Editing Culture of Australia (section)

==Attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes==
{{quote box|width=275px|align=left|quote="Canberra is a poor thing compared to Washington [D.C.] and there is no great metropolis like New York that sets many of the nation's trends. There is no generally acknowledged central city where the important things are believed to happen and it seems better to be."|source=[[Donald Horne]] in ''[[The Lucky Country]]'' (1964), describing the comfortable provinciality of Australians and the lack of cultural epicentre in a major city.}}
Critics and scholars have sometimes scrutinised the Australian culture, with aspects of it loosely criticised for being [[kitsch]], low-brow or rooted in poor taste.<ref>{{cite book|title=Memory Fragments: Visualising Difference in Australian History|year=2012|publisher=Intellect Books|first=Marita|last=Bullock|page=17|isbn=9781841505534}}</ref> The term "[[cultural cringe]]" was coined to describe this entrenched national inferiority complex which assumes ideas and cultures of other places are automatically superior.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/10/1974488.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524155438/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/10/1974488.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 May 2009 |title=Getting over Australia's Cultural Cringe |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=10 July 2007 |access-date=16 November 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Phillips | first = Arthur Angel | author-link = A. A. Phillips | title = A. A. Phillips on the Cultural Cringe | publisher = [[Melbourne University Publishing]] | url = http://www.mup.unimelb.edu.au/catalogue/0-522-85221-1.html | date = January 2006 | isbn = 0-522-85221-1 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061214115020/http://www.mup.unimelb.edu.au/catalogue/0-522-85221-1.html | archive-date = 14 December 2006 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Expatriate Games | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Expatriate-games/2005/03/24/1111525276948.html | newspaper = [[The Age]] | date = 25 March 2005 | access-date = 17 January 2007 }}</ref><ref name="When London Calls">{{cite book | last = Alomes | first = Stephen | title = When London Calls: The Expatriation of Australian Creative Artists to Britain | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 1999 | location = Melbourne | url = https://archive.org/details/whenlondoncalls00step | isbn = 0-521-62031-7 }}</ref><ref name="Once an Australian">{{cite book | last = Britain | first = Ian | title = Once an Australian: Journeys with Barry Humphries, Clive James, Germaine Greer and Robert Hughes | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 1997 | location = Melbourne | url = https://archive.org/details/onceaustralianjo00brit | isbn = 0-19-553742-4 }}</ref> Some links have been made between the cultural cringe and a perceived [[anti-intellectualism]] that has underpinned public life in Australia.<ref>{{cite news | title = Anti-Intellectualism in Australia | url = http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/austback/stories/s198653.htm | publisher = [[Radio National]] | date = 5 October 2000 | access-date = 17 January 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070820103334/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/austback/stories/s198653.htm | archive-date = 20 August 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Some commentators have noted a decline in the cultural cringe in the 21st century, with a "social change" and wider reverence for Australian culture.<ref>{{cite news|title=Getting over Australia's cultural cringe|work=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC Online]]|date=10 July 2007|access-date=30 August 2016|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-07-10/getting-over-australias-cultural-cringe/95094}}</ref>

The phrase "[[Lucky Country|the lucky country]]", coined by [[Donald Horne]], is a reference to Australia's weather, lifestyle, and history.<ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/luckycountry/ The Lucky Country] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007062744/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/luckycountry/ |date=7 October 2006 }}</ref> Ironically, Horne was using the term to denigrate the political [[philistinism]], a lack of innovation and criticise the complacency of Australian society in the early 1960s. Since he coined the phrase it has commonly been misapplied by both the media and general public to denote Australia's perceived fortunes.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> Despite Horne's lament that Australia had no "major city" that "set the nation's trends", a [[Counterculture|counter-cultural]] movement and intellectual scene known as the [[Sydney Push]] did emerge in Sydney in the 1940s&ndash;70s, of which feminist [[Germaine Greer]] was a noted member.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Melbourne Crisis and the Sydney Push|date=3 November 2021|accessdate=25 January 2023|url=https://quadrant.org.au/magazine/2021/11/the-melbourne-crisis-and-the-sydney-push/|work=[[Quadrant (magazine)|Quadrant]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=When the Push came to shove|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=4 April 2009|accessdate=25 January 2023|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/when-the-push-came-to-shove-20141112-9qi9.html}}</ref>

"Mateship", or loyal fraternity is the code of conduct, particularly between men, although more recently also between men and women, stressing equality and friendship.<ref name=GP/><ref name="Mateship Redefined">{{cite news|title=Mateship Redefined|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=25 January 2013 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/mateship-redefined-20130124-2d9dm.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Great Mateship Myth|newspaper=The Australian|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/the-great-mateship-myth/story-e6frg9jx-1226809429369}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Mateship: Hit for six|date= 12 August 1999 |website=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/02/99/e-cyclopedia/418548.stm}}</ref> The value of mateship is sourced in the difficulty of subduing the land. Unlike other cultures based on a nurturing landscape that they seek to protect from others, Australian settlers experienced great hardship and had to support each other in order to survive. The battle against the elements led to the nickname of a member of Australia's working class being the "Aussie battler".<ref name=GP/>

An aspect of the mateship culture on language is that Australians have a propensity for the diminutive forms of names e.g. Hargrave → Hargie; Wilkinson → Wilko; John → Johnno; David → Davo; Hogan → Hoges; James → Jimmy → Jim → Jimbo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nicknames you don't forget |url=http://blogs.brisbanetimes.com.au/rhymeorreason/archives/2007/04/nicknames_you_d.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110316050143/http://blogs.brisbanetimes.com.au/rhymeorreason/archives/2007/04/nicknames_you_d.html |archive-date=16 March 2011 |work=Brisbane times}}</ref> This is a display of affection and acceptance rather than belittlement.<ref name=GP>{{cite book|last1=Kirsten|first1=Wolf|last2=Karch|first2=Robert C.|title=Global Perspectives in Workplace Health Promotion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p1q2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA8|year=2011|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Publishers|isbn=978-0-7637-9358-6|page=8}}</ref> Any disloyalty to or poor treatment of their "mates" is treated harshly. Australians particularly dislike bragging or overly advertising one's own successes. The term "tall poppy syndrome" is commonly used to describe people who grow greater than their peers and are harshly criticised as being narcissistic, or "up themselves". Even the most successful and beautiful Australians are eager to proclaim how ordinary they are, to the extent that two-thirds of the highest earning households define themselves as middle class, lower middle class or even working class.<ref>{{cite news|title=Income distribution: Australia's highest earners think they are battlers|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/income-distribution-australias-highest-earners-think-they-are-battlers-20160212-gmt62w.html}}</ref> This egalitarian social system makes Australians appear "laid-back", welcoming or relaxed to others. Australians generally address one another verbally by the first name alone. In formal situations, people may use a person's title (e.g. Mr., Mrs., Ms., Doctor, etc.) followed by their family name. Middle names are almost never used to address a person, unless quoted on formal/legal documentation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2021 |title=Australian - Naming |url=https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/australian-culture/australian-culture-naming |access-date=1 November 2024 |website=Cultural Atlas |language=}}</ref>

The [[mateship]] culture combined with the original convict and then colonial culture has created an irreverence for established authority, particularly if it is pompous or out of touch with reality. Politicians, or "pollies", are generally disliked and distrusted.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} Politicians who seek to lead must comply to the views of the egalitarian electorate, who will punish any hint of arrogance or glory-seeking behavior. Voter turnout at elections had in fact been so low that [[compulsory voting]] was introduced for the [[1925 Australian federal election|1925 federal election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aec.gov.au/pdf/voting/compulsory_voting.pdf |title=Compulsory Voting in Australia |publisher=[[Australian Electoral Commission]]|date=16 January 2006 |access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref>

Mirroring the [[tall poppy syndrome]] which brings back to Earth the high fliers, the egalitarian Australian society has a traditional Australian support for the [[underdog (competition)|underdog]].<ref name=GP/> Australians will show support for those who appear to be at a disadvantage even when the underdog is competing against fellow Australians, such as in sporting events. Related to the underdog is the belief in a "fair go", which is said to be a key part of Australian culture and Australian society.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/book/english/lia_english_full.pdf |title=Living in Australia |publisher=Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship |year=2007 |access-date=19 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625225148/http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/book/english/lia_english_full.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> One accepted definition of a "fair go" in this Australian sense is "a chance, an adequate opportunity. Often used to describe a fair and reasonable course of action".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deafau.org.au/advocacy/fairaward.php/ |title=Fair Go Award |publisher=Deaf Australia Inc |format=webpage |access-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813090139/http://www.deafau.org.au/advocacy/fairaward.php |archive-date=13 August 2013}}</ref>
The right to "a fair go" has been found to be the most highly rated value on a recent published survey of the opinion of Australian citizens.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/australians-value-a-fair-go-highest/2006/11/11/1162661949374.html/
|url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015002812/https://www.theage.com.au/national/australians-value-a-fair-go-highest-20061112-ge3juk.html |archive-date=15 October 2018 |title=Australians Value a Fair Go Highest |newspaper=[[The Age]] |date=12 November 2006 |access-date=19 August 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This belief sustains bipartisan political support for strong public health and education systems in Australia, as well as equal opportunity legislation to ensure people are not excluded from jobs or positions by their race, gender or sexual orientation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.business.gov.au/BusinessTopics/Employingpeople/Hiringpeople/Pages/Equalemploymentopportunityandantidiscrimination.aspx/ |title=Equal Employment Opportunity and Antidiscrimination |publisher=business.gov.au |format=webpage |access-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730030300/http://www.business.gov.au/BusinessTopics/Employingpeople/Hiringpeople/Pages/Equalemploymentopportunityandantidiscrimination.aspx |archive-date=30 July 2013}}</ref>
This value is frequently cited by politicians who wish to associate themselves or their party with the positive connotations of this notion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2011/02/16/fair-go-australian-industries-and-jobs-0/ |title=A Fair Go For Australian Industries and Jobs |publisher=[[Liberal Party of Australia]] |format=webpage |date=16 February 2011 |access-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008135746/http://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2011/02/16/fair-go-australian-industries-and-jobs-0 |archive-date=8 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Swan |first=Wayne |date=27 April 2013 |title=Fair Go Under Fire |url=http://www.chifley.org.au/fair-go-under-fire/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20131010032758/http://www.chifley.org.au/fair-go-under-fire/ |archive-date=10 October 2013 |access-date=19 August 2013 |publisher=Australian Labor Party |format=webpage}}</ref> There has been ongoing public and political discussion of the place and future of "the fair go" in Australian society. This is especially frequent with reference to economics issues and policies.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 June 2013 |title=Aussie Fair Go Under Threat |url=http://www.news.com.au/money/cost-of-living/aussie-fair-go-under-threat-as-the-rich-get-richer/story-fnagkbpv-1226671914315/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130701061927/http://www.news.com.au/money/cost-of-living/aussie-fair-go-under-threat-as-the-rich-get-richer/story-fnagkbpv-1226671914315/ |archive-date=1 July 2013 |access-date=19 August 2013 |publisher=news.com.au |format=webpage}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/the-fair-go-has-fairly-gone-20120522-1z2zz.html/ |title= The Fair Go has fairly gone |newspaper= smh.com.au|format=webpage |date=23 May 2013 |access-date=19 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 May 2013 |title=Fair Go: Fact or Fiction |url=http://www.cis.org.au/publications/policy-monographs/article/4791-a-fair-go-fact-or-fiction/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140126044434/http://www.cis.org.au/publications/policy-monographs/article/4791-a-fair-go-fact-or-fiction/ |archive-date=26 January 2014 |access-date=19 August 2013 |publisher=Centre for Independent Studies |format=webpage}}</ref> The call for "a fair go" is also regularly used by advocates wanting to point out groups who have been overlooked or treated unfairly according to the expectations of treatment by the wider community. Recent examples of this include media presentation of the treatment of illegal immigrants, [[asylum seekers]] and refugees,<ref>[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/a-fair-go-for-refugees-is-a-fair-go-for-all-australians/story-e6frezz0-1225842035844/ A fair go for refugees is a fair go for all Australians] [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hanson-Young |first=Sarah |date=2012-10-09 |title=Australia's fair-go values must extend to refugees |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australias-fair-go-values-must-extend-to-refugees-20121009-27ay8.html |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> as well as the community campaign in support of "a fair go" for the large group of Australian doctors who have been classified as "non-vocationally registered [[general practitioners]]" (non-VR GPs),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ama.com.au/ama-policy-non-vocationally-registered-general-practitioners|title=AMA Policy on Non-Vocationally Registered General Practitioners|publisher=[[Australian Medical Association]]|date=27 June 2013|access-date=19 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006183105/https://ama.com.au/ama-policy-non-vocationally-registered-general-practitioners|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> and are subject to discriminatory pay and conditions compared to their colleagues, for identical work.<ref>{{cite web |year=2013 |title=Equal Work for Half Pay |url=http://www.fairgofordoctors.org/equal-work-for-half-pay/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20141006191605/http://www.fairgofordoctors.org/equal-work-for-half-medicare/ |archive-date=6 October 2014 |access-date=19 August 2013 |website=fairgofordoctors.org |publisher= |format=webpage}}</ref>