Title: Bra Boys: Blood is thicker than water (Garage Industries, 2007)
Author: Kate Thompson – Aurora College/ACU
Area of Study: Social Conformity and Non-conformity
Focus Study
In relation to one group, students are to examine:
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the historical and social development of the group
•
the role of status, authority, power, privilege and responsibility within the group
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how the concepts of cohesion and community operate to define the group’s identity
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ways in which the group influences its individual members in order to achieve group cohesion:
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the role of group values and norms
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peer pressure
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attitudes of the group to nonconformity and the role of sanctions within the group
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positive and negative interactions with the wider society
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Perceptions of the group by the wider society and the implications of these perceptions.
Syllabus Outcomes
H1
evaluates and effectively applies social and cultural concepts
H2
explains the development of personal, social and cultural identity
H3
analyses relationships and interactions within and between social and cultural groups
Rating: M
Time: 84 min
Synopsis: “Being a Bra Boy is a lifestyle-­‐ it’s not just the matching tattoos and plugging the clothing label -­‐ it’s
about community activism and being proud of where you come from and trying to improve the life of Maroubra’s
locals. But the flipside of hometown pride is wanting to protect your turf-­‐ something the boys are known to defend
to the death. Like any gang, the Bra Boys are deeply suspicious of outsiders and have a reputation for violence with
rap sheets including assault, drug smuggling and murder.”
(Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/guide/video/777710147615/Bra-Boys-Blood-Is-Thicker-Than-Water )
Teacher rationale: Are the Bra Boys an OK group to study?
This topic is about groups and the effects of groups (the effects of groups on individuals, the formation of groups,
and the way groups operate etc.). It was developed with social psychology in mind, therefore it is about the
influences and interactions within and between groups too and the thoughts, feelings, attitudes and behaviours of
people as a result.
Whilst the syllabus does not provide a list of ‘approved’ and ‘non-­‐approved’ groups, using the Bra Boys as a focus
study can meet all the syllabus requirements. It also is non-­‐conformist which aligns with the ‘spirit’ of the topic but
please note this is not mandatory. The Bra Boys group fits well because, not only can all the outcomes and concepts
be applied accurately, but all the focus study syllabus dot points do as well. The Bra Boys:
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•
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Demonstrate some level of organization and internal structure
Are clear in their purpose, location or identity
Are large enough to be reported on e.g.: via news media, to create perceptions by the ‘wider’ society and for
you to be able to find these perceptions
Operate at a meso level
Teaching and learning activities
Question
Use these terms in your
response
1. Describe the environment in
which the Bra Boys operate.
Rifle range, Long Bay Gaol,
beachside suburb, Sydney,
2. Outline the historical and
social development of the
group
Poverty, working class,
unemployed families,
domestic conflict, surf tribe,
Abberton brothers, ‘Ma’,
worldview, social
dislocation, values
3. How do the Abberton brothers
demonstrate their power
and/or authority within the
group?
Approval of tattoos, self-­‐
concept, fearlessness,
masculinity,
4.
Respect for older
members, grommets,
Identify the
responsibilities
group.
roles and
within the
5. How does a sense of cohesion
and community contribute to
the Bra Boys identity?
Loyalty, protecting ‘turf’,
violence, gang wars,
tattoos, Bra Boys group as a
substitute for family, special
handshake, sense of
brotherhood
6. How do the Bra Boys influence
group members e.g.: through
peer pressure
Values, mate ship,
larrikinism, psyching each
other up, pushing the
boundaries,
7. What are some of the
commonly known group
norms and behaviours?
Fierce localism, willingness
to fight, anti-­‐authoritarian
(e.g.: from decades ago
when board registration was
required), initiation for
grommets, mistrust of police
Answer
Question
Use these terms in your
response
Koby’s rule with younger
grommets -­‐‘if you don’t go
for it, get your own way
home’, older guys
encouraged younger one to
get off drugs
8. What happens if a group
member breaks the Bra Boys
expected code of conduct?
9. How have the Bray Boys
interacted positively with
society?
Coogee brawl with police in
2002, deindividuation,
hindering police
investigation after murder of
Anthony Hines, Koby as an
expert surfer
10. How are the Bra Boys
perceived by wider society?
Local mothers initially
worried about drug use,
violent gang, territorial,
racist, rough/tough,
Cronulla riots in 2005
11. What will the future look like
for the Bra Boys?
Globalisation, localisation,
technology, gender, change,
continuity, influence
Answer
Hmmmmm….
The documentary was directed and produced by Sunny Abberton so it should be
used as just one source among many others from independent perspectives as there
may be an element of bias in the way the Bra Boys were portrayed.
Image from documentary: http://wtfn.com/
Have a look at these other sources for additional commentary:
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Aileen Moreton-­‐Robinson and Fiona Nicoll, ‘We shall fight them on the beaches: protesting cultures of
white possession’, Journal of Australian Studies, no. 89, 2006, p. 150.July 2007.
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Andrews, Bruce, 'Their brothers' keepers: Bra boys', Metro Magazine 153, 2007' pp.48-­‐49
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Butler, Kelly Jean(2009) ''Their culture has survived': witnessing to (dis)possession in Bra Boys (2007)',
Journal of Australian Studies, 33: 4, 391 — 404
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Clifton Evers, ‘My brother’s keeper or my brother’s problem?’, OnLine Opinion: Australia’s Journal of
Social and Political Debate, 14 March 2007, cited 4 February2009, available
from: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article_5607
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Collins-­‐Gearing, Brooke and Huijser, Hendrik (2012) Blood is thicker than water: stains on the land in
Bra Boys. In: Making film and television histories: Australia and New Zealand. I.B. Tauris Publishers,
London, United Kingdom, pp. 26-­‐30. ISBN 978-­‐1-­‐84885-­‐943-­‐2
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Heath Gilmore, ‘Bra Boys say it’s Ours and we’ll fight for it’, Sydney Morning Herald