Essay On Culture And Identity

The human beings are the social creatures and they group themselves together that can help to ensure survival of their communities. It can help individuals for forming common habits and the behaviours that can influence the life of an individual in the positive manner. The personal beliefs and the identity can help individuals to achieve physical, emotional and intellectual potential that can help them to express their feelings and the opinion (Humanrights.gov.au., 2022). This essay throws light on how social and the cultural factors are instrumental in influencing beliefs of an individual. This essay elaborates about the particular characteristics integral to my identity and how it has influenced my interaction with Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander people.

Culture refers to defining feature of the identity of an individual and it helps to contribute to how an individual perceives themselves and groups with which they are able to identify. The understanding of an individual about themselves are found to be developed from the birth and they are shaped by values and the attitudes that are prevalent within home and in the surrounding community (Bamblett, Myers & Rowse, 2019).  It is indicative of norms and behaviours which are found to be accepted within the wider society.

The sociocultural factors plays a crucial role for the shaping of social development and the functioning of an individual in their lives. They are found to be synonymous with traditions and patterns which are unique to community or the population group. The socio-cultural factors can greatly help to influence beliefs and values and they greatly influence behaviour of an individual in the present times (Krakouer, Wise & Connolly, 2018).  The diverse socio-cultural factors are found to characterise the various communities, geographical areas and the population groups and they form patterns of behaviour of a person.

I am a European Australian and the prevailing social norms have made me to perceive the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be an inferior race. The First Nations Australians are viewed to be object of contempt as they have to face discrimination and humiliation within the wider society. There exist stereotypes and notions and this negative stereotypes have affected my perception about these particular population group.

 

The European Australians are held to be citizens or the residents of Australia and their ancestry has been found to originate from people of the Europe. The people belonging to the European descent form majority of population of Australia and they have greatly influenced culture and the society of Australia.

 

The cultural beliefs and the values of the white Australians have been formed by prevailing notions in the society that has helped in the determination of their behaviour. The people in my neighbourhood and my friends have been responsible for the formation of my beliefs as they have told me tales that have helped me to form impression about various other cultural groups (Sullivan & Day, 2021).  I have read articles in the newspaper and journals that have been instrumental for forming my beliefs.

The Australians are found to have unconscious bias against the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and it has been formed owing to opinion and ideas of people within the wider society. The indigenous people are perceived in the negative light and it affects interactions and dealings of white Australians with the indigenous Australians (Carter et al., 2018).  My beliefs about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been influenced by the pervading ideas in the society that holds discriminatory views against these people. The political leaders in Australia do not denounce incidences of discrimination that are perpetrated on the weaker race and it has paved the path for injustices for these population group (Kearney, 2018).

 

My personal belief about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is that they occupy unique place within Australia as they are the original inhabitants of land. They have the distinctive rights and they are the First Peoples of Australia and they have to be respected by all the people within the country (Jennings, Bond & Hill, 2018).  I think that they are greatly discriminated against and looked down upon that have given rise to feelings of inferiority for these population group. I understand that there has to be holistic understanding about their health and the well-being and it has to involve entire community that can improve conditions of living of these people.

 

The concept of cultural safety has helped to reinforce my opinion that the Indigenous Australians have to be respected and valued as they were original custodians of the land. It can be conducive for ensuring social justice and equity that can be advantageous for improving quality of life of the indigenous Australians (Taylor & Guerin, 2019).

 

 

It has helped to confirm my opinions as it has helped me to understand that right environment has to be created that can be safe for Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander people. I have understood that there has to be strategic and the institutional reforms that can be instrumental in removing barriers for ensuring optimal health and well-being of the indigenous Australians. It can be useful for addressing the unconscious bias and racism that can support self-determination of Aboriginal Australians. The individuals and organisations have to ensure that the cultural values do not have negative influence on the Aboriginal peoples so that it can be of great value to address issues of racism and the discrimination. I think that there has to be commitment for re-designing organisations and the systems so that it can be effective for reducing issues of racism and the discrimination.

I have been able to gain knowledge for recognising my own culture, values and beliefs that can enable me for making effective collaboration with various other members of the group. The Aboriginal Australians have been marginalised and they have been socially disadvantaged within the wider population group. I have understood that there has to be cultural understanding that can help me to maintain effective collaboration with these people.

 

There are certain considerations which have to be made that can help me to carry out effective communication with different members of the group coming from various cultural backgrounds and ethnicities (Bamblett, Myers & Rowse, 2019). The cultural beliefs and values of the individuals are greatly instrumental in influencing thinking and behaviours of other people. The high sense of the value has to be placed for the maintenance of relationships that can be instrumental in building effective rapport in between various members of the team. I have to be aware about my personal space as standing too close can offend another individual and it can make him feel uncomfortable.

 

I shall ensure that all members of group can be successful participants with the aid of active listening that can help me to understand points of view of other individuals. I shall provide the team members with the opportunity of expressing their opinions in the open manner that can help in strengthening relationship in between various members of the group.

 

The socio-cultural factors plays a significant role for shaping social development and functioning of people within the lives. The indigenous Australians are held in negative light and it greatly affects interactions of these individuals within the broader society. The value has to be laid for maintaining relationships that can build successful rapport in between different members of team.

Bamblett, L., Myers, F., & Rowse, T. (2019). The difference identity makes: Indigenous cultural capital in Australian cultural fields.

 

 

Carter, J., Hollinsworth, D., Raciti, M., & Gilbey, K. (2018). Academic ‘place-making’: fostering attachment, belonging and identity for Indigenous students in Australian universities. Teaching in Higher Education, 23(2), 243-260.

 

 

Humanrights.gov.au. (2022). Face the facts: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples | Australian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 6 August 2022, from https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/education/face-facts-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples

 

 

Jennings, W., Bond, C., & Hill, P. S. (2018). The power of talk and power in talk: a systematic review of Indigenous narratives of culturally safe healthcare communication. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 24(2), 109-115.

 

 

Kearney, A. (2018). Returning to that which was never lost: Indigenous Australian saltwater identities, a history of land claims and the paradox of return. History and Anthropology, 29(2), 184-203.

 

 

Krakouer, J., Wise, S., & Connolly, M. (2018). “We live and breathe through culture”: Conceptualising cultural connection for Indigenous Australian children in out-of-home care. Australian Social Work, 71(3), 265-276.

 

 

Sullivan, C., & Day, M. (2021). Queer (y) ing Indigenous Australian higher education student spaces. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 50(1), 2-9.

 

 

Taylor, K., & Guerin, P. T. (2019). Health care and Indigenous Australians: cultural safety in practice. Bloomsbury Publishing.