Unit 4, Part 4

The University of Western Sydney is fully committed to equal opportunity and affirmative action principles. It recognises that language is not a neutral medium and that discriminatory language contributes to the unequal social status of a number of groups.

The following guidelines have been prepared to alert staff and students to the possible ways in which language can be discriminatory and to assist them in the use of non-discriminatory language.

The University undertakes to use non-discriminatory, inclusive language in all official documents and to promote its use in classrooms, meetings and other settings.

Australia is home to people from many different ethnic and racial backgrounds. Discriminatory or racist language implies either directly or indirectly that people from racial backgrounds, other than the majority Anglo-Celtic group, are somehow inferior. Language about the majority group tends to be positive whereas discriminatory language is more negative, emphasising differences and implying inferiority.

Non-discriminatory language in relation to race and ethnicity recognises and presents the diversity of Australia's population in a positive manner.

Some of the major forms of racist language are -

Stereotyping

A stereotype is a generalised and relatively fixed image of a person or persons belonging to a particular group.

Stereotypes, even ones which seem positive, take away from a person's individuality. Members of ethnic and racial minorities are more likely to be discriminated against by the use of stereotyping than members of the majority group.

Inappropriate emphasis on racial & ethnic differences

In many cases it is unnecessary to mention a person's race or ethnic background. For example, if a white Anglo-Saxon man's behaviour was being reported on in a newspaper the headline might be man's behaviour questioned. No other details are supplied. However, the same report relating to a racial minority group member might say Asian man's behaviour questioned.

Singling out the racial characteristic without any particular purpose can be discriminatory. It is drawing attention to what is not necessarily a relevant factor. The way language is used in these examples implies that the majority group is the norm against which the minority are judged.

Omission or invisibility

Language should reflect the diversity in and amongst racial and ethnic minorities. Generally individual members of the majority group are described in terms of their individual characteristics. This is often not the case with minority groups. For example, the term Asian is sometimes used to cover a diverse group of races where it would be appropriate to use more specific terms such as Chinese or Vietnamese. Another example is to group all Lebanese together without allowing for strong individual differences, not to mention the strong differences between Christian Lebanese people and Islamic Lebanese people.

Derogatory labelling

Terms such as ethnics, wogs, dagoes, slopes are generally considered derogatory and should be avoided. Similarly, terms such as New Australian and others, which now carry the implication that the people referred to are somehow lesser than the majority race should also be avoided.