The 'Invisible' White Race

Whites are often rendered invisible, even as they contribute to the noticing of other races, or, rather, the races of others.

When we discuss anything to do with 'race' or 'ethnicity' the immediate reaction or chain of thought relates to people of different coloured skin, unordinary dress attire or appearance, and unusual character or culture. But no one ever bothers, or thinks about white people as a race. In fact they are often ignored in society, as nowadays too much focus is placed on the problems of the various migrant groups in Australia, and thus we see a lot of media interest pointed towards subject areas regarding "Asianisation" and Islamic extremist struggles. 

The Fozdar reading, outlined some issues regarding 'whiteness', and social thought in regards to race and ethnicity. The reading concluded by suggesting that: "It is inadequate to focus only on people of 'colour' when considering issues of race. Such a focus misses the relational quality of race, and the social practices that are so central to ensuring the continuation of constructions of race as a social category". I agree with this statement, and I think that too much emphasis is placed on migrant groups, while the White race remains anonymous and invisible, yet in order for us to embrace multiculturalism, we must recognise and embrace all cultures.

In Australian history we have studied how the English came and conquered Australia, and then set up policies to keep the country populated with only 'white' people. We've studied how these policies were strengthened in order to hinder migration, and then progressively weakened after WWII because there was the fear that if Australia did not populate, it stood no chance against war and invasion. The desire to populate was still linked with the desire to fill the country with the pure 'white' race, yet clearly all hell has since broken loose as Australia is now a multicultural nation that recognises an array of cultures. Nevertheless, even in society today, although quite unconsciously, we still represent the association of whiteness with 'goodness' and darkness with 'inferiority'. There are still films made where villains are dark skinned, while heroes are fair, and fairytales told where the heroine has blonde hair, and the villain has dark hair. We contrast good from bad, and we do this by using colour. So in some ways it is safe to say that whiteness is still represented favourably. 

A common problem that we face relates to the defining, meaningful traits of what is in fact 'white'. My point here is, when did Australia stop being so 'white'? and even so, who is considered 'white', and who isn't? Can anyone eat shrimp on the barbie, and be classified as 'white'? Have a beer and watch the cricket, and be classified as 'white'? Is my Italian 1970's migrant mother, who has blonde hair, light skin, and green eyes, considered as 'white'? How do we distinguish between 'white' and not 'white'. 

The Fozdar reading refers to Dyer (1997:51) who stated that: "Some people - the Irish, Latins, Jews - are whites sometimes, and some white people are whiter than others". What makes people whiter than others? And how do we identify who is white and who isn't? What is white culture? 

Fozdar, F., Wilding, R., and Hawkins, M. (2009). Race and Ethnic Relations, chapter 10: Whiteness Studies. Oxford University Press: p. 179-195