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Summary Of Is That You Ruthie

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The popular myths of the 1930’s attributed to Indigenous Queenslanders were based on preconceived assumptions; which, inevitably impacted those subjected to them as highlighted in the 1999 autobiographical account, ‘Is that you, Ruthie?’ by Ruth Hegarty. These assumptions were racially motivated to include: need to be controlled, had no family structure, unable to be educated beyond elementary level.

The prevalent myths of the time were perpetuated by the hegemonic ideologies of biological inferiority and consequently theories of eugenics which established a pattern of racial supremacy that became ingrained in Australian culture. (Hollingsworth 2006: 33-35,79-84,100; Woods 1879: xxxvii-xxxviii cited in Hollingsworth 2006:100; Bottoms 2013:191; …show more content…

The establishment of these reserves was instrumental for the management, control and segregation of Aboriginal Australians (Hollingsworth p 101; Fozdar, Wilding & Hawkins 2008: 116). Hegarty’s own experiences of: constant supervision, segregation and separation, police escorts and patrols, physical restrictions, ‘strict discipline and unfair treatment’, and regimented structure; highlight the extent to which control and discipline were the instruments for indoctrinating the rules and regulations of the settlement (Hegarty 1999: 3,14,17,20,23,25,26,30,34,36,39,42,43, 53-55,57,58, 61,75-77,79 93,95,103,123,129,130,135,140). Moreover, reserve inmates were isolated and ’were subject to strict discipline, loss of privacy and autonomy’ (Hollingsworth 2006: 102). The basis for this oppressive regimented institutionalised racism was the intended outcome: a disciplined employable farm labourer or domestic servant; who understood the rules and therefore their position in society. (Hegarty 1999: …show more content…

‘The immediate survival of the family’ was paramount to her grandfathers’ decision to move to the mission (Hegarty 1999:7,9). Furthermore, ‘his family was his life’ and his ability to provide for the family had been affected (Hegarty 1999:7-8). In addition, Hegartys grandfather in his role as the head of the family made all the decisions, this right was abolished upon arrival at the mission (Hegarty 1999:12). Consequently, the move meant that all cultural and family connections were broken (Hegarty 1999: 9,10). In Hegarty’s account; the family were forced to separate, the children were institutionalised into segregated dormitory housing; her grandparents were sent to the camp that was isolated from the rest of the settlement (Hegarty 1999:12,13). Further disconnection occurred because the children were automatically made ‘wards of the state’ (Hegarty 1999: 20). However, the impact of the regulations; to their freedom, way of life, and structure of the family unit as Indigenous Queenslanders; became evident after they had entered the reserve (Hegarty 1999: 12; Donovan 2008:

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