Multiculturalism essay Final PDF

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essay achieved 68 (a high 2:1)
about multiculturalism and whether or not the uk has successfully implemented policies
essay very well written and explains multiculturalism and positives and weaknesses ...

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Has multiculturalism failed in the UK? (1500)

The history of the UK can be characterised by racist principles of white supremacy and superiority; it was largely accepted that white European culture had a right to rule over other races. (Hage G, 2012). However, after WWII, as a reaction to Nazi Germany’s commitment to racial inequality and white superiority, the UK and other European culture began to pursue the idea of racial equality (Winant H, 2007). Whilst there was an aim for a ‘Melting Pot’ where ethno-cultural differences would cease to exist because cultures would ‘melt’ into each other this did not happen (Brubaker R, 2001). Rise of ‘differentialist’ thinking allowed for the growth of acceptance towards fundamental differences between gender, ethnicities, cultures and sexualities and that different values and practises should be celebrated (Brubaker R, 2001). Multiculturalism allows for different cultures to exist alongside each other and be considered worthy of equal amounts of respect with nobody having to subscribe to the values of one single, dominant group. There is a concern over accommodating differences within cultural traditions when highlighting specific issues such as dress codes, dietary practises, sharia law and political representation (Taylor-Gooby, P et al, 2013). This essay will discuss the 3 main equality principles that Multiculturalism can be broken down into and their successes and failures: social respect, politics and economics and whether or not therefore, multiculturalism has failed in the UK. One principle of multiculturalism is social respect and whether or not groups are given equal approval within society. This has been successful because specific laws and regulations of the UK have been waived in allowance for specific groups to maintain their own cultural practises. For example, in 2015 Sikh men were given the right to choose to wear a turban over head protection and therefore are exempt from the legislation to wear a safety helmet. Minister for Employment at the time, Priti Patel made the statement that “whoever you are, whatever your background…this government will be on your side” (GOV UK, 2015). Another example of the UK being accepting of

different cultural systems and beliefs, ethnicity, gender or sexuality is The Equality Act 2010. This act legally gives protection to members of society, regardless of their gender, age, religion or lack of, sexual orientation and ethnic or national origin, from discrimination within the workplace as well as wider society (GOV UK, 2013). As well as this, there is a clear investment in preserving different cultural practises, such as Celtic languages used within the UK. In an attempt to preserve the Welsh language, the UK government enforces that the language must be compulsory in schools until aged 16 as well as all legal documents and road signs must be printed in Welsh as well if they are printed in English (Ministry of Defence, 2009). However, multiculturalism has been described as a “deliberate weakening of our collective identity” and a lead to “cultural separation” within Muslim communities by former Prime Minister of the UK, David Cameron (GOV UK, 2011). This can lead to increase in isolation of certain communities and therefore, makes the radicalisation of individuals easier. In a post 9/11 society, British Muslims face islamophobia and hatred towards them, forcing them to be more isolated and therefore the separation of various cultures fails them (Abbas T, 2007). A second principle of multiculturalism is political equality within the UK. The UK is shown to have a score of 5.5 out of 8 multiculturalism policies (Kymlicka, 2001). Members of society are allowed the use of translators or interpreters in legal settings. Whether it is because they do not speak the English language or whether they are deaf or hard of hearing. As well as this, an interpreter will be provided for the individual if they cannot afford one (GOV UK, 2018). However, it is clear that multiculturalism has not been successful within the UK because of a lack of political representation for different individuals in society. Whilst women make up over 50% of the population of the UK (Statista, 2016), they only account for 32% of members of parliament (BBC News, 2017). Another example is that 13% of the population of the UK were born outside the country (ONS, 2015), but only make up 6% of the members of parliament (Garth Coates Solicitors, 2016). Another failure of multiculturalism in the UK is that the separation of cultures politically, allows for different laws to be expected to be carried out. For example, Sharia law and British law are adversary on several topics. Whilst Sharia law forbids homosexuality instructed by specific quotes from the prophet

Muhammed in the Qur’an (Kecia A, 2006), British Law is accepting of homosexuality and as of 2015 has allowed gay marriage (GOV UK, 2015). An independent review into the application of Sharia law in the UK showed that there was evidence of bad and discriminatory practices occurring in relation to British Law (Secretary of State, 2018). A third principle of multiculturalism is economic equality. In the UK, diversity training Is provided in companies and therefore ignorance and prejudice can be eradicated in the workplace. Quotas within education and the workplace are requirements for admitting, promoting or hiring individuals from a particular racial group, gender or disability. This encourages more representation as well as more educational and economic opportunities for the minority groups. However, less than 15% of the directors on corporate boards in the UK are female showing there is a lack of equality (Terjesen, S et al, 2015). The financial sector of the UK fails to utilise its female workers and their talents and there are large complaints of discrimination. The Gender pay gap is higher in the financial sector than anywhere else in the economy with it being 60% for annual gross earnings (House of Commons, 2010). In conclusion, multiculturalism is described as a “perniciously naïve idea whose time has gone, or ought never to have come at all” (Bagehot, 2007). The multiculturalism in the UK is superficial where it ignores the deeper issues of inequality throughout the country and different people experiencing it. The multiculturalism that the UK has focusses on inoffensive practices and therefore tries to avoid conflict and important conversations about clashes over values and practises in different cultures. As well as this, the multiculturalism in the UK has the ability to reinforce stereotypes and separate cultures from each other rather than encourage integration. Therefore, it is not necessarily the multiculturalism in the UK that has failed but rather, the idea of multiculturalism itself and the lack of integration between cultures....