Moving Forward Together in Aboriginal Women's Health: - Theses ...

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyBritish and European culture 1600s – 1800sSociety and culture developed somewhat differently in Britain and Europe.Overriding the differences and individuality were a series of events and beliefs thatgoverned the way Western culture developed from the 1600s through to the late1800s. At this time, citizens of Europe and Britain experienced rapid social,economic and cultural changes linked to increased industrial development, the riseof capitalism and empire expansion (Ashcroft 2001a). Close knit rural communitieswith local rulers and practices were replaced with urbanised, industrialised, materialbased living, where people were encouraged to work hard, achieve and be involvedin development. Through out these changes, the class structures of working classpoor and wealthy aristocracy were held in place and a new class consisting ofwealthy industrialist and middle class industrialists, bankers, merchants and tradersemerged. Off shore colonial activities such as exploratory voyages and the sugar,tea and slave trade, assisted in building the capital of Europe.Postcolonial authors Ashcroft (2001a) and Said (1993) suggest that the rich Englishgentry and Britain’s ‘civilizing mission’ were built upon the exploitation ofworking class poor within England, and the exploitation of people and resources inouter colonies such as Africa. By 1914 Europe claimed roughly 85% of the globe ascolonies, commonwealths, dominions and dependencies (Said 1993, p. 6). A set ofbeliefs about life, knowledge, race, class, capitalism and development supportedthese activities.Western science, literacy and concepts of dominanceWestern scientists and philosophers attempted to explain evolution and why variouscultures and races developed differently across the globe. Scientists such as CharlesDarwin created a concept of ‘the Great Chain of Being’, in which all life wasarranged in a hierarchy, from the simplest to the most complex (Eckermann et al.2006, p. 8). This epistemology (way of thinking about the world) described humansas being arranged from the most primitive to the most civilised, placing whiteEuropeans at the top of the hierarchy. Hundreds of research papers were written,speculating about the biological, cultural and spiritual qualities of non-Europeansfurther down the chain. This ‘science’ fed European assumptions and stereotypesabout Indigenous cultures. Australian Aboriginal and other Indigenous peoples31