Analyzing Racial Inequality in Australia Through Critical Race Theory

This essay discusses race inequality in Australia through the framework of Critical Race Theory (CRT). It highlights how CRT aids in understanding inequalities based on race and the positioning of people in society, particularly focusing on politically suppressed groups. The essay examines instances of racial discrimination in Australia, despite regulations like the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (RDA), and how these inequalities affect areas such as employability, education, and health, especially for Aboriginals. It connects CRT to the Australian context, explaining how the theory helps analyze political systems and their role in perpetuating or addressing racial inequality. The essay concludes that CRT is crucial for identifying and understanding issues of inequality and racial discrimination in Australian society, particularly concerning indigenous populations.

Running head: THEORY AND INEQUALITY
THEORY AND INEQUALITY
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the theory............................................................................................................2
1.1 Purpose of the report..............................................................................................................2
2. Race inequality in Australia.........................................................................................................2
3. The link between the theory and the scenario.............................................................................4
4. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................6

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1. Introduction to the theory
The Critical race theory (CRT) has helped in determining the different kinds of
inequalities based on the race and the positioning of the people in the society. It has helped in
determining the cultures and the heritage of the people who are politically and suppressed people
(Harris et al., 2012). It is a branch of the social sciences that deals with the knowledge of the
society and its trends. Moreover, it also portrays the understanding of the different factors that
has led to the inequalities in the society. The study of the theory helps in determining the driving
forces that has affected the functioning of the power in the nation. The understanding of the
different forms of inequalities has helped in the evolution of the theories for the better
understanding of the conditions that has led to the inequalities in the nations. The major aspects
of the change in the situation of the nation are based specifically on the different inequalities
pertaining to the race, gender or the power.
1.1 Purpose of the report
The purpose of this discussion is to understand the different critical factors of the CRT
theory and the manner in which it helps in understanding the situations of the racial
discrimination and inequality in Australia. The theory not only reflects on the discrimination
of the different races but also helps in determining the major role that is played by the political
power of the nation in this connection.
2. Race inequality in Australia
The issues that are faced by the inhabitants and the new migrants of the nation are based
on the factor of the inequality. The discrimination of the races and the culture of the people in

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terms of employability, education or other factors affect their lives. On the other hand, there are
certain regulations that forbid the effects of the inequalities like Racial Discrimination Act
1975 (RDA). The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (RDA) clearly stated that the discrimination
among people based on the race, color, national or ethnic origin is unlawful (Kingsley et al.,
2013). However, there are instances where the discrimination has affected the lives of the
people largely based on the preferences of the employers influenced by the political support. The
situation that is faced by the Aboriginals in the nation has affected their livelihood. The poor
health and sanitation conditions and the employability of the people is affected through the
inequality in the region. The uneven cash flow system has affected the development of the
suppressed race of the region thereby affecting their healthy livelihood. According to DiGiacomo
et al., (2013) the different aspects of the change in the society is based on the understanding of
the challenges that are faced by the people due to the discrimination based on the race and the
culture of the people. However, Browne-Yung et al., (2013) stated that the understanding of
inequality is based on the political and the social influences that have affected the livelihood of
the people living in the nation.
The health conditions of the indigenous people are affected through the inequality that is
faced by the people living in the diverse regions of the nation. Kelaher (2014) stated that some
22% of the people face a growth in the mortality rate of the people living in the different
sections of the society. On the other hand, the determination of the different situations that are
faced by them has helped in the understanding of the ill effects of the racial discrimination. The
race inequality in the society has affected the functioning of the people and the livelihoods of the
same. Cunningham and Paradies (2013) stated that the employability of the people is affected
through the inequality in the society. On the other hand, the educational systems and the other

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facilities are not provided to the people based on the functioning of the inequality. The political
power of the nation is recently taking steps in order to amend the required changes in favor of the
deprived people. The major aspects of the change in the structure and the functioning of the
legislative body have helped in determining the level of inequality and the adverse effects that
are faced by the people relating to the same.
3. The link between the theory and the scenario
The theory has helped in determining the different aspects of the change in the structure
and the functioning of the political systems in order to determine the level of inequality and
racism to which the people of the nation is subjected to. The uneven cash flow and the liquidity
of the same has affected the livelihood of the people living in the region. Aspin et al., (2012)
stated that the livelihood of the people is dependent on determining the different aspects of the
change in the society, which is characterized by inequality. The theory has helped in the
understanding of the aspects of the inequality that is affecting the practices and the lifestyle of
the people living in the Australian society. The determination of the racial discrimination has
affected the societal change that the government of the nation seeks to undertake (Durey &
Thompson, 2012). The employability of the people and the rendering of the facilities that are
amended to the people living in the city are not provided to the people living at the outskirts of
the nation. On the other hand, the understanding of the subtle changes in the society is
determined through the proper evaluation of the situation of the society in the nation.
4. Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion it can be stated that the proper identification of the
issues relating to the inequalities in the society is clearly determined through the theories. The

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Critical race theory (CRT) has helped in the understanding of the situation of the Australian
society and the racial discrimination that has affected the lives of the indigenous and Strait
Islander people of the nation. the issues that are faced by the same is also enumerated as a part of
the report for the proper understanding of the concepts of the inequality and the manner in which
it affects the livelihood of the people living in the nation.

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References
Aspin, C., Brown, N., Jowsey, T., Yen, L., & Leeder, S. (2012). Strategic approaches to
enhanced health service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with
chronic illness: a qualitative study. BMC health services research, 12(1), 143.
Browne-Yung, K., Ziersch, A., Baum, F., & Gallaher, G. (2013). Aboriginal Australians'
experience of social capital and its relevance to health and wellbeing in urban
settings. Social Science & Medicine, 97, 20-28.
Cunningham, J., & Paradies, Y. C. (2013). Patterns and correlates of self-reported racial
discrimination among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, 2008–09:
analysis of national survey data. International journal for equity in health, 12(1), 47.
DiGiacomo, M., Davidson, P. M., Abbott, P., Delaney, P., Dharmendra, T., McGrath, S. J., ... &
Vincent, F. (2013). Childhood disability in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples:
a literature review. International journal for equity in health, 12(1), 7.
Durey, A., & Thompson, S. C. (2012). Reducing the health disparities of Indigenous Australians:
time to change focus. BMC health services research, 12(1), 151.
Harris, A. P., Crenshaw, K., Gotanda, N., Peller, G., & Thomas, K. (2012). Critical race
theory. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences.
Kelaher, M. A. (2014). Experiencing racism in health care: the mental health impacts for
Victorian Aboriginal communities. Education, 55(56), 8-3.

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Kingsley, J., Townsend, M., Henderson-Wilson, C., & Bolam, B. (2013). Developing an
exploratory framework linking Australian Aboriginal peoples’ connection to country and
concepts of wellbeing. International journal of environmental research and public
health, 10(2), 678-698.