Racial and Ethnic Discrimination in Canada Essay

You know the world is off tilt when the best rapper is a white feature fun (Eminem), the best golfer is a unappeasable guy (Tiger Woods), the tallest basketball player is Chinese (Yao Ming, 76) and Germany doesnt essential to go to war (in Iraq). Charles Barkley stated in a 2003 interview, pointing out confused misconceptions with stereotypes. A stereotype is defined by dictionary. com as just aboutthing conforming to a fixed or general pattern especially an often oversimplified or biased mental picture held to characterize the typical single(a) of a group.I kick in up commonly heard stereotypes much(prenominal) as the French be good cooks, Italians are great lovers, and the Irish are lazy or comments made analogous dumb jock, lazy ness Bretoner, or that women are non strong The list could go on endlessly as there appears to be stereotypes regarding citizenry of all races, moralitys, sexes and ethnical groups, etcetera. Stereotypes can be either positive or negative . Most stereotypes melt d declare to make us feel superior in some guidance to the person or group being stereotyped. Stereotypes ignore the uniqueness of individuals by painting all appendages of a group with the same brush.Throughout the seam of this paper I plan to discuss some racial and ethnic issues in Canada. Where some of these issues originated from, what we can personally do to help slip by unlikeness in the dallyplace and what the political sympathies is doing to try to combat such discrimination. Let me first begin by defining discrimination, racism and ethnicity since these wrong are all important terms to understand to begin with red into further discussion. To discriminate is simply defined by yourdictionary. com as To make distinctions on the basis of class or category without regard to individual merit show preference or prejudice. Therefore, discrimination occurs when a person is not treated equally because of their gender, race, religion, ethnic origi n, matterity, sexual orientation, or age. Yourdictionary. com defines racism as The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Discrimination or prejudice based on race. In other words, when an individual or group is treated unfairly or abused because of their skin emblazon or racial heritage they are victims of racism. Ethnic, as defined by yourdictionary.com is Of or relating to a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage. B. Being a member of a particular ethnic group, especially belonging to a national group by heritage or culture except residing alfresco its national boundaries. With that being said, it is my belief that stereotypes and ignorance near others most often rent to discriminatory behavior both inside and outside the workplace. I sop up heard Canada described as a multicultural nation substance that Cana dians are not of any one cultural background, race or heritage.For all Canadians, including Aboriginal People, this multicultural diversity can be traced to an immigrant past. This does not mean that the volume of straightaways Canadians are immigrants but earlier that the majority of Canadians conduct in their past, perhaps many generations ago, a family member who migrated here from another boorish. That is why many of us have a mixed ancestry, for example Irish, Scottish, Ukrainian, French and Aboriginal, and the list can go on. Canadas Aboriginal People were the first to immigrate, and settle across the continent, tens of thousands of years before European settlers.After the European settlers came the French, followed by the English, Scots and Irish formulating Canada into the various unpolished it is today. In the years before the American Civil War, thousands of black slaves escaped slavery in the United States by following the immunity Railway north to Canada. Then, a t the turn of the century, American farmers moved north into the Canadian prairies to develop farm lands. Although Canada originally consisted of a wide mannikin of immigrants, some people were not as welcome in the landed estate as others and were therefore not treated equally.Those who were of different race, color, or religion then the majority of Canadians were labeled as aliens. The use of the term foreigner held many connotations for example, different, strange or inferior and many at the term wanted to see the foreigners assimilate to fit into Canadian society. There are many events in Canadas past that has contributed to the racism and discrimination in Canada today for example, the disregard and unfair treatment of Aboriginal Peoples by Europeans who settled here.Even though a vast majority of African-Americans moved to Canada to avoid slavery, from early in the 1600s until 1834 there was a recorded 4092 slaves throughout the country, mostly living in Quebec . The Asiat ic extrusion League, which originated in California in 1905 as an anti-Oriental movement, moved north into Vancouver in 1907. The league was the important instigator in anti-Asian riots in the city since their main goal was to have all Chinese and Japanese immigrants removed from uniting America out of fear that they were taking jobs away from Whites .It as well as appears that throughout history the acceptance of immigrants in Canada greatly depended upon the economic state of the country at that time. During the Great Depression of the 1930s immigrants seeking jobs were unwelcome and unnoted for employment. Although the Government of Canada has made many advances in breaking the barriers that Aboriginal People, immigrants and minorities stage in the country immigrants today still face a add of problems when trying to enter the confinement marketplace, for example ? Non-recognition of international credentials and work experience ? Lack of Canadian work experience?Inabilit y to proclaim in English or French ?Insufficient labor market information prior to immigrating to Canada I have traveled to some of the major cities in Canada and was a little surprised by the tier of sequestration that is apparent in these cities. By this, I mean that these larger cities, same(p) Toronto and Vancouver, have communities which are almost completely main(a) from the rest of the country. These independent communities that I saw, of Chinese or Italian people, seemed to have everything they needed to break through within the community including their own schools.I could not help but wonder what effect this type of segregation has on the country. I approve the fact that all people are trying to protect their identity. At the same time, by choosing to live in Canada, shouldnt they try to fuse into the country a little more while still preserving their identities? Shouldnt they try to assimilate? How can Canada thrive as a country with so much segregation? We need t o become a unified country. Not such a historical thought pattern, I suppositionIt is people who have attitudes like mine that are causing problems in the country or do all people have these thoughts and distinguish not to admit it. I have similar negative feelings about scholarships being available only to certain people or government funding for certain people to attend university because they are a minority. I understand that differential treatment is required in order for compare to become a possibility. However, I still feel a degree of resentment about these programs being offered when I have to borrow capital in an effort to obtain my university degree.Will this resentment evolve? When I hold a management position in the future, will I discriminate against a person because he or she doesnt have a huge student loan to pay and another does? It is cases like mine that causes racism to continue in society and the workplace today? With the announcement of Nova Scotias plan to append immigration into the province came an increase in the racist comments I have heard. Since I work in bars I hear, and partake in, a great deal of conversation. When people are drinking they tend to be even more belike to say things they normally wouldnt.That is why I have heard, at times, some very racist remarks. People have said that the government should be trying to retain people in the province that are natural here before they bring foreigners here. They need to take care of their own first It is because of these comments and feelings that I am doubtful that discrimination against people, because of their race or color, will ever be completely blow outd in the country. How do we progress to equality with so much differentiation? How do we check or personal opinions at the door when we go to work?Since it is impossible to eliminate racism and discrimination entirely in society, we need to do as much as possible to eliminate it in the workplace. We need to make chang es similar to the changes companies have made in an effort to combat discrimination against people because of their religion. For example, adapting zero tolerance rules, providing more education for employees, human option departments need to provide more opportunities for people of minorities, immigrants, and Aboriginal Peoples and barriers have to be removed for all these people who are trying to enter our labor market.March 21, 2005 is International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination a day to remember the struggles and challenges that Aboriginal peoples and people of color have endured. It is also a time to recognize and applaud the fact that members of these two communities have made anti-racism struggles a significant part of labors agenda. Lets pry this day and try to make some positive changes at home, school, or work toward eliminating racism.