CULTURE

Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 8

1. States Parties undertake to respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law without unlawful interference.
2. Where a child is illegally deprived of some or all of the elements of his or her identity, States Parties shall provide appropriate assistance and protection, with a view to re-establishing speedily his or her identity.

• Language
• Customs
  
• Symbols
  
• Events.

1. RACISM

What is racism?

The Macquarie Dictionary defines racism as:

1. the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others. 2. offensive and aggressive behaviour to members of another race stemming from such a belief.

Racism is constructed by humans. It is a belief - prejudging some one (prejudice) based on a belief that one's own culture is better than that of others (ethnocentrism). It is also behaviour, exhibited as violence or graffiti or exclusion, to name a few.

Racism involves four components:

(a) Categorising: Racism begins with the process of categorising by race. It is the process that is important, not the presence or absence of "objective" race differences.

(b) Stereotyping: These racial categories are assumed to have particular significance for the development of culture. The categories are assumed to be a reflection of real genetic differences between races, which are sufficient to generate different cultural characteristics. So, for example, a racist would not only characterise Black Americans as being of low IQ, but would argue that this is caused by genetic factors. (The amazing fact, though, is that 98% of all human genes are the same only 2% or our genes give us variations).

(c) Evaluating: The racial groups are then evaluated on the basis of these assumed genetically determined characteristics.

(d) Behaviour: Finally, again, these beliefs are used as the basis for discriminatory behaviour.

Source: McConnochie, Hollinsworth and Pettman: Race and Racism in Australia (1989). Social Science Press, Wentworth Falls, N.S.W. (ISBN 0949218170)

Racial discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably than someone else in a similar situation because of their race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin. This is direct discrimination. Indirect discrimination can also occur when the operation of a particular rule or policy disadvantages more people of a particular race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin than other people.

Source: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (Australia)

2. SEX DISCRIMINATION

Discrimination based on whether a person is female or male is an endemic problem for all cultures. Like racism, discrimination based on gender is constructed by humans. The same four components of racism, categorising, stereotyping, evaluating and behaviour can be adapted and applied to gender issues.

Categorising: Sex discrimination begins with the process of categorising by gender. It is the process that is important, not the presence or absence of real sex differences.

Stereotyping: These sexual categories are assumed to have particular significance. The categories are assumed to be a reflection of real differences between sexes, which are sufficient to generate discrimination between sexes.

Evaluating: People are then evaluated on the basis of these assumed gender-determined characteristics.

Behaviour: Finally, again, these beliefs are used as the basis for discriminatory behaviour.

The Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW) has a number of broad thrusts:

to promote equality between men and women;

to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status or pregnancy and, with respect to dismissals, family responsibilities; and

to eliminate sexual harassment at work, in educational institutions, in the provision of goods and service, in the provision of accommodation and in the administration of federal programs.

Sex discrimination occurs when a person is treated less fairly than another person because of their sex or marital status or because they are pregnant. This is direct discrimination. Indirect discrimination can also occur when a requirement that is the same for everyone has an unfair effect on some people because of their sex, marital status, pregnancy or potential pregnancy.

Source: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (Australia)

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