Varied Minority - Essay Example

? Introduction Cultural Diversity Variety is the difference from the majority. In every culture, there is the mainstream and varied minority. Culture is a collection of norms that devise principles for a society of what is suitable demeanour. Cultural variety is the quality of having miscellaneous or divergent cultures, as opposed to having a monoculture. Cultural diversity does not usually foster international monoculture or the homogenization of dissimilar cultures. This term can also describe different cultures valuing each other’s disparities. Culture diversity also describes a variety of dissimilar communities or individuals with divergent origins, faiths and customs all co-existing and intermingling with each other. The assorted societies around the globe are distinct from each other. Their cultural disparities are clear from the way they dress, talk and relate among others. There are also considerable disparities in the way communities structure themselves, in their mutual presumption of morality and in the manner they interact with their surroundings. The conception of cultural variety is grounded on the notion that cultural personalities should not be discarded, but rather sustained and valued. The basis of this notion is that every culture and ethnic group has distinct characteristics (Amin, p. 20, 2002). Cultural diversity also comprises of having an open mind that recognizes, allows, values and even celebrates the varied ways in which individuals live and interrelate in the globe. Appreciation of this cultural variety makes a person understand that despite all these variations, as human beings, we look for similar things. These crucial things encompass well-being, respect, acceptance, autonomy, and equity. Features of diversity include age, cognitive structure, customs, economic background, instruction, ethnicity, gender personality, geographic milieu, language, pious beliefs and political inclination among others. However, some critics assert that this phrase is frequently misused to describe the diversity of human communities or cultures in a certain locale or the globe. This trend is referred to as multiculturalism as opposed to ethnic variety. The ethnically destructive action of globalization has had an unconstructive impact on the world’s ethnic variety (Alibhai-Brown, p. 89, 2000). Cultural Variety in Britain The two world battles of the previous epochs, the resultant disintegration of empires and the advancement of transit technology considerably changed a lot of things in Europe. Since this era, massive immigration started into both Europe and the UK. This rate has, however, reached extraordinary levels in the previous decades. In 2005, the population of Britain was anticipated to reach seventy million with the seventy percent increase attributable to enormous immigration. Britain was formerly an extremely homogenous community. However, since WWII, Britain has become considerably varied as it has hosted massive immigrant populations. The mixtures of cultural associations complicate the procedure of describing Britain as appearing of behaving in a certain manner. Britain has gained from this cultural diversity all through its long history and most presently it is amongst the most ethnically diverse nations in the universe. The UK has a long account of racial and cultural variety. Current decades have seen significant immigration of dissimilar racial associations into the UK from around the globe. This has generated a community extremely diverse in the 21st epoch. This is with conceptions such as super diversity which have surfaced in an attempt to express the diversification of variety. The massive immigrations have pushed the coalition administration to establish stringent immigration controls. However, overseeing cultural variety is a complex and tricky challenge. Administrative regulations directed at fostering cultural variety over the previous year have failed to foster social assimilation and cohesion as envisioned. The administration’s localism schedule might strain social unity in certain areas and result into increased disintegration of certain racial associations. This implies that the distribution of authority to societies so as to personalize services might result in associations that do not vigorously partake in the decision making procedure. These communities, consequently, become secluded from other societies. This is what complicates the quest to managing cultural variety in the 21st century (Antal, p. 69, 2003). There is a significant racial minority populace in Britain of over four million individuals. This nation is rich in ethnic heritage; however, the significance of this cultural variety has not been fully elaborated. It is crucial to value this cultural variety by respecting other individuals’ convictions and ways of life. It also involves fostering individuals’ ethnic traditions and welcoming the fact that these dissimilar ethnic principles will the nation. Media on Cultural Diversity in Britain in the 1980’s Numerous previous researches on ethnic segregation in the British media have emphasized particularly on the utilization of language and imagery by the media. These images have been as both representing and fostering ethnic separations inside the British society. Additionally, the 1980’s researches fostered an anti-ethnic position and vehemently condemned the representation of minority associations in the media. Nonetheless, the persistent utilization of the media to represent these vulnerable associations has been presented as the chief culprit in the promotion of racial segregation in Britain. Many critics present that the media is to blame with regard to widespread racial segregation in the nation. This is with regard to the manner in which it represents the minority affiliations in extremely controversial and insulting language. These assertions present that the upshots of a racist press for a community and susceptible minorities in particular are significantly severe. A racist medium plays an extremely massive role in sustaining, strengthening and defending racism at vital facets of society. The media is the significant opinion-former and represents both policy-makers and the citizens. It can hide any racist activity particularly racist hostility. The media manipulates renowned intimidation and suspicions fostering a novel opinion. This new presumption normalizes and fosters racist activities. These proclamations emphasize that the media is essentially racist and a promoter of racism. This is to the extent of instigating racist hostility and fostering racist convictions. This, therefore, has made the issue with regard to the correlation between the media and racial segregation extremely contentious (Jessica, p. 35, 2002). However, these claims were established on the basis of inadequate empirical evidence particularly in the 1980s. These studies had restricted theoretical perspective of the duty of media in daily life. In addition, their anti-racial agenda provide limited empirical research items for evaluating the real situation of media coverage and minority representation. Using this information is, consequently, difficult in comparing past and current situations. However, these studies popularized the message with regard to British race interactions linking the media as the principal perpetrator of ethnic segregation in society. New Media and the Image of Cultural Diversity in Britain in the 21st Century There is a contentious debate in the UK on whether to endorse a common dream in the future. This is with regard to cultural variety in the nation. There are queries as to whether or not Britain should foster ethnic diversity and visualize it as a global competitive edge in this century. There is also the dilemma as to whether the nation should restrict immigration and guard Britain’s homogeneity. This is crucial since ethnic diversity threatens Britain’s aboriginal customs and values. There are also queries as to what comprises British identity and the issue of whether protecting this identity is a symbol of social prejudice. All these subjects bring about the investigation into the correlation between media, race and ethnic variety in Britain (Brown, p. 21, 2000). There has been a tremendous improvement in principles of journalism in Britain with regard to the representation of minority affiliations relative to the former decades. There is also a wide variety of coverage of matters relating to immigration and cultural relations across the scale of broadcasting and publish media. Nowadays, tabloid newspapers allocate considerable news space for minority associations as claim-makers. Although, an enormous portion of all media coverage holds anti-racist themes, certain newspapers such as the Daily Mail, transmit an anti-immigrant standpoint that occasionally is articulated in images that segregate emigrants and refugees. However, with regard to organizational initiatives, civic and private sector information dissemination, there has been implementation of self-monitoring of output. In addition, the administration has been attempting to supervise and tackle the issue of under-representation of minorities applied in the media, with mixed outcomes. However, the organizational arrangement of newspapers, which utilizes the top-down approach, hampers such advancements (Wood, Landry and Bloomfield, p. 47, 2006). Disregarding the previous researches, that present the media as always racist would require a much more contemporary manner of evaluation. This new technique of evaluation evades simply investigating media message. These studies did not utilize empirical evidence and only assessed the thematic details of messages presented by the media. The media presentations also covered subjects connected to migrants and minority groups. This transformation is crucial in addressing difficult queries relating to community. These queries include assessing the level of ethnic hostility in a community and the presumptions held by the public. The recent, significant advancement in the media coverage and presentation of migrants and minority associations in Britain has undoubtedly fostered cultural variety. Substantive empirical studies on new media coverage on matters relating to immigration, ethnicity, and racial minorities have been directed onto various findings. Firstly, there is the not guilty assertion from a study intended to criticize the contents of media information on race in Britain’s previous elections. This study was against the assertions that there have been reproduction of ethnic stereotypes and marginalization of minority associations and anti-racist proclamations. British immigrants nowadays receive a massive space to present their individual, political proclamations in the media. This has been extremely vital in representing the minorities and; consequently, promoting cultural variety. However, there have been complexities in establishing racial minority programming, and restrictions in employing minority individuals, in senior positions within the media industry. The manner in which news media depict matters relating to the field of immigration and tribal interactions presents results that show that, seventy percent of news contents seeks to condemn racist perceptions, declarations, actions and regulations. These are perceptions and regulations that tackle the concerns of immigrants and minority affiliations. This portrays a wide-ranging view of multicultural British personality. The prevailing messages in media coverage are usually against racism. This presents that even the neutrality of the journalist does not hamper the fundamental message spreading with regard to the wrongness of racism. The reiteration of this fundamental tenet occurs across the news in dissimilar media coverage and varied tales referring to divergent opinionated, social and institutional viewpoints of the ethnic issue. This points out that, the principle norm for British media broadcasting is to foster anti-racist attitudes that are in tandem with policy on race interrelations. This new medium coverage has significantly altered the image of cultural variety in Britain. This is since there is more presentation of the minorities as a way of fostering diversity. This representation has fostered diversification and also altered the direction of the cultural diversity movement. Media has made this achievable through information dissemination and provision of forums where the minorities can publicize their standpoints. Massive coverage has also fostered the appreciation of different cultures. The new media has also played a paramount role in eradicating racial prejudice through widespread broadcasting. The tabloid media have the highest coverage of exposing racial segregation in Britain. This fight against ethnic discrimination has significantly promoted cultural diversity in the nation. The employment of minority people in the media corporations has also been a vital way of fostering cultural variety. This representation is extremely significant since all citizens will have the perception of being an essential part of the nation. It also teaches individuals from varied ethnicities to embrace and appreciate diversity as a paramount part of promoting countrywide cohesion. This also ensures that the viewpoints, ideas and perceptions of minority people are heard and addressed properly. When this happens, individuals will enjoy their liberty of expression in the nation. The responsibility the media plays in guarding cultural diversity are massive. The media assists in promoting cultural discourse, fostering exercise of ethnic rights, as well as cultural understanding. This ultimately results in refining intercultural citizenship, in this era of remarkable globalization. There is a significant correlation between media content, procedures, learning, systems, and regulations. Promotion of cultural variety through the media can also initiate a civic dialogue in favour of forbearance and co-existence. In addition, it can also result in the breaking of ethnic barriers, the instigation of cultural discussions, the empowerment of minority associations and the practice of excellent governance. However, the admiration of cultural disparities does not negate the assessment of a common ethnic core or a common civilization which connects individuals despite their differences (Siapera, p. 23, 2010). Most scholarly volumes on globalization have concentrated on the movement of western media commodities into the world marketplace. They have withdrawn from the previous representations of cultural and racial imperialism. This has augmented the circulation of commodities, employees and media material from other locales worldwide to Britain. The distribution of these commodities and materials particularly in Britain through the media promotes cultural variety. These commodities include video games and films among others from Asian countries. The fame of video games from Asian nations is mounting globally and in Britain. This has significantly fostered cultural diversity. Most youngsters in western nations persistently consume Japanese games to affirm their identity. Bollywood films are also increasingly circulating in Britain as well as Asian action films. A novel pop sophistication is being popularised by commonplace interests as well as immigrant societies. These immigrants are exhibiting enormous control over the circulation of media material across nations. This has massively advanced cultural multiplicity, which has consequently, brought deep comprehension and appreciation of a variety in Britain and worldwide. These trends are proving to be both culturally and financially beneficial to the countries undertaking them. The direction of British politics might be determined by the media’s portrayal of the politicians to diverse populace. British politicians are also becoming increasingly cautious on matters regarding diversity. This caution ensures that the media does not convey details about these politicians that might implicate on their popularity in a culturally varied nation. The broadcasted speeches and assertions of these leaders ensure protection of individual rights of both the local s and the migrants. This is a consequence of the media’s vigilance on any derogatory remarks (Appiah, p. 16, 2006). Additionally, the legislative framework established in Britain has also significantly aided in stopping ethnically insulting items. There have been innumerable codes of practice enacted with regard to media and civic relations. Members of the civic society can present their complaints to the media as well as the regulatory bodies. These complaints are with regard to negative or abhorrent portrayals of racial prejudice. However, there are exceptions to the overall advancements in the media depiction of British minority groups. There have been incidences where minorities are represented in the most outmoded manners of stigmatization. A perfect exemplar of this prejudice is in the 1997 Daily Mail. In the headline, the phrases such as jackals were utilized in referring to a mob rape of a vacationer by some ethnic minority youngsters. This ad represents how the media can discriminate against minorities and hence hamper cultural diversity. Conclusion The mass media usually has an unambiguous position in the community with regard to initiating and spreading common ethnic references. It has a significant impact on people’s perceptions as well as the commonplace wisdom, but sometimes not always in the anticipated and desired ways. The vigorous democratic responsibility of the mass media in the community can be affected by divergent factors. This is in the way the media portrays, emphasizes and provides a voice to varied actors and occurrences in society. This presentation could result into an involuntary act of strengthening a racist dialogue instead of destroying racism. Media reporting is particularly sensitive with regard to matters of cultural, racial and pious interactions in society. Consequently, different nations utilize dissimilar mechanisms to foster ethnic and religious variety. This is essentially through establishing codes of demeanour, employing broadcasters from the minority associations or training personnel from multiethnic societies. Although Britain has been persistent in the fight against racial segregation, the issue of cultural variety is usually depicted as a predicament rather than a prospect to be exploited. There is a need for comprehensive research, policy advancement as well as practice invention. These will aid in scrutinizing the potential gains of variety advantage. There is also the need for alteration of peoples’ mindsets. This ensures that commercial enterprises can commence visualizing an assorted management team and labour force as source novel ideas and skills. This is also for the marginal authorities to view cultural variety as attractive and attainable. This is vital since modern economy and social structure requires a stable and state of originality and intercultural exchanges. These exchanges present a principally uncharted basis of new thinking. References Alibhai-Brown, Y. (2000). Who do we think we are? Imagining the New Britain. London. Penguin Amin, A. (2002). Ethnicity and the multicultural city: living with diversity, report for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the ESRC Cities Initiative. Antal, A.B. and Friedman, V. (2003). Negotiating Reality as an Approach to Intercultural Competence. Berlin: Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin fur Sozialforschung Appiah, K.A. (2006). The case for contamination, New York Times, 1 January Bloomfield, J. and Bianchini, F.(2004). Planning for the Intercultural City. Bournes Green: Comedia. Brown, M. D. (2000). Conceptualizing Racism and Islamophobia, in J. ter Wal and M. Verkuyten, eds. Comparative Perspectives on Racism. Aldershot: Ashgate. Jessica ter Wal (2002). Racism and Cultural Diversity in Mass Media: An Overview of Research and Examples of Good Practice in the EU Members States. ERCOMER. Siapera, Eugenia (2010). Cultural Diversity and Global Media: The Mediation of Difference. John Wiley and Sons. Wood, P., Landry, C. & Bloomfield, J. (2006). Cultural Diversity in Britain: A toolkit for Cultural Cooperation. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Read More

 

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