Australian Penal System - Anyone in the know?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I watched the Australian TV series, Wentworth, on Netflix, think of it was the non-funny Orange is the New Black and not so violent female version of OZ. So, couple of observations/questions. (I know it is fictional and artistic license is used, someone always has to post that helpful information)
1. There is only one black person in prison, haven’t even noticed any others as extras. A TV series set in an American prison would have more black characters than any other series. Are they just underrepresented in Australian TV? 2. Mothers can bring their kids to jail with them and raise them in the prison. In the series, there are woman that have been found guilty of all sorts of crimes, including murdering prison staff and inmates. Is that really true or only a grain of truth? 3. The female guards (not sure what they are called in the show) wear skirts and pumps. Really? Can’t imagine that would work with male prisoners. Did anyone else watch the show? |
Anonymous
|
No. But in "Prisoner - Cell Block H" the guards are called "screws."
It is also set in an Australian prison for females. |
Anonymous
|
Okay, take this with a truckload of salt but when I was in Australia some years ago I noticed that television shows were very white. I happened to be reading a book during my visit about how white Europeans tried to keep other racial groups, especially Asians, from immigrating, so I really noticed this. And then there is also the history of repression of the aborigines.
At any rate, the number of shows featuring only white actors was quite striking. Whatever you want to say about race relations in the US (and it needs a lot of work!), we are much more likely to feature actors of different racial groups in tv and movies. Same with the UK based on what I see on BBCA. I was surprised that this wasn't true of the Australian tv I saw. But I'm no expert on Australia and it was a visit some years ago. I may have it completely wrong. |
Anonymous
|
They seem to be struggling with Islamic extremists at the moment. So there is that aspect also.
And they have their own problems with illegal immigrants sneaking in. |
Anonymous
|
Emm, there aren't that many black people in Australia, taht's why.
The big immigrant group that has the right-wingers up in arms there is the Chinese, but I don't think they're known for being criminals. There are the "abbos" (slightly derogatory term for aboriginals) but there aren't many of them and they sort of stay on their own (like Native Americans in the US). |
Anonymous
+1 Americans, stop being dumb already. |
Anonymous
This had me laugh. "blacks" in Australia are usually Aboriginies- akin to our Native Americans. Not many people of African origin. Ethnic groups white 92% Asian 7% aboriginal and other 1% http://www.indexmundi.com/australia/demographics_profile.html |
Anonymous
Well that does not excuse them being racist in their casting of minorities in media; they need to give at least half the roles to people of color. It is simple fairness and common sense! |
Anonymous
I assume you are being facetious? |
Anonymous
There was a story line with one Asian prisoner. Even in the United States the percentage of African-Americans in prison is much higher than their percentage of the population. I suppose the minority in Australia is so minor that if it was over-represented in prison the prison would still be pretty white. Screws is a slang term, isn't it? I wasn't sure if they were correctional officers or guards. |
Anonymous
One thing to note is that in Australia, many people of Southern European ancestry (Greece, Italy) aren't considered white (this poll not withstanding.) Racism is generally focused against Aborigines and Indonesian and Chinese immigrants. |
Anonymous
Emm, there aren't that many black people in the U.S., either. Like 12% of the population. But they are disproportionately represented in the prison population (40% of the total prison population). So it's not a dumb question at all. Sorry you are too stupid to understand the demographic background of why OP asked, though. |
Anonymous
Wait...hold up... Are you trying to say that criminal behavior is a race-based genetic trait? 
|
Anonymous
|
12% is considerably different than >1%.
It's a dumb question because she's looking at it entirely from an American POV, in which blacks represent the incarcerated minority. Which speaks to the face she didn't recognize that different countries can have different racial and societal makeups, or that Australia =/= America. |
Anonymous
Gee, thanks for speaking for me. I am looking at it from a sheltered-American view, no denying that, that is why I asked if anyone did know. I do recognize that other countries have different societal makeups....once again that is why I asked. It is surprising to to learn that Australian is so "white". I'd have thought there were have been more what appeared to be mixed-race with aborigines (which is what I think the "black" character is) and with immigrants since policies have changed since the 1970's and even now, since so many Australians were born outside of the country. Oh, there is the correctional officer, forgot about him, Jefferson. And there was a flashback in this episode of a female inmate. Also, it doesn't really matter what the demographics are of the country if the media portrays it differently. For example in 1980 United States 3.1% of doctors were black yet we still had Dr. Huxtable. |