1. Session 2: Whiteness and Racialisation

2.  Whiteness signifies and reproduces privilege in our society  The colour white is a symbol with a particular set of social meanings  Whiteness is not just about skin colour or just about white people  Whiteness is about lived experience including privilege and viewpoint as well as beliefs, practices and policies

3. White Privilege  White as normal  White as superior  White as raceless  Invisibility of others  Hypervisibility of others

4.  What is the dominant culture of Whiteness?

5. Dominant Norms of White Culture Societal Dimensions Expressions Rationalism- mind, body, and emotions should be treated as separate entities People who express emotions in “rational” situations are devalued Time –perceived as a linear quantity People are expected to save time, spend time, and perform on time Action Orientation – Everyone is responsible for what happens to her/him and controls one’s own fate Failure/success are attributed to individual deficiency/talents which are divorced from their social context Universalism – the normative and best characteristics are defined by European culture There is considered to be only one ‘truth’ and a tendency to strive towards ‘perfection’ Competition – societal resources belong to the best Access to societal resources and achievements is based primarily on ‘merit’ and not need. (Adapted from Helms 1992 p. 13)

6.  How does Whiteness intersect with other sources of privilege such as gender, sexuality, ability, class etc.  Is it useful to look at how white people gain benefit in our society – why white people have good health, good educational outcomes, etc  How do non-white non-Indigenous people fit into the framework of Whiteness?  Can people with non-white skin have the attributes of Whiteness and white-skinned people resist/reject Whiteness?

7. What is Racialisation?  Racialisation is a social system in which people are divided into ‘races’. Racism and anti-racism are both types of racialisation.  Racism: actions that enhance or maintain unfair and avoidable inequalities between races  Anti-racism: actions that reduce or eliminate unfair and avoidable inequalities between races  Racism and anti-racism are not defined through intentions but rather the effects of actions

8. Exercise   Read the Koori Mail article   In small groups discuss how the situation described in the article racialises individuals and/or groups   What are inequalities are involved in the situation?   Is the situation depicted in article racist or anti-racist?   How does this situation relate to inequalities across other axes of oppression such as gender and age?

9. Question   Are there one or more inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in this situation?   Are these inequalities unfair and avoidable?   If we answer yes to both of these questions then:

10. Defence of ‘traditional marriage’ Is anti-racist   Reduces inequalities between Indigenous and non- Indigenous people by privileging Indigenous cultural norms Outlawing ‘traditional marriage’ Is racist   Enhances inequalities between Indigenous and non- Indigenous people by privileging non-Indigenous cultural norms

11. Further Further Question   Are there one or more inequalities between the man and the girl in this situation?   Are these inequalities unfair and avoidable?   If we answer yes to both of these questions then:

12. Defence of traditional marriage Is sexist/ageist   Enhances inequalities between girl/young person vs. man/older person Outlawing traditional marriage Is anti-sexist/anti-ageist   Reduces inequalities between girl/young person vs. man/older person

13. Girl Man Indigenous Non-Indigenous

14. Girl Man Indigenous Non-Indigenous

15. Girl Man Indigenous Non-Indigenous