‘Woke Wiggles’: it’s not just Jeff who needs to wake up

It’s hard to grapple that our national treasures have become a political Hot Potato for adding four culturally diverse characters to the show.

What makes Australia such a wonderful place to live is its vibrant, multicultural culture.

We have immigration and ethnic diversity to thank for shaping our country, so it’s about time we take a leaf from Jeff’s songbook and “wake up”.

Like it or not, our country today is one big Fruit Salad. Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were either born in another country or have at least one parent who was born overseas, the latest census data shows.

Representation matters now, more than ever.

The new Wiggles cast members were announced on the weekend.

The new-look Wiggles are Ethiopian-born Tsehay Hawkins, Indigenous Australian Evie Ferris, Chinese-Australian Kelly Hamilton, and John Pearce of pop group Justice Crew, who has Filipino heritage.

The idea was the brainchild of founding Blue Wiggle, Anthony Field. He realised children who are watching the show today come from culturally diverse families, so he wanted the Wiggles to reflect their audience.

It’s mind-boggling to see grown adults going bananas over the new characters. Sunday’s announcement opened the floodgates to hatred and racist comments by social media trolls.

Nationals senator Matt Canavan also weighed in, suggesting the move would damage the Wiggles’ brand: “you go woke, you go broke”.

Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou.

As a first-generation Aussie, I know what it feels like to feel “othered” and the target of racial abuse for being different. Growing up, my sisters and I didn’t always look like the other kids, and there wasn’t a lot of culturally diverse people on TV.

I remember when Ada Nicodemou first appeared on Home and Away in 2000, it felt so validating to see a young ethnic woman on the telly.

A first-generation Australian herself, born to Greek parents, Ada didn’t look like the usual Summer Bay beach babes. Seeing her on TV, I felt it was OK that I didn’t either.

I can only imagine that when kids of Ethiopian, Asian, Indigenous or Filipino ancestry see people who look like them on their favourite TV show, they can feel that sense of belonging, as I did 20 years ago.

Racism and making someone feel like an outsider is something that is learnt. While kids do notice people who look different from themselves, it’s usually observed in an innocent, childlike way. They might describe their new kindergarten pal as a “girl with brown skin”, but it’s purely a descriptor, without any feeling attached – unless learnt from those around them.

Children are inquisitive.Credit: Shutterstock

Children are inquisitive, so introducing them to inclusivity at a young age through their favourite TV shows just means they might ask Mum and Dad questions at home, like “Why does that lady have curly hair?” or “Why is that man in a wheelchair?”

Answering these questions at home is surely far less awkward than being put on the spot at the checkout at Woolies.

While the kids themselves don’t really notice conscious steps for inclusivity, diversity is ultimately a positive thing.

Normalising cultural and gender inclusion from childhood is a huge step towards a more inclusive nation for our future generations, because that acceptance will follow them through life.

That’s why I’m excited to see what Australia’s future will look like when the “woke Wiggles” generation grows up.

The only problem now with the new-look Wiggles is fitting them all in the Big Red Car.

Mel Buttigieg is a freelance writer.