Sociology, Social and Cultural Institutions in Australia PDF

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Sociology, Social and Cultural Institutions in Australia, Inequality and Discrimminiation...

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1) Choose three of the social and cultural institutions in Australia

Mass Media – Internet, Radio, Newspapers, Television (NEWS, Current Affairs, Documentaries, Reality TV), Email, Blogs & Vlogs Families – Family (i.e. Immediate, Blended, Single Parent or Adoptive), Caregivers/Kinship, Family by choice Health Systems – Medicare, GP’s, Doctors, Dietitians, Therapists/Counsellors/Psychologists, Surgical

a) How do these institutions shape our values and beliefs? The three institutions I have chosen shape our values and beliefs by influencing personal preferences and decisions that impact us first hand and our community. -Families can shape our beliefs because they are an immediate source of support and comfort from those we know and trust. -Access to Health Systems is a value of many who believe everyone should be entitled to support, an example of this institution is Medicare. -Media influences values and decisions because it is easily accessible, current and up to date and not always correct or legitimate (for example Tabloids looking for stories)

b) How do these values and beliefs of “the majority view” within a society impact on others? They impact individual decision making, self-esteem and confidence. “Majority views” or Majority Influence can impact on an individual or minority by: ostracism or exclusion, fear of rejection or not taken seriously to speak out and acceptance.

The three institutions I have chosen, shape the values and beliefs by “the majority view” on others by encouraging a way of everyday life, suggesting: -

what we are meant to do (i.e. Family: attending University after graduating High School to make our family proud)

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what is the right way to achieve something (Health system: losing weight/gaining muscle at the gym with proper dieting and exercise than starvation or taking steroids)

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what is right and wrong (Media: following current events on criminals who serve minimal to no jail time for something considered ‘unforgivable’).

c) Describe how each of the institutions you have selected, (1) shape our social and cultural context and (2) comment on how they affect the work we do in community services Media: (2) Media doesn’t really showcase (On television or the radio) an extent of the range of services out there, hence clients may not know where to go or what they’re entitled to. On the opposite side of this statement, Media (internet) makes it easy to find services, locations and apply for support at the touch of your fingertips. Family: affects the work we do in Community services because they can act as external support for individuals or families looking for help, act as ‘the middle man’ who can relate/communicate with both sides and maybe even provide broader knowledge that they, themselves may feel helpful (for example letting services know about past relationships that have led to depression/isolation or explaining their family history of grief/loss or life chances. Another example of why Family may affect the work we do in community services is that relatives all have their own perceptions, views and feelings towards the outside world (in this case being the community support services) and their previous experiences of such may (in the past) have been negative and in the end influence how they treat community service providers/workers and maybe even influence the person/group who is of main focus judgements/trust. Health Systems: cost/Medicare, specialist’s knowledge. Health systems affect community services by acting as referrals, providing additional information that is both useful and even can act as an advertisement centre as such from all the pamphlets, videos, posters, apps that are available in health centres (hospitals, waiting rooms, cafes in hospitals, local GP)

Examine the impact on clients and the communities they live in of these broader social values. Also examine and comment on the effect of your own values and beliefs.

In answering draw on theory and your own observations and experiences. Think about how attitudes to different individual factors in Australia to issues such as unemployment, ageing, client demographics (age, sexuality, gender, location, health) impact on clients and service provision. 2) Examine how inequality and direct and indirect discrimination (or lack of access and opportunity) impacts in terms of the following key life areas:

a) Education

Private schools vs. Public Schools -

Difference in access to resources (including technology, teaching staff, libraries, gyms/training facilities or even location of school)

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May not be given the same opportunities, for example: being considered for a particular spot in University or work experience

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Overall school experience: mixed or same sex school, uniforms (private school uniforms usually stand out more than public schools who have more basic uniforms), bullying, fitting in, being a part of a team or school club.

b) Career/employment and unemployment – how it affects: Direct discrimination (examples): Not being considered for a role even though you have the clear experience and education prerequisites, effecting your confidence to apply for future vacancies. Being excluded from work activities because of your sexuality, not feeling like part of the team due to your sexual orientation – feeling targeted, unequal Indirect discrimination (examples): Workplace banning certain hairstyles, can affect one’s ability to express their cultural heritage (i.e. ethnic box braids or hair scarfs) A manager telling all employees to now work all Sundays – religious barriers, as some employees have religious faiths and commitments to attend church on Sunday, losing out on work hours c) Life chances “Life chances are not distributed equally because factors such as class gender, age and ethnicity affect a person’s life chances [ CITATION Sli \l 1033 ]” – Life chances are moments/achievements/loss that can change someone’s life in either a good or bad way. Although both ways are different in outcome, the share a similar relation on how someone copes and how they move forward and use this life chance for the better/long run. Social Class – growing up in a low-income house vs. a wealthy home (lack of opportunity/access) Educational achievement (getting a scholarship or graduating University) Loss of a family member/close friend – Grief and loss d) Accommodation: lack of access to support services can affect or lead to homelessness issues which can cause emotions of fear, distrust in the government system, isolated, hopeless and stressed out. These emotions can then lead to extra issues such as substance abuse, issues/barriers with family members or friends or even thoughts/acts on suicide (no hope) e) Health: An example of lack of access for healthcare may be the Indigenous community, who don’t really trust the healthcare system or ask for support/help due to their traumatic history. There is also Ill health (such as a diagnosis, either personal/friends/relatives) can affect one’s

ability to complete tasks big or small either in the long run or for a short amount of time. f) Diversity: inequality in diversity can affect someone’s sense of belonging (for example someone may not share the same characteristics as someone from the same ethnic background including; skin tone, eye colour, voice/tone of voice, mannerisms) which can lead to feelings of doubt, belonging, frustration or self-confidence. Indirect and direct discrimination (in a diverse sense) can lead to emotions of self-hatred, loneliness, isolation, frustration and even feeling targeted.

From this research write and submit a 250-word page summary of the impacts of discrimination and inequality in the Australian context and provide supporting evidence to support your ideas. “Racism runs contrary to our universal values of equality and nondiscrimination, and racism diminishes not only those who are on the receiving end of prejudice and discrimination. It diminishes all of us, whether it is communities, societies, or the global community”[CITATION Aus \l 1033 ] Impacts of discrimination: unfair, unjust and prejudicial treatment. Social and cultural exclusion or marginalisation and feelings of confusion in a ‘sense of belonging’ context (i.e. not fitting in with society/not belonging to any groups or not even being regarded worthy of being a part of these groups). Emotions of sadness, helplessness, depression, anxiety, despair and fear. Impacts of inequality: Lack of access and opportunity (or lack of knowledge) to resources, support, services. Lack of advocacy support. No change (situation could worse) Inequality leaves people more vulnerable leading to poor decision making, ending in low income, substance abuse, bad relationship with family/friends. Australian Discrimination Laws include: -

Age Discrimination Act 2004 Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Racial Discrimination Act 1975 Sex Discrimination Act 1984

“Despite this legal protection, too many people in Australia continue to experience prejudice and unfair treatment because of how they look or where they come from.” [ CITATION Aus191 \l 1033 ] Statistics (2014 Face the Facts) -

1 in 2 have a parent who was born overseas

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Of the 500 complaints lodged under the Racial Discrimination Act in 2012-2013, 192 related to incidents of racial hatred

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86% of Australians support action to tackle racism

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The highest 20% of us lives in a household with five times as much income as the lowest 20%. (income)

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The average wealth of a household in the wealthiest 20% ($2.9 million) is five times that of the middle 20% ($570,000) and almost a hundred times that of the lowest 20% ($30,000) (wealth) The average full-time weekly wage for a woman is 15.3% less than a mans

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1 in 3 woman have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15 [ CITATION Aus184 \l 1033 ]

3) How might you engage effectively with different demographic groups (mentioned above) and help such clients address some of the key issues that they face? I can engage with different demographic groups by first identifying the details of these groups (may include histories, locations, strengths, weaknesses, barriers and issues) to get a better understanding of the key issues they face. Factors such as communication, interpersonal skills and knowledge are important due to the fact that these demographic groups mentioned above all have different varied types of communication forms and different people who belong to these groups i.e. teenagers who are in high school (education), single mothers who may be facing homelessness (accommodation) or a young child whose parents have passed away (life chance). To also engage effectively I would make sure each case plan or support in general is tailored to meet their specific needs, taking into consideration how they are affected by these demographic groups, what they have faced due to fitting into these groups (isolation, confusion, hatred, loneliness, targeted) and how to face key issues head on with confidence, prepared readiness, knowledge of strengths/support/external or internal networks. 4) Information is a critical component of our decision making in the community services sector at all levels. Describe the role that information plays in the development and delivery and evaluation of services provided at the funding level and at the direct service level (include social and cultural factors in your answer)

Information including data and statistics is important as it specifies the effectiveness of service delivery and example of this, are they (a service) meeting required numbers/budgets to continue and gain ongoing funding. Collective information gathered within a community setting helps to identify needed services targeted to vulnerable communities for (i.e. lack of social housing). Collected information from different services can also point out the gaps within community support services such as certain criteria’s and eligibility to access support. This can mean that individuals will miss out, leading to personal and social isolation. This also highlights barriers for people seeking assistance. Services and programs rely on funding to provide support and are required to meet specific targeted groups: for example, Aboriginal Tharawal Coroporation in Campbelltown provide health services for Indigenous persons only.

Bibliography Australian Council of Social Service, i. p. (2018). Inequality in Australia 2018. Retrieved from Australian Council of Social Service: https://www.acoss.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/2018/07/Inequality-in-Australia-2018_Factsheet.pdf Australian Human Rights Commission. (2018). Face the Facts: Gender Equality. Retrieved from Australian Human Rights Commission: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/education/face-facts/face-facts-gender-equality2018 Australian Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Direct Discrimination. Retrieved May 2019, from Australian Human Rights Commission: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/quick-guide/12026 Australian Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Face the Facts: Cultural Diversity. Retrieved from Australian Human Rights Commission: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/facefacts-cultural-diversity Australian Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Indirect Discrimmination. Retrieved May 2019, from Australian Human Rights Commission: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/quick-guide/12049 Croner. (n.d.). What is Indirect Discrimination? Retrieved May 2019, from Croner: https://croner.co.uk/equality-discrimination/indirect-discrimination/ Dr Tim Soutphommasane, R. D. (2017, November 29). Fighting racism in Australia. Retrieved from Australian Human Rights Commision: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/speeches/fighting-racism-australia Slide Player. (n.d.). Life Chances. Retrieved from Slide Player: https://slideplayer.com/slide/9819357/...