Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a multicultural country with a population consisting of more than 270 ethnic groups. While nine-tenths of Australia's population is of European ancestry, more than one-fifth is foreign-born, with immigrants accounting for 30% of the population. In recent decades, Asian immigration has significantly altered Australia's cultural landscape, with China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the Philippines being the top source countries. The term “Asian Australian was first coined in the 1950s, and today, it is widely accepted to refer to citizens or residents of Australia with Asian descent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The term "Asian Australian" refers to people of Asian descent who are citizens or residents of Australia. |
| History of the Term | The term was first coined in the 1950s by European Australians to strengthen diplomatic and trade ties with Asia. It was later adopted by Asian Australians in the late 1980s and 1990s to address issues of racial vilification and discrimination. |
| Population | In 2021, Mandarin Chinese was the second most common language spoken at home (2.7%), after English (72%). However, there are no exact figures for the number of Asian people in Australia. |
| Immigration | Asia is the largest source of immigrants to Australia in the 21st century. In 2019, 30% of the Australian resident population, or 7,529,570 people, were born overseas, with a significant proportion from Asian countries. |
| Ethnic Groups | Asian Australians include East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian) and Southeast Asians (Filipinos, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Laotians, Indonesians, Thais, Singaporeans). |
| Education and Employment | Asian Australians are over-represented in high-performing schools and university courses, but some ethnic subgroups face challenges. For example, Cambodian and Laotian Australians have lower educational attainment and higher unemployment rates than the general Australian population. |
| Historical Context | Broome and the Torres Strait Islands have a history of Asian migration, with many long-time residents having partial Asian ancestry. Anti-Asian sentiment in the 19th and early 20th centuries led to policies like the "White Australia" policy, which aimed to restrict Asian immigration. |
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What You'll Learn
Asian Australians in education
Asian Australians are Australians with Asian ancestry, including naturalized Australians who immigrated from various regions in Asia and descendants of such immigrants. At the 2021 census, 17.4% of the population identified as Asian, with 6.5% from Southern and Central Asia, 6.4% from North-East Asia, and 4.5% from South-East Asia.
Asian Australians are often associated with educational success, and they are over-represented in high-performing schools and university courses. This success has been attributed to the intense focus on academic achievement within Asian migrant families, sometimes labelled "tiger parenting". Asian migrants are typically highly educated, and their qualifications have enabled them to migrate to Australia under its selective migration policy that prioritizes skilled migration. Many Asian migrants have succeeded in competitive education systems in their home countries and understand schooling as crucial to career success, leading to a strong emphasis on their children's education.
However, it is important to note that the model minority stereotype is an oversimplification. While some Asian Australian groups have achieved notable educational success, certain ethnic groups face challenges. For example, Cambodian Australians, Laotian Australians, and Vietnamese Australians have lower educational qualifications and higher unemployment rates compared to the general Australian population.
The educational achievements of Asian Australians have sparked interest among sociologists, leading to research on the intersection of social class and ethnicity and the relation between social structures and education systems. This body of literature aims to develop a more robust theory of the educational trajectories of Asian Australians, considering class and ethnicity together rather than relying on coarse ethnic categories.
In conclusion, while Asian Australians are generally associated with educational success, there are disparities among different ethnic groups. The educational achievements of some Asian Australians have led to a growing body of research exploring the cultural relations between class and ethnicity and their impact on educational outcomes.
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Asian Australians in the media
Asian Australians have made significant contributions to the field of journalism in Australia, bringing new perspectives and challenging mainstream media narratives. However, despite Australia's growing Asian population, there is a notable lack of Asian representation in the country's mainstream media. This disparity is particularly evident in prime-time commercial television and top-rating radio stations, which predominantly feature Anglo-Saxon faces, characters, and stories.
The underrepresentation of Asian Australians in the media is attributed partly to racism and the perception that including Asian faces and stories does not align with the "`white media palate"' of predominantly Caucasian-Australian audiences. Additionally, the media outlets themselves play a role in shaping the image of what is considered "Australian" versus "ethnic", influencing public perceptions and contributing to the marginalization of Asian stories and perspectives.
While there are some positive portrayals of people of Asian descent in Australian media, these depictions do not necessarily promote multiculturalism or encourage a deeper understanding of Asian traditions, values, and perspectives. This lack of representation has implications for Asian-Australian youth, who may struggle to find relatable role models in the media they consume. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated anti-Asian sentiments, with Chinese or Chinese-looking migrants and international students becoming targets of racially motivated violence and discrimination.
Asian Australians encompass a diverse range of ethnic groups, including East Asians (such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Mongolian) and Southeast Asians (such as Filipinos, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Laotians, Indonesians, Thais, and Singaporeans). Each of these groups has unique experiences and contributions that deserve recognition and representation in the media. Asian Australians have a long history in the country, with Asian migrants settling in northern Australia as part of the pearling industry and integrating into local society by marrying Indigenous Australians.
It is worth noting that Asian Australians have found some success in print media, where their ideas and writing may be prioritized over their physical appearance. Additionally, in 2020, researchers from the University of Melbourne examined various aspects of Asian-Australian representation, including media portrayals and political under-representation. Despite these efforts, the history of Asian Australians and their representation in media remains a relatively new field of study compared to analogous groups in the Americas or Europe.
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Asian Australian history
Asian migration to Australia has a long history. There is limited evidence to suggest that the first wave of migration from the Indian subcontinent to Australia may have occurred around 50,000 BCE. Genetic and archaeological evidence indicates a substantial influx of people from India around 4230 BCE, coinciding with the introduction of new technologies and the appearance of dingoes and spears in the Australian fossil record. From the 1600s onwards, the Dutch East India Company employed some Asian people to voyage to Australia. In the 1720s, Makassan trepangers from Sulawesi established contact with Aboriginal Australians, including the Yolngu people, and harvested sea cucumbers off the coast of the Kimberley and Arnhem Land.
In 1818, Mak Sai Ying, also known as John Shying, became the first officially recorded Chinese migrant in Australia. He worked as a carpenter and later as a publican in Parramatta. The Australian Gold Rushes of the 19th century lured thousands of Chinese people to the country, with 11,493 Chinese arrivals in Melbourne in 1855. Chinese Australians are now the largest Asian Australian community, with 5.5% of Australia's population identifying as having Chinese ancestry in the 2021 census.
Broome and the Torres Strait Islands were historically home to thousands of Asian migrants from Japan, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka (mostly Sinhalese descent). These migrants settled in northern Australia as part of the pearling industry and integrated into local society by marrying Indigenous Australians and European Australians. Today, many long-time residents in these areas have partial Asian ancestry tracing back to these early migrants.
Despite the contributions of Asian Australians to the country's history, there is also a history of hostility towards Asian immigration in Australia. The 'White Australia' policy, implemented in 1901, aimed to exclude non-white immigrants, particularly those from Asia, from settling in the country. This policy contributed to the marginalization and exploitation of Asian immigrants, limiting their access to better wages and working conditions. During World War II, Japanese and Taiwanese civilians were interned in towns like Tatura and Rushworth in Victoria due to racist government policies. It was not until 1973 that the 'White Australia' policy was dismantled, and immigration policies shifted towards non-discrimination and broadening pathways to citizenship for Asians.
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Asian Australians and employment
Asian Australians are Australians of Asian ancestry, including naturalized Australians who are immigrants from various regions in Asia and descendants of such immigrants. At the 2021 census, the proportion of the population identifying as Asian amounted to 17.4%, with breakdowns of 6.5% from Southern and Central Asia, 6.4% from North-East Asia, and 4.5% from South-East Asia.
Asian immigration to Australia has played an important role in the country's cultural and economic landscape. The first major wave of Asian immigration occurred in the late 19th century, coinciding with the Victorian gold rush, which saw a significant increase in Chinese immigration. However, due to the exclusionary White Australia policy, many Asian immigrants faced restrictions on immigration and challenges in accessing better wages and working conditions.
Historically, Asian Australians have faced discrimination and marginalization in the Australian job market. During the 1870s and 1880s, the trade union movement raised concerns about the impact of foreign labour from Asia, leading to legislation aimed at curbing Asian immigration. These policies contributed to the exploitation of Asian workers, limiting their access to fair wages and working conditions.
Even today, Asian Australians face challenges in the job market. A study found that people with names of Asian origin were 28% less likely to be invited to job interviews. Additionally, less than 5% of leadership positions in government, universities, and top companies are held by individuals from non-European backgrounds. This underrepresentation in leadership positions may be attributed to stereotypes and assumptions about Asian employees, such as the expectation that they lack ambition or assertive communication skills.
Despite these challenges, Asian Australians have made significant contributions to various sectors, including journalism, where they have brought new perspectives and challenged mainstream media narratives. Furthermore, certain subgroups within the Asian Australian community have higher educational levels and participation in skilled managerial, professional, or trade occupations. For example, Bangladeshi Australians have higher educational attainment and are well-represented in skilled professions compared to the general Australian population.
To promote inclusivity and benefit from a diverse workforce, Australian companies need to address these biases and broaden their expectations of good leadership. By valuing the cultural experiences and unique strengths that Asian employees bring, organizations can create a more equitable and successful future for all Australians.
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Asian Australians and language
Asian Australians are Australians of Asian ancestry, including naturalised Australians who are immigrants from various regions in Asia and descendants of such immigrants. At the 2021 census, 17.4% of the population identified as Asian, with breakdowns of 6.5% from Southern and Central Asia, 6.4% from North-East Asia, and 4.5% from South-East Asia.
Asian Australians speak a variety of languages, depending on their country of origin and their generation. Chinese Australians, for example, have historically spoken dialects within the Yue dialect group, including Cantonese and Hakka. However, due to more recent immigration from other regions of China, Mandarin has now surpassed Cantonese as the most commonly spoken Chinese language in Australia. In addition, many Chinese Australians also speak other varieties of Chinese, such as Shanghainese, Hokkien, and Hakka, and some may also speak additional languages such as Tagalog, Malay, Vietnamese, Thai, or Portuguese, depending on their country of origin. Second or higher-generation Chinese Australians may be monolingual in English or bilingual to varying degrees with their heritage language.
Other Asian Australian groups also speak a variety of languages. For example, the Asian migrants who settled in northern Australia as part of the pearling industry were of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Malay, and Sri Lankan (mostly Sinhalese) descent, and would have spoken their respective languages. Today, many Australians of Malaysian descent speak Malay, and some may also speak Malaysian Indian languages.
In addition to speaking a variety of heritage languages, Asian Australians have also had an influence on Australian English. Some have hypothesised the existence of an "Asian-Australian accent" among people who grew up speaking English but come from culturally diverse backgrounds. This accent is characterised by more elongated vowels at the end of words and a tendency to mash together syllables. However, others have argued that sounding Australian is more of a marker of class than ethnicity, and that what is perceived as an "Asian-Australian" accent may simply be a different kind of Australian accent.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is home to more than 270 ethnic groups and, as of 2021, 30% of the population were born overseas, with Asia being the largest source of immigrants in the 21st century. In the 2021 census, Mandarin Chinese was the second most commonly spoken language at home, with 2.7% of the population speaking it.
Asian Australians' ancestry can be traced to various countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Sri Lanka.
Asian Australians have a long history in the country, with Chinese migration to Australia dating back to the early 19th century. Tens of thousands of Chinese people arrived in the 1850s to work in the goldfields. Other Asian groups, such as the Japanese, Filipinos, Malays, and Sri Lankans, settled in northern Australia as part of the pearling industry. However, due to resentment and anger towards Asian migrants from European colonists, Australia implemented the "White Australia" policy in 1901, which aimed to restrict Asian migration to maintain a "white" population. Despite this, Asian migration continued, and in the last decades of the 20th century, Australia experienced significant growth in Asian immigration, particularly from China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
