Battlers, in Australian colloquialism, are ordinary working-class people who persevere through their commitments despite adversity.[1][2] Typically, this adversity comprises low pay, family problems, environmental hardships and personal recognition woes.[3] It is a term of respect and endearment intended to empower and recognise those who feel as though they exist at the bottom of society. It has seen recent use in mainstream politics to describe a demographic of Australian people, most notably by former Prime Minister John Howard, who used it to describe his working-class voting base.[4]
- ^ New Zealand Oxford Dictionary Oxford University Press, 2005
- ^ "Australian National Dictionary Centre, Australian Words: A-B, Battler". Anu.edu.au. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- ^ Sekiya, Noriko. "Aussie 'battler' as a cultural keyword in Australian English" (PDF). Griffith University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "Howard's battlers a broad church". The Age. 19 May 2004.