Multiculturalism
According to Ortiga (2015), multiculturalism refers to a composition or rather existence of various cultural traditions in a given nation. In most cases viewed, the considerations are made with respect to the culture associated ethnic groups that are both aboriginal and ethnic in nature. Generally, this comes alongside expansion or creation of a jurisdiction through amalgamation of the regions with more than two different cultures. I have further learnt that this can as well happen when different communities move in from various jurisdictions around the globe.
I had the idea of the existence of multiculturalism in other parts of the United States (US), However, I have come to learn that in the contemporary political discourse multiculturalism is all about addressing and responding to some of the challenges that come with diversity, both in the cultural and religious world. Indeed, it has been clear that “multicultural” is more of a descriptive term adopted in characterizing aspects of diversity at the society level. What I would really like to know is how the term can be adopted in addressing the Western liberal democratic societies. Also, I would like to understand how the multiculturalism policies can be adopted in setting integration terms that are fairer when accommodating immigrants in a given society.
Generally, I have come to understand that there exists a close association between multiculturalism and “identity politics”, since both have a commitment towards revaluing some of the identities that are disrespected. This implies that they do away with the dominant patterns of presentation as well as other forms of communication that have led to the marginalization of particular groups in the society. According to Malik (2015), multiculturalism touches on the aspects of economic interests and political power, such as the quest to do away with suffering from the society resulting from the marginalization of group identities.
Personality and Diversity
From the listed subcultures that I belong to, my ethnicity, marital status and religion are the salient ones in my social life and life principles in general. Because I do not subscribe to any religion, I feel isolated when the people around me engage in religious discussions or participate in ceremonies. Being a nonbeliever is to some people the same as being evil and immoral. This is a fallacy because the Chinese society I was brought up in has a strong sense of morality which they teach to their children. I believe that I am a nice person because I respect other people, I am kind and I strive to do what is right and follow all sensible rules. I limit myself from exercising, recycling as well as adopting consumer choices that are socially conscious.
Being Chinese in America has created a number of cultural barriers that prevent me from having an effective communication with some of my friends and other members of the society. It has always been challenging on my side whenever I try to have an effective communication with my friends and schoolmates of different cultures. According to Wang & Benner (2016), individuals from different ethnic backgrounds have varied ways of thinking with respect to viewing and interpreting what they come across. Sometimes I hang out with other foreign students who I feel are in the same plight as me. I feel very easy when I am around Chinese students because they understand me easily. Being single has made me friends with other single students. It makes me available for fun activities even during late hours of the day.
This I believe… If I Could
The lesson has all been about multiculturalism, how it came to exist, some of the socio-economic impacts arising from the same and the best way to facilitate the possible positive outcomes. The major points that I drove in the lesson are the benefits of multiculturalism, hence the need to embrace the entire approaches that will see the community reaping these benefits. On that note, students need to adopt and embrace measures that will see them acting as a resource and further advocating those populations that have been traditionally underrepresented. With this approach, the involved students will be able to empower their colleagues and the school administration to come up with a vibrant and more inclusive academic community.
According to the lesson, creating a multiculturalism resource calls for exploring quite a number of critical concerns such as race, class, ethnicity and culture among others. In doing so, the initiative will be able to support success and academic objectives of other practitioners from communities and cultures that are truly marginalized. Generally, by completing the exercise in this lesson, I learnt that as a community member, it is important to appreciate the intersections that take place between different cultural identities. It is also important that students should not only prioritize, but also value diversity and inclusivity at the learning institutions and societies in general. This can be best realized by enhancing positive global relationships and support those ideas that have been proven to be divergent among other global domestic issues.
References
Malik, K. (2015). The failure of multiculturalism: Community versus society in Europe. Foreign Affairs, 94(2), 21-0_2. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1658668714?accountid=45049
Ortiga, Y. Y. (2015). Multiculturalism on its head: Unexpected boundaries and new migration in singapore. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 16(4), 947-963. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12134-014-0378-9
Wang, Y., & Benner, A. D. (2016). Cultural socialization across contexts: Family-peer congruence and adolescent well-being. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45(3), 594-611. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10964-016-0426-1