The Multicultural Mystique by H E Baber

The Multicultural Mystique by H E Baber

Most literature on multiculturalism assumes, without argument or compelling empirical evidence, that immigrants and members of ethnic minorities prefer to identify with their ancestral cultures. According to the received view, multiculturalism benefits ethnic minorities, who want to maintain distinct cultures and keep to themselves. And it protects them from the pressure to assimilate to the majority culture. Philosopher H. E. Baber scrutinizes these assumptions in this critique of the notion of multiculturalism. Baber asks whether it could be that many, or even most, members of ethnic minorities want to shed their ethnic identities and assimilate to the dominant culture. She suggests that multiculturalism imposes ethnic scripts on minorities and thus locks them out of the opportunity to assimilate. In effect, it becomes a form of ethnic stereotyping and discrimination. Multiculturalism, when transformed into an ideology as it often is, benefits cultural preservationists at the expense of members of ethnic minorities who wish to assimilate-arguably the majority. Perversely, it then labels those who would resist such stereotyping as atypical, inauthentic, or even self-hating. Baber argues that liberals, or anyone who favors the expansion of individual liberty, should reject a multiculturalism that restricts personal freedom by classifying and identifying people on the basis of unchosen characteristics such as ancestry and appearance. Like all Americans, ethnic minorities should be encouraged to "invent themselves," to affiliate with groups of their own choosing and be identified as they wish.

"There is nothing quite so disconcerting as picking up a book, assuming you know how you feel about the subject, and learning that there is a wide world of experience and sensible thought that challenges and, indeed, affects your viewsThe Multicultural Mystique may very well throw all of your assumptions about multiculturalism into the wastebasket of irrelevant opinion. It will, at the very least, force you to re-think your assumptions. The Multicultural Mystique is a challenging and completely surprising work. It is well worth your time obtaining and reading the book. Give it a good study, and see if your own ideas aren't shaken up a bit. I know mine were." --Association for Mormon Letters, October 2008

SKU	Nicht verfügbar
ISBN 13	9781591025535
ISBN 10	1591025532
Titel	The Multicultural Mystique
Autor	H E Baber
Buchzustand	Nicht verfügbar
Verlag	Prometheus Books
Erscheinungsjahr	2008-01-31
Seitenanzahl	260
Hinweis auf dem Einband	Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden.
Hinweis	Nicht verfügbar