I'm not racist but...

21 December 2004

Old forms of racism - the type that believes in superior races - are fading. But new forms of racism such as intolerance for certain cultural groups still have a strong hold, according to the Racism Project of the University of New South Wales and Macquarie University.

These are among the findings of a survey which is featured in a new University of New South Wales website that aims to inform grassroots organisations hoping to set up anti-racism initiatives in Australia. The findings are also published in the just released issue of The Australian Journal of Social Issues.

Dr Kevin Dunn, Senior Lecturer in Geography, is one of the authors of the extensive survey of racist attitudes. He says ethnic minorities are not just viewed as inferior. Rather, they are mainly perceived as a threat to notions of national unity.

"Old forms of racism are widely condemned but people still take exception to certain cultures," Dr Dunn says. "They might say 'I'm not racist but...' Invariably they are about to introduce a 'new racism' comment, which is less obvious."

Anti-Muslim sentiment is particularly strong. Women proved to be more tolerant across all 18 indicators of the survey - except when it came to marrying a Muslim. Nearly 56 percent of women expressed discomfort with a relative marrying a person of Muslim faith.

"Muslims are by far the most demonised group in Australian society at the moment," says Dr Dunn, who believes that much of that is to do with stereotypes about the role of women in Islam.

On the positive side, nearly 85 percent of the 5,056 people surveyed accept cultural diversity and 74 percent feel secure with ethnic differences. Yet nearly 45 percent believe that ethnic diversity weakens a nation. "We have too narrow an understanding of what constitutes a nation and most people still assume that differences are incompatible with community," says Dr Dunn.

He says the website is designed to inform non-government organisations, local government authorities and other interest groups who may want to investigate what racism is prevalent in their local area and explore anti-racism activities. The website and publications can found at:
http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/research/racism

Co-researchers on the Racism Project include Associate Professor James Forrest (Geography, Macquarie University, Ph 02 9850 8406) and Rogelia Pe-Pua (Social Science, UNSW).

Contact: Dr Kevin Dunn, mob 0404 032 429; office: 9385 5737 : k.dunn@unsw.edu.au
Media contact: Mary O'Malley, (02) 9385 2873, 043 888 1124, m.omalley@unsw.edu.au