Research project title ~ An investigation into the construction of male and female Afghan identities in mainstream western

media and the extent to which alternative media outlets provide a greater diversity of identities for Afghan adolescents.
Project coordinator ~ Sara Azizi
Research project overview ~ the aim of this project is to investigate the portrayal of Afghan women/men in Australia and in
Afghanistan and the extent to which alterative media outlets such as YouTube provide different identities for Afghan women.
Confidentiality ~ You are not required to put your name on the questionnaire. If you wish to do so you will not be identified by
name within the research. If you have any concerns regarding the questions below or use of the questionnaire within the
research project, please do not hesitate to contact me at sazizi@parrastu.catholic.edu.au
Q1. What is your gender?
Male
Female
Q2. Between what dates were you born?
(1960 1980) Generation X
(1990 2003) Generation Z
Q3. What is your cultural background/heritage?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Q4. Why did you and/or your family migrate to Australia? Please tick the appropriate box that most
suits you. You may tick more than ONE box.
Better life
Better education opportunities
Fleeing from violence
Family already in Australia
Other
__________________________________________________________________________________
Q5. How did you and/or your family migrate to Australia? Please tick the appropriate box that most
suits you.
Refugee and Humanitarian programme
Sponsorship
General skilled migration programme
Other:
__________________________________________________________________________________

Q6. On the sliding scale provided, indicate (please circle) how challenging you think each of the
following factors were in migrating to Australia:

Language barriers
Loss of connection with family members
Leaving your country for good
The feeling of will I fit into the new society
Negative stereotyping based on culture
5 4 3 2 1

very challenging
not challenging
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
10 9

Q7. Do you believe that in your migration to Australia the mainstream media portray a narrow and
restricted view of Afghan culture that lacks diversity? E.g. There is an undeniable link between
illegal immigrants and terrorism (Quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, 18 September 2001)
Agree
Disagree
Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Agreebest describe
Disagree
Q8. Read the following statements below and place Strongly
a tick in the box which
the extentStrongly
to
Disagree
which you agree, disagree etc. with the statement. Agree
Afghan men are responsible for familys
welfare, politics and relationships with
outsiders.
A womans responsibility is family nurturing
Women are not allowed to enter the work
force
Females cant leave home without a male
escort
Women are not allowed to get an education
Women are forced to cover head to toe
Afghan men are dominant and always in
power (head of the family)

Q9. Since migrating to Australia have your views on male gender roles changed?
Yes

No
Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Q10. Since migrating to Australia have your views on female gender roles changed?
Yes
No
How?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Q11 How do you believe the Australian mainstream media portrays the country of Afghanistan?
Disordered
Violent
Terrorism
Other
__________________________________________________________________________________
Q12. How do you believe the Australian mainstream media portrays the women of Afghanistan?
Uneducated
Abused
Forced into arranged marriage
Victims
Q13. How do you believe the Australian mainstream media portrays the men of Afghanistan?
Controlling
Racists
Terrorists
Religious fanatics
Q14. Do you believe that there are stereotypes made in mainstream Australian media on Afghan
women? If so, what types of stereotypes are made?
Yes

No
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Q15. Are there other forms of media to break those stereotypes? (E.g. YouTube etc.)
Yes
No
If so, what are their roles in using technology?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

END OF QUESTIONNAIRE
Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Please return it to
Sara Azizi. If you would like to see the results of the survey or finished project,
do not hesitate to contact me at sazizi@parrastu.catholic.edu.au

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Please return it to
Sara Azizi. If you would like to see the results of the survey or finished project, do
not hesitate to contact me at sazizi@parrastu.catholic.edu.au