valuing presumed social similarity and social equality | The Australian Dictionary of Invisible Culture for Teachers

The Australian Dictionary of Invisible Culture for Teachers

valuing presumed social similarity and social equality

value: many people in Australia think it is good if people can think like this (see more)

It is good if people can think like this about many other people: This person is someone like me. I am not someone above this person, this person is not someone above me.

Note

This value is key in understanding much of the way that people interact in Australian English. Even when there are clear hierarchies in play (such as bosses and workers, parents and children, teachers and students, politicans and citizens), those in the positions of power are very likely (not always) to speak in such a way that highlights the social similarities, and those in the lower position are likely to speak in an informal way.

discouraging wanting other people’s admiration discouraging feelings of ‘specialness’presuming and valuing perceived ‘shared ordinariness’tall poppy tall poppy syndrome big-noting yourself projecting presumed solidarity in interaction projecting presumed social similarity and social equality in interaction introducing myself talking to strangers using swear/curse words in high solidarity situations

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