Can do better: Mapping ordinary anti-racism and pro-sociality in Victoria

Can do better: Mapping ordinary anti-racism and pro-sociality in Victoria

Anti-racism

Kristen Walker

Kevin Dunn, Jehonathan Ben, Rachel Sharples, Nida Denson, Elias Amanuel, Fethi Mansouri, Craig McGarty, Yin Paradies

2024

Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies

Research paper

English

Australia

Open Access

The research addresses the relatively neglected subject of anti-racism in Australia. Forms of day-to-day anti-racism action and prosocial intercultural interaction already exist, often in public and semi-public places. Yet they have received little attention in anti-racism research and practice, programs and policymaking. To our knowledge, this is the first global survey to examine everyday anti-racism practices on such a large scale, and the first to quantitatively measure 'transversal enabler' practices, for creating connections between people from different cultural backgrounds who inhabit the same locality. The research maps the frequencies and forms of everyday anti-racism and prosocial attitudes and interaction in Victoria; identifies the factors and social variations that underlie everyday action; and explores transversal enabler practices quantitatively, including their prevalence. It indicates a gap between positive dispositions towards cultural diversity and actual involvement in practices that foster social transformation. We suggest that Victorians can do better on everyday pro-sociality and make a series of recommendations on strategies to inform anti-racism practice, program and policies for more meaningful and deeper intercultural engagement.