...communities and many techniques and strategies have been devised. One such method is multiculturalism. This ideology is a derivative of the contact hypothesis, a concept developed by psychologist Gordon Allport, which theorizes that under appropriate conditions interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority group members. If one has the opportunity to communicate with others, they are able to understand and appreciate different points of views involving their way of life. As a result of new appreciation and understanding, prejudice should diminish. Consequently, some policy makers and sociologists have surmised that by implementing this practice and creating “multicultural” communities, the severity of racism and racial prejudices could lessen or even be eradicated. For the most part, however, it seems that multiculturalism will do little or nothing to alleviate prejudice and discrimination. So we are left with the question: “Is racism permanent?” Are sociologists and policy makers enforcing the right measures to combat racism through ‘multicultural education’ and multicultural communities? Henceforth, the main argument of this paper is that ‘Living in a multicultural environment does not nurture tolerance or enhance the acceptance of diverse members living in a community. Not everyone is willing to practice tolerance and multiculturalism only deals with limited aspects...
Words: 1633 - Pages: 7
...Steven Ward Ahmed Zeedia 3/10/2015 BSAD 550 Dr. Freeman Multicultural theory Multicultural theory or multiculturalism is the theory where we can see here in America. It is the exchange of customs and culture in respect to socioeconomic status, foreign reform, as well as the differences in ethics and religions. Multiculturalism can have an effect in any institution of culture whether it involves government, education, economics, religion, or family. For the purpose of this paper we will focus on strategies and situations many businesses will face. Culture will be defined as “the pattern of shared beliefs and values that give members of an institution meaning, and provide them with the rules for behavior in their organization” (Shafritz, Ott & Jang, 2011, p. 364). We will discuss why the need arises for a business or organization to expand or change their ventures to another vicinity outside of their native culture; what problems can occur during the transition of moving from one culture to the next; and the benefits behind using multiculturalism. Multiculturalism today is met with the demand of the economy on a global scale. Capitalism or the pursuit of profits is a driving factor for businesses to relocate in the hopes of achieving higher margins in profit. The stakeholders, those who have vested both time and resource into a business or organization are persistently pushing businesses for higher profits. Businesses must consider what barriers are necessary to...
Words: 1533 - Pages: 7
...4. Outline the arguments for and against the policy of multiculturalism. What are the advantages and disadvantages of officially promoting multiculturalism? 4. Outline the arguments for and against the policy of multiculturalism. What are the advantages and disadvantages of officially promoting multiculturalism? Background Multiculturalism in Canada is the ideology that all people have equal opportunities and rights regardless of their races, religions and, cultural backgrounds. The Canadian government during the 1970s and 1980s adopted the official policy of multiculturalism in Canada. It originated from the 1960s Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. In 1971, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau declared that the country would adopt multicultural policy. In 1982, multiculturalism was recognized by section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Canadian Multiculturalism Act was then passed by Prime Minister Brain Mulroney in 1988. The Act has two fundamental principles: all citizens have equal rights and it promotes all communities of different origins. (Kobayashi, 1983) Benefits of Multiculturalism policy in Canada Economic Benefits Multiculturalism helps integrate visible minorities into the labour market. Canada has experienced more participation of members of minority groups in different business sectors, such as transportation, communications, and banking. The increased participation is the result of the government's effort...
Words: 1045 - Pages: 5
...Ethnic stereotypes and multiculturalism. Summary of course "Ethnic psychology" Contents: 1. The concept and properties of ethnic stereotypes ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 4 2. National prejudices. Types etnostereotipov ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .7 3. 4. Variants of the reactions to cultural diversity ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 5. Advantages and disadvantages of multiculturalism ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 Bibliographic list ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 20 Introduction. Considering the cultural differences in thinking, beliefs, attitudes and behavior, it is easy to succumb to cognitive and emotional reactions to the material to begin to make generalizations, to form negative stereotypes about other people and even pre-make judgments about these differences, and people who are inherent in this behavior before you really understand what lies at its core. These processes and reactions are common in today's world, and to describe them often use the terms ethnic stereotypes, prejudice, multiculturalism, discrimination. Unfortunately, these terms are often used without a clear idea about them, which only exacerbates the problems that they need to clarify. Some of today's most pressing social issues associated with these processes, as boundaries between countries and cultures are becoming more permeable as...
Words: 4386 - Pages: 18
...the same society because the recognition of cultural difference underpins rather than threatens social cohesion • Multiculturalists argue that minority cultural groups are disadvantaged in relation to majority groups • Remedying this involves significant changes in societies rules and institutions • Reformist- Modern liberalism and social democracy • Problem of subornation and marginalisation • People held back not merely by legal and political exclusion but also and more importantly by social disadvantage • Post colonialism • Orientalism example • Stereotyping of cultural groups by west • As a normative term implies a positive endorsement, even celebration of communal diversity – respect and recognition Themes within multiculturalism: • Politics of recognition • Culture and identity • Minority rights • Diversity Politics of Recognition: • Multiculturalists argue that minority groups are disadvantaged in relation to majority groups and remedying this involves significant changes in society’s rules and institutions • Is associated (like feminism and socialism) with the advancement of marginalised, disadvantaged and oppressed groups Culture and Identify: • Belief that culture is basic to political and social identity • A weak sense of cultural identity leaves people feeling isolated and confused • French Philosopher Montesquieu- portrays human beings as culturally defined creatures • Cultural politics of communitarianism and identity politics • Cultural...
Words: 297 - Pages: 2
...Multiculturalism in the News Multicultural and Social Issues in Psychology October 28, 2013 Multiculturalism in the News Multiculturalism is often in the news. Often racial statements, multicultural murders, beatings, police arrests, and rallies draw the attention of the media. Here are a few examples of multiculturalism in the news. USA Gymnastics “disappointed” in Racist Remark A racist statement was spoken by an Italian gymnast, 18 years-old after losing to a 16 year-old American African gymnast. Sparks began to ignite after the Italian gymnast tweeted that statement (Armour, 2013). The distasteful remark was stated because this was the first time an African American had won the all-around world championship. The 16 year old, Simone Biles was so joyful for winning the championship but moments later the Carlotta Ferlito from Italy who finished in fifth place made this remark that ignited controversy because of her tweet. She, Carlotta Ferlito joked with a journalist and another teammate about her comment but said she did not mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. “Painting the Italian gymnast faces black” was just a comment Carlotta Ferlito made and did not believe that the comment was racist (Armour, 2013). The statement she made to teammate indicating that “they should all paint their skin black to win next time” caused much dilemma. She quickly took the tweet off and apologized but the USA Gymnast president, Steve Penny still needed an explanation for the statement and...
Words: 1351 - Pages: 6
...I want to live in International House for number of reasons. In addition to the great facilities available at the International house I will have an opportunity to be face to face with students from all around the world. The idea that I do not have to travel across different countries to meet the people but in fact I will be living with them under the same roof everyday is very intriguing to me. I believe that every student in the international house brings a unique story and experiences of their own and I would love to learn about those stories and I would also love to share my own. I think that my time at international house will allow me to build mutual respect and long lasting friendships among different individuals around the globe. In today’s world we are very much global citizens. Therefore it is important to understand different cultures and be able to interact with people from all around the globe and I believe that international house is a perfect place to learn and gain understanding of cultural and ethnic diversity of this world. I am also attracted by the wide variety of events and programs hosted at the international house throughout the year. As a new immigrant to Canada these events will provide me with a great platform to interact with other residences and enhance my intercultural communication skills and allow me to learn about others cultures and also share my own experiences. In addition I will be able to expand my leadership skills through involvements...
Words: 498 - Pages: 2
...Australian Multiculturalism: Its Rise and Demise Brian Galligan and Winsome Roberts University of Melbourne Refereed paper presented to the Australasian Political Studies Association Conference University of Tasmania, Hobart 29 September – 1 October 2003 Brian Galligan, Winsome Roberts: Australian Multiculturalism Multiculturalism merits special attention because of its significance as a national policy of accommodating migrants from diverse cultural backgrounds. Multiculturalism is more significant because of the larger claims it made about the actual or preferred character of the Australian people and national culture. These embellishments were promoted by a relatively small coterie of elites, as Mark Lopez has painstakingly documented,1 and became standard formulations used in official accounts of Australian national identity and citizenship. While the sting has gone out of multiculturalism and the national debate has moved on to issues of citizenship and refugee policy, multicultural formulations still inform official documents. According to this view, Australia is now made up of people of diverse cultures that should be given equal status with the Australian mainstream. Australian citizenship is then invoked as the glue that binds these different groups into a national unity. The multicultural account of Australia as a nation of diverse cultural groups has been taken over by the Australian Citizenship Council in its prescriptions for Australian Citizenship for...
Words: 10374 - Pages: 42
...Multiculturalism and Education Tracey M. Mills Liberty University HSER509 Dr. Kantz May 10, 2010 Abstract Research Paper There are so many definition and interpretation of multiculturalism. Rosa Carson states that multiculturalism is “a social and political movement and position that holds differences between individuals as groups to be a potential source of strength and renewal rather than strife” (Carson, R. 1999). This definition presents the foundational belief of pride, freedom, value, ideas that formed America. One of the most unique aspects of the United States is the diversity of its people. On the Statue of Liberty is engraved “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free,” America has upheld through the mixture of people of different races, religions, and creeds. According to James Banks’s Introduction to Multicultural Education (Boston, 1999) shares that multicultural education consist of: equity pedagogy, empowerment, knowledge construction, content integration, and prejudice reduction. Equity pedagogy involves teachers modifying their teaching to facilitate the academic achievement of culturally diverse students (Tummala-Narra, P. 2009). There is an approach to teaching and learning that is based on conscious building, respect, and fostering cultural pluralism within racial societies. So why is the United States and most importantly the teachers in the classroom at odds with the idea of a multi-cultural and classroom...
Words: 2996 - Pages: 12
...Multiculturalism is a public policy approach for managing cultural diversity in a multi ethnic society, officially stressing mutual respect and tolerance for cultural differences within a country's borders. As a policy, multiculturalism emphasizes the unique characteristics of different cultures, especially as they relate to one another in receiving nations. The word was first used in 1957 to describe Switzerland, but came into common currency in Canada in the late 1960s. It quickly spread to other English-speaking countries. Looking at the term broadly, it is often used to describe societies, especially nations which have many distinct cultural groups, usually as a result of immigration. Citrin,J., Sears,D., Muste,C and Wong,C. (2001 p.249) describe multiculturalism as “the presence of people of diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds within a single polity.” This paper will look at the impact that multiculturalism has had on western societies and the different changes that have occurred in societies as a result of multiculturalism. It is very important to think about what we mean by ‘culture’ because it is the main part of ‘multiculturalism’. So, multiculturalism means that there are many different kinds of cultures in one society. This can lead to anxiety about the stability of national identity, yet it can also lead to cultural exchanges that benefit the cultural groups. Such exchanges range from major accomplishments in literature, art and philosophy to relatively token...
Words: 2290 - Pages: 10
...Effects of Intentions When the Multiculturalism Act was created, the intentions were positive, however, since the legislation was enacted in 1988, the effects have been positive and negative on individuals’ health and well-being. Identity The Multiculturalism Act has played a role in allowing individuals to retain their identities and practice cultural traditions and customs. This legislation has encouraged the celebration of many cultural and religious festivals and holidays across Canada that are essential to individuals’ identity (The Red and White, 2015). For example, the Sikh religious festival Vaisakhi is celebrated in many cities across Canada. It has been celebrated in Surrey for the past 17 years and individuals of all races and cultures attend and participate in the celebration (Surrey Vaisakhi Parade, 2015). These types of multicultural festivals and events can allow individuals to preserve their traditions and allow others to...
Words: 1057 - Pages: 5
...To what extent are there tensions between multiculturalism and liberalism? It initially appears that multiculturalism and liberalism are highly similar ideologies, championing the rights of minorities. Multiculturalism itself was inspired by liberalism due to such ideas. In addition to this, similarities exist in the multiculturalist and liberal support of principles such as equality, justice and pluralism. However, tensions between the ideologies exist, including the tension between the classical liberal promotion of the rights of the individual and the multiculturalist rights of a culture or ethnic group and the argument over essentialism and the nature of multiculturalism. Despite both multiculturalism and liberalism promoting the rights of minority groups and pluralist societies, tensions lie over the focus of this promotion. Classical liberals such as John Stuart Mill stress the importance of the individual, promoting the rights of the rights and sovereignty of all individuals, and therefore of ethnic minorities; “over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign”. On the other hand, multiculturalists promote the rights of cultures and ethnic groups, assuming that minorities adopt the will of their cultural community over individual self-centredness. Liberals argue that this threatens genuine liberty as cultures can continue to oppress individuals, evidenced in the issues such as forced marriages and the wearing of the burka. As Tariq Modood argues...
Words: 706 - Pages: 3
...Cultural Diversity and Multiculturalism in MD Anderson Cancer Center. Introduction The concept of diversity can include non-only respect, but also acceptance; it signify accepting that every individual is unique and recognize our own difference. According to MD Anderson web page, diversity can be defined as an amalgam of difference and similarities between all individuals in the MD Anderson setting. Diversity encompasses dimension such as race, ethnic group, gender, age, personality, religion, social status, organization function, education and more. The success of an organization depends on it capacity to accept and recognize diversity. If organizations actively evaluate their handling of workplace diversity issues, establish and enable diversity plans, multiple benefits can result from that; without enough resources and leadership, it is challenging to make diversity an asset. There are initiatives that an organization can implement such as recruiting a diverse board, appointing a chief diversity officer, providing effective training and mentoring programs, forming adequate employee resource groups, etc.(Harvey & Allard, 2014). This paper will outline a research made about cultural diversity and multiculturalism in MD Anderson Cancer Center. The term diversity is frequently used to characterize the composition of work groups. At the most basic level, diversity is seen as demographic differences. Most likely, diversity focuses on the composition of work groups around factors...
Words: 1697 - Pages: 7
...Multiculturalism, 2011 Viewpoint Article 1 Article 2 Points of View: Multiculturalism, 2011 Point: Immigrants Must Assimilate into American Culture. Counterpoint: Multiculturalism Will Segregate Society Culturally and Economically. Citation Badertscher, E. (2011). Point: Immigrants Must Assimilate into American Culture. Points Of View: Multiculturalism, 2. Wilson, B. (2011). Counterpoint: Multiculturalism Will Segregate Society Culturally and Economically. Points Of View: Multiculturalism, 3. Main Idea People should certainly keep their own cultures and traditions, but must also assimilate to a degree, to keep the social fabric strong. Multiculturalism will only further exacerbate the cultural and economic divides that exist between immigrants and natives. Author’s Credentials/Affiliation Author: Badertscher, Eric/ United Press International, Co-Author: Stingl, A is a sociologist and science historian. His degrees include a MA and a PhD, both from FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. He specializes in the history of biology, psychology, and social science in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; and sociological theory and the philosophy of justice. Author: Wilson, Brian /Great Neck Publishing, Co-Author: Finley, Laura / Dr. Finley is author or co-author of seven books and has two in progress. She has also authored numerous journal articles and book chapters on topics related to sociology, criminology and peace education. Author support for viewpoint ...
Words: 625 - Pages: 3
...Multiculturalism is the respect of cultural diversity in society. It is the idea that all men and women are equal in the United States. The question is; is the United States a multiculturalism country? United States as a whole, no I don’t think we are a multiculturalism country. Yes, we have Christmas (christen), Hanukkah (Jewish), and so many more; which are a diversity of celebrations we have here in the U.S. The reasons I say no is because I feel like the U.S. is more of a co-existence rather than a multiculturalism. We live with the differences of people but every day we judge people and what they do or believe in, we tear people down. We expect people to be like us to conform into our ways of living. So no as a whole or individuals we do not respect cultural diversity. The reasons multiculturalism is such a controversial issues for some people is because for one people are set in their ways and for tow the U.S. expects people to be like us. For example clothed rather than bare like Indians or not to clothed like Muslims. Yes we have people like that in the U.S. but how many of us stare at them and judge their cultural believes or try to convert them to something else. “In order to be supportive of anyone or anything, we need to have an idea or an interpretation of what we are supporting. It’s so important to have the right information before going to action on any side of an issue. Especially issues of race and equality. Two subjects that have stained this country since...
Words: 900 - Pages: 4
