Land and housing as crucibles of racist nationalism : Asian Australians' experiences

Nationwide surveys in 2015-16 in Australia collected data on experiences of racism in various spheres of everyday life, including housing. Of 6,001 respondents, 843 were of an Asian birthplace or background, and 638 spoke an Asian language. These Asian Australians had double the rate of experience of racism than had other Australians, in the form of racist mistrust, disrespect, and name"calling (70% vs 35%). When renting or buying a house, almost six in ten (58%) Asian"born participants had experienced discrimination to some extent because of their culture or religion. While 81 per cent of non"Asian Australians report there is no racism in housing, the proportion reporting this among the Asian"born participants was only 42 per cent. Those born in Australia but with Asian parents have the same exposure to racism, whereas those with only one parent born in Asia had an exposure closer to those with no Asian connection. "Racial" appearance plays a role in the racism experienced in relation to buying or renting housing. Racism in such a context limits Asian Australians' access to space and curtails the making of non"Anglo place, which leads to the conclusion that land and housing are crucibles of racist nationalism.