Australians are racist, say Australians

[Revenant]

AUSTRALIANS are in two minds about multiculturalism, a long-term survey has found.

They believe cultural diversity is good for the country but they're worried that cultural differences will stop everyone from getting along.

An 11-year study by a collaboration of Australian universities has found 85 per cent of Australians acknowledge racial prejudice occurs in the nation and one in five has been a victim of racist verbal abuse.

The study found that 6.5 per cent of the 16,000 Australians surveyed were against multiculturalism.

Professor Kevin Dunn, from the University of Western Sydney's school of social science, said the study revealed that the majority of Australians are pro-multiculturalism but are anxious that the diversity will not be managed well.

"Over 40 per cent of those surveyed feel that cultural differences pose a threat to societal harmony," he said.

"So if you take that alongside the 87 per cent that are pro-multiculturalism, clearly you've got a third of the nation that tolerate cultural diversity but are concerned at the impact it will have on society.

"The Cronulla riots and the recent attacks on people of Indian descent are an example of this.

"The figures show that 85 per cent of Australia acknowledge there is racial prejudice in the country."

Prof Dunn believes previous governments have done nothing to address the issue for the past decade, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma spending only part of his time dealing with race discrimination.

"For the last decade, the government hasn't appointed a full-time Race Discrimination Commissioner," Prof Dunn said.

"Because of the severe underfunding of the commission, they're just unable to offer the sorts of services required."

The survey also found that at least one in five Australians experience verbal abuse such as offensive slang names for different cultural groups, or swearing and offensive gestures, while 11 per cent feel they don't belong or are inferior.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574...75-421,00.html

For such a apparently comprehensive study (huge sample size) the findings here don't seem to be too clear.

[Beorn]

For such a apparently comprehensive study (huge sample size) the findings here don't seem to be too clear.

They do seem rather "unique" in their lack of what I have gathered from personal experience of Aussies.

"The study found that 6.5 per cent of the 16,000 Australians surveyed were against multiculturalism."

I find it hard to believe that out of 16 thousand people, only 6.5% of them were not favourable to multiculturalism.

[Vulpix]

There are many problems with this study. Just to quickly mention a few ones, researchers' bias, "leading" survey questions (see below*), the fact that the survey was conducted by phone (introducing telephone bias), and more in general the social stigma known to prevent more honest responses.
Also, I think the sample size (16'000) stands out as unnecessarily big.

Oh by the way, the paper doesn't have a "study's limitations" section.

From: Constructing Racism in Sydney, Australia’s Largest EthniCity

Survey questions

Variable number Question wording Indicator

1 It is a good thing for a society to be
made up of people from different
cultures
Strongly disagree disagree:
opposition to cultural diversity

2 You feel secure when with people of
different ethnic backgrounds
Strongly disagree disagree:
concern/opposition to cultural
difference

3 There is racial prejudice in Australia
Strongly agree disagree: recognition of
racism in society

4 You are prejudiced against other
cultures
Strongly agree disagree: self-identified
racism

5 It is not a good idea for people of
different races to marry one another
Strongly agree disagree: belief in a
need to keep ‘races’ separate

6 Australians from a British
background enjoy a privileged
position in our society
Strongly agree disagree: cultural
privilege enjoyed by Anglo-
Australians

7 Australia is weakened by people of
different ethnic origins sticking to
their old ways
Strongly agree disagree: concern/
opposition to cultural difference
and multicultural values

8 All races of people are equal
Strongly disagree disagree: belief in
a racial hierarchy

9 Humankind is made up of separate
races
Strongly agree disagree: belief in
‘natural’ racial groups

10 Do you believe that there are any
cultural or ethnic groups that do not
fit into Australian society
Yes: suggests a right to make
judgements about in-groups and
out-groups
....

More at Challenging Racism - Surveys / University of Western Sydney