Limitations Of Multiculturality

Though it does not come up in everyday thought, cultural identity is an idea that all humans possess. Abridged, cultural identity can be simply explained as the sharing of a similar culture by people of various ethnicities. However, cultural identity is more complex than that, defined by an individual’s values, beliefs, and ideas of moral behavior influenced by their culture. Furthermore, cultural identity is ever changing from individual to individual. This means that although two individuals may be of the same ethnicity, differences in circumstances may cause variations between the individuals’ personal beliefs. As a result of interracial interactions, multiculturalism has grown during the twenty-first century.

Multiculturalism can be defined as the promotion of the mixture of different cultural, religious and linguistic group which include the idea of equal respect toward differences and acceptance of the contribution of immigrants to a country (Zanca, 2015). It has been considered as a controversial topic which has been debated from the middle of the 20th century especially in European countries and in Australia. In discussing to what extent should cultural differences be accepted in a multicultural society, many agree that multiculturalism should be accepted if there is acceptance, tolerance of diversity and the new migrants learn to language of the majority and bring economic benefits to their new country. On other hand, it is argued that multiculturalism should not be accepted because of the negative influence that it can bring if there is no immigration control, acceptance of diversity as well as stereotyping of the minorities.

Canada is a place known to be a multiculturalism country to many. Although it is meant to be a positive thing in many minds, it is also tended to be a negative thing. This is shown in the essays “No Place Like Home” by Neil Bissondath, and “Immigrants, Multiculralism, and Canadian citizenship” by Will Kymlicka. Both essay make powerful points to why multiculturalism is negative, but also shows the method that the authors use to write such as racism, how both author’s use the pathos and logos method, but also false premises.

Equally as important is how and why we negotiate our identities. One’s identity is constantly changing due to the negotiations we have with ourselves and others. These negotiations take place every day and are instigated either by those who are culturally different from the dominant culture or even ourselves (Jackson 360). Whether they are instigated by an individual or oneself it is a need as humans to reduce uncertainty (ibid.). There is this instinctual need to know what something is, or in this case who someone is, even if it is as trivial as their racial background to identify and differentiate that person from the rest. It should be noted that in some situations of more evenly dispersed power it is possible for a balanced negotiation to take place between one another, though the more dominant a culture the less likely these situations are to arise (Jackson pg.365).

Social identity theory is a person’s sense of who they are based on their group membership(s) (Harwood, 2007). “In social identity theory and identity theory, the self is reflexive in that it can take itself as an object and can categorize, classify, or name itself in particular ways in relation to other social categories or classification” (Stets & Burke, 2000). The social identity theory has been known to let individuals find their own niche and group that they want to belong to. This could include what the individuals are active in or involved in. Research has also found that the groups that they classify themselves in can cause the participants to look down upon other groups that they are not involved in (Harwood, 2007). Negative attitudes are more of a complex issue, but interesting ideas come from explanations that emerge for social identity theory (Harwood,

Daughter, student, journalist, sister, Catholic, middle-class -- that 's just scratching the surface of what my identity is. As author Barbara Ryan points out, I know I don 't have a single identity and I know it is not fixed, but I wasn 't quite sure of what "identity politics" was. Thankfully, Ryan did a great job of explaining how our identities, as well as how we perceive other 's identities, or how we allow for people 's identities to affect the way we act think of and act toward them, can affect social movements. People 's identities can also lead to the fragmentation of people of a social movement who might have a common goal. Reading this introduction and now better understanding how identities can aid in the buffering of people

This section seeks to understand how mixed race individuals’ social identities are shaped by their multiracial heritage by focusing on the growing body of research on development of mixed race identity in a multicultural society. In contrast to traditional, monoracial models of social identity development, a multiracial approach has been necessitated by the expansion of globalization and interracial relationships (Kellogg & Liddell, 2012, p. 525).

Multiculturalism is the perpetuation of cultural identities within a society, while assimilation is the changing of different cultural identities to conform to predominate society’s cultural norm. Multiculturalism includes a rich variety of languages, assorted culturally reinforced attire, and the diversity of religious worship. With assimilation however, the cultures absorb each other’s cultural aspects, therefore becoming one people, but generally the dominate society characterizes prevail as prominent.

The United States is currently a country that is fairly diverse. In the near future the U.S. is projected to have no racial or ethnic group as it majority. As a result of this change our country would officially be a multicultural society. This change would bring some challenges as well as some advantages for some people.

In addition, identities, whether racial or ethnic or religious, are fluid and changing and reflective of a larger economic and political situation. As a result, to write about these groups as having similar levels of identification with their groups will undermine the complexity of the topic we study. Finally, as a product of what was mentioned above, agencies of the individuals we write about usually get lost and marginalized.

Multiculturalism means diversity of cultures that includes: racial, religious, and values. This topic is now frequently discussed between our public schools and media that among directly affect our community. In Hasia Diner essay, “Some Problems with ‘Multiculturalism;’ or ‘The Best Laid Plans…” she argues that multiculturalism is a very unequal topic in society, which many people really do not know what it is. Diner wrote the essay in response to those who have misconceptions toward multiculturalism besides to social and economic climate, a situation that created a heated controversy among American society. Diner is describing about her disappoint about multiculturalism. As Diner notes, multiculturalism is hailed by contemporary requirements between teaching and learning the culture. However, Diner argues toward majorities of people who are being divided between social economics.

No school can trust effectively to teach today's youngsters without recognizing and grasping the social pluralism of our various society. To this end, free school instructors must work to make learning groups that energize and bolster assorted qualities of enrollment and multicultural curricula. Such people group comprehend that one's individual viewpoint depends, to a limited extent, upon one's area in society. Common understandings are multifaceted; they develop in groups that urge people to convey their stories to the table.

Although some ethnic identities were founded on “inherent biological, cultural, or racial traits” dividing lines have mostly changed. On the contrary, the characteristics of ethnic groups are enormously personal and have undertaken a “presumed identity” . As much as ethnicity is distinguished by a mutual identity inside a specific group, it is concurrently explained by its differences with other groups. While constituents of an ethnic group take part in an identity founded on a mutual characteristic or opinion, their ethnic attributes (such as language, race, religion) are normally not all the same, and if they are, these characteristics independently are not distinct to that group. The difference in the amalgamation of characteristics that shapes an “ethnic identity” signifies that a person normally shares mutuality with more than one ethnic group. Moreover, what are the fixed dividing lines that determine an ethnic group when its constituents have mutual characteristics with one other, but as well with other groups? “The ethnic label subsumes a number of simultaneous characteristics which no doubt cluster statistically, but which are not absolutely interdependent and connected” .

Okin portrays the consequences multiculturalism impose upon women, especially when those cultures are composed of oppressive and sexist ideals. This view is valid for the most parts as government who accept the culture of minorities has led to violation of human rights to maintain dignity. One example is when the French government allowed minorities to bring multiple wives into the country despite the consequences for the accommodation. The consequence of their action led to families of twenty to thirty members with rise of conflicts among the wives and children that threaten individual’s well being (10). Even worse, allowing for certain multi-cultural group to continue polygamy is the same as maintaining a patriarchal ideals toward

The examination of identity should begin with the dynamics between “how we have been represented and how that bears on how we represent ourselves” (Hall & Du Gay, 1996, p.4). Identification and representation can be seen as the different sides of the same coin. If social psychology is to engage with the changing nature of identities in today’s world, the role of representations in the co-construction of identities must be addressed (Howarth,