Chapter 2
Understanding Difference and Discrimination
Looking at:
• culture
• I, we, them
• our limits
• pictures
• from discrimination to racism
• possible questions and answers
Define, illustrate, explain -
we try to do all this here. See what you think as you go
through this chapter. If you disagree with something, or
find a big hole in an argument, make notes about your reasons
and make suggestions for replacements.
From Multicultural to Intercultural Societies
At first sight, the terms "Multicultural
Society" and "Intercultural Society" seem
to be similar but they are not synonyms. So, how do we tell
the difference between the two? Here are some basic ideas,
to which you can add.
MULTICULTURAL SOCIETIES:
Different cultures, national, ethnic, religious groups all
living within the same territory BUT not necessarily coming
into contact with each other. A society where difference
is often viewed negatively and forms major justification
for discrimination. Minorities may be tolerated passively,
but not accepted or valued. Even in cases where there are
legal rights designed to stop discrimination, the law may
not be enforced uniformly.
INTERCULTURAL SOCIETIES:
Different cultures, national groups, etc. living together
within a territory, maintain open relations of interaction,
exchange and mutual recognition of their own and respective
values and ways of life. We are talking then about a process
of active tolerance and the maintenance of equitable relations
where everyone has the same importance, where there are
no superiors or inferiors, better or worse people...
"Interculture" is a
process, not a goal in itself. Now we need to examine some
of the main elements of this process.
|