University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

White people have no face: Aboriginal perspectives on White culture and the costs of neoliberalism

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 06:08 authored by Daphne HabibisDaphne Habibis, Penelope TaylorPenelope Taylor, Bruna Silva RagainiBruna Silva Ragaini
Australia has a significant Aboriginal population but while much is known about how White people view Aboriginal culture, Aboriginal perspectives on White culture are not well known. Drawing on survey (N = 474) and in-depth interviews (N = 43) we aim to reposition the normativity of White culture by asking a diverse group of Aboriginal people what they think of White Australian values and behaviours. Regardless of social position, as a subaltern population, respondents have a heightened sense of the alienation inherent within contemporary neoliberalism. Most respondents believe most Australians live in ways that go “against nature”, at high cost to the social fabric and environment. The contrast with the respondents' own sense of connection to each other and to the natural world provides an opportunity to reset the race relationship because it demands a re-evaluation of the hegemonic assumptions within the reconciliation dyad. The findings disrupt the identities of Aboriginal and White people, and position Aboriginal people as both deserving of inclusion and as proferring knowledge of benefit to all Australians.

Funding

Australian Research Council

Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation

History

Publication title

Ethnic and Racial Studies

Volume

43

Issue

7

Pagination

1149-1168

ISSN

0141-9870

Department/School

School of Social Sciences

Publisher

Routledge Taylor & Francis Ltd

Place of publication

4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, England, Oxfordshire, Ox14 4Rn

Rights statement

© 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Other culture and society not elsewhere classified; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community services not elsewhere classified

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC