Encuesta realizada a los directivos del colegio “Jatun Juigua”

Women were asked to indicate the extent to which they agreed or disagreed that in their main workplace, people were not discriminated against because of their cultural background. Consistent with their responses to questions on gender equality (see Figure 58 and Figure 59), women responded less positively when asked about inequality in the broader Australian workforce, and responded more positively in regard to questions about discrimination at their own job or workplace.

Almost two thirds of women (64%) agreed that people were not discriminated against in their workplace on the basis of their cultural background. However, 16% felt that they were (Figure 69). There were no statistical differences between the responses of men and women to this question.

100

Figure 69: Perceptions of cultural discrimination in the workplace

Q27d. Below are some statements about people’s experience in the workplace. For each, please think about your main job. Do you agree or disagree that… People were not discriminated against because of their cultural background here (Base: All women under 40, excluding those currently not working and looking for work n=1,800)

Women who were not Culturally and Linguistically Diverse were more likely to say that people were not discriminated against on the basis of their cultural background at their workplace (65% agree in comparison to 59% of those who were Culturally and Linguistically Diverse).

Similarly, women without a disability were more likely to agree that people were not culturally discriminated against (67% agree compared with 48% of women who have a disability).

Future outlook on discrimination on the basis of cultural background and

identity

On the topic of equality between Australians of differing cultural backgrounds and identity in the future, women were somewhat more optimistic than men. Over four in ten women (43%) thought that Australians’ experience in this area would improve over the next decade. Figure 70 shows that equal proportions of men and women (9%) thought that Australian employees’ experience of discrimination on the basis of cultural background and identity would worsen. Opinions on the future of discrimination on the basis of cultural background and identity among Australian employees were generally comparable between women with different characteristics. However, some differences were observed across age categories. Younger women tended to feel more confident about future developments. Over one half of those aged 16-20 years (53%) thought that equality between Australians of differing cultural backgrounds and identity within the workforce would improve over the next decade, compared to 34% of those women aged 31-40 years who said the same. Over two-fifths of women aged 31-40 years (41%) said it would stay the same, while fewer women aged 16-20 years and 21-30 years said the same (27% and 30% respectively).

101

Figure 70: Perceptions on the future of Australians in relation to discrimination on the basis of cultural background and identity

Q31. Thinking about racial equality in the workforce over the next 10 years, do you think the experience for Australian employees will …? (Base: All women under 40, n=2,109)

(↑↓ were used to denote statistically significant differences between men and women).

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse women participating in the group discussion varied in their experiences of discrimination based on their ethnicity; some were unaware of any discrimination, while others were conscious of explicit barriers they faced because of their heritage.

102

“Because I don’t have an anglicised name and my name is difficult to pronounce if I haven’t said it to you first – so often when I’m looking for a

job and I send in my application, if there’s a phone number I call them straightaway. Because the assumption is that my English is not going to be

very good.”

-Sydney, higher skill/pay, and secure working conditions

“I have been declined interviews because of the spelling of my name, and people thought that I was foreign. I’ve been told that. I got told they thought

I was Indian, so they weren’t going to give me an interview.” -Brisbane, higher skill/pay, and insecure working conditions

“There’s a lot of prejudice. Like people were racist, I’ve seen it so many times. I’ve heard people said things behind people’s back, like regarding their

pronunciation of words and things like that.”

-Parramatta, lower skill/pay, and insecure working conditions “The people washing dishes at the back would not always speak much English

… My boss would like, talk to the people like they were stupid just because they didn’t speak as much English.”

-Parramatta, lower skill/pay, and insecure working conditions “I think education has got a bit to do with it. I think everyone in my community has got PhDs, so don’t think they were discriminated against. But all our cleaning staff were from somewhere else, so I don’t know if they have

had access to the same job opportunities.”

-Brisbane, higher skill/pay, and insecure working conditions

8.3 Sexuality and equality

Most women in the sample (86%) consider themselves to be heterosexual or straight. While just 1% said they were gay or lesbian, 7% identify as being bisexual (see Figure 71). A further 4% of women chose to answer ‘prefer not to say’, and 1% answered ‘other’. A smaller group answered transsexual and intersex.

103

Figure 71: Sexuality

Q44. Which of the following options best describes how you think of yourself? (Base: All women under

40, n=2,109)