EDU2110 Cultural Studies: Reflective Response - Edith Cowan University

This assignment presents a reflective response on cultural studies, utilizing the 'See, Think, Wonder' framework to analyze three articles focusing on social stigma and community development. The first article examines a case involving Aboriginal children and the justice system, emphasizing the importance of evidence and cultural sensitivity. The second article explores the challenges faced by Nunga Aboriginal mothers in raising children amidst poverty and government intervention, highlighting concerns about cultural preservation and the need for a liberal approach from government workers. The third article reflects on the Oklahoma City bombing, connecting the tragedy to racial discrimination and the risks faced by rescue workers. Each reflection includes personal insights and implications for future professional practice in healthcare and anthropology, emphasizing ethical considerations and the importance of cultural awareness. The assignment concludes by highlighting the ongoing struggle for marginalized communities to find meaning and respect in their lives.

Running head- SOCIOLOGY
Cultural studies
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author Note

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Table of contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Discussion..................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
Cultural studies refer to field of interdisciplinary research that deals with the effect of
culture on the everyday life of individuals. Within this, cultural domain attains an important
position in terms of diversifying the social hierarchies. Narrowing down the focus, this
assignment takes up three articles with different themes for providing a practical example
about the demarcations regarding the social stigma. The main focus of the articles is on the
community development through the consideration of the issues, which they experience in
their lives.
Discussion
Source 1- Austlii.edu.au (2019). Cross examination on Aboriginal Children-Journal on
Aboriginal ILB. Retrieved 6th April 2019 from http://www.austlii.edu.au/
See
In this reading, the Brisbane Magistrate case is presented. Three aboriginal boys
presented their evidence as prosecution witness in the hearing of the six police officers, who
was charged with the deprivation of liberty. An exhaustive investigation was conducted by
the Criminal Justice Commission for proposing recommendation to the officers regarding
dealing with the criminal charges (Austlii.edu.au, 2019). The hearing ended with the verdict
that as the evidence was insufficient, the trial cannot progress. Reporting was done for the
conclusion regarding the lack of respect for the community members, their property and
justice system within the boys.
Think

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I think that these court proceedings legalizes the matters of the enhancing the
existence of the community members. The accused and the victim both needs to comply with
the verdict produced by the judge. Along with this, I also feel that sufficient evidence is
necessary in terms of defending oneself from getting accused in wrong charges. I think that
the mutual interest of the aboriginal people is very important aspect in terms of respecting
their culture, customs and traditions. Therefore, Rigney, (2017) is of the view that the police
officers, involved in conducting the investigation needs to take care of not to force them for
producing the responses. According to my opinions, Data Protection Act (1998) needs to be
implemented in the investigation process for safeguarding the responses.
I think this approach would help me in future, if I venture into the profession of
lawyer. Referring to the various governmental websites would enhance my awareness about
the latest version of legislative requirements, which I need to comply for averting any kind of
illegal instances. If I take permission from the professionals before referring to these
websites, it would act as an agent in terms of the averting the discrepancies, which might
arise in the process. As my focus needs to be on the ways and means to restore the lost
honour and respect in case of the victims, therefore, rational approach is needed. I also feel
that taking assistance from the senior and experienced members would be beneficial in terms
of protecting the mutual interest of the clients. This is applicable especially in case of the
community people like the Aboriginal people.
Wonder
Viewing the court proceedings would provide practical experiences in terms of
dealing with such sensitive cases. Clearing the key concepts and issues in legal court matters
would enhance my awareness regarding the applicability of the key terms and concepts in the
cases. Getting admission in the prestigious universities providing diploma and certified

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courses in the law would provide a proper start to my career as a lawyer. Studying about the
court cases and their verdict would be effective for me in terms of gaining an insight into the
methods of solving a problem. For this, I need to modify my communication skills as well as
body language. This would enable me to convince others in my intentions. If I have to win
the case, I have to have enough evidence in support of the victim.
Source 2- Malin, M., Campbell, K., &Agius, L. (1996). Raising children in the Nunga
Aboriginal way. Family Matters, 43, 43-47.
See
The article enhances the awareness of the readers regarding the upbringing of the
Aboriginal children. As per the arguments of Malin, Campbell, K and Agius, (1996), child
rearing practices attain negative connotations. This is in terms of the attempts to prepare them
for the adult like experiences, which they would encounter in the process of fulfilling their
existence. This data adversely affects the decision making process of the researchers to
deduce relevant conclusions. The opening statements of a Nunga Aboriginal mother reflects
their consciousness about the life of poverty, which they are hesitant to expose to others. She
is concerned about the life, which she would gift to her children. According to her opinions,
the government workers would be intervening into their poverty stricken life like a white
intervening into the life of the poor, which is full of inadequacies (Malin, Campbell &Agius,
1996).
Think
I think that the concerns of the Nunga Aboriginal mother are apt in terms of the kind
of treatment, which they receive from the government workers. The inadequate life, which
they lead reflects the real kind of struggle for adding meaning into the existence. I think one
of the striking factors in this aspect is the concerns and worries regarding the upbringing of

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the children. According to the arguments of Bennett, (2015), I can say that misinterpreting
the issue of upbringing of the children adds hypothetical perspective to the role of a mother.
In this aspect, the role of the mothers in rearing the child gets a negative connotation. The
mother is concerned about the exposure of “dirty toilets and kitchen”. On the other hand, I
can affirm with the assumptions of Walter, (2016) that she vents out her anger that the
government workers would not look at the happiness of her children, which is one of an
important aspects in their development.
I think liberal approach is needed from the government workers, so that the
community people get the assurance that their intervention would not affect the way in which
these people are leading their life. In this, I am aware of the fact that the representation from
the community members are scanty. Therefore, I can propose my candidature for conducting
research on these community people and their upgradation in terms of standards of living. If I
get to research on these community people, the article would act as a secondary source for me
in terms of conducting literature review. I also feel that ethno-centric approach is needed for
collecting data from these samples. Infusing Data Protection Act (1998) in the research would
help me to safeguard the responses of the community people. I also feel that ethical approach
in collecting the responses would assist me in respecting the mutual interest of the aboriginal
people.
Wonder
This article has helped me in my nursing career through the demonstration of the
ways in which the children should be addressed. This would prove to be extremely helpful in
my future career as a nurse. My communication needs to be improved me in terms of
assuring the people that their responses are being collected only for the sake of research
instead of commercialization. For his, I can indulge in spoken English classes. Referring to

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the various websites would enhance my awareness about the prestigious universities offering
diploma and certificate courses in the communicative speaking skills.
Source 3- Goodman, Alan H; (1997), Bred in the Bone?37(2); ProQuest Central pg. 20
See
The article sheds light on the incident, which took place on the morning of the May
30, 1995, publicizing the melancholic sweep of the rescue workers in Oklahoma City through
the ruins of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The building encountered bombings in
which 165 victims encountered the tragic fate of death. The rescue team was unable to locate
three more bodies, but they had been lodged (Goodman, 1997). According to the
investigations, the assumptions are that if any survivor was there, he or she would have died
of starvation and suffocation. Dynamite had to be used for bringing down major portion of
the building. Orange paint helped in locating three places of the building.
Think
I think these types of incidents are common if the individuals open the newspaper.
Melancholic sweeps reflects the pangs of pain in case of the rescue workers regarding the
discovery of the dead bodies. According to my opinions, incapability to reach all of the dead
bodies indicates the struggles, which the rescue team members need to bear for performing
the duties and responsibilities. Here, as per the arguments of Gilberthorpe and Hilson, (2016),
I can relate the aspect of “futile rescue”, which highlights the potential risks, which
aggravates the complexities of the life in case of these workers. They go in contact with the

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dead bodies, which can be a health risk for these workers. Here, I think insurances and health
check-ups can be conducted for ensuring the wellbeing of these workers. The title of the
article, “bred in the bone” related to the deep rooted nature of the racial discriminations in
deducing relevant conclusions.
Aligning with the arguments of Rigney, (2017), I can relate the bone with the
individuals in their full entities. Rather with “bone”, I can associate a man of flesh and blood.
With bred, I can associate the investigations, which the segments the identity of the
individuals, adding to the aspect of racial discriminations based on colour of the skin. These
discriminations contradict the tragic fate, which the individuals have encountered, grouping
them into a class of foolish people searching for meaning into the existence.
Wonder
The study of this particular article would help me in understanding the ways in which
the people attending the nursing profession might assist in the times of the emergency
situations. The article has also helped me learn to keep my nerves in dealing with the highly
injured victims of an accident. Studying these types of sources would act as a secondary
source of information if I am conducting forensic examination of the dead bodies discovered.
Referring to these sources would help me to enhance my skills, abilities and competencies
towards the profession of anthropology. I can also refer to the websites of the colleges and
universities offering certificate and diploma courses in this field. I can conduct self-
examination of the ruins, which I can collect from the museums. For this, permission needs to
be taken from the officers in terms of conducting the research. Taking assistance from the
skilled and experienced anthropologists would be beneficial in terms of enhancing the
awareness about the pathological examinations, which need to be conducted properly for
getting the desired resulted.

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Conclusion
Intervention of the government workers into the private sphere of the community
people is an attempt towards their development. However, from the perspective o the
community people, it is a disturbance as well as shame, as the life of inadequacies get
exposed. The concerns and worries of the Aboriginal Nunga mother get reflected in the
article regarding presentation of three Aboriginal boys for prosecution. This correlation
aggravates the concerns and worries of the parents regarding disciplining their children life.
One of the other parameters, which get highlights in this article review, is the life risk of the
rescue workers while discovering the dead bodies. All of these issues indicate the struggle of
the public domain towards adding meaning into their existence.

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References
Austlii.edu.au (2019). Cross examination on Aboriginal Children-Journal on Aboriginal ILB.
Retrieved 6th April 2019 from http://www.austlii.edu.au/
Bennett, B. (2015). “Stop deploying your white privilege on me!” Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander engagement with the Australian Association of Social
Workers. Australian Social Work, 68(1), 19-31.
Gilberthorpe, E., & Hilson, G. (Eds.). (2016). Natural resource extraction and indigenous
livelihoods: Development challenges in an era of globalization. Routledge.
Goodman, Alan H; (1997), Bred in the Bone? 37(2); ProQuest Central pg. 20
Malin, M., Campbell, K., &Agius, L. (1996). Raising children in the Nunga Aboriginal way.
Family Matters, 43, 43-47.
Rigney, L. I. (2017). Indigenist research and aboriginal Australia. In Indigenous Peoples'
Wisdom and Power (pp. 61-77). Routledge.
Walter, M. (2016). Social exclusion/inclusion for urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people. Social Inclusion, 4(1), 68-76.