issue 1 09 - APS Member Groups - Australian Psychological Society

Multiculturalism and Whiteness31observable they can be part of Australiancommunity. The Cypriot Turks’ sense ofbelonging as an Australian is nurtured by notbringing up issues that can challenge views sothat their established sense of belonging is notdisturbed. Halil feels like he needs to keepsilent because he knows that if he is tochallenge the hegemonic discourses aboutthese issues his Muslim identity willovershadow his whiteness and Australiannessand “be misinterpreted” because of hisperceived background. This discourse restrictshim in expressing his views concerninggovernment decisions.This example of being silenced andfeelings of having opinions about nationalissues that are not presented in the publicdiscourses is referred to by Hage (1998) asexclusion from governmental belonging. Halilis excluded from governmental belonginggiven he felt that he did not have a right tocontribute his views to discussions aroundAustralia’s involvement in Iraq. Hence, when aperson feels this way they are positioned as theother- the other to a national white majority.Ethnic minorities’ views, particularly viewsthat are not the norm are silenced and excludedfrom governmental belonging.Phenotype: “Australians have more fair,blondish lightish colour hair”This discourse was repeatedly used bythe Cypriot Turkish participants to constructtheir ethnic identity. Even though Halide callsherself Australian she also notes otherness ofher identity. This otherness arises out of herphenotype that is different to the Australianphenotype. For this reason she cannot callherself Australian. She can only call herselfAustralian through hyphenating Australianwith her ethnic identity. Here we see therelational understanding of identity that isinformed by racialised hegemonic discoursesconstructing the Australian identity.HalideInterviewer: So you wouldn’t callyourself Australian?I am Australian in that I was born inAustralia and all my siblings wereborn in Australia but we are notAustralian in that we do not lookAustralian. You need to have aparticular look and colour that ismore Australian um. Australians aremore fair blonde lightish colourhair. There are many differentcolours but the majority are moreblue eyed, blond, fair lookingAustralian people. I feel like Icouldn’t call myself Australian on itsown, I am an Australian CypriotTurk.AyseInterviewer: Who is Australian?For me it is around, I don’t feel like,I do not look Australian so hence notaccepted. For me it is not just abouthaving or being Australian by birthor having citizenship but aboutlooking like the norm. That to me iswhat defines an Australian inreality.FerihaWell when you see someone. If yousee someone that is fair with the blueeyes yeah you wouldn’t think of thembeing Turkish Cypriot. Like my son.A lot of people would think he isAustralian.Interviewer: To be Australian doyou have to be a certain way?… When someone looks at me theyknow I am a wog. They know that Iam not Australian. You know, I amnot that blond hair blue eye.The phenotype discourse positions peoplein relation to the mainstream populationdepending on their perceived color. Thisphenotype discourse enables the privilege ofwhiteness to go undisrupted by limiting thesocial representations of Australians to peoplewith certain type of phenotype. Similar toThe Australian Community Psychologist Volume 21 No 1 June 2009