical process led to develop legacy of differences that contributed in inequality; hence, the denial of indigenous sovereignty developed long-term complexities for Aboriginals communities and still these differences are evident in varied fields such as health, education, legal and employment (Moreton-Robinson, 2015). This was initiated from colonial period however, it continued for several years; despite taking varied initiatives by government Aboriginals people are struggling with discrimination and intergenerational trauma led to reduce their ability to trust government and other communities.
Understanding the relationship between colonial history, social structures and inequality is an important aspect of Social Science Assignment Help
Health Inequalities
The colonial legacies led to impact the extent of health services, particularly for Indigenous people; this community had been facing significant health differences in comparison of non-Indigenous communities. From the research it has been evident that life expectancy rate of Indigenous people are approximately 8-9 years lower in comparison to Non- Indigenous individuals (AIHW, 2022). Colonial dispossession contributed in varied health inequalities for Aboriginals people through destructing their traditional ways of living life. The rate of chronic illness such as Diabetes and Heart Disease found to be high in Indigenous community; in context of mental health issues it has been identified that rates of suicide, particularly among Aboriginal youngsters is high, and this is significantly linked with their intergenerational traumas.
The unresolved trauma led to increase mental health complexities for Aboriginals individuals. There are varied factors contributing in increasing healthcare differences and these domains are rooted with colonial dispossession (AIHW, 2022). The systemic inequalities such as- historical trauma, cultural suppression and limited accessibility to quality healthcare has been exacerbating chronic conditions among Indigenous community.
The social determinants of health such as- poverty, housing, education and lack of access to healthcare are rooted in colonial dispossession and this is contributing in current healthcare differences. For instance- due to lack of education Indigenous individuals are not aware about healthy diet and further poverty restricts their ability to purchase healthy food. This is how social determinants of health contributing in increasing healthcare differences for Aboriginals community (Paradies, 2016). Moreover, literature revealed that, Indigenous people have been facing discrimination and racism in healthcare settings and this led to reduce their trust and further, intergenerational trauma making it difficult for Indigenous individual to trust healthcare services.
However, there is specific focus has been employed on integrating cultural competent services so that consistent support to Indigenous individual can be ensured whilst; still the loopholes are persisting due to lack of robust monitoring mechanism (Paradies, 2016). It is important to allocate data from First Nations community so this can be identified whether taken actions have been proven effective in reducing inequalities or not. Therefore, significant emphasis must be implied on this aspect for ensuring support to Indigenous community.
Education and Employment Equalities
Literature demonstrates that colonialism impacted the ability to access quality education and employment for First Nations People and further this led to limit social mobility for Indigenous Australians. The lower school completion and university participation rates are high for Non-indigenous Australians and further Aboriginals people faces racism in educational settings (AIHW, 2022).
However, Early Year Learning Framework has been introduced in Australia within early year education setting and the motive of this framework is to teach children about Aboriginals culture; this framework focuses on including diverse perspectives of Indigenous community so that children can learn about this and existing inequalities can be eradicated (AIHW, 2022). However, educational system historically excluded Indigenous knowledge and languages whilst; present educational policy focusing on including the history of First Nations people; hence, this can be recognised as a drastic change within educational setting, still there is need assure more focus on this area so that consistent support can be provided to Aboriginal community.
Furthermore, employment rate is higher in Indigenous people and this is because they have no higher educational qualification. This is like a cycle which keeps persisting; it is important to break this consistent cycle, there is need to increase educational attainment, particularly for Aboriginals people so they can receive higher employment opportunities (Colic-Peisker and Tilbury, 2007).
Discrimination within hiring practices contributing in existing inequities, this is basically due to structural framing regarding Indigenous people, the narrative has been set by people that Indigenous people are lacking in skills and this continues to reinforce assumptions about them (Walter & Andersen, 2013). Despite having talent, Indigenous individuals do not equal opportunities and due to this the rate of unemployment is extremely high specifically among this group.
Criminal Justice and Incarceration
The criminal justice system has been demonstrating about how colonial power structures criminalise and over-police Indigenous individuals; from the research it has been evident that Indigenous Australians make up 3% of the population however, 30% of the population is identified as prison population (AIHW, 2022). The colonial stereotypes led to set narratives for Aboriginals people and they are identified as criminal; racial profiling and over-policing within public spaces has become common (Cunneen, 2006).The charges are high on Indigenous individuals and even without proper investigation they are put in the prison, they are judged on the basis of their ethnicity and this is signifying about huge partiality faced by this community.
Colonialism Vs, the Myth of Egalitarianisms
On the basis of above presented information it can be articulated that myth of egalitarianism has been coexisting within colonial realities. This is merely for maintaining national self-image and obscuring systemic differences (Hodge and Mishra, 1991). However, national identity acknowledges “Fair go” whilst; it excludes voices of Aboriginals people. Existing structural differences has been challenging the ideology of egalitarian and the persisting denial of sovereignty determining about the ways in which colonialism led to shape the restriction of egalitarianism land (Hodge and Mishra, 1991). Hence, it is important to understand the ground reality of First Nations people; they have been facing intergenerational traumas and differences that drastically impacting their trust and wellbeing.
Conclusion
Conclusively; this can be said that egalitarianism is at the forefront of Australian Identity however, colonialism is still shaping systematic differences, particularly for Aboriginals individuals. Hence, it can b said that colonialism dispossession created inequalities in varied context such as- health, education employment and justice. Furthermore, it has been identified that “Fair Go” is identified as a national myth, realities of Indigenous Australian proves that fairness is still not served as they are facing persisting differences. It is important to addresses these inequalities and therefore, structural change is needed and further acknowledgement of Indigenous sovereignty is essential.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2022). Australia’s health 2022. AIHW.
- Bessant, J., & Watts, R. (2002). Inequality. In Sociology Australia (2nd ed., pp. 304–324). Allen & Unwin.
- Colic-Peisker, V., & Tilbury, F. (2007). Refugees and employment: The effect of visible difference on discrimination. Immigrants & Minorities, 25(1), 1–25.
- Cunneen, C. (2006). Racism, discrimination and the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system: Some conceptual and explanatory issues. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 17(3), 329–346.
- Hodge, B., & Mishra, V. (1991). Dark side of the dream: Australian literature and the postcolonial mind. Allen & Unwin.
- Moreton-Robinson, A. (2015). The white possessive: Property, power, and Indigenous sovereignty. University of Minnesota Press.
- Paradies, Y. (2016). Colonisation, racism and indigenous health. Journal of Population Research, 33(1), 83–96.
- Walter, M., & Andersen, C. (2013). Indigenous statistics: A quantitative research methodology. Routledge.
