Does Racism go both ways?

[Topender]

Ok I have my flame suit ready and before I get burnt to a crisp I thought I would post up my recent observation.  So as some of you know I am not working at the moment (by choice), but I am starting to search for work.  So yesterday I was reading the online news and read the story about the lady Publican who was apologising after she had her phone stolen and decided to ban all indigenous patrons until her phone was returned. http://www.smh.com.au/national/coolgardie-publican-deborah-ovens-apologises-for-ban-on-indigenous-customers-20140305-347ja.html

Now anyone can see that that is pretty wrong and not the right way to go about things, but I'm assuming she was fed up and probably wasn't thinking straight at the time.  I consider myself open minded and have neighbours next door and across the road from me who are aboriginal and who are lovely. But and here is the big BUT.......

As I said I'm looking for work and not 2 minutes after reading an article like the one above I was looking through Seek and came across this http://www.seek.com.au/job/26131081  Isn't this double standards?........I know for a fact if the advert was the other way around or even aimed at a different minority group all hell would break out.

So my question although controversial is does racism go both ways?  I in all honesty don't care about the job, I just thought it was "interesting".  Don't shoot the messenger and I'm not trying to start anything.

Dave 

[Bird]

So my question although controversial is does racism go both ways?

of course it does.. you cant call them anything, but they can abuse hell out of you...

[@fnq4now]

The most simple, least controversial answer to you question is 'Yes'.

[Alan Loy]

I guess whenever you prefer one category of people over another you are unfair.  The only justification is that sometimes it is necessary to discriminate for a group of people for a long term goal.

There is talk of preferring men in the selection of candidates for primary school teachers.  This may be wrong but it might be justified on the basis of a more even mix in genders.

[Ciscokid]

Yes, of course.  That goes with all the other 'isms' like sexism etc.  Even 'lookism' where attractive people are employed plays a role.  Just because they don't advertise it like this particular case, doesn't mean it doesn't apply...

[wilson79]

It is supposed to go both ways but it doesn't always unfortunately...

[Chippy76]

I believe it does go both ways, and I love it when someone uses the line "you hate me because I'm <insert racial or sexual orientation here>" .... my usual answer is "No, I dislike you because you are a W**ker!" lol

I do believe that some companies have an indigenous policy that ensures the employment of indigenous people. Quite simple I see it that if the applicant is of equal quality (regardless of gender, race or sexual preference) then they get the job. Makes for good business management to me.

As a carpenter, I would happily employ anyone, as long as they have the right attitude and qualifications!

Cheers Chippy

FWIW the job add that you posted didn't actually state that the applicant need to be of Indigenous background :p

[gronk]

Cheers Chippy

FWIW the job add that you posted didn't actually state that the applicant need to be of Indigenous background :p

In pretty big letters at the header of the add !!!

I don't agree with "selecting" a race of people for a job....if you have the qualifications, apply.....regardless of colour , race..

Have a friend who applied for a position.....5 jobs going....2 were "saved" for indigenous people (govt department, govt policy ).....friend missed out ( apparently only just ), but no indigenous people applied....so only 3 people got put on ??

So......they really only wanted 3 people.......or because of their policy, they couldn't put 5 NON indigenous people on ??

Racism doesn't go both ways....when's the last time you heard of an indigenous person in the media being accused of racially slurring a "white" fella.....doesn't happen !!

[Chippy76]

It didn't state it in the actual ad though ... Only in the heading !

[jkwpajero]

The Macquarie Dictionary defines racism as: "the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others." And that definition could also be applied to religions too, but lets not go there please. Racial and religious discrimination is a world wide practice and I am glad it is much less of a problem in this country than in many other, where it will result in death and forced relocation's. Be happy we don't have to live with that. Not liking someone because of personality traits is one thing, and we all probably do it, but looking at someone and forming an opinion about them because they look different should be unacceptable. The reality is if you look into your families you will all find a branch of the tree that is of a different ethnicity. I have German, English, Irish in mine, and proud of it too.

 
James

[wilson79]

Great point James, and yes racism should not be tolerated and or accepted in this country.

Just for an experiment though it would be interesting to see what would happen if the add was changed to say "Caucasian" in the heading instead of indigenous? . I bet it would make for an interesting media storm..

[gibbo301]

I'm not sure i will have to ring my mate at Lake Gregory 

[dazzler]

It is racist simply because it is choosing one race over another.

However, identifying positions for indigenous people is probably a good idea to try and get more employed.

I trained an aboriginal apprentice however he left at the end of year 3 as he was tired of being called a "white maggot f'er" by his community.  Poor bugger was sobbing before he left.  He knew he was screwed.

[Swannie]

It is racist simply because it is choosing one race over another.

However, identifying positions for indigenous people is probably a good idea to try and get more employed.

I trained an aboriginal apprentice however he left at the end of year 3 as he was tired of being called a "white maggot f'er" by his community.  Poor bugger was sobbing before he left.  He knew he was screwed.

Thats very sad to hear, some poeple are just  destined to be doomed
Swannie

[briann532]

I'm not sure i will have to ring my mate at Lake Gregory 

LOL............

[Kangaron]

In all sorts of red tape and Govt paraphernalia I have filled out over the years I always wondered how different I would be treated if i ticked THAT box near the front.

[wilson79]

In all sorts of red tape and Govt paraphernalia I have filled out over the years I always wondered how different I would be treated if i ticked THAT box near the front.

You should just tick it next time and let us know what happens?

My bet is you get to retire early and live in a free house get cheap loan's and free KFC.. Just kidding!!!!

[Azz]

I have quite a few really good mates that are indigenous. Funniest bit is if you met any of them, you would not pick it in a million years.

Mate one, works in the city, government dept. He is uni educated, very smart bloke. His wife, indigenous also is so pissed that all of his employment is because of his Aboriginal heritage.
She thinks he should just get a job off his own merit and not pull the "black" card. Meanwhile, he is more like, I get a great wage, you and our Daughter have a roof over heads, so shut up will you!!!
There are plenty of positions available to this lands original occupants and their descendants.

Mate two, grew up in the UK, his Dad was a Pom, Mum Aussie, Grandmother indigenous. He has the thickest English accent its not funny, but the stuff he gets for free, i.e. dental, health etc etc is absolutely bullShit.
This sort of racism pisses me off !!!

and a family I know, Dad and three kids all have indigenous heritage, can take advantage of lots of assistance, but choose not to. They are all wrangers 

[billnjim]

It is racist simply because it is choosing one race over another.

However, identifying positions for indigenous people is probably a good idea to try and get more employed.

I trained an aboriginal apprentice however he left at the end of year 3 as he was tired of being called a "white maggot f'er" by his community.  Poor bugger was sobbing before he left.  He knew he was screwed.

yep up on our sites the communities refer to them as coconuts (brown on outside, white on inside), very disheartening for them and they've often said all they want is to get ahead but their families (extended in most cases) hold them back and make life hard when their home & unfortunately family plays a significant role in their life/upbringing/culture

[austastar]

Hi,
   Crumbs it goes all the way down to giving Land Rover drivers a hard time.


(But we can take it.)


cheers


p.s. 2 ¹/₂ years in S.E Asia, and speaking a bit of the local dialect, yep, it is everywhere.

[t303]

I AM NOT A RACIST!







I hate everybody equally! 

[briann532]

I AM NOT A RACIST!







I hate everybody equally! 

x 2

[KingBilly]

In relation to the job advert in the OP, it has nothing to do with racism or even "positive discrimination" as it is sometimes called when applied to a minority, be it an ethnic, gender or whatever minority.

Without knowing anything about the particular job, I would hazard a guess that the company advertising the position is obligated to employ a percentage of indigenous workers as a condition of being granted a mining permit or something similar.  It would be a government policy which had been offered as an incentive to gain the local indigenous community's acceptance to rip the minerals out of their country.

KB

[Symon]

It will only spark outrage if you are disadvantaging a minority.

If you are disadvantaging the majority, then there will be no outrage.

I personally don't really have a problem with employers being selective, after all, they are paying for a service and if they want that person to have certain qualities then that's their choice.  If they are limiting their labour pool then that's their problem.

[jetcrew]

Only colour on here that matters is...... the colour of your canvass..

Jet