#148 A Superficial Identity

My experiences not feeling very Italian, yet looking very Italian in white Australia

Hello friend,

Recently, I had a strange realisation—a kind of epiphany about self-identity.

I'm thinking back and remembering when I used to live in Australia. I was born and raised in Australia for the first 25 years of my life, so it is a deep part of my identity. I always thought of myself as Australian. I never fully realised that in Australia in my youth, in the 1980s and 1990s, the typical Australian was seen as of English origin, which usually meant white Anglo-Saxon Protestant—something that I am not.

Strangely, I never really identified or thought of myself as Italian. I just assumed that I was Australian within myself. I still feel very Australian. Since I was born and grew up in Australia, I frequented mainly Australians. I did all of my schooling in Australia, so my point of view has been very much influenced by Australian culture and perspective.

And what exactly is Australian culture? Do I hear you ask? Well, I like to define it in a very general context. It is about having a particular perspective on life, something that is very relaxed and open, very tolerant and curious of other cultures, hard-working, fun-loving with a focus on family and friends and finding your expression and comfort without judging other people‘s journeys. I know that sounds a bit idealistic, but in general, that’s what I consider the definition of being Australian.

Now, growing up in Australia, people didn’t see things from my perspective; after all, it’s simply what I think within my mind. What they did see was my physical appearance. I do look very Italian and very European. And so people in Australia took one look at me and assumed that I was Italian.

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