Q2.2 Ethnic diversity Great Britain: multiculturalism, assimilation integration, My Son the Fanatic, Shooting an Elephant

Alternativer Bildtext:

Asian or black children Experts worry that this might lead to a complete alienation between Whites and ethnic minorities → climate of fear and social unrest Government shouldn't stress differences but cohesion i.e. common values Discrimination and anger Many immigrants are frustrated by their economic situation, as they usually get low-paid jobs only. Ethnic minorities are much more likely to be unemployed than Whites Blacks and Asians are often verbally abused or physically attacked "Paki-bashing" is a fixed phrase in English Outburst of widespread frustration in race riots Difference between first- and second-generation immigrants: First-generation immigrants usually tried to adapt to British culture Second-generation immigrants lost their cultural roots and do not know where they belong to. Unwilling to tolerate discrimination any longer, some turn to Muslim fundamentalists What are important political challenge nowadays? establishing and maintaining mutual respect/acceptance between different cultures What are preconditions for success? a. Personal level: tolerance; respect for others, no fear of loss of identity b. state level: most societies are multicultural, equal rights, equal opportunities Integration policies/strategies: On a national/political level: • lower requirements for - naturalization (=Einbürgerung) → e.g. acceptance of dual citizenship 1 - voting rights • equal opportunities ➜ affirmative action (special support for underprivileged groups) ➜e.g. race minorities, women financial support for language courses On a local level: • schools: exchange programmes, tutoring programmes, language classes • town/community: multicultural festivals, ....... Subcultures and parallel societies: Some immigrants still try to conserve their culture by "cultivating" an extremely conservative lifestyle (sometimes more extreme than in their home countries). e.g.: the Amish people possible reasons: - some people of German descent in the USA → Frankenmuth/Michigan ("Little Bavaria") → - some people of Turkish descent in Germany → problems: - forced marriages ● ● ● CONS: -honour killings → also forbidden in Turkey! - fear of loss of identity/culture -feeling of inferiority inside another culture - individual lifestyle in Germany Effects of colonialism; British colonial rule PROS: collectivist family values loss of security that is provided by the family CITIZENSHIP melting-pot theory Different theoretical concepts of multicultural societies: important elements of several cultures melt into one new culture; people are expected to give up their original culture and identity and are transformed into one homogeneous culture (e.g. American culture) salad bowl theory multicultural society in which the different cultures remain distinct from each other; national, ethnic and cultural patterns/ habits are kept distinct by the immigrants while they are rather loosely integrated into the dominant culture. pizza society theory components (cultures) remain distinct but together give the whole pizza (society) a special flavour. All components are based on one common pizza dough (common ground/shared values). Learn English Especially Indians learned English language because of British, which is beneficial since English is the most spoken language in the world and the main language of this planet. Most of the international trade agreements are concluded in English and it is the most widely used language for international business meetings. Educational reforms British encouraged women's education. Universities were built for the education in Madras, Calcutta, Bombay. Improved standards of living in some places British provided railways in India, improved infrastructure and brought radios and telegraphs. Colonialism improved the health care system. They improved the health care sector significantly. For example, the Africans experienced a lot of infant and childhood deaths, but they were not aware of the cause of the fatalities were. The infant deaths resolved with the discovery of both the causes and solutions to the problem. multiculturalism No trade profits for India Profits made by exporting cotton, raw silks, sugar, wool was used to maintain the British Government in India or salaries of British employees. Unfair treatment of Indian people Indian people were treated with little dignity. They were forced to seek work, were often exploited and overworked, received little medical care and suffered from high mortality rates... slave labor, eradication of natives Environmental destruction Due to overuse of the soil, and outright destruction of some lands, the amount of arable land in Africa was reduced, and the Sahara Desert grew hugely. This pattern was repeated elsewhere. That is why the starvation in many parts of Africa today can be traced to the legacy of the British Empire. the British Empire was ruled over by a single monarch -> the empire was a dictatorship 2 A poem "White Man's Burden"... ...to educate "the Others" while putting yourself in danger, hard job to carry ...to lead "the Others" to civilization and spread democracy ...to bring something good, at least in theory ...to climb all that bad habits and values ...that the British and American do everything for nothing The "Others" are unthankful because they're climbing down again after getting up, they don't value British things Cartoon: "The White Man's Burden" where the British (represented by John Bull) and the Americans (represented by Uncle Sam) carry baskets full of other people (Asian, Blacks) on their backs climbing all the bad habits (ignorance, vice, oppression, slavery, ...) and bringing them to civilization/to a better place, they are portrayed as poor, aggressive and with all the stereotypes (thick lips, clothing) Song: The British do everything and assume risks to educate the "Others" selflessly to work for another's gain, but all for nothing because the "Others" don't want something new; they are described as stupid, lazy ● ● Shooting an Elephant In George Orwell's brief memoir "Shooting an Elephant", he describes his experience of shooting at an angry elephant against his own conscience in response to the pressure from bystanders. Relationship between the Burmese & the English Burmese: Hate the police officer à disrespect British authorities à insult him, jeer and sneer at him Have anti-European-feeling à spit on European women Not brave enough to raise a riot à fear of violence British (police officer): Sympathizes with the oppressed Hates his job; feels guilty A target of the anti-European-feeling Is caught between his hatred for the Empire and the rude behavior of the Burmese à shows contradictory feelings → Atmosphere : tense ; of aggression/destructiveness; of dissatisfaction; of oppression and resistance; of hatred Disgusted with himself he "could not stand it any longer and went away" Process of writing liberates him afterwards Elephant / Empire ? Usually has no neutral enemies Old age the moment the bullet hits him, BE lasted at least 100 years in Burma, even if the narrator "did not even know that the British Empire is dying" Working elephant (tame not wild) is quite valuable for his owner Immensely superior to the natives, fear him, rejoice his death The Empire: The Burmese: An undistinguished crowd that can easily be pleased and excited Only interests in their own pleasures and well-being Hate the oppression, but are to cowardly to raise a riot Alluding to the yellow faces, colloquial meaning of 'yellow' as 'frightened' 'cowardly' comes apparent à Orwell is in line with the common imperialist opinion, respects the oppressed theoretically, but is caught up in the imperial convention of believing in the superiority of the white race but fears the aftermath of the end of the British Empire Colonizers: Lonely "I had to think out my problems in the utter silence that is imposed on every Englishman in the East" Communication with the natives runs along the lines of commands and orders to reinforce the superior position and saving his face European too set in their ways or fearful to question their status, leaves him as a chained being tied to his own rules "When the white man turns tyrants it is his own freedom he destroys" à colonizing shapes the colonizer for the worse; Orwell: "In order to rule over barbarians you have to become a barbarian yourself" Conclusion: Police officer is in a superior position BUT has no power over the crowd neither over himself to act the way he wants to → powerless Burmese push him to act against his will of conscience 3 The officer is the victim of imperialism, his decision is morally wrong Prejudice and the one-track-mind Prejudices= preconceived overgeneralized opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience One-track-mind = Used in reference to a person whose thoughts are preoccupied with one subject Prejudice +one-track-mind = means someone or something prejudice (not based on reason or actual experience) without being deductible (abbringbar) of one's own opinion Integration VS Assimilation http://www.abiunity.de/thread.php?threadid=37585 Integration = incorporating individuals from different groups into a society as equals Assimilation = adopting the ways of another culture and becoming part of a different society ➜see course on multiculturalism (Moodle) Factors working again integration are: - some Muslim families don't speak English at home and don't adopt the social life - Unemployment rate is high - Some British employers find it difficult to employ British Muslims; due to religious festivals, days of worship and fasting, wearing a hijab is a big obstacle when finding a job - While parts of British Muslim community seem to be in danger of growing up in a ,,parallel society"; immigrants from European countries adapt more easily into the culture Acculturation →grades of adaption/relationship to other cultures in multicultural societies original cultural identity is retained but harmonious relationships with other cultures are sought → equitable coexistence of different cultures, e.g. Switzerland, Canada Is it considered valuable to maintain relationships with other groups? Yes No Pro Melting Pot Faster process of integration if the non-dominant culture doesn't want it: seclusion (e.g. The Amish) English-Bf - Multiculturalism if the dominant culture doesn't want any intercultural contact: forced separation = segregation/Apartheid Is it considered valuable to maintain cultural identity, and characteristics? Yes Integration Separation complete adoption of new culture No Assimilation interest. Marginalization if people neither retain their original cultural identity nor want to maintain positive contacts with the other groups result: confusion, alienation Contra Melting Pot cultural barrier Loss of values and ideals, People are expected to shed their own culture People are more unified - more like a big community, will be variety of cultures makes it difficult to accept the strong towards outward influences same standards set of American values 4 Pro Ethnic Variability Preservation of cultural diversity (Art, food, technology) Preservation of one's own identity Integration Social justice for immigrants Help for the immigrants Improvement of the labor market (more workers) Pro Possibility to have a new start in life No conflicts (based on religious differences etc.) Help for immigrants As homogenous mass stronger against outward influences Equality psychology (ways of thinking) Visible when they terrorize Assimilation Multiculturalism - Comparison between America and Britain General information USA - Immigrants are allowed to keep their differences, hyphenated identity - Identification of Islam and America exists side by side - Segregated society - After hurricane Katrina = neglecting black society Isolated because of different society, culture, economic and General information Britain: - Alienation of immigrants from their country of origin as well as from GB - Lack of identity of 2nd generation immigrants with the country of the parents and Britain - Immigrants in "struggle" to take pride in GB because they are expected to adopt the British culture and feel British Contra Possible Overpopulation If integration fails crime increases Formation of cultural ghettos Cultural conflicts possible Integration may sound wonderful, but this isn't always the case. Imagine the chaos that would result if a mass migration of Britons insisted the United States integrate their tradition of driving on the left side of the road, rather than assimilating to the American preference for the right side. That's an amusing example. But the situation becomes dire if one considers the wider implications of integration over assimilation - especially when mass migration is from countries where polygamy, child labor or slavery is considered acceptable. stereotyping Highlights differences can cause hate Contra Just an illusion Costs (language courses, school etc.) Less jobs Loss of values, traditions, cultures People are expected to give up own identity (possible?) can increase hate against the government or people Negative Aspects USA: - Segregation in education, housing and work Segregation is the CHOICE of individuals (= no adaptations, Parallel societies) - Blacks and the poor are ignored by the state - The whites have the absolute power - Society doesn't realize the problem: Segregation and Hyphenated identity leads to lack of common culture and identity Negative aspects Britain - Cultures live apart from each other - British don't confront themselves enough with important issues -> Muslims feel rootless and create extremist ideology - Government and society need to create a national sense of identity -> Impossible for the extremist to succeed Ban preachers that incite terrorism -> Ban preachers of hate -> Need active-muscular liberalism, promotes certain values Conclusion: USA has the better Modell of assimilating the people into the country and making them feel American. But when it comes to Integration, America has failed and Great Britain should learn from their mistakes. The "Dream" the Americans are living has turned into a Nightmare. 5 My Son the Fanatic - Hanif Kureishi (1944) The short story "My Son, the fanatic" written by Hanif Kureishi in 1944 shows a conflict between a liberal father Parvez, a Pakistani immigrant who wants to integrate into British society and his son Ali, who rejects Western values, becomes a religious fundamentalist and isolates himself from friends and family. The short story presents the conflict between generations, identity and cultural differences that might challenge a parent-child relationship. Crisis of identity and alienation "My Son the Fanatic" describes aspects of the struggle many children of immigrants face. Not being accepted by their birth environment because their parents' background, skin colour or religion, they feel disrespected and alienated (entfremdet), despite the fact that they were born in England. Ali seeks for values he can identify with and thus turns to religion. He has become estranged from his father, whom he considers to be corrupted by the British way of life (drinking, gambling and socialising with women). Ali becomes increasingly intolerant and fanatically devout, praying five times a day. Several indicators in the story show his religious fanaticism. Ali seems to have been conditioned to promote Islam ("as if he'd swallowed someone else's voice"). When talking to his father he speaks of the injustices done to "my people" instead of "our people". He treats his father with disrespect, which would be unacceptable in a traditional Pakistani family. He seems to consider his own father an infidel who must be lectured and set on the right path. Represented problems immigrants face, reducing them to this failed father-son relationship: Immigrant children still meet with ignorance, intolerance and stereotypes. They do not feel accepted by the society they were born and live in and seek guidance in their parents' culture. While their parents try to become integrated members of Western society, their children become alienated from their mother country (Britain) and also from the parents, who seem unable to offer support and (moral) guidance. Clash of cultures O Especially For women and girls: problem of role identity! Ethnic and religious tensions still lead to conflicts in Britain today, but aspects like the gender, and generational and class differences are also important in these conflicts of modern British immigrant identity. Parvez, represents first/second generation Grown up in Lahore, Pakistan, taught the Koran, indignity, avoiding any kind of religion Assimilated in society, wants to change for his son, takes care of family and friends - Ali, represents third generation Minimalist, throws his possessions out, rejects Western values Looks at father with disgust Outside: adopt a western lifestyle →At home: live according to values, beliefs & traditions which is typical of their parents' home countries! Character: Ali Parvez Olieve Olieve's mother first-person narrator Miriam Miriam's parents-in-law Ayub + Begum Text: My Son the Fanatic Never far from nowhere You're Muslim -You'll Never Be English (exam text on moodle) A Pair of Jeans Integration (x) sometimes he still feels torn between two cultures X Assimilation Separation Marginalization X X X Character: Ali Parvez Olieve Olieve's mother first-person narrator Miriam Miriam's parents-in- law Ayub + Begum Text: My Son the Fanatic Never far from nowhere You're Muslim - You'll Never Be English (exam text on moodle) A Pair of Jeans X X Melting-pot Salad bowl Pizza society 6