Ethnic Residential Concentration in the Suburb of Cabramatta Essay

Introduction

The ethnic concentration in suburb cities across the world has been a major noticeable phenomenon in the majority of the cities around the globe. This phenomenon is characterized by large or a significant number of people sharing the same ethnic identity living within the same geographical region. Demographic experts, however, agree that the term ethnic concentration is more relevant when describing the ethnical groups of the immigrants that settle in a given geographical region in a new nation. Cabramatta is one example of such areas in Sydney, Australia that has experienced a tremendous influx of the Indo-Chinese community from Asia. The census estimated that about 11 percent of the total population of people living in Cabramatta is the people who immigrated from Vietnam and other born in Fairland. These reports provide substantial information regarding the presence of a large number of individuals of the Indo-Chinese origin. Besides, more than 40 percent of Sydney's population has been reported to belong to this community, and this shows how an ethnic group can come together to establish a residential enclave and a community of their own in the new nation just like their motherland. While it is undeniable that ethnic concentration is tremendously an interesting phenomenon to study, it comes with numerous benefits and challenges. This paper discusses the benefits and problems associated with the ethnic residential concentration in Cabramatta Sydney.

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Benefits of Ethnic Residential concentration in Cabramatta

Preservation of the Cultural Identity

Preservation of the cultural identity of the Indo-Chinese people has been one of the major positive impacts associated with the migration and settlement in the Cabramatta suburbs. The considerably high population of the Indo-Chinese people in the region have come together to build religious places of worship and other social amenities in line with their traditions and ethics requirements. Ordinarily, these are achievements that can be experienced and managed by a substantial population of individuals sharing the same ethnic ties. Other Indo-Chinese people who live away from Cabramatta are forced to visit the place for various purposes such as recreation, leisure activities and religious activities (Hugo, 2011). The community has further developed ethnic and iconography, symbols and designs that reflect the ethnicity of the precinct. It substantially benefits the Vietnamese, especially those possessing little or no English skills through the provision of the cultural familiarity in an easily accessible form.

Quick access to Services

The quick access to services provision has been another profound impact of the ethnic residential concentration in Cabramatta. Notably, the suburb of Cabramatta boasts of numerous public places where the Vietnamese-Australians come together and spend social time. Besides, the presence of shops that cater specifically for the Vietnamese needs has tremendously increased the provision of services amongst the entire ethnic group (Hugo, 2011). The restaurants available throughout the suburb provide rich and delicious cuisine that makes the individuals from the Indo-Chinese community feel comfortable. Such comfort and the feeling of being 'at home' forces majority of these people to bring more members of their families to increase not only the wider community of Cabramatta but entire Australia.

Employment and Opportunities

The ethnic concentration in Cabramatta has increased the employment opportunities among the new and skilled immigrants who come into Australia. Australia has been historically known as a country with a considerably higher proportion of the aging population than any nation across the world. The aging population, in this case, brings a considerable shortage of labor services in the government. The diversity brought by the Indo-Chinese community in Cabramatta, as well as other regions in Sydney, provides labor resources and cultural vitality to Australia, which would otherwise be severely impacted by the aging populations (Johnston, Forrest and Poulsen, 2001). In the same way, the fellow members of the community have also been reported to provide job opportunities that suit the migrant or workers who are unable to speak English in the workplace. Such individuals have been able to secure employment opportunities in restaurants, local shops, warehouses, and recreational facilities.

Political Bargain

The increase in the number of people with the Vietnamese has provided a suitable platform through which the members of the Indo-Chinese community can participate in political matters (Hugo, 2011). They have been able to elect their representatives into the agencies that govern both the Cabramatta suburbs and the entire city of Sydney. The engagements in the representations and constructions of Indo-Chinese culture in the local area has contributed to the development of open landscapes such as the signage, physical monuments, and shops among many more things.

Challenges of Ethnic Concentration in Cabramatta

Hugo (2011) mentions that although the Indo-Chinese community members in the Cabramatta suburbs have been able to experience positive experiences as a result of the ethnic concentration, numerous challenges have been reported. Such problems include racial exclusion, stereotyping, and poverty. Concerning the exclusion, many Vietnamese families in Sydney have been subjected to a serious state of the social exclusion by members of other native races within the city (Hugo, 2011). They have been blocked systematically from the full access to various rights, opportunities, and resources that are normally available to them and which have been proven fundamental to their social integration and observance of their human rights. In this way, therefore, the exclusion has plunged sections of the Indo-Chinese Citizenry into the circumstances of the intergenerational disadvantage or inversely to protect and isolate the affluence among them (Dunn, 1998).

Stereotype and Social Injustice

The ethnic residential concentration in Cabramatta has further been reported to be a major source of serious injustice and stereotype. The increase in the criminal activities in Sydney and Cabramatta, in particular, has been linked to the actions of the members of the Indo-Chinese community living in the region. According to Coughlan (2008), the ethnic stereotyping has subjected the Indo-Chinese into the unfair treatment in the criminal justice based on their religion, race, color and social classes. Sometimes, it has been said that their backgrounds, culture, and traditions permit such activities in society. Areas of ethnic concentration such as the Cabramatta manner in Australia.

Increased Poverty

According to Dunn & Kenna (1998), the ethnic concentration in Cabramatta has been associated with increased poverty challenges among the Vietnamese families living within these suburbs. The people of the Indo-Chinese origin have been economically disadvantaged because of various factors such as the language barrier, thereby making it difficult for them to prosper, both socially and financially (Dunn & Kenna, 1998). The language barrier has limited their abilities to secure employment opportunities in Australia's major companies and enterprises. The inability to get employment makes it difficult for them to meet their basic needs and to improve their living standards.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ethnic residential concentration in Cabramatta, Sydney has come along with both the benefits and challenges. However, the paper indicates that the positive elements of the suburbs the problems. The development of the appropriate systems that promote social, economic and political inclusivity will not only improve the life of the Indo-Chinese people but also enhance cultural diversity in Australia.

Reference List

Coughlan, J.E., 2008. The Changing Spatial Distribution of Australia's Vietnamese Communities. In Re-imaging Sociology Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Melbourne. Accessed January (Vol. 3, p. 2016).

Dunn, K.M., & Kenna, T., (1998). A Holistic Approach to Studying Segregation in Australian Cities. Australian Geographical Studies

Dunn, K.M., 1998. Rethinking ethnic concentration: the case of Cabramatta, Sydney. Urban studies, 35(3), pp.503-527.

Hugo, G., 2011. Changing spatial patterns of immigrant settlement. Multiculturalism and Integration: a harmonious Relationship, pp.1-40.

Johnston, R., Forrest, J. and Poulsen, M., 2001. The geography of an EthniCity: residential segregation of birthplace and language groups in Sydney, 1996. Housing Studies, 16(5), pp.569-594.