Maintaining Diversity - Segregation and Multiculturalism

MAINTAINING DIVERSITY

ASSIMILATION VS PLURALISM

Assimilation can be described as a ‘melting pot’, which represents the dominant culture, where everyone goes in and the majority will surface. This can be seen in America, where people who are part of a minority can be encouraged to “be American”, which loses culture in the process.

Immigrants coming to the United States were expected to give up their language and culture in favour of the ‘American way’. Students in schools were taught to give up their culture and take on American customs, beliefs, and ideals. This is to ensure that in society, ‘American’ is the dominant culture.

Pluralism is an understanding an appreciation of the cultural differences that people have. It celebrates the uniqueness of each part that makes up the diverse population.

It can be seen as a mosaic – one whole made up of different individual parts. Or as a salad bowl – each part of the salad bowl is different but it makes up one whole.

Cultural pluralism disregards assimilation and is based on everybody maintaining their own diverse and equal identity.

PROCESSES THAT MAINTAIN ETHNIC DIVERSITY

In ethnically diverse societies, there is some interaction between various ethnic groups:

Typically, the first generation maintain their ethnic distinctiveness, while subsequent generations may become more affiliated with the majority population. --- this is ASSIMILATION.

This process happens most readily when the original differences are less visible and when there is a willingness from both the majority and minority populations for assimilation.

There are some processes in society that prevent the ‘melting pot’ situation occurring.

1 – PHYSICAL SEGREGATION

This is the spatial separation of ethnic groups. The physical separation of ethnic groups maintains ethnic diversity because it minimizes the opportunities for social interactions.

Eg.

Nazi Germany – Jews pushed out of their communities into ghettoes

Apartheid segregation in South Africa – separate park benches, beaches etc.

Residential segregation is widespread in many ethnically diverse societies. This means that… various groups have separate lives with little understanding of the cultural norms of other groups.

How has segregation manifested itself?

Occurs through clearly demarcated boundaries…