Racism/body image/culture

Really good article by Noel Duan on the pressures to look thin' like the asian girls are' is tied up with all sorts of our own body image issues and cultural myths and expectations. have a read CLICK HERE

Racism (Even Hipster) Racism is not cool

I  heard some young fellas recently talking about their 'black'  friend. Or more correctly using racist terms to describe him. When challenged on this these guys said that' "He is cool with this - were his friends  so we can say it in fun". It seems that more and more I hear people believing that because they are saying these words in the manner that they do they are 'making fun'of racism and are totally not racist themselves.

This way of using racism as if it means nothing to you is called 'hipster' racism. As far as I am concerend it is STILL racism. Anyway - Go here to see a great article on 'hipster' racism from Jezebel

Thanks to Adios Barbie for this link

In support of young men

I just thought I'd share an experience I recently had with 7 young men.

Not long ago myself and another worker were asked to work with some young men that had been identified by a rural school as being able to benifit from some work around racism, mysogeny, homophobia ( as they were considered perpetrators of these isms, eny's and ias). As it turns out these young men were awesome. They understood the issues of oppression that were all around them. They understood that school is a difficult place to survive in. They WANTED to be given space to explore these issues. They wanted to be able to speak out about SO MANY THINGS.

As it turns out these young men reinforced the belief that it is up to US as workers to find a way to reach the young people we work with. If we can do work together, be creative and be flexible - so much is possible. Thanks so much to the highschool for providing the flexibility and opportunity for this to occur.

Here is a picture that these young men put together. Can you figure it out?

Racism

It is great to see this campaign from ACON. In previous postings on this blog we have talked about the links between racism and sexual health. I think its fantastic to see something happening in the GLBTIQ community.

Have a look below at thier blurb!!

'Many of us have been made to feel inferior because of our sexuality. Racism is as hurtful and offensive as homophobia and many of our brothers and sisters experience racism from within our own community!

Some examples of racism include:
· Making jokes centred on someone’s race.
· Making assumptions based on race.
· Making negative comments or gestures based on race.
· Excluding people based on race.

The ‘Would You Wear it?’ campaign asks us to challenge our own and others’ ideas about race so we can all enjoy a community where everyone is accepted and respected.

Some of the ways you can support our diversity and contribute to making our community strong include:

Check In – Do you pre-judge others?

Stand Up – Stand up against racism when it’s safe to do so.

'

Sorry

In previous posts we have looked at possible links between racism and sexual health. Here is one post if you want to have a look

I am hoping that Keven Rudds and Australias apology will be one step to overcoming the sexual health discrepancy between Aboriginal Australians and the rest of our community. Read through a brief version below and you can see ALL the sexual Health issues that we often talk about at SHineSA and particulalry in the SE&X course.

Lud

Rudd Rox:

February 13, 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

.......within a decade to halve the appalling gap in infant mortality rates between indigenous and non-indigenous children and, within a generation, to close the equally appalling 17-year life gap between indigenous and non-indigenous in overall life expectancy.

Lets get to it: Surely part of this closing the gap means real, comprehensive,meaningful sexual health and relationships education for all people.

Lud