Multiculturalism and Its Corrosive Effects on Society - Assignment Example

?Multiculturalism and its Corrosive Effects on Society According to political philosophy, multiculturalism is an aspect where people tend to respond positively and interact with different groups of individuals. In such a setting, the society appreciates different people from different groups. Therefore, it is easy for people to relate with each other without any scuffles (Goodhart, 2004:11). In many instances, there is general application of laws of virtues where the people live devoid of their differences. In many instances, the society is seen as a single unit though it has its diversity. Living in a multicultural society encompasses a number of things. First, people have to accept the ethnicities and races of the other people. Secondly, in a multicultural society, people need to embrace unity in diversity (Asfaw, 2008:23). This is where different groups accept their diversity but still work together with others. Lastly, a multicultural society involves immigrants from other countries and regions. There are some people that seek refuge in different parts of the world for a variety of reasons. It is better to live in a multicultural society which is welcoming and hospitable than one’s homeland that may not offer much. However, multiculturalism has numerous corrosive effects towards the society. This paper will argue that multiculturalism has brought more harm than good. Though there are some advantages in terms of diversity, peaceful living and peaceful coexistence, multiculturalism has affected some parts with the consequences being recorded beyond limit. However, multiculturalism cannot be annihilated since it could be infringing the rights of some people. There are various corrosive aspects that have been heightened by the development of multicultural societies (Parekh, 2006:17). Some of these aspects are deeply rooted in the society and could lead to a deteriorated cultural setting. In many instances, there are some groups of people that emerge and are disadvantaged among the rest. According to statistics, the multicultural societies lead to cropping up of some groups that are not morally right. Though some people are of the opinion that these groups should be legalised, some people are critically opposed to this idea. For example, reports state that crimes rates have been increasing in Canada due to multicultural induction. Different groups have been cropping up and this has led to an increase in the crime rates. There is a similar record in the united state where there has been an increase in crime rates. This has been attributed to the increase in the number of immigrants in the countries (Cameron, 2011:3). In recent times, the United States government has instilled strict measures on the issue of immigrants participating in crimes. They are sentenced to stringent terms in jail as the regulations that have been imposed are to reduce the crime rates. Indeed, the multicultural society has seen deterioration in the normal routine in these countries. This has affected the moral way of the society where crime rates should be decreased. In many instances where multiculturalism has affected the moral behaviour of the society, many of the affected people’s lives are destabilised. Similarly, there is change in the way of life. Change in the morality of a person will definitely bring change into the normal activities, socialising culture and behaviour in the workplaces (Kivisto, 2008:19). Culture is withdrawn from communities hence bringing misconduct of children who are born in today’s generations and they cannot be advised. In many instances, the young generation does not conform to the culture that is instilled by the old generation. The new generation does not follow the previous culture that has been cultivated by the older generation. In most cases, the new generation does not follow the culture that has been in the society for a long time. This is ultimately brought by the issue of the multiculturalism in the society. Many different cultures have their different norms and activities that are given utter respect. As such, different communities will be involved in different activities depending on their culture. However, when other cultures are in the same society, it is not easy to conform to a single culture. As such, the society is likely to derail from the normal way of life and character. This has been experienced in the United States and Canada where the society experiencing a wide range of characters and activities that are not from the original cultures of the countries. Multiculturalism is an aspect that comes with a wide range of dressing codes. Dress codes have been changing with time. This is due to the inception of different cultures in the same area. The different cultures savour different dress codes ranging from miniskirts, tight clothing, fitting dresses and other explicit dress codes. This has adverse effects on the culture of the area where some of the people are not at ease with the new dress codes. This has affected the morality and cultural behaviour of the society as they try to reduce the atrocities of multiculturalism in the society. This has also had adverse repercussions on the state of the society as some crime rates have been increasing with time. For instance, rape cases have been increasing in the society. Consequentially, the rape cases in the United States have been increasing with a similar change in the dress codes. In the past, rape cases have been on low records in many parts of the world. For instance, rape cases in the United States were on a lower percentage. However, this has drastically increased. According to polls conducted in the country, some of these rape cases are instigated by the dress codes. Many youths have savoured the new dress codes that have been brought by multiculturalism. This is an activity that lures rapists into committing the crimes. The same applies to Canada where rape cases have been recording the same increase. Multiculturalism has also had adverse effects in many parts of the world. Some regions consider prostitution as a legal way of earning a living while in other regions it is unacceptable. Some people have morally accepted this particular activity which to other cultures is not acceptable. Therefore, when there is a merger of cultures in a society, there is a likelihood that they will also merge in some of these behaviours. Prostitution is one of the vices that will be transferred from a single community to another. This also changes the lifestyle of the people as they try to merge with the other cultures. In many instances, merging of cultures will lead to exchange and transfer of other vices like prostitution. This is a moral issue that has been reco0rded in many countries across the globe. For instance, the prostitution levels in Germany have increased due to multiculturalism. Similarly, the prostitution rates in Canada have increased due to multiculturalism. Multiculturalism has affected the lifestyle of many people across the globe. This is an issue that has been prevalent in today’s world. For instance, the lifestyle especially in eating has changed depending on the region. For instance, some eating disorders are brought about by the issue of multiculturalism. Many people try to change their eating habits since they are emulating others. This has led to a number of atrocities which are claiming many lives of people across the globe. For instance, change in the eating habits has led to an increase in health disorders, which includes diabetes. Eating foods that are inclined to some cultures is one of the main causes of such disorders. Therefore, multiculturalism is considered a causative factor in this situation. Multiculturalism has been known to cause a drift in the society. This could be detrimental to a country since it involves some of the vital groups that contribute heavily to the building of the nation. Apparently, division of the social setup is instigated by a particular group that refuses to use the commonly accepted norms of the society. Common norms of a society are known as the binding rules that enhance peaceful co-existence. However, when these norms are broken, it is obvious that the two groups will not live peacefully. This is utterly detrimental to the society as they will have negative influence. For instance, speaking the national language could be a morally acceptable practice. This is where most people in the country accept to communicate in the stated language. However, it becomes an issue when a single community decides to speak their own language in virtually all communications. This will lead to division of the two groups since they are not in agreement especially in communication. When a single group opposes such a regulation, it is obvious that the other group will look for vengeful ways of dealing with the other community. With such activities in the society, fighting is easily sparked. This is a negative atrocity to a country as it will have economic, social and political effects (Heath and Cheung, 2007:29). In actual sense, it brings a clash as the people that are inclined towards a certain culture will not be in terms with the other community. Multiculturalism is explained as the situation where many different cultures are residing in the same area (Bloemraad, 2006:4). As a matter of fact, these cultures are different and independent on each other. They do not borrow any social or economic activities from each other. Therefore, they are likely to stick to their culture without borrowing any other activities from other groups. This becomes an issue when the different cultures are living in the same region. There will be close connection of the cultures and this could affect the other culture. For instance, the United States, Mexico and Canada have recorded high numbers of immigrants. These immigrants have their own culture and will stick to their culture even after settling in the new region. In some bizarre instances, the immigrants are in larger numbers and will have adverse effects on the culture of the society. In such instances, the immigrants are in large populations and most of them will come with their culture (Alba, 2005:5). This erodes the culture of the country since the immigrants’ culture seems to be practised by a larger number of the people; the whole society will be inclined towards the same. As such, the whole community will rely on the culture of the immigrants. This involves behaviour, practises and other vital aspects that are practised in a society. In real sense, the culture of immigrants in a multicultural society could affect the original culture of a place by eroding and replacing it. This annihilates the culture of the place as it is replaced by an imported culture. In conclusion, multiculturalism is a factor that has brought change in the world. To some, there is positive change but in some instances, there are negative points. The negativity in multiculturalism includes change of behaviour in society, change in lifestyle, change in feeding and eating habits and change in normal ways of life of the society. This leads to other vices which include increase in crime rates, position and other morally wrong activities References Alba, R. (2005) ‘Bright versus blurred boundaries: second-generation assimilation and exclusion in France, Germany and the United States,’ Ethnic and Racial Studies, vol. 28, pp. 20-49. Asfaw, A.T. (2008) Multicultural education professional development of principals: its impact on performances of school leadership, New York, ProQuest. Bloemraad, I. (2006). Becoming a citizen: incorporating immigrants and refugees in the United States and Canada, Berkeley, University of California Press. Cameron, D. (2011) Speech at the Munich security conference, viewed 22 Apr 2013 from . Goodhart, D. (2004). Too diverse? Prospect, viewed 22 Apr 2013 from . Heath, A.F. & Cheung, S. Y. (2007) Unequal chances: ethnic minorities in western labour markets; proceedings of the British Academy 137, Oxford, Oxford University Press for the British Academy. Hewitt, R. (2005) White backlash and the politics of multiculturalism, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Kivisto, P. (2008) Multiculturalism in a global society, New York, John Wiley & Sons Parekh, B. (2006) Rethinking multiculturalism: cultural diversity and political theory, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. Read More