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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyThe stolen generations – empty arms and vulnerable childrenYoung women were taken to live in children’s homes, and then sent to township orstation homes as servants. Often they were not paid in cash, and so could not gainfinancial independence (Hampton & Mattingley 1998; Mattingley & Hampton1998). Postcolonial and feminist Aboriginal authors such as Aileen MoretonRobinson (2002) highlight the role that white women played in the oppression ofAboriginal women. Challenging (Western) feminist concepts of solidarity amongwomen, she notes that many white women settlers were complicit in colonisationpractices by their actions or inactions, such as being violent toward Aboriginalwomen, and beating or punishing them in domestic situations. These behaviourswere justified by an underlying belief that Aboriginal women were lesser beings,primate and unfeeling (Moreton Robinson 2002).The National Inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderChildren from their families highlighted that between 1863 and 1970 approximately1 in 10 or 100,000 Aboriginal children were removed from their families acrossAustralia. For some families and communities, this meant that three successivegenerations of children were taken away (Allam 2001; Human Rights and EqualOpportunities Commission (HROEC) 2005). Huge levels of grief, loss, mistrust andself harm continue to this day in response to this appalling government practice(Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HROEC) 2005)Two years after the National Inquiry, the Bringing Them Home report was released(Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HROEC) 2005). Over 700personal stories were recorded along with wide consultations and public forums.One in five Aboriginal people reported having been sexually abused while in aninstitution, a quarter of children fostered or adopted were also sexually abused. Onein six spoke of excessive physical punishment.The justification for the removal of Aboriginal children by the government was thatthey would have improved opportunities, but the study found that being ‘removed’did not lead to higher levels of education or employment. Rather peopleexperienced increased incidences of suicide, alcohol and substance misuse, aninability to form relationships, increased mental health issues, shattered familiesand communities, and difficulty in parenting. The inquiry declared that the removalof Aboriginal children was primarily an act of genocide (Allam 2001; Human46