Kristine Reinfjord

Marginalisation of Australian Aborigines: Experiences and Perceptions of Social Exclusion in the Urban Australian Context of Redfern, Sydney Kristine Reinfjord

Despite years of policy attention, Aboriginal people still represent the poorest and most marginalised group in the Australian society. Previous research has shown that indigenous Australians are significantly disadvantaged in terms of economic, social and cultural rights. With a notion of relative poverty in affluent societies and a framework involving non-economic factors as a point of departure, this book gives an empirical account of lived experiences of social exclusion in a specific urban indigenous community. The data analysis reveals that general misconceptions of Aboriginal lifestyle and culture are deeply rooted in the non- indigenous population; to such an extent that stereotypes and negative attitudes are continuously being upheld. It also shows that the Australian Government?s approach to improve the situation for indigenous people has had significant deficiencies. The analysis sheds some light on marginalisation of indigenous groups, and should be particularly suitable for professionals in the fields of Antropology, Ethnic-, and Indigenous Studies, or anyone else interested in issues of marginalisation and discrimination.