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Culture & subcultures

Young Muslims' self-perceptions examined

The authors of a study of identity and self-perception among young Muslims in Queensland suggest that comprehensive and long-term strategies are needed to reduce the potential for young Muslims to experience social exclusion.

Researchers from Central Queensland University and the Griffith Islamic Unit at Griffith University conducted the study, which examined the social, cultural, political and structural environments that affected young Muslims' identity and self-perception.

A group of 117 young Muslims aged 9 to 19 years took part in the study, which was conducted in Brisbane, Rockhampton and Mackay. Close to half of those who took part in the study (48%) had been born in Australia. The study involved participation in a group discussion and the completion of a short questionnaire. Results indicated that these young people had complex identities linked with their religion, nationality and ethnic backgrounds. While almost all of the young people surveyed (93%) said that they were proud to be a Muslim, just over half (58%) said that they were proud to be an Australian. Many of these young people reported experiencing discrimination, stereotyping and marginalisation at school, in playgrounds and in workplaces. Almost half reported having been verbally or physically abused in a public place because they were Muslims. Participants also reported a lack of understanding among some people about the role of prayer, dress and food in the life of a Muslim. They sought respect and understanding from members of the wider community, including school friends and neighbours.

Source:
Central Queensland University 2007, Strategies needed to avoid social exclusion of young Muslim people, media release, 12 September, Central Queensland University, [viewed 25/09/07].
Age, 13/09/07, p.4.

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Males over-represented in G-rated films, 2006

A study of gender representation in recent G-rated films, conducted by researchers at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California (USC), has found that 3 out of every 4 characters represented were male.

The study Where the girls aren't: Gender disparity saturates G-rated films analysed 4,249 speaking characters in the 101 top-grossing G-rated films, both animated and live-action, released between 1990 and 2004.

Researchers also found that:

  • Fewer than 1 out of 3 (28%) of the speaking characters (both real and animated) are female.
  • Fewer than 1 in 5 (17%) of the characters in crowd scenes are female.
  • More than 4 out of 5 (83%) of the films' narrators are male.
  • Only 6.9% of the films were classified as being 'gender balanced' (having a gender ratio of less than 1.5 to 1.

The research was commissioned by 'See Jane', a program of the American father-daughter advocacy group Dads & Daughters. The program 'encourages balanced gender representation in entertainment for children'.

Source: Joe Kelly and Stacy L. Smith, 2006, Where the girls aren't: Gender disparity saturates G-rated films, http://www.Seejane.org, See Jane [viewed 20/11/06].
Weekend Australian, 25- 26/02/06, p.R16.

See Jane: http://www.Seejane.org
Dads & Daughters: http://www.dadsanddaughters.org

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Overseas travel, 2000

In 2000, 18,776 young people between the ages of 10 and 24 years, or 22.1% of all departures, left Australia. The largest group of travellers was aged between 20 and 24 years (70.4%).

A smaller number of young Australians returned in 2000, 14,479 or 18.2% of all arrivals. 20- to 24-year-olds made up the largest group (59% of all returning young people).

Young people represented 13.5% of all people leaving Australia permanently.

Source: Susan Pitman, et al. 2004, Profile of young Australians: Facts, figures and issues, Foundation for Young Australians, Melbourne, pp.30-31 [viewed 30/11/2006].

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Languages other than English, 2001

In 2001, three-quarters of young people born overseas and aged 15 to 24 spoke English well or very well (75.2%).

0.5% of young people born overseas were unable to speak English and a further 4% spoke English 'not well'.

43% of second-generation youth had either both parents (9.9%) or one parent (33.1%) from an English-speaking country.

Over 97% of second-generation youth spoke English well or very well.

Young people whose parents were born in Germany, the Netherlands or Sri Lanka, or who came from different countries, were most likely to speak only English at home. Those with parents from Turkey, what was formally Macedonia, and Vietnam were least likely to speak English at home.

In 1996 about 48,200 people spoke an Indigenous language at home. Most of these people lived in the central and northern part of Australia. There were 10 Indigenous languages with more than 1,000 speakers, most of which were spoken in the Northern Territory. There were also two creoles with more than 1,000 speakers. Kriol was spoken across northern Australia, while Torres Strait creole was spoken in the Torres Strait but also in parts of Queensland where there has been migration by Torres Strait Islanders. Most people who spoke an Indigenous language also spoke English (95%) and of these, 74% said they spoke English well or very well.

About 65% of 15- to 24-year-old Aboriginal youth from the Northern Territory spoke an Indigenous language at home. The percentage was much lower in Western Australia (around 15%), South Australia (10%) and Queensland (around 2%).

Source: Susan Pitman, et al. 2004, Profile of young Australians: Facts, figures and issues, Foundation for Young Australians, Melbourne, p.47 [viewed 30/11/2006].

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Entertainment venues, 2003

56% of respondents to the Australian Democrats' Youth Poll 2003 said they had attended a licensed venue while under age. The main reasons were: to socialise (41%) and to hear a band (20%). Other reasons were to drink alcohol (15%, as against 29% in 2002) or to dance (14%).

84% of respondents said there were not enough under-age venues for young people.

The survey was of 15- to 25-year-olds in all states and territories.

Source: Australian Democrats, Youth Poll 2003 [viewed 30/11/2006].

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Australian children's cultural participation survey, 2000

Number of children (5-14 years) involved in organised cultural activities outside school hours, 2000: 777,000
Participation rate for at least one cultural activity:
Boys: 20%
Girls: 40%

Figures provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics' survey, Children's Participation in Culture and Leisure Activities, April 2000 (Cat. No. 4901.0). The cultural activities covered singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument and drama.

Source: Australia Council 2003, Some Australian arts statistics: Supporting and promoting the practice and enjoyment of the arts, Australia Council, Sydney [viewed 30/11/2006].

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