Multiculturalism has always meant the ability to co-exist within diverse cultures including racial, religious, and cultural groups. Its main goal is to diminish discrimination by joining together different cultures from all around the world to eradicate problems dealing with the different cultures. However, some say that multiculturalism does more harm than good by allowing the discrimination to proceed. All in all it is essential to break the barriers that different ethnic groups have set up to have the ability to live and grow as one nation. To become a society, the people need unity. The melting pot of different cultures enhances living and exposes many to new traditions and a different standard of living. Many abide by this by being of …show more content…
For instance, many people view this concept was a melting pot, which blends all the religions, races, and cultures together as one and spreads the belief that everyone could be treated as one. Immigrants aspire to one with the main natives. While Natives aspire to learn about the foreign cultures. However this only includes the best aspects of multiculturalism. Other citizens have different worldview, as they view the world as a Salad Bowl. This concept describes how like salad all the distinct flavors and ingredients (minority and majority) are kept apart and despite the effort to blend are determined to stay separated. Immigrants never learn anything about the native land including language and native land disrespect the foreign …show more content…
There are those who believe that being of different cultures brings nothing to the table. That being of one race is a greater challenge than being of two or more. That in the United States of America, so many are forced into the idea of multiculturalism that it is almost impossible to become open minded on an idea that is thrust upon them. However, these ideals are being misrepresented every day. In today’s society, no civil problems are being forced upon individuals. In fact, it could be said that America is too liberal and allows too much discrimination and bigotry to be possible. There is no punishment for those who believe in white superiority or any type of bigotry, those who mistreat others usually get away with discrimination because they are “justifiable”. No one should have the right to make anyone feel small based on ethnicity, race, color, or religious preferences. But many can discriminant without consequence due to their excuses. There are many excuses present when dealing with discrimination but all of them are either non logical or
In my readings, I have agreed with the term for culture in the book?? Cultural Diversity?? written by Jerry V. Filled. It states that "One 's culture becomes one?s paradigm, defining what is real and what is right.? in other words culture is taught to children by family it is a variety of learned behaviors, beliefs, values, traditions etc. All of which help shape a person and is a huge portion of who they are.
middle of paper ... ... Given that multiculturalism is a framework that says that anyone can sit at the table so long as they accept certain political and cultural divisions which ultimately work to make impossible your ability to change the basic structure of meaning in society, or which seek to extract any political potential from the things you say, the things you embody and the things you want. You can have holidays, but not your language. You can have a month of the year for your race, but no justice.
Gone are the days of legalized slavery, of Nazi Germany, of women being incapable of having a notable opinion. No longer is there a system of racial segregation adopted by an entire country, complete white supremacy or lynchings performed by the Ku Klux Klan. Yet, although we are no longer exposed to such past experiences and despite us living in a world where diversity is embraced more than ever, the existence of prejudice remains. Today we have universally come to accept multiculturalism, varied ethnic backgrounds and those populations who historically were forever stigmatized. But in spite of these developments prejudice has manifested itself in other, more subtle ways and no matter how modernized society become such unfavourable attitudes
Today in Canada it is not uncommon to see people of various races, ethnic backgrounds or cultural groups living within a mutual society; commonly known as multiculturalism. Multiculturalism refers to the presence of, or support for the presence of several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society. As the topic becomes more more popular due to news events and social media debates, multiculturalism gets twisted and misunderstood. In essence, multiculturalism is not about dwelling on about our differences, it is about emphasizing our commonality. Diversity of the human race has the power to unify society and make it stronger. Firstly, innovation
This essay will discuss the intrinsic relationship between diversity conceptualization and social integration presenting a response against David Brooks’ essay entitled “People Like Us.” In order to do this I will discuss four crucial elements: the influences of different definitions of diversity in cultural unification, Brook’s ideas about social groups working together and social groups coexisting together, the importance of diversity, and the influence of diversity in social changes. I will examine why some people have the perception that our American society ignore or see as unworthy diversity. Thus, I will dispute Brook’s view stating that our society disregards diversity, and Americans just pretend that it is important to them.
However, the unjustified discrimination in America is often represented by the hard transition that immigrants face when they move to America. This statement is exemplified in the short narrative piece, “American Dreamer” by author Bharati Mukherjee. In “American Dreamer” Mukherjee reflects on her own experiences of being an immigrant and her transition into becoming an “American”. Most people think of America as a cultural melting pot where other cultures are accepted perhaps even celebrated. In spite of this, what America actually celebrates is harshly debated. America likes to say that is prides it self on being “multiculturalists”, yet Mukherjee points out that even multiculturalism, “leads to a lack of respect for individual differences within each group.” (358) The idea of multiculturalism seems like a good idea, but this is rather not true since the idea of multiculturalism, “implies the existence of a central culture.” (Mukherjee 358) Much of the unjustified discrimination in America comes from people from other cultures not fitting into the “central culture” that the US seems to have adopted. This has led to an “us” vs. “them” mentality (Mukherjee 359) in America. Many people in America seem to rely on discrimination since they don’t like the idea of America’s culture changing. However like Mukherjee states America shouldn’t be afraid of the culture changing and instead should embrace that America’s culture is “constantly reforming.” (Mukherjee 359) I hope like the author that one there will be less discrimination towards immigrants. I believe that if more Americans can accept that it our culture is constantly changing and that it is a good thing it is changing, there can be less unjustified discrimination. I truly think that discrimination can never be
Our book opens us up to the world of diversity and inequality in the United States. It presses on issues about groups that hold superiority towards inferior groups for multiple reasons. In “Imagine our country” our book blatantly calls out America’s problems and how we in some cases are only increasing the chances of them continuing. It helps define the differences between racism and discrimination, which I never thought about enough to distinguish before taking this class. These chapters also offer hope and ways to combat these differences, because while we may be stuck in a social loop-hole there are available ways to challenge these and make society aware of changes and in act upon them!
Cultural pluralism or cultural diversity replaces the melting pot image with what is frequently described as a “mosaic” or almost a “tossed salad.” As Christine Bennett stated “each part retains some of its uniqueness while contributing to the beauty and strength of the whole composition.” The United States still has failed to become part of the tossed salad idea we don’t diversify with other cultures, why?
Students attending American schools are taught clearly about the United States’ image as a melting pot; however, there is evidence to support that, while there is not an official federal stance on the matter (Sengupta), the amount of assimilation required to be legitimately considered a “melting pot” is not being reached. Although similar, there is often confusion about the differences between “multicultural” and “assimilated” communities. By definition, assimilation is the complete “merging of cultural traits from previously distinct culture groups” (Dictionary), while multiculturalism is delineated as the “preservation of different cultures or cultural identities within a unified society, as a state or nation” (Dictionary). Early to mid-1900’s America entertained the idea of a melting pot, where people from all parts of the world would join together and assimilate. It seems, however, that the growing trend has been to treat America as more of a “salad bowl” (Porter), in that people are joining together but instead of merging as one unit, are maintaining a majority, if not all, of their primary culture with little attempt to adapt. This underachievement has left America to unintentionally become a multicultural society. The clear differentiation between expectation and reality brings vast amounts of controversy among the nation’s people.
Multiculturalism policy ensures people from different ethnic, racial, religious, and linguistic backgrounds coexist together. Ng, Eddy and Isabel affirmed that the strategic tolerance fostered through the policy enhance the development of a national identity centered around multiculturalism with much ado about citizenship and naturalization process (254). In the long-term, the policy reduces hostilities between the natives and immigrants. Durante Chris explained that, “As both a political philosophy and public policy, multiculturalism has become one of the leading approaches for coping with problems that arise when attempting to accommodate the needs of ethnic, cultural, and religious communities in a liberal democracy,” (323). In the long-term, the policy reduces hostilities between the natives and immigrants, thereby creating a society where cultural identity and ethnic diversity enjoys mutual respect and tolerance – suitable ingredients for social cohesion. Peace and harmony within a society prevails if each group feel respected and allowed to associate with their identity without prejudice. However, issues have risen in Canada where the natives feel immigrants are overburdening their them and introducing new cultures. If such situation is the case, multiculturalism could impact negatively on social
multiculturalism hype is not all it is cut out to be and segregates communities rather
police officers, judges, attorneys, correctional officers) the importance of social and cultural awareness; (2) understanding the demographics of various minority and immigrant groups; and (3) improve data collection on racial and ethnic discrimination. Some people depict America as a melting pot because they believe various ethnic groups in America has blended together as one. The melting pot theory aims at creating a unique American way of life. On the other hand, some people portray America as a salad bowl because America is diversified with various cultures and ethnicity, which makes this society multicultural. Diversity and multiculturalism in America will also create racism and hatred towards minorities and immigrants; furthermore, it will also promote separatist or hate groups. A multicultural society will create opportunities to share ideas and perspectives with each other; therefore, allowing ethnic groups to understand and have mutual respect for each other. Although there are disadvantages in a multicultural society, the advantages still outweighs all the negative criticisms. Multiculturalism promotes peace and good communications among ethnic
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.
On the other end of the spectrum, multiculturalism is the proper way of bringing cultures together and helps to unify society.
In his article “The Failure of Multiculturalism”, Kenan Malik uses the diverse European culture to study and explain the irony of multiculturalism. He defines multiculturalism as “the embrace of an inclusive, diverse society” (Malik 21). Integration between cultures is practically inevitable, but several nations view this as a threat towards upholding their culture. Due to this, many countries have made attempts at properly integrating new people and ideas while trying to prevent the degradation of their own. This can result in unjust regulations and the reverse effect of an intended multicultural society.