‘Why call me that?’ Reflections on labels in a diverse nation – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

Through the voices of six individuals, the Scanlon Foundation – in a new essay – explores the issue of labelling in relation to cultural identity and considers whether it’s time for change.

This essay is about labels. We all wear them and we all use them. We are friend, colleague, member, sister, uncle, mother. These terms describe elements of our identity and position our social relations with others. Labelling is part of human nature.ii We take on labels that we believe describe us, or at least the elements of us that we see as prominent or important. Labelling can be critical to affirming our identity, to defining our place in the world. But sometimes labels are placed on us by others, and they may not ‘fit’ comfortably.

This essay explores the issue of labelling in relation to cultural identity. For many Australians, their cultural background, race and migration history add layers to how they describe themselves and to how others label them. For others, the process of coming to a term or descriptor they feel comfortable with is a journey that involves a deep exploration of their own identity and all its nuances, and their place in the world. Added to this complexity are the labels that are placed on cultural communities by administrative bodies and service providers. Like other labels, these descriptors can have great utility, but also significant limitations.

As the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute describes and studies Australia’s social cohesion, it needs to use labels, particularly to describe cultural communities. However, this essay was born from our realisation that the terms we choose to use have limitations, and may not always be the descriptors for those we choose to apply them to.

Read this Free Essay

About the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute

The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute translates research and resources relevant to social cohesion into practical insights.

The Institute’s essay series focuses on current issues impacting social cohesion in Australia. Bringing together theoretical insights and stories from within the community, they shed light on the dynamics of social cohesion within certain segments of the Australian community and pose questions for further reflection, discussion and research.

“Why call me that? Reflections on labels in a diverse nation”. Authored by the Institute’s Senior Researcher Trish Prentice, this thought-provoking essay delves into the complexities associated with cultural identity and the impact labels like Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) have on fostering a sense of belonging or exclusion.

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	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.