“Do not be fooled by its commonplace appearance. Like so many things, it is not what’s outside, but what is inside that counts.” (Aladdin). The quote represents how people view society as one image, that you have to be that image in those details, but really it is okay to be more than that. This is the feeling of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is an interesting concept in society and it’s also evident in the story “Fish Cheeks.” “Multiculturalism is sometimes used to describe a condition of society; more precisely, it to describe a society where a variety of different cultures coexist” (Internet). In simpler terms, it is the feeling of being attached to more than one culture. Multiculturalism can have a positive role in society. A positive …show more content…
Amy Tan loved her Chinese culture. Her mom made her favorite meal every Christmas Eve dinner. She has grown up in America where it is considered a melting pot, the place of variety cultures. She liked the manners Americans had and the American look so much, that she had a crush on the Ministers’ son, Robert. Those would represent the positive vibes of multiculturalism. The negative part would be the feeling of being accepted by her peers or the shame she had of her culture during this special event. Amy was afraid of what the American’s would think of a Chinese Christmas Eve dinner. Also she wanted it to be more like an American Dinner because she thought that the Chinese food will be disappointing because the Minister’s family would be hoping for an American meal, like turkey and mashed potatoes. She knew her family’s manners were horrendous, so she was embarrassed about that as well. “Dinner threw me deeper into despair. My relatives licked the end of their chopsticks and reached across the table, dipping them into dozen or so plates of food” (Tan 185). This really shows a great struggling image of multiculturalism for Amy Tan had during her
In conclusion, both articles talks about how someone wants to belong to something or they want to fit in. In "Fish Cheeks" and "Broken Chains" it talks about how they want their apperance
Despite what one might see on television and what conglomerates may want people to believe, the roots of multiculturalism and multiracialism are in shallow soil. Change does not come by commercial hype, but rather by an evolving process of change in thoughts, ideas and in the racial equation.
Cultural diversity, or multiculturalism, is based on the idea that cultural identities should not be ignored, but rather maintained and valued. The foundation of this belief is that every culture and race has made a significant contribution to American history one way or another. The cultural diversity of the United States is beyond belief, as many different ethnic and cultural groups have contributed or shaped the social, economic and cultural values of our society.
Everyone covers their unfavorable identity to submerge in the white mainstream. Asians change their native accents and learn American English pronunciations to make themselves more understandable. They have a new American name to replace their traditional name that might exhibit their ethnicity. African-Americans straighten their hair to make them professional. Arabs change their traditional clothes and wear suits in working. Yoshino admits to be intended to avoid association with the Asian-American group and act Americans. And covering has a clear purpose that is improvement and staying at the center of the western mainstream. Racial covering brings to him improvement and success instead of pessimistic thoughts about his own Asian-American identity. However, when he lives in Japan, he feels frustrated that he is unable to conform to the Japanese society because his every action reveals his western identity. Yoshino suggests that “Racial identity has a behavioral component” (300). Appearances and accents can be changed but habitual behavior and cultural mindset is implanted in individuals’ body and cannot be muted easily. For instance, Asians behave modestly and have a lower self-esteem than westerners. Indians prefer traditional cuisines than western foods. And religious beliefs and cultural heritage roots in the individuals’ mindset. Like Muchin in the example of “good
The questions suggested by the term "multiculturalism" range far and wide, embracing questions of inclusion: Who and what is to be taught?—questions of criteria: On what grounds, if any, can "we" make appraisals of "other cultures"?—questions of self-identity: When I say "we," who am I including in such august company?—questions of the meaning of multiculturalism: What is it? What is its purpose...
The critics argue that multiculturalism ultimately favors one community than another, exacerbating conflict, ethnic difference and limiting the individual’s right to self-identity (Prato 2009: 2). They argue that the fundamental problem of multiculturalism is that its meaning differs from scholars to scholars (Watson 2000, Parto: 3).
In the essay " Rice for Thanksgiving " by Jocelyn Fong who is a full american, partial asian young girl is a young girl who admires her untraditional thanksgiving, and meaning. Fong loves thanksgiving, due to her Grand mothers special dish " Rice and Gravy " as said in the essay Her Grandmother always celebrated the American way, She even never got around to teaching Fong's father their native language. " I believe in rice and gravy, I am half Asian and completely American. " by Fong saying that, she completely accepts the mix she is by referring to the mix of food that is a tradition. You should celebrate holidays the way it makes you happy, with your very own culture regardless the fact if it is different.
Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” describes Tan’s upbringing as a Chinese-American caught in between two cultures. In “Fish Cheeks” Tan’s crush Robert and his family were invited to Tan’s house for Christmas, Amy was embarrassed of Robert’s impression of her Chinese relatives, cuisine, and culture (Tan 110). Tan’s situation is not uncommon as millions of first generation Americans encounter similar situations while living within two cultures. Albeit the extreme embarrassment Tan endured throughout the encounter, she contends that her mother taught her a valuable lesson in appreciating her Chinese culture (111). Ultimately, Tan's purpose was to implore first generation Americans to embrace both of their cultures, in spite of its unique traditions (Tan
The purpose of this research is to investigate the liberal critique of the concept of multiculturalism. This study seeks to answer the research questions, what is multiculturalism, and why this concept may contradict with liberal philosophical approaches. Goals are to understand the key principle of multiculturalism, to investigate its liberal roots, to explore key critical liberal arguments in modern political philosophy. The first part is about liberal roots of multiculturalism. The aim of the second part is to reconstruct the key arguments of the concept of multiculturalism. The third part is about liberal arguments against the concept. This research expects to have following outcomes: the key features of multiculturalism and their connection with liberal political theory, liberal arguments against multicultural theory and its inner contradictions.
In “Fish Cheeks,” Amy is a fourteen year old Chinese American girl who fell in love with someone whose culture, nationality, customs and even origins were different from hers. Her family had invited this boy with his family, whose father was a minister, to their home. Her mother had outdone herself in arranging Chinese dishes for her guests. Amy was agitated, anxious and overthinking the situation because her American boy crush, who was expecting a variety of American dishes, would be disappointed when he saw different plates of Chinese food on the table. She was aggravated because of her relatives, as well, who were also invited and lacked the American manners. It was the worst, most awful dinner she had ever had. However, many years later, she realized her mother’s words, “you must be proud y...
Multiculturalism is defined and interpreted in various ways, all interpretations resonate with this definition; multiculturalism is the institutionalised implementation of foreign cultures into a native culture following the philosophy that every culture is morally valid. Moral validity is an idea that should be taken into careful consideration when regarding foreign cultures. If all cultural values were truly morally valid there would be an undivided ideology; humans would all agree on what is right and what is wrong. When allowing immigrants to hold their origin culture, there are detrimental cultural values that are conserved. Retaining these poor cultural values creates conflict amongst
Multiculturalism can be defined as incorporating or blending various cultures into one defined culture. Depending on where you live, you can see it almost every day. People who came from other countries and take their own culture with them to the United States can be considered an example of multiculturalism. Another example would be the diversity in today's schools, and how some teachers choose to incorporate the different cultures of their students into a way in which the students can learn from each other.
She shows that in 1987 culture simulation was a big struggle for both young and old generations. As a child, Tan was beyond eager to accept this new lifestyle, yet, her family stayed true to their culture. Her mother still cooked original Chinese meals, and her father still burped after a meal in appreciation. These few things brought Tan embarressment of her family and heritage. Tan wished she could just change into an American, so much in fact that she prayed for “a new slim American nose” (Tan 74). Her mother didn’t forbid her from doing anything American, yet she wanted Tan to remember where her roots were. “You want to be the same as American girls on the outside…But inside you must always be Chinese. You must be proud you are different. Your only shame is to have shame” (Tan 75). Not until Tan was older did she appreciate her mother’s sensible words and what lengths her parents went to keep her
Around the globe all individuals participate in their own cultural practices and traditions. Multiculturalism is an extremely controversial issue that arises from different views and opinions, and is currently under attack by various leaders in our world today. Since the late 1960s and 1970s multiculturalism has been supported, denied, and continuously discussed because of its strong emphasis on cultural diversity and equal opportunities. Multiculturalism is the co-existence of all diverse cultures that include religious, racial, or cultural groups and is expressed in customary traditions, values, behaviors, and ways of thinking. Multiculturalism is also relevant in society through different government policies that enable individuals to have