Voices Shaping the
Experience of discrimination
Download 1.05 Mb.
|
Experience of discriminationDiscrimination is an issue of key concern to Australia’s Muslim communities’ post 9/11 as the literature review outlined. We thus asked the Muslim youth surveyed about their experiences of discrimination at school and in the public domain. Graph 35 shows that just over one half of respondents (55%) had never experienced discrimination at school, while 11% reported one incidence of discrimination. 30% reported that they had experienced discrimination a few times and 4% reported that they had experienced discrimination often. While two in three Muslim youth who attend Muslim schools had never experienced discrimination at school, only one in two who attends non‐Muslim schools had never experienced discrimination at school (Graph 36). As Graph 37 shows, experiences of discrimination at school increased with the age of the respondent. Graph 35. Frequency of Discrimination at School Reported by Respondents 
Graph 36. Experience of Discrimination Reported by Respondents in Muslim and Non‐Muslim Schools 
Graph 37. Discrimination Reported by Respondents in School by Age Groups 
Muslim youth experiences of discrimination in the public domain were also explored. As Graph 38 shows only a minority of respondents (28%) reported that they had never experienced discrimination in public. Most of those Muslim youth surveyed reported experiencing discrimination once (19%) or a few times (45%). When the gender dimension is explored (Graph 39), slightly more young Muslim women reported experiencing discrimination in public, than young Muslim men, though gender differences do not appear to be significantly different in this regards. Responses to women who wear the hijab, explored previously in this section, are a key factor here. Graph 38. Experiences of Discrimination in Public Reported by Respondents 
Graph 39. Experiences of Discrimination in Public Reported by Respondents by Gender (%) 
Cyber media Of interest was the role of cyber media in the lives of Muslim youth in Sydney and the frequency and specific usage that they made of web‐based media. Graph 40 shows that two in three of the youth surveyed (66%) had their own blog or used MySpace, Facebook or some other social networking site, while a similar number 64%, accessed MSN (live online chat). Four in ten (43%) used the web to view videos on Youtube, Vimoe etc. Exploring this usage further we found (Graph 41) that the major usage of Muslim youth was to communicate with friends on Facebook, Bebo and similar networking sites (52%) or via e‐ mail or Skype (48%). The next most popular usages were watching videos on Youtube (42%) and accessing information via Wikipedia, Google and similar sites. One in five used the web for entertainment, leisure or sports. Only 11% used the web to access Islamic websites. Graph 40. Websites Respondents Used (%) 
Graph 41. Top Five Websites Used by Respondents in the Last Few Months, by Purpose (%) 
The Muslim youth respondents were also asked to list the top five purposes that they use the Internet for. As Graph 42 shows, two in three (67%) responded that they used the Internet for socialising while one in two (49%) used the web for leisure and entertainment. One in three (37%) used the web for personal research. Only one in ten (11%) used the web for religious information. 11% of responses related to news websites for current affairs around the world (BBC, finance, and Iranian newswebsites), and the Australian ones (SMH, Daily Telegraph, news.com.au etc) (See Graph 42). 18% of respondents rated “school/university website and tutoring websites” as one of the top five websites they have used including UTS, University of Sydney, UWS, University of Newcastle Australia (university websites) for study, webmail checking, and specific study websites (other than Google, Wikipedia, and Ask.com) (See Graph 41). As for high schoolers they browsed to help with assignments/homework/HSC preparation (See Graph 42). Graph 42. Top Five Uses of the Internet (%) 
The gender (Graph 43) and age (Graph 44) dimensions of Internet usage among Muslim youth were investigated. The most noticeable gender differences in this regard were that young Muslim women were more likely to use the web for socialising (72%) than young Muslim men (60%). Young Muslim women were also more likely to use the web for homework and religious information than young Muslim men were. The most noticeable age similarity in this regard were that Muslim youth under 18 and between 18‐25 years, were more likely to use the web for all purposes other than homework, religious information and news (see Graph 44). Graph 43. Purpose of Respondent Internet Use by Gender (%) 
Graph 44. Purpose of Respondent Internet Use by Age 
Source of advice & people who impress The research was designed to explore the voices that influence Muslim youth. In this section sources that Muslim youth turn to for information and advice about personal problems (Graph 45) and information about politics and world events (Graph 46) is explored. Muslim youth were also asked to identify people who inspire them (Graph 47) and things that inspire them (Graph 48). Graph 45 shows that two in three Muslim youth (67%) turn to friends for advice, followed by family elders (60%) and other family (50%). Only 24% turned to a religious advisor in these instances and 15% consulted websites or chatrooms. Graph 45. Respondent Sources of Information about Personal Problems N/A Jiiiiiil 4% Parents/Grandparents/Uncles/AL1 n ts 60% Brothers/sisters/cousins 50% Teacher/Counsellor 12% Religious advisor 24% In ternet website,forurn or chatrooms 15% Austra lian C:abel TV 1 % AM or FM radio 2% Newspaper 2% Communi ty elder 5% Youth leader 7% Friends 67% Pree to air TV • 1% Other 0% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% SO% 60% 70% 80% Most young Muslim Australians receive their information about world events and politics from Internet websites, forums and chat rooms (43%) and from older family members (39%). Respondents also utilized print and electronic media, friends and religious advisors for information (Graph 46). Graph 46. Respondent Sources of Information about Politics and World Events Parents/Grandparents/Uncles/Aunts Brothers/sisters/cousins Teacher/Counsellor Religious advisor Internet website, forum or chatrooms Austra lian c:able TV AM or FM radio Newspaper Community elder Youth leader liiiiiii 4% 4% 13%
17% 19%
19%
24%
39% 43%
Friends Free to air TV Other Satcellile TV
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% When asked about the people who inspire them (Graph 47) family members and friends once again gained top ranking (18%) followed by people with good or virtuous characters (14%). 12% mentioned a religious leader, while 8% named the Prophet Muhammad. Eight percent (8%) also mentioned ‘politicians and celebrities’ (including Australian politicians such as the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and former Prime Minister John Howard, and international politicians such as US President Obama, as well as celebrities who are mostly heroic icons in history like Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and contemporary famous people like Oprah Winfrey. A similar number cited ‘professionals’ such as teachers, doctors, nurses, book authors, artists, athletes, and managers at work. Graph 47. People that Inspired Respondents (%) 
‘Religious ideas’ ranked the highest response to the question “What things inspire you?” As indicated earlier, this finding could be due to the fact that a large number of respondents were recruited from among attendees to the Sydney Eid Festival just after the month of Ramadan. This was followed by human rights, education and multiculturalism, though each option had a relatively low level of response (see Graph 48). Graph 48. Ideas that Inspired Respondents 
When asked “What people inspire you?” (Graph 49) the former Canterbury Bulldogs Rugby League player, Hazem El Masri, a Muslim, was named by one in two respondents. Anthony Mundine, the Aboriginal Muslim world champion boxer, was the next most popular response to this question (7%), followed by ‘other Muslim celebrities’ (6%). Graph 49. People who Inspired Respondents (%) 
The research project also inquired about the people who Muslim youth thought were creating misunderstanding between Muslims and non‐Muslims (Graph 50). The most common answer was ‘politicians’ (21%) followed by ‘some Muslim leaders and sheikhs’ (16%). The media in general and some journalists and broadcasters were the next most popular responses to this question, representing 19% of responses when combined. This reflects the on‐line media usage of young Australians today who do not read the newspapers or listen to the radio stations and TV stations of their parents generation. When asked about the issues that are creating misunderstanding between Muslims and non‐Muslims (Graph 51) the three most popular responses were 9/11 and terrorism (31%), issues related to the hijab and Muslim women (19%) and media and the Internet (11%). About 5% of responses also mentioned Middle Eastern conflict, religion, or discrimination and racism. Graph 50. People Identified as Creating Misunderstanding between Muslims and Non‐Muslims
Graph 51. Issues Identified as Creating Misunderstandings between Muslims and Non‐Muslims 
The question was asked, “thinking about community leaders in Australia, who do you look to as a source of good advice and clear thinking about issues?” (Graph 52). Here the most popular response was religious advisor/sheikhs, mentioned by one in three respondents (34%). Graph 52. Community Leaders in Australia who Respondents Identified as Sources of Advice/Clear Thinking on Issues 
Finally, questions about the values and beliefs that the Muslim youth held to be important were asked. Graph 53 shows the values and beliefs that the Muslim youth surveyed thought important to be encouraged at home. Two in three replied that honesty and religious practices were most important. More than half of the respondents also listed responsibility, tolerance and respect for other people, politeness and neatness and patience as key values of the Muslim home. Other important values were hard work, independence, obedience, leadership and imagination. Clearly these are values that are consistent with ‘Australian values’ and contrary to arguments presented that Islam is a threat to the Australian way of life. Graph 53. Values and Beliefs Identified as Important to Encourage at Home (%) 
When the gender dimensions of this are explored (Graph 54) slightly more young Muslim women rated the values of honesty, religious practices, tolerance and respect for other people, politeness and neatness and imagination, while young Muslim men rated hard work, and responsibility more highly. When the age dimensions of this are explored (Graph 55), again a slight difference can be seen in some of the responses, when comparing those under the age of 18 years to those between the ages of 18‐25 years.
Graph 55. Values and Beliefs Identified as Important to Encourage at Home by Age 
Directory: sites -> default -> files -> documents -> 01 2014 documents -> Ace abi catair customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements documents -> Mobile audio/video recording systems documents -> The south australian government gazette documents -> All public acts appearing in this gazette are to be considered official, and obeyed as such documents -> Union interparlementaire inter-parliamentary union 01 2014 -> Muslim Voices – Hopes and aspirations of Muslim Australians Centre for Muslim Minorities & Islam Policy Studies 01 2014 -> Prepared by: Kais Al‐Momani Nour Dados Marion Maddox Amanda Wise C 01 2014 -> Editors: Kerry Download 1.05 Mb. Share with your friends:
|
