Assessment task: Social Darwinism in Australia | South …

Assessment task: Social Darwinism in Australia

In 2002 a movie called Rabbit Proof Fence was released. It tells the story of three Aboriginal girls in Australia who escape from a detention centre after being taken from their homes to be trained as domestic workers. They set off on a trek back home, using the rabbit proof fence to help them keep moving in the right direction. Read these two very different reviews of the same movie, and then answer the questions that follow. (suggested answers appear below the questions).

Review 1

Based on true events, "Rabbit-Proof Fence" is a moving story of racial prejudice, and amazing endurance as three girls walk 1,500 miles to find their mothers in 1930s Australia.

Special detention centres were set up across the continent to keep the mixed race children from "contaminating" the rest of Australian society, and orders were given to forcibly remove "half-caste" children from their families. It was a disastrous, racist policy that brought about the misery of the so-called "stolen generations".

With an epic journey ahead of them, three girls set out to find their way back home by following the rabbit-proof fence that stretches across the Outback.

By highlighting the realities of this hidden genocide (unbelievably, the policy continued until the early 70s), "Rabbit-Proof Fence" stands as a powerful, worthy testimony to the suffering of the stolen generations.

- Adapted from http://www.bbc.co.uk

Review 2

A hit movie based on myth and misunderstanding, by Peter Howson (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 1971-72)

The Australian film Rabbit Proof Fence presents a dramatic story about three young half-caste Aboriginal girls who ran away from a Western Australian settlement in which they were placed in 1931. Two girls are portrayed as returning to their mother's community by the almost super-human feat of walking for nine weeks along 1500 miles of rabbit proof fence. After being diverted from the other two, police returned their cousin to the settlement.

The story of the separation of the rabbit proof fence girls rests only on a story told 35 years later by one of the girls to her daughter.

When he received reports these girls were being allowed to run wild amongst whites and were in danger, Neville (Chief Protector of the Aborigines) acted responsibly to assist with the serious problem of child neglect. Only those judged most in need of care were removed.

- Adapted from an article in The Australian, 11 March 2002

Questions

Read the two very different movie reviews of 'Rabbit Proof Fence'.

1. Which review says that 'Rabbit Proof Fence' was historically reliable? (1)

2. Which review says that 'Rabbit Proof Fence' was historically unreliable? (1)

3. Do you think the BBC review is accurate to refer to what happened to Australian Aborigines as 'genocide'? (2)

4. Give a reason why Review 2 defends the policy towards the Aborigines. (1)

Extended writing

From what you have learnt about Social Darwinism in Australia, write an essay in which you argue with Reviewer number 2 and Explain the other evidence there is to support Review number 1. (30)

Suggested answers

1. Review 1

2. Review 2

3. Yes. Definition of genocide: the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group (x1)

Yes, Aborigines almost exterminated by European conquest and colonisation (X1)

4. Reason, the reveiw was written by a Minister of Aboriginal Affairs

Extended writing

Outcome: Need to develop a coherent argument - need to explain the concept of Social Darwinism and then explain how it affected Aborigines.

Content selection:

The author of Review 2 implemented a paternal attitude towards Aborigines.

He thought 'they' were different, and had to be 'looked after' to avoid 'them' being a danger to themselves.

Definition of Social Darwinism

19th century western science Darwin/evolution

Applied falsely to human beings

Physical characteristics linked to mental and behavioural characteristics

Classified into 'races'

Europeans regarded as superior

Justification for colonialism and conquest

Regarded the 'other' as primitive and uncivilised

Not unique to Australia

British colonised Australia

Found people living there

Saw Australian aboriginal as inferior 'race'

Europeans had weapons

Exterminated, hunted and killed 90% died

Discriminatory Laws controlled Aborigine's lives

Examples of laws

Stolen generation

Children of mixed descent removed from parents

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Assessment task: Social Darwinism in Australia | South ...