Social Inequality
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- Date Submitted: 06/02/2010 11:08 PM
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Does Social Inequality Matter?
Australia is a society characterized by ethnic inequality, like many nations Australia’s history is shaped around racism and social inequalities. Social inequality occurs when groups in societies do not have the same social status and are treated differently due to their ethnicity. An ethnic group is composed of people whose perceived cultural markers are deemed socially significant. Ethnic groups differ from one another in terms of language, religion, customs, values and ancestors [1] This essay will explain the affects that inequality can have on individuals, on the Australian society and how people of ethnic backgrounds are perceived, for example how Indigenous people are now stereotyped after the events of the “Stolen Generation” and also how migrants struggle to assimilate to Australia.
Australia’s first federal Department of Immigration was established in 1945. Since then, almost six million migrants, including over 645 000 refugees, have settled in the country[2]. Australia is known as the “multicultural” country yet not everyone is being treated equal and are being discriminated against because of their ethnicity “We are all part of a society which is denying basic rights and freedoms to some of its members on the grounds of colour, ethnicity, or national origin.” [3]The effects of inequality can have a major impact on individuals of ethnic backgrounds. Although they have made the change to leave their familiar territory and move to another country, they face a detachment or division in their new country, not knowing where they exactly fit in. The migrants that enter Australia generally are poorer, less educated, cannot speak English. The migrants and non Australians are working in poor conditions often working longer hours and for lower salaries, living in commission houses and facing the day to day degradation of Australians looking at them with their judging eyes. Not only does the immigrant have to assimilate into the...
Australia is a society characterized by ethnic inequality, like many nations Australia’s history is shaped around racism and social inequalities. Social inequality occurs when groups in societies do not have the same social status and are treated differently due to their ethnicity. An ethnic group is composed of people whose perceived cultural markers are deemed socially significant. Ethnic groups differ from one another in terms of language, religion, customs, values and ancestors [1] This essay will explain the affects that inequality can have on individuals, on the Australian society and how people of ethnic backgrounds are perceived, for example how Indigenous people are now stereotyped after the events of the “Stolen Generation” and also how migrants struggle to assimilate to Australia.
Australia’s first federal Department of Immigration was established in 1945. Since then, almost six million migrants, including over 645 000 refugees, have settled in the country[2]. Australia is known as the “multicultural” country yet not everyone is being treated equal and are being discriminated against because of their ethnicity “We are all part of a society which is denying basic rights and freedoms to some of its members on the grounds of colour, ethnicity, or national origin.” [3]The effects of inequality can have a major impact on individuals of ethnic backgrounds. Although they have made the change to leave their familiar territory and move to another country, they face a detachment or division in their new country, not knowing where they exactly fit in. The migrants that enter Australia generally are poorer, less educated, cannot speak English. The migrants and non Australians are working in poor conditions often working longer hours and for lower salaries, living in commission houses and facing the day to day degradation of Australians looking at them with their judging eyes. Not only does the immigrant have to assimilate into the...