If you are ever walking down a bustling Karachi street, you might ignore the ethnic and cultural diversity that surrounds you- an anglicised business-man might pass by you fitted in the latest Hugo Boss business-suit followed by a conservative woman wrapped up in a “shuttle-cock” burqa. You might argue that rather than culture, this may have more to do with a gaping class-divide and the prevalence of numerous sub-cultures residing in Pakistan’s largest city. In fact, if you take a second to ponder over what you just saw, it might be clear that both these afore mentioned individuals belong to different ethnic groups- the veiled woman’s electric blue eyes and the man’s dark skin provide stereotypical insights into what has come to define this city.
The concepts of diversity and multiculturalism have become the “ideals”- many, if not all countries, pride themselves in housing people belonging to varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Canada, for example, officially adopted ‘Multiculturalism in Canada’ as one of its policies between the 1970s-1980s. In addition, the Canadian government has often been described as ‘the instigator of multiculturalism’ as an ideology because of its public emphasis on the social importance of immigration. As a result, it is still very well-known for accepting more immigrants per capita than any other country. But how well does this sit in practical life? Are immigrants considered and often treated as second-class citizens? Are they able to, as effectively and easily, escalate on the social and occupational hierarchy scale as native Canadians may? What do the rates of reported and unreported acts of discrimination tell us about how well-suited this type of society is to its people? According to Statistics Canada, hate crimes against ethnic minorities increased by forty-two percent in 2009 (preceded by a 35 percent increase in the previous year). And these were just the reported crimes. Where would the figures lie if one considered unreported cases? Similar is the case with countries such as the United States and Australia which share a similar case history to Canada. However, the degree of unrest due to multiculturalism is clearly evident here.
How might one explain the era of discrimination against black people prior to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States? What lessons did the Holocaust and pre-partition India teach us about different ethnicities living under the roof of one nation? Why is it that although multiculturalism and acceptance of diversity are increasingly being encouraged the world over, minorities are still relatively (and often drastically) disadvantaged? For example, a 2007 Statistics Canada study shows that from 2004-2007, the income levels of recent immigrants decreased steadily whereas natives were more likely to benefit in terms of the wages that they earned compared to these immigrants. Furthermore, even in countries other than Canada (Pakistan offers one such example with the various minority groups that reside here), people from a cultural and ethnic minority are more commonly found performing menial, clerical or labour-intensive, low-status jobs. Many people are not allowed to perform their cultural traditions or live their lives according to what they believe is acceptable because of the various dogmas they are often required to follow; unfair treatment scares people from whole-heartedly expressing themselves. Does equality, thus, exist? Are hierarchies further reinforced by encouraging this kaleidoscope of cultures and ethnicities in to one area? Would life be more peaceful if birds of a feather did flock together?
Karachi is another such melting pot. With the number of ethnic killings at an all-time high this year, one wonders whether it is advisable and wise to house such a variation of people under one roof. Families have been torn apart, scores of innocent people have been killed, political parties have become more ethnically motivated than ever and every day is just another gamble for the average city dweller.
Maybe we can’t deal with diversity. Maybe culture was defined so because it highlighted the need for it to be integrated, shared and communicated amongst the people of a society- something that is clashing with modern day living.
Perhaps diversity could be analogous to delivering a baby before the expected date- purely premature.
The concepts of diversity and multiculturalism have become the “ideals”- many, if not all countries, pride themselves in housing people belonging to varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Canada, for example, officially adopted ‘Multiculturalism in Canada’ as one of its policies between the 1970s-1980s. In addition, the Canadian government has often been described as ‘the instigator of multiculturalism’ as an ideology because of its public emphasis on the social importance of immigration. As a result, it is still very well-known for accepting more immigrants per capita than any other country. But how well does this sit in practical life? Are immigrants considered and often treated as second-class citizens? Are they able to, as effectively and easily, escalate on the social and occupational hierarchy scale as native Canadians may? What do the rates of reported and unreported acts of discrimination tell us about how well-suited this type of society is to its people? According to Statistics Canada, hate crimes against ethnic minorities increased by forty-two percent in 2009 (preceded by a 35 percent increase in the previous year). And these were just the reported crimes. Where would the figures lie if one considered unreported cases? Similar is the case with countries such as the United States and Australia which share a similar case history to Canada. However, the degree of unrest due to multiculturalism is clearly evident here.
How might one explain the era of discrimination against black people prior to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States? What lessons did the Holocaust and pre-partition India teach us about different ethnicities living under the roof of one nation? Why is it that although multiculturalism and acceptance of diversity are increasingly being encouraged the world over, minorities are still relatively (and often drastically) disadvantaged? For example, a 2007 Statistics Canada study shows that from 2004-2007, the income levels of recent immigrants decreased steadily whereas natives were more likely to benefit in terms of the wages that they earned compared to these immigrants. Furthermore, even in countries other than Canada (Pakistan offers one such example with the various minority groups that reside here), people from a cultural and ethnic minority are more commonly found performing menial, clerical or labour-intensive, low-status jobs. Many people are not allowed to perform their cultural traditions or live their lives according to what they believe is acceptable because of the various dogmas they are often required to follow; unfair treatment scares people from whole-heartedly expressing themselves. Does equality, thus, exist? Are hierarchies further reinforced by encouraging this kaleidoscope of cultures and ethnicities in to one area? Would life be more peaceful if birds of a feather did flock together?
Karachi is another such melting pot. With the number of ethnic killings at an all-time high this year, one wonders whether it is advisable and wise to house such a variation of people under one roof. Families have been torn apart, scores of innocent people have been killed, political parties have become more ethnically motivated than ever and every day is just another gamble for the average city dweller.
Maybe we can’t deal with diversity. Maybe culture was defined so because it highlighted the need for it to be integrated, shared and communicated amongst the people of a society- something that is clashing with modern day living.
Perhaps diversity could be analogous to delivering a baby before the expected date- purely premature.
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