Multiculturalism Varying Definitions
Uploaded by colakid on Oct 30, 2004
In today’s society, there are many different terms and definitions used to describe multiculturalism. For example, “melting pot”, “mosaic”, and “assimilation” are the most commonly used terms today to describe multiculturalism. However, with societies different definitions of multiculturalism there will always be stereotyping, bias opinions, racism as well as problems associated with cultural references. Nevertheless, by raising awareness of the multicultural policy in future generations one could only hope to eliminate such behaviours.
One of the ways multiculturalism had been defined is by the term “melting pot”. Melting pot is when a culture, say for example Japanese, moves to the United States of America, the Japanese would then take on an American culture, which then becomes the majority culture. Gloria Yamato sates that we must reclaim whatever parts of our ethnic heritage that we have lost. She feels that this so called “melting pot” has succeeded into turning us into “fast gobbling generics”. In the story, “For Mataji” by Amita Handa the author says that girls couldn’t go to school because they weren’t looked at in the same way that the boys were (280, Amita Handa). Not allowing girls to go to school is prejudice, because of the fact that they’re equal, and are not different. However, in the Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution, Pierre Elliot Trudeau stated “I speak of a country where every person is free to fulfill himself or herself to the utmost, unhindered by the arbitrary actions of governments” (430, Pierre Elliot Trudeau). This means that he believes everyone is enjoy themselves to the fullest and not to hold back anything about themselves.
The second way multiculturalism had been defined is by the term “mosaic”. Mosaic is when there are many cultures in one place but all of the different cultures can practice their own beliefs without being looked down on. However, in the story “Wing Chips” by Mavis Gallant this is not the case. An English father asked the child who was French if that was the reason that the child’s father was always around frogs (pg 206, Mavis Gallant). That is not only bias and racist but also it’s rude and uncalled for. Nevertheless, Pierre Elliot Trudeau always has something encouraging to say, for example, “I speak of a Canada where men and women of Aboriginal ancestry, of French and British heritage, of the diverse cultures of the world, demonstrate the will...