E&C

26 Key Pros & Cons Of Multiculturalism

“ The concept of multiculturalism is difficult to make fit with a democratic society.”

Helmut Schmidt, Statesman

Advantages & Disadvantages of Multiculturalism

advantages and disadvantages of multiculturalism

Multiculturalism (sometimes also referred to as ethnic pluralism) is a term that describes the presence and acceptance of many different minority cultures besides the main culture in a specific region.

Multiculturalism is present in many big cities and has many important advantages.

Yet, there are still some problems related to this concept.

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In this article, the pros and cons of multiculturalism are discussed in detail.

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Advantages of multiculturalism, higher level of tolerance towards minorities, multiculturalism can lead to a more peaceful society, we can learn from different cultures, life becomes more interesting with multiculturalism, we can make connections with people from many different cultures, multiculturalism is an important part of a modern tolerant society, can help to lower prejudices towards certain cultures, multiculturalism may help to lower tensions in school, can give us a broader picture of reality, multiculturalism can provide us with a variety of different foods, you can learn a new language in multicultural regions, can improve confidence levels of minorities, multiculturalism can also be beneficial for companies, may foster technological progress, can improve the overall chances in the lives of many people.

One important advantage of multiculturalism is that it has the potential to increase the overall level of tolerance towards minorities in our society.

This is extremely important since minorities have been discriminated throughout history for a quite long time and we urgently have to solve this problem in order to significantly increase the quality of life of people who belong to those minority groups.

Through the promotion of multiculturalism, every one of us can make his or her contribution towards a more tolerant and open society, which is welcoming to all groups of minorities.

In turn, also the image of a region may greatly improve throughout the world since people from foreign countries will know that they are welcome.

In turn, it also becomes more likely that foreign companies will open branches in those regions.

Hence, multiculturalism can not only improve the level of tolerance towards minorities in our society, but it can also help in an economic context.

If people become more tolerant towards minorities, chances are that the overall level of peace in society will increase as well.

It is quite sad but there are still many regions all over the world where minorities are still discriminated and many of them are even attacked in a verbal or even in a physical manner by the local population who doesn’t accept those minorities and their different ways of life.

Consequently, it is crucial to accept ethnic pluralism in our society in order to improve the living conditions of minorities and also to increase the overall level of peace in many regions all over the world.

People also often underestimate how much they could really learn from people with different cultural backgrounds.

We are often quite proud of our cultural values and social norms and think that they are superior to all other ways of life.

However, if you travel the world and talk to many different people, you will soon realize that many people in our society just have a one-sided attitude towards life and don’t realize that their cultural values are just one among many ways of life.

Yet, it is crucial that we understand that our culture is not superior at all compared to other cultures and that we should try to learn from other cultures in order to really broaden our horizons on how the world really works.

Therefore, having a mix of people with many different cultural backgrounds can be quite beneficial for society since people can get to know other cultural values and social norms and can grow in character.

Another benefit of multiculturalism is that life will become much more interesting.

Many people in our society just have their standardized program from Monday to Friday, meaning that they wake up in the morning, make breakfast, go to work, come home late in the evening, eat, sleep and repeat.

However, this has nothing to do with what life really has to offer us.

This routine is just a robot-like way to spend your life.

With multiculturalism, you may be better able to realize all of this since people from different cultures will often not join this sort of lifestyle and may rather live their lives on their own terms.

Hence, multiculturalism can also help us to experience new lifestyles.

Moreover, in regions with a high level of ethnic pluralism, chances are that you will also be able to experience new hobbies.

There are sports out there which you will likely never have heard of. Yet, you may be surprised how interesting some of them really are.

Therefore, in general, multiculturalism can make our lives much more interesting and can also help us to overcome narrow social conditioning.

Ethnic pluralism can also help us to make connections with many people with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

This can be quite interesting since you can experience completely new ways of life.

For instance, if you visit a friend with a different ethnical background, chances are that the family life at his home will look different compared to what you are used to.

Experiencing those different ways of life is extremely beneficial since only if you see many different things, you will realize that what you have been told your whole life is just a one-sided picture of reality and that there is so much more out there to experience and to learn.

Moreover, if you are good friends will people from different ethnical backgrounds, you may even go on vacation with them to their home country.

This can also be a quite unique experience since you will have the chance to closely connect to foreign cultures, not only in your home country but also in other countries and will have the chance to really get to know how locals in other countries live their lives.

In general, multiculturalism is just part of a modern and tolerant society.

Politicians often claim that they are so tolerant and want to accept everyone in our society, independent of his or her gender, race and so on.

However, the truth is that minorities are still discriminated against in many different countries all over the world and that their chances in life are much lower.

Therefore, if a country really wants to promote the equality of all people, it also has to accept the concept of multiculturalism.

Many people are still quite prejudiced and skeptical about people from different ethnical backgrounds.

This can be due to negative personal experiences in the past, but also due to a historical perspective.

However, most of those prejudices towards ethnical minorities are not true at all and multiculturalism can help to remove those prejudices in the long run.

If people get to know other people with different ethnicities and they talk to each other, chances are that they will be much more willing to accept those cultures and they will also realize that there is nothing wrong with different attitudes towards life as long as we all live together in a peaceful manner.

Therefore, multiculturalism can also be quite important in order to remove prejudices towards other cultures which may still be present in many countries all over the world.

Multiculturalism can also be important to lower the tensions in school.

In many countries all over the world, children from minorities still have a quite hard time in school since they are often bullied and not accepted by the rest of the class.

Hence, it is crucial that multiculturalism is promoted in schools and that teachers focus on this important topic.

In fact, teachers should take sufficient time to show students how important it is to interact with other students in a respectful manner, independent of the ethnic background students might have.

Consequently, through the promotion of multiculturalism in school, students will be more likely to accept each other.

Another upside of ethnical pluralism is that this concept can also give us a broader picture of reality.

In fact, we are all biased in a certain cultural direction.

When we grow up, we are taught to behave in ways that are in line with local cultural values and social norms.

However, those social norms have nothing to do with an absolute truth regarding how we should live, they are just one of many different ways how people can live their lives.

This is quite important to realize.

Culture is not reality and if we really want to understand how the world works, we have to be exposed to a variety of different cultural attitudes so that we can learn and integrate all this knowledge.

Multiculturalism can also give us the opportunity to enjoy many different foods.

While there is nothing wrong with being proud of the local dishes a country has to offer, relying on just one culinary direction may become boring in the long run.

Thus, it can be quite interesting to try out new dishes from foreign countries.

Quite often, you will be surprised regarding how good those foods can really taste.

You may even get additional ideas about what to cook at home when you try restaurants that specialize in dishes from foreign countries from time to time.

Also in case you are interested in learning new languages, multiculturalism can be quite beneficial for you.

If there is a high level of ethnic pluralism in a society, you will have it much easier to find a language buddy with whom you can practice a foreign language.

In turn, you will learn much faster compared to a state where you don’t have someone you can talk to in person.

Therefore, also from a learning perspective, multiculturalism can give you a real edge in various different ways.

People who belong to certain ethnical minorities often still have a hard time being accepted in many countries all over the world.

Quite often, those people live together in certain communities and don’t have too much contact with the majority of the local population since they fear to get attacked or to be discriminated in various other ways.

Hence, in order to improve the confidence levels of those people, it is crucial that the general public becomes more tolerant toward those minorities.

One way to achieve this is to promote multiculturalism so that the general public loses their fear and their prejudices towards minorities and accept them as valuable members of society.

Apart from the positive impact of multiculturalism on society as a whole, it can also benefit corporations all over the world.

There are many highly-skilled people who belong to certain minorities and in order to stay competitive in the long run, companies have to become more tolerant and open towards minorities so that people who belong to those minorities want to work for those companies.

Multiculturalism can also help to foster our global technological progress.

People from different cultures have different knowledge, strengths and weaknesses.

Hence, it is crucial to bring people from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds together so that they can share their knowledge with each other in order to speed up technological progress as much as possible.

In general, multiculturalism can improve the overall chances in the lives of many people all over the world since it can contribute to a more open and tolerant society.

In turn, the problem of the discrimination of minorities can be lowered, which in turn will translate into a much higher quality of life for people who belong to these minorities.

multiculturalism pros and cons essay

Disadvantages of Ethnic Pluralism

Tensions between people with different cultural backgrounds, some people have a hard time to integrate into society, language barrier as a big problem of multiculturalism, local population may be skeptical towards this concept, people may fear to lose their identity with multiculturalism, multiculturalism may lead to radical movements, original local population may become extinct, people may become frustrated, social tensions may increase, unemployment can be a problem, multiculturalism may lead to higher sovereign debt.

Apart from the many important advantages of multiculturalism, there are still some issues related to this concept.

For instance, one problem of multiculturalism is that it can lead to tensions between people with different cultural backgrounds.

While the majority of the local population is often quite tolerant and wants to coexist with people from other cultures in a peaceful manner, there are also some people out there who think that their way of life is the only valid one and that all other people should also follow the same lifestyle.

In turn, this attitude implies plenty of tensions between people with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, which may turn into serious conflicts in the long run.

Some people who come from foreign countries also have difficulties to integrate themselves into society.

If people move to another country, everything is new for them and it can take plenty of time until they assimilate themselves with the new conditions.

While many people are willing and integrate themselves over time, some migrants may not be willing to do so at all, which can lead to serious problems for your society.

Especially if people with different ethnical backgrounds don’t speak the language of the country they migrated to, chances are that those people will suffer from serious levels of social isolation.

Speaking the local language is crucial in order to find work and also to make friends over time.

In turn, if people don’t have sufficient knowledge of the local language and are also not willing to learn it, chances are that those people will never become valued members of society.

In many regions of our planet, people are also still rather skeptical about the concept of multiculturalism.

Many people are proud of their own culture and are not willing to accept other cultural attitudes besides their own.

Therefore, in those regions, people with different cultural and social backgrounds may have a quite hard time since they may not be accepted by the general public, even though they might try their best to integrate themselves.

Many people also fear ethnic plurality since they think that they will lose their cultural identity sooner or later due to this concept.

While ethnic minorities bring new ways of life, this doesn’t mean that all traditions will be eroded.

It just means that there will be a variety of different cultural lifestyles to choose from, which actually is a good thing since if you have more options to choose from, chances are that you will be happier with your life in the long run.

One real danger of multiculturalism is that it can be misused for the spread of radical religious ideas.

In fact, in many countries all over the world, gurus and other spiritual or political leaders try to use multiculturalism for their purposes in order to spread radical ideas among the general public.

This can be a significant threat to our overall level of freedom and we should take great care that the spread of those radical ideas can be limited in order to prevent unpleasant consequences in the long run.

Opponents of multiculturalism also often claim that if we allow too much migration, the local race will become extinct in the near future.

While it is true that our genes will be altered over time, this should actually be considered to be a good thing since genetic variety is known to have many positive effects.

Multiculturalism can also increase the level of frustration of certain people.

Many people in our nowadays society feel lost since they do no longer have the skills that are needed to succeed in our current state of the world.

Those people are often quite frustrated and search for a scapegoat, which is often found in multiculturalism.

In fact, many people claim that they are not able to find a job since migrants steal those jobs from them.

However, this is quite flawed logic and those people should rather try to improve their skill level so that they can find work instead of blaming other ethical minorities for their misery.

Another downside of multiculturalism is that the social tensions in society may increase as well.

If people get the impression that minorities are supported while the majority of the general public is neglected in terms of welfare and social benefits, chances are that people will become quite frustrated over time and that the social tensions in many regions all over the globe will increase significantly.

In case too many unqualified people migrate to a country, chances are that the unemployment rate will also increase.

Many unqualified people will not be able to find a job, which can have serious adverse effects on an economy and for society as a whole.

If unemployment rates increase due to multiculturalism and an excessive level of migration, chances are that also sovereign debt will increase in those countries since more money has to be spent on welfare and other social subsidies.

In the worst case, this can even lead to sovereign debt in the long run.

multiculturalism pros and cons essay

Top 10 Multiculturalism Pros & Cons – Summary List

Should we promote multiculturalism.

As we have seen before, there are numerous advantages and disadvantages of multiculturalism.

In my opinion, multiculturalism is part of a modern and tolerant society and we should encourage cultural diversity.

At the same time, we have to make sure that this framework is not misused by radical groups in order to ensure a peaceful society where we can learn from each other on a daily basis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiculturalism

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-multiculturalism-4689285

https://www.britannica.com/topic/multiculturalism

multiculturalism pros and cons essay

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Pros and Cons of Multiculturalism

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  • Post published: December 8, 2018
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Acceptance and promotion of multiple cultural traditions within a particular jurisdiction form a multicultural nation. Multicultural ideologies are created through advocacy of cultural believes from immigrants of different jurisdictions around the world or the evolution of people from different ethnicities. Let’s look at the pros and cons of having a multicultural nation.

1 . Innovation and creativity: Immigrants from different nations bring a great source of diverse knowledge and experience. They help improve trade and bring a lot of creativity and innovation to a country.

2 . Economic growth: Doing business with people from different cultural jurisdictions like immigrants can bring in new skills in the business. This helps a business tap into local and international markets which contributes to economic growth.

3 . Community flavor and flair: Ethnic restaurants and stores add flavor and color to communities to attract tourists through their cultural celebrations, diverse cultural foods, and participation in local festivals.

4 . Understand people: Multiculturalism helps us understand diverse cultures and lets us know how to get along or interact with people from different cultures.

5 . Know what culture to take up: It enables you to find out what other cultures can be combined or used in your culture.

6 . Learn different languages: You can be friends with people from different nations and as you interact with them, you can learn their language.

7 . Know religion and traditions: Multiculturalism gives you an opportunity to know other countries and know new traditions, new cultures, and religions by interacting with them.

8 . Diversification: You will have unmatched experience from a multinational society. You will get different opinions, solutions, and cultures from different people you interact with.

9 . Education: It brings a lot of changes in the education sector in order to give more exposure to children and let them learn about different perspectives and reduce racial discrimination.

10 . Skilled migrant labor: A multiethnic country is a home for many immigrants with the majority of them being a highly skilled workforce. The skilled workforce brings a mix of cultural experience needed for problem-solving and creating a strong team.

1 . Religious conflicts: Different religious beliefs bring a lot of conflicts within the community and can bring tribal clashes.

2 . Language barrier: People from different cultures use different languages or terms which are different from that of the natives creating some barrier in communication.

3 . Dealing with different cultures: It is difficult for people to deal with different cultures, understanding their believes and norms.

4 . Fear of influence: Dealing with a multicultural society creates some fear among the individuals that they may lose their original culture and identity by adopting cultures from others inform of lifestyle, dressing, and other attributes of foreign cultures.

5 . Bring differences in the society: People from different nationalities bring everything from their homeland and the natives are not fond of that since it brings a lot of changes.

6 . Education: Children from ethnic minority cultures or immigrants may take longer to be accustomed to the local culture and this affects their academic performance.

7 . Risk of social conflicts: A social conflict can occur due to differences in beliefs, practices, and ethnic rituals. Certain ways of life may cause conflicts between two or more groups.

8 . Difficult managing multicultural workforce: It is very demanding to manage a multicultural workforce. The minority group may feel overwhelmed by adopting diverse cultures. This makes it difficult for the multicultural team to collaborate.

9 . Dependent on another culture: It diminishes’ one’s culture and leads to dependent on another culture through learning new traditions and new ways of thinking.

10 . Phase-out of defined cultures: A multicultural world results in phasing out of defined cultures existing throughout history.

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This post has 6 comments.

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it gave me a lot of positive look 2 multiculturalism

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I think Phoebe has a good point.

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there are no pros

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Truer words were never spoken. Kudos for having the courage to speak out.

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In every posting about the pros of multiculturalism…you get to learn a new language is there….I can’t help but laugh in both English & French…

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the pro’s you list are all things a non-multiculti society already has but I wanted to point out this number 8 as its not only untrue hopefully not deliberate I have my doubts but I can still hope it wasn’t. Diversification: You will have unmatched experience from a multinational society. You will get different opinions, solutions, and cultures from different people you interact with. this already happens, I mean look at Russia (they did a pretty good job of and still do in a lot of ways today) keeping up with the west without needing a bunch of different color people, I mean its not working, its really not and I’m a black guy seeing this so no one can throw out the racisisms cards though they will still try it it just doesn’t work out as the non-white person can’t be that as only whitey can be racisisms and stuff (wink wink).

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Opinion Front

Opinion Front

Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiculturalism with Examples

Multiculturalism is the peaceful coexistence of a culturally diverse or multiethnic population in a country. Through this OpinionFront article, you can learn about the advantages and disadvantages of multiculturalism, along with some of its examples.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiculturalism with Examples

A handshake, a tight hug, a gesture like bowing down, a kiss on the cheek, or something quite unique like sticking one’s tongue out at someone… these are all various kinds of greetings followed by people of different cultures on the planet. Beyond the ‘interesting-to-know reaction’, how do we really see these little cultural differences?

Finding a true answer to this question can make us contemplate and delve deeper into philosophical questions. Let’s not go there for now, but we can definitely find out how societies with a culturally diverse population thrive and progress. A unified acceptance, respect, and tolerance are probably some of the values that underlie multiculturalism in several countries today.

Multiculturalism can be defined as cultural diversity or the evolution of it, where people from different ethnicities coexist; it can also refer to an integrative policy adopted by a multicultural nation.

The meaning of the term multiculturalism can have many interpretations. Definitions of this term differ according to the references made to: 1. demography of a country (population of various racial, religious, linguistic backgrounds); 2. the normative-ideological aspect (cultural rights of individuals); or 3. the political policy-level programs adopted to address ethnic diversity.

Multiculturalism had gained significance during the 1970s and 1980s in American society. It was the period when Latin Americans, African-Americans, and other ethnic groups explored their history.

1. Education There have been changes in the syllabus of subjects, like history, to accommodate a more comprehensive and broader version of the past events. This can be seen as giving more exposure to children, wherein they learn about different perspectives on a given topic. Kids are educated about equality, and thus develop an attitude against racism.

2. Professional Employees coming from various cultures can contribute with a wider range of perspectives on an assignment. A mix of cultural experiences helps in problem-solving, and can create a strong team. Having a diverse group of workers always enriches the office environment, improving the work culture.

3. Multinational Companies These service industry giants, specifically the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) manufacturers, have benefited greatly from globalization. A diverse population employed by these companies in different countries helps them capture global markets, increase customer base across nations, and earn profits easily.

4. Skilled Migrant Labor Multiethnic countries are home to majority of immigrants, a significant population of it being a highly educated skilled workforce. For example, students coming from Asia to the United States for higher education become part of the country’s workforce. Besides their aptness for the job, a basic requirement, like knowledge of the English language, serves as an additional asset for both, the employer and the employee.

1. Education Children from ethnic minorities or immigrant families would take time in getting accustomed to a new environment. This may get reflected in their academic performance, when compared with that of the local children.

2. Professional Although largely it is a benefit, managing a multicultural workforce can be very demanding. Prejudices of employees may work against the people belonging to a minority. Encouraging cooperation among all the coworkers, especially in collaborating as a team, can be a task.

3. Fear of Influence Living in a multicultural society, even a cosmopolitan city for that matter, may inculcate a fear among individuals or minority groups, that they would lose their original ethnic identities or lifestyle. Being influenced by other cultures or foreign belief systems, at times create a protectionist tendency among the citizens.

4. Risk of Social Conflict The possibility of a social conflict occurs due to differences in religious beliefs and practices, ethnic rituals, or certain ways of life that may cause a rift between two or more groups. However, in those countries that have adopted multiculturalism as an integrative policy, it has been noticed that conflicts arose mainly during financial crisis and due to lack of social programs.

There are many nations that can be called multicultural societies. Listed below are a few of them, pertaining to their characteristics as a multicultural nation.

● Canada : This country officially adopted multiculturalism in 1971. It is based on the principle of ius solis or (the right of citizenship by birth). Further, the Multiculturalism Act of 1988 gives all members of Canadian society the freedom to preserve and share cultural heritages, and encourages protection and enhancement of their ancestral languages. It also asks all federal agencies to promote practices ensuring equal employment opportunities and advancement therein.

● Australia : It sees itself as a country of immigrants. Multiculturalism, in this nation too is based on the right of citizenship by birth. Easy access to the naturalization process and citizenship for immigrants has been established long ago. The government believes multiculturalism to have strengthened the Australian society.

● Sweden : Different from the above examples, Sweden operates by ius sanguinis or (right of blood), which extends the right of citizenship only if one or both parents are citizens of the country. However, the procedures of naturalization here are easier.

Other examples of multicultural societies include India , Britain , and the United States of America . Multicultural societies are also known as salad bowl or cultural mosaics .

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Regions & Countries

Americans see advantages and challenges in country’s growing racial and ethnic diversity, most value workplace diversity, but few want employers to consider race or ethnicity in hiring and promotion decisions.

multiculturalism pros and cons essay

When it comes to diversity in the communities where they live, most U.S. adults (66%) – including a majority of those who live in neighborhoods with little diversity – are satisfied with the racial mix in their area. A majority (54%) says children should go to local schools, even if that results in most schools being less diverse. Fewer (42%) say children should go to schools that are racially and ethnically mixed, even if that means some students go to school outside of their local community.

Overall, white, black and Hispanic adults are about equally likely to say it’s good that the U.S. population is racially and ethnically mixed, and majorities across these groups say this has had a positive impact on U.S. culture. But black Americans place more value than whites and Hispanics on workplace diversity and school integration.

These findings are part of a larger survey that also explores Americans’ attitudes about race relations and racial inequality and the role of race in people’s lives. For more, see “ Race in America 2019 .”

This survey includes an oversample of Asian respondents, for a total sample size of 332 Asians. The sample includes English-speaking Asians only and, therefore, may not be representative of the overall U.S. Asian population (66% of our weighted Asian sample was born in another country, compared with 78% of the U.S. Asian adult population overall).

Despite this limitation, it is important to report the views of Asians on race relations and racial inequality, as well as their personal experiences with racial discrimination, as the U.S. Asian population is growing faster than any other major racial or ethnic group . Measuring the attitudes of Asians on these topics is an important piece in understanding the state of race in America today.

As always, Asians’ responses are incorporated into the general population figures throughout this report; data are weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population as a whole. Asians are shown as a separate group when a question was asked of the full sample. Because of the relatively small sample size and a reduction in precision due to weighting, results are not shown separately for Asians for questions that were only asked of a random half of respondents (Form 1/Form 2) or some filtered questions. We are also not able to analyze Asian respondents by demographic categories, such as gender, age or education.

More than half say racial and ethnic diversity is very good for the country

Majorities of whites, blacks and Hispanics say racial and ethnic diversity is very good for the country

Whites and blacks with at least a bachelor’s degree are more likely than their less educated counterparts to say it’s very good for the country to be made up of people of many races and ethnicities. About seven-in-ten whites with a bachelor’s degree or more education (69%) say this, compared with 55% of whites with some college and 41% of those with a high school diploma or less education. Among blacks, 80% with at least a bachelor’s degree say it’s very good that the country is racially and ethnically mixed; a smaller majority of blacks with some college (65%) and 44% of those with less education say the same. The link between education and views of diversity is less clear among Hispanics.

Most see diversity having a positive impact on the country’s culture

More than six-in-ten say racial and ethnic diversity has a positive impact on the country’s culture

This view is widespread among Democrats, and particularly white and Hispanic Democrats. Fully eight-in-ten white Democrats (84%) and about three-quarters of Hispanic Democrats (76%) say this diversity has a positive impact on U.S. culture, compared with 60% of black Democrats.

Among Republicans, half say the fact that the U.S. population is made up of people of many different races and ethnicities has a positive impact on the country’s culture; about one-in-five (21%) say it has a negative impact (29% say it doesn’t make a difference).

While most Americans say having a population that is racially and ethnically mixed enhances U.S. culture, views are more negative when the public is asked about the prospect of blacks, Hispanics, Asians and other racial minorities making up a majority of the population (which the U.S. Census Bureau projects will happen by the year 2050). In a separate survey conducted in December 2018 , more said having a majority nonwhite population will weaken American customs and values (38%) than said it will strengthen them (30%); 31% said this won’t have much of an impact.

Many say diversity makes it harder for policymakers to solve problems

Despite generally positive views of diversity, many say it poses challenges for policymakers

A sizable share of Americans (47%) say having a population that is made up of people of many different races and ethnicities makes it harder for policymakers to solve the country’s problems; a small share (7%) say it makes it easier for policymakers and 45% say it doesn’t make much difference. Whites (52%) are more likely than Hispanics (42%) and blacks (30%) to say the country’s diversity makes it harder for policymakers to solve problems.

There are also partisan differences on this question, with Republicans more likely than Democrats to say the country’s racial and ethnic diversity poses challenges for policymakers (56% vs. 42%). Democrats are more likely to say it doesn’t make much difference in this regard.

Broad support for workplace diversity, but most say applicants’ race and ethnicity should not be a factor in hiring and promotions

About half say it’s very important for employers to promote workplace diversity

While most Americans say it’s at least somewhat important for companies and organizations to promote racial and ethnic diversity, only about one-in-four (24%) say that, in addition to their qualifications, a person’s race and ethnicity should be considered in decisions about hiring and promotions in order to increase diversity. A majority (74%) says employers should only take a person’s qualifications into account when making these decisions, even if it results in less diversity in the workplace.

The view that employers should only take a person’s qualifications into account is widespread among whites (78%) and Hispanics (69%); about half of blacks (54%) share this view.

Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to say a person’s race and ethnicity shouldn’t be a part of hiring and promotion decisions. Even so, majorities of both groups (90% vs. 62%) hold this view. Again, this partisan difference is nearly unchanged among whites.

Whites, blacks differ on the importance of students going to a racially and ethnically mixed school vs. going to a school in their local community

Mandatory busing programs aimed at desegregating schools ended years ago, but the issue of school integration remains a topic of debate in many parts of the country.

More than half say students should go to schools in their local community, even if less diverse

Black and white adults have widely different views on this. Most whites (62%) say students should attend schools in their local community, even if most schools are less diverse as a result. In contrast, about seven-in-ten blacks (68%) think students should go to schools that are racially and ethnically mixed, even if they’re not in their local community. Hispanics and Asians are about evenly divided on this issue.

Views also differ considerably along party lines, with 73% of Republicans – vs. 41% of Democrats – saying students should go to school in their local community, even if it means most schools are not racially and ethnically mixed. Black Democrats (71%) are far more likely than their white (52%), Hispanic (56%) and Asian (55%) counterparts to say students should go to schools that are racially and ethnically diverse, even if it results in some students not going to their local schools.

About a quarter of Americans wish their local community was more racially and ethnically mixed

Even in least diverse neighborhoods, Americans are generally satisfied with the racial mix in their community

For whites and Hispanics, views about the racial mix in their community are strikingly consistent regardless of how diverse the community is. In this analysis, diversity is measured in terms of the share of a neighborhood’s population in its largest racial or ethnic group. 4 For example, a neighborhood that is 80% white (largest group), 10% Hispanic, 5% black and 5% Asian is considered less diverse than one that is 20% white, 60% Hispanic (largest group), 5% black and 15% Asian. The least diverse neighborhoods are those where 90% or more of the residents are part of the largest racial or ethnic group; the most diverse are neighborhoods where fewer than half of the residents are in the largest group.

About seven-in-ten whites – and about six-in-ten Hispanics – in the most and least diverse neighborhoods say the community where they live is as racially mixed as they’d like it to be. Among blacks, those in the least diverse neighborhoods are less satisfied with the racial mix in their communities.

The vast majority of whites who live in neighborhoods with very little diversity are surrounded by other whites. By contrast, for blacks who live in less diverse areas, their neighborhoods are less likely to be made up predominantly of black residents. Among black respondents, 63% of those in areas where 80% or more are in the largest racial or ethnic group are in majority black communities; 34% are in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. A large share (82%) of Hispanics who live in less diverse neighborhoods reside in predominantly Hispanic communities.

Among whites in the least diverse neighborhoods, Democrats, college graduates and those younger than 30 are less satisfied with their community’s racial mix

Among whites, views of neighborhood diversity vary by age, education and partisanship

Among whites with a bachelor’s degree or more education, 38% in the least diverse neighborhoods say they wish their community was more racially mixed than it is; 22% of those with some college and 16% with a high school diploma or less education say the same. Still, at least half in each group say their community is about as racially mixed as they would like it to be.

Relatively few Americans interact a lot with people from other racial and ethnic groups

About one-in-four whites have a lot of daily interaction with blacks, Hispanics

About a quarter of white adults say they interact with blacks (25%) and Hispanics (23%) a lot in their day-to-day life. Among blacks, 26% say they have a lot of interaction with people who are Hispanic, while one-in-five Hispanics say they have frequent interaction with people who are black. About one in-ten whites, blacks and Hispanics say they interact with Asians a lot in their daily life.

A majority of Asians (59%) say they have frequent daily interaction with whites, more than the share of blacks (47%) and Hispanics (44%) who say the same. About one-in-four Asians (27%) say they have a lot of interaction with people who are Hispanic and 15% say the same about people who are black.

Asians (48%) are less likely than whites (84%), blacks (68%) and Hispanics (60%) to say they have a lot of interaction with people in their own group. The extent to which Americans interact with various racial or ethnic groups reflects, at least in part, the shares of each group in the population.

About three-in-ten Americans say it would bother them to hear people speak a language other than English in public

About half of white Republicans say it would bother them at least some to hear a foreign language in public

Roughly a third of whites (34%) and about a quarter of blacks (24%) and Asians (24%) say they would be bothered if they heard people speak a language other than English in public; a smaller share of Hispanics (14%) say the same. About two-thirds of Hispanics (68%) say this wouldn’t bother them at all, compared with half or fewer whites (41%), blacks (48%) and Asians (50%). Foreign-born Hispanics are more likely than those born in the U.S. to say they would not be bothered at all if they heard someone speak a language other than English in public (76% vs. 61%).

Among whites, reactions vary considerably by age, education and political orientation. Younger whites and those with a bachelor’s degree or more education are less likely than their older and less educated counterparts to say they would be bothered by hearing a language other than English in a public place.

Views are even more divided along partisan lines. About six-in-ten white Democrats (58%) – vs. 26% of white Republicans – say this wouldn’t bother them at all.

References to whites, blacks and Asians include only those who are non-Hispanic and identify as only one race. Hispanics are of any race.

All references to party affiliation include those who lean toward that party: Republicans include those who identify as Republicans and independents who say they lean toward the Republican Party, and Democrats include those who identify as Democrats and independents who say they lean toward the Democratic Party.

References to college graduates or people with a college degree comprise those with a bachelor’s degree or more. “Some college” includes those with an associate degree and those who attended college but did not obtain a degree. “High school” refers to those who have a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a General Education Development (GED) certificate.

Foreign born refers to people born outside of the United States, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories to parents neither of whom was a U.S. citizen, regardless of legal status.

U.S. born refers to individuals who are U.S. citizens at birth, including people born in the United States, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories, as well as those born elsewhere to parents who were U.S. citizens.

  • Because whites and nonwhites have different views of some questions related to racial and ethnic diversity, and nonwhites disproportionately identify with or lean to the Democratic Party, gaps between Republicans and Democrats are sometimes shown among whites in this report in order to account for differences in the racial composition of the two parties. ↩
  • The survey includes an oversample of blacks, Hispanics and Asians. For more details, see the Methodology section of the report. ↩
  • There aren’t enough black or Hispanic Republicans to analyze these groups separately on this question. ↩
  • While there are many ways to measure racial and ethnic diversity, the diversity index used here is based on previous work by economist Jed Kolko. In this analysis, “neighborhood” refers to respondents’ census tract. ↩
  • Estimates for age groups are based on those in census tracts where 80% or more of residents are in the largest group because the number of whites younger than 30 in neighborhoods with 90% or more residents in the largest group is too small to analyze separately. ↩

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Table of contents, most americans say the declining share of white people in the u.s. is neither good nor bad for society, americans are more positive about the long-term rise in u.s. racial and ethnic diversity than in 2016, the changing racial and ethnic composition of the u.s. electorate, asian americans are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the u.s. electorate, in a rising number of u.s. counties, hispanic and black americans are the majority, most popular.

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Multiculturalism Essay Examples and Topics

Benefits of the multicultural education.

Various authors view this concept differently. According to Squelch, Lemmer & Dekker (1993:35) multicultural education is a multiple education program providing multiple learning environments that match the needs of learners. It is an intervention and an ongoing assessment that helps institutions and individuals become more…

Reflection on Working in a Multicultural Group

The group was generally unprepared and inexperienced in working in a multicultural group, especially in the context of five different cultures. This variety of cultures created a difficult barrier to overcome in the start of the project of IPRIC 2018. To become efficient as a…

Understanding of My Cultural Identity

Every single person has their own unique identity and culture. When it comes to talking about identity I also have my own doubts and questions. I was born in Nepal so I mostly consider myself as Nepali but since I was raised here in Hong…

Zadie Smith 'Speaking in Tongues': Personal Opinion

Zadie Smith is a phenomenal yet amusing intellectual who found a nebulous nook that she could fold herself into and write her unparalleled perspective on life with words that seem inevitably Deja Vu, or, meant to be just like that, and as for her essay,…

Why Cultural Diversity is Good for a Country

In today’s world, the trend of diversification has become more prominent. In a certain sense, it is the diversity of humans that has made the richness of human life and the colorful and splendid world today. In my opinion, the diversity of a country will…

Respect for Cultural Diversity Needs to Begin at School

Diversity is generally defined as acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing, and celebrating differences among people concerning age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical, and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and public assistance status. The notion of diversity integrates awareness of, and respect for, differences into the…

Chartres Cathedral in France

The Chartres cathedral is in France about an hour train ride from Paris, It’s easy to think about this church a day trip from Paris. About back in the 11th ,12th, 13th centuries, the town of charters was a major destination unto itself. But it’s…

The Role of Machismo in Men is "Never Marry a Mexican"

One story that challenges the role of Machismo in men is “Never Marry A Mexican”. In this story, a woman named Clemencia exudes some of the characteristics of Machismo by being compared to La Malinche. La Malinche, in a quick summary, is an infamous figure…

Heart of a Samurai and Japanese Culture

Assimilating from one culture to another can be very difficult when you are not sure about the customs or traditions of the other culture, this can be especially difficult when you are only a young child and have to unexpectedly grow up in a different…

Relativism Let Multiple Cultures to Coexist Across the Globe

The most attractive philosophical theory discussed in class so far is relativism. Like any philosophical thought, there are flaws within its confines. Even with the numerous circumstances that relativism could fail, the pros for the theory far outweighs the negative aspects. All countries around the…

Pros and Cons of Multicultural Education

With all these innovations in technology, we became a globalized world. We live in a multicultural and pluralistic society so we need to teach and pass values to our children to be unified and lessen the prejudices or misconceptions. But to achieve success, we should…

Language Diversity as a Bridge Between Cultures

The challenges in bridging the gap of student alienation in school settings has been a hot topic in the media in recent years. Alienation can be defined as “a decreasing sense of belonging in terms of learning, teachers and classmates at school” (Hascher & Hadjar,…

The Cross-Cultural Conflict of Individualism and Collectivism

Culture has a significant influence on how we communicate and interact with the world and others. Consequently, lack of awareness and knowledge of other cultures in a working context can lead to breakdowns in cross-cultural communication which can have a significant impact on later working…

My Multicultural Neighbourhood in Dorchester

I currently live in Dorchester, my neighborhood is only one street surrounded with Victorian houses. I had a discussion with my neighbors about their identities in our neighborhood. Most of them said even though most of the inhabitant were not born in United States they…

Ethnic Identity of the Gagauz (At the Turn of 20th-21st Centuries)

Introduction Despite that the Gagauz settled in Bessarabia at the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century under the general name of Bulgarian settlers, they settled separately from these and formed communities according to the ethnic criteria. The Features of Gagauz…

Multiculturalism has a wide range of meanings with the contexts of political philosophy, sociology, as well as colloquial use. It’s linked to ethnic pluralism in sociology and explained as the end-state of an artificial or natural process such as a legally-controlled immigration. In terms of political science, multiculturalism is the capacity of the state to effectively deal with cultural plurality.

The multiculturalism concept was known since ancient times. Research shows that Cyrus the Great and his Achaemenid Empire followed a policy of tolerating and incorporating a variety of different cultures.

The support for multiculturalism can be seen in the changes in Western societies after the end of the World War II. This is what we call the ‘human rights revolutions’. The Holocaust made it impossible to ignore the racism and ethnic cleansing, and Asia and Africa’s colonized nations fought for their independence and showed the discrimination in the colonial system. The Civil Rights Movement in the US criticized the assimilation ideals that led to prejudices and discrimination.

Supporters of multiculturalism see it as a fair system that gives people their rights to express who they are regardless of the society they live in. The anti-discrimination laws present in all parts of the world support multiculturalism and argue that culture is not a definable thing based on religion and race.

  • “Pit race against race, religion against religion, prejudice against prejudice. Divide and conquer! We must not let that happen here.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
  • “The deal with multiculturalism is that the only culture you're allowed to disapprove of is your own.” ― Martin Amis
  • “Keep your language. Love its sounds, its modulation, its rhythm. But try to march together with men of different languages, remote from your own, who wish like you for a more just and human world.” - Helder Camara Spiral Of Violence

The Habsburg monarchy which broke up in 1918 is one of the most popular multi-ethnic empires. Under its roof were many different religious, linguistic and ethnic groups and the foundations of this structure was the principle to ‘live and let live’. Canada is known as the originator of multiculturalism because of its focus and the emphasis it puts on the importance of immigration. The world is more multicultural than ever. South Africa recognizes 11 different languages. In Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city, places of worship of Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholicism, Islam and Orthodox Judaism can be seen within walking distance of 1.3 km.

Some of the arguments for multiculturalism are higher level of tolerance toward minorities, more peaceful societies, the opportunity to learn about different cultures and different languages, a chance to try new foods and learn about new customs, a broader picture of how other people think and live, etc.

Opponents of multiculturalism believe that this will cause higher potential unemployment rates, government expenses, sovereign debt, radical movements, etc.

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Multicultural Counseling Theory and Multicultural Counselors Research Paper

Introduction, pros and cons of multicultural counseling theory, factors influencing multicultural counseling.

This paper addresses the various issues associated with multicultural counseling theory. The pros and cons of multicultural counseling theory were analyzed with regards to factors that affect the work of multicultural counselors. People have ceased from being confined in their regions because of the scarcity of opportunities.

People from various backgrounds are meeting in countries that have cultures that far much different from theirs. They encounter difficulties while trying to adjust themselves to the changes. The challenges affect them at varied intensity depending on their age, gender and religion. The multicultural counselors must be ready to tackle such difficulties in order to assist their clients overcome these obstacles.

He/she should act as the role model of his/her clients. Both the counselor and the client must undertake their responsibility appropriately. The counselor must stick to the ethics of being a counselor. There are some personality traits that should be portrayed by a qualified counselor.

The clients expect the counselor to be open minded rather than being reserved. Besides that the counselor should pay close attention to the progress of their client and if they realize that the problem has remained persistent they should consider other alternatives. These are some of the issues that have been analyzed in this paper.

Counseling entails giving people advice concerning their problems and the professionals who offer this advice are called counselors. When one is faced with difficulties and he/she does not know how to handle it or what steps to take, they are expected to consult a counselor. A counselor’s job is very demanding because he/she must change the thoughts of the client.

This job can further be complicated when the counselor deals with clients from all walks of life. Counselors are expected to deal with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities, thus leading to the concept of multicultural counseling theory. This paper reviews the pros and cons of multicultural counseling.

Today our communities have been mixed up because the increase in human population has forced people to relocate to other countries in search of work. This is owing to the fact that the resources in their nations could hardly sustain them hence when they secured opportunities in foreign nations they decided to settle there.

Although they exist in foreign land they continue to exhibit their cultures which make them unique. However, multicultural counselors must be acquainted to the cultures of their clients because that way they will be in a position to understand their multicultural clients better (James, 2008).

The pros and cons of MCT are attributed to factors such as ethnicity, gender, age, disability, and religion. The following are the strengths of MCT: (1). is flexible and takes into consideration different cultures; 2. It is in itself a theoretical model; 3. Understanding it helps counselors to deal with people from different cultures; and 4. several alternatives can be applied using MCT.

On the other hand, the limitations of MCT include: 1. the counselor need to understand different cultures; 2. there is need to understand the underlying concepts of MCT; 3. the theory has little research in relation to analytical evidence; 4. it neglects traditional therapies; and 5.

It is generally difficult for counselors to adopt MCT. In this light, the following section discusses the factors affecting multicultural counseling and the qualities required by a multicultural counselor. The factors are discussed in relation to the mentioned pros and cons of MCT.

MCT outlines that when a counselor is giving advice he/she must not compromise the culture of his clients thus he/she should appreciate their differences. If the clients feel that their counselor does not understand them, such as why they do certain things or why they behave in a certain way, they will opt for a counselor who belongs to their ethnicity and thus multicultural counseling will loose its meaning.

The best strategy towards the success of multicultural counseling is to have customized approaches to client issues which might help solve their problems. If a counselor applies a uniform approach in solving clients’ problem he/she will not solve their problems in a satisfactory manner. This is because people understand things differently and their thoughts are influenced by their backgrounds and cultures.

It is unacceptable for a counselor to speak negatively about the cultures or ethnicity of his/her clients. If the clients came to realize this they would loose the pride that they have towards their culture and this may result in hatred.

According to Pedersen (2002), counselors should promote the tolerance of cultural diversity by appreciating their clients regardless of their background. If a counselor must discourage against a given cultural practice he/she must bring the point home in a polite manner because using rude language will make it sound like an insult.

The counselor should establish a friendship based on trust with his/her clients. For this trust to be realized, the counselor must prove to his/her clients that what they share is confidential because if they feel that their secrets are not safe they can’t dare to share vital information with the counselor. This information is important because it makes the client to provide the relevant information that could be the root cause of their problem.

This means that the counselor should be neutral while dealing with his/her clients because if he discriminates some of them the others will come to realize in one way or another and this will have a negative impact on the integrity of the counselor. This implies that a multicultural counselor should have strong interpersonal skills to enable him/her handle situations involving people from different cultures (Gladding, 2009).

Counselors must be familiar with the cultural values of their clients and also understand how the people of various backgrounds interact with the rest of the world. This refers to their likes and dislikes which is greatly influenced by their cultures. Failure to understand their tastes may cause the counselor to apply inappropriate approach to their problem.

The above stated scenario occurs quite often and that’s why you will hear clients saying that they sought professional help from a given counselor and it was not effective while another client may praise the competence of the same counselor. This could be due to the fact that the two clients are from different origins and the counselor in question could be familiar to the culture of one of them hence he was able to offer appropriate help.

When people from different cultures and races come together their differences become their identity. Pope-Davis and Coleman (2001) suggest that these differences are important because they give them a sense of belonging. Assuming that we were all different from each other, interaction would be impossible. When people from various cultures occupy the same habitat there are two possible outcomes of their interactions.

First, one culture might be eliminated by another. Either of the two cultures may be eliminated, that is, the host culture or the foreign culture, but this process depends on the one that dominates the habitat shared by the two cultures. For instance, if the foreigners outnumber the hosts, the culture of the foreigners is likely to be reserved while that of the host is scrapped off.

Secondly, the two cultures may be reserved but this happens when there is a balance between the hosts and the foreigners. In addition, some people are very conservative hence they can’t allow their cultures to be eliminated and thus they will do anything to ensure that their culture is recognized wherever they are located. This poses a greater challenge to counselors.

But this depends on how individuals feel about their culture. This is because there are some cultures that are seen to be enslaving people hence when the generation that introduced them dies, those who remain abolish it gradually. For instance, female circumcision among some African communities was a mandatory rite of passage but of late very few people continue to practice it because people are now aware of the dangers that come with it.

Multicultural counselors should also understand the differences of gender and sexuality, that is, men and women. Cormier, Nurius and Osborn (2008) explain that this is because both genders respond to situations differently. Furthermore, men and women have different attitudes. These elements are influenced by their genetic composition. Women tend to be emotional hence they are more delicate than men.

On the other hand, men are physical and that’s why when a man breaks up with his spouse its easier for him to move on with his life compared to the woman who takes more time to heal the wounds. Besides, counselors should familiarize themselves with clients of various sexual orientations. By doing so, they will be able to provide appropriate advice to their clients irrespective of their gender or sexual orientation.

This is because misunderstanding might cause the counselor to apply the wrong procedure towards solving the problem of the client. For instance, the counselor might recommend a strategy that is best suited for men to a female client hence it may not be effective.

Additionally, we all know that men and women possess different characteristics. For example, we know that women have mothering ability hence they are the ones who can best monitor their infants than the fathers of their young ones.

Prochaska and Norcross (2007) reckons that counselors must appreciate their clients’ sexual orientation regardless of whether they are gay or lesbians hence when they are dealing with such people they must try their best not to show their hatred towards people who are of unacceptable sexual orientation but instead focus on the matter at hand.

For example, when a counselor is dealing with a client who is bisexual and is suffering from HIV/AIDS, he/she should not blame the orientation of that client for his sickness but should rather help the client to cope with the stigma that is associated with the ailment in question.

Some people are troubled by small issues such as being under the leadership of a woman. This could be due to the fact that women are not supposed to assume leadership as far as the client’s background is concerned. In order to understand issues that are related to gender it would be best if the counselor inquired from the client what her/his community expects from each gender.

This implies that the counselor should engage the client in analyzing the roles that are supposed to be played by men. The other most important aspect in multicultural counseling is power analysis.

It is a simple method that is used by counselors to enlighten the clients about the powers that are entitled to them and the reasons why they are allowed to exercise the same powers. The power in this case is limited to the client’s life with regard to what they own and what they can’t do.

Counselors must learn how to deal with people of different ages. This entails learning how they behave at various ages. This helps the counselor to find out which measures are best suited for teenagers, youths, and the elderly. This is because people have different thoughts at different ages.

For instance, teenagers think that their parents are too old hence they perceive them to be outdated and come to realize later in life that their parents were actually right. Moreover, teenagers tend to be rebellious hence when a counselor is making suggestions he/she should be patient with them.

The elderly on the other hand are fond of forgetting things very fast hence they have to be reminded frequently. This means that the counselor must be patient with them and also be gradual with them instead of rushing things. Another group of people that is delicate comprises of the disabled.

Skovholt (2001) explains that counselors must watch their tongues while conversing with such people because they are easily offended by negative remarks that could be unintentional.

People with disabilities don’t like it when they are given special care due to their condition hence when a counselor is assisting such a person he should mention that it’s done to everyone. Besides, counselors must be acquainted with the issues that affect the disabled and their families.

Religion and spirituality also influences the effectiveness of counseling. The counselors must get used to handling clients from various religions. Religion comprises of believes and faith which are crucial in counseling. Some recommendations that are made by counselors could be against the religion of the client hence there will be a conflict.

The counselor should analyze the beliefs of his/her clients before he gives counsel because that way he will establish measures that are suitable to people of a particular religion. When counseling goes against the beliefs of the client, it will make the client feel guilty because to some people religion is so dear to them.

When a counselor is dealing with a huge group of people from various backgrounds its important to select those that share the same cultural values and isolate them from those who are extremely different from each other. The counselor should then revisit each client’s background information to establish the best possible solution.

It is also necessary to consider the thoughts of the client in relation to those whom he/she interacts with on a daily basis. The counselor should inform the client that changes are part of life because different people do things differently hence some of the things that are acceptable in their motherland may be unacceptable in the foreign country.

Besides, when a counselor is obtaining information from a client who hails from a different culture he/she must ignore the mistakes that may be on the speech of the client such as incorrect grammar. This will make the client to feel at home and thus give more information pertaining to his/her problem (Safran and Muran, 2000).

The counselor should allow the client to set the things that are more important and relevant to him/her. The counselor should handle cases differently just as they are brought by different people. Some counselors assume they already know where there client is headed hence they misinterpret their client’s statement. This is most common in cases where the counselor and the client are from the same background. This generalization and assumption is bad because the situation may not be close to what the counselor thinks.

The response of a counselor should not be protective. This means that if the client explains his/her problem the counselor should not make a remark that implies that the problem is not that serious. For instance, if a client expresses how he/she was humiliated in a public gathering just because he is of a different ethnicity, the counselor should not make statements such as “you will get used to it”.

According to Freire (2005), a counselor should never victimize people who belong to a race that is perceived to be hostile to others or criminals even when he himself has encountered their discriminating traits or his relatives.

For instance, a black American might feel uncomfortable when dealing with Native Americans when she knows that her father was brutally murdered by a Native American. To deal with this problem a counselor should know that when he/she is offended by someone from a different community it does not mean that everyone from that race is a criminal or something close to that.

MCT requires that the counselor should seek to know the cultural background of the client. The counselor should employ an approach that is appropriate. This means that the question about the client’s racial background should be introduced indirectly. This is necessary because some clients don’t like it when someone asks them about their ethnicity because they fear that they will be handled according to their background.

This fear is owed to experiences of the client in question. Counselors should encourage their clients to mingle with the people who are of different cultures from others. This will help the diverse people to accept each other and thus live in harmony. The client should be informed that going back to their mother land is the last option hence they should get used to seeing things being done differently as opposed to what they would expect.

For counseling to be effective both parties must play their parts well. The client should follow the counsel of the counselor and the counselor must provide the appropriate counsel. There are counselors who go against the ethics of counseling. They do this by sharing information concerning their clients with others.

This suggests that such a counselor does not have the interests of his/her clients at heart. Gladding (2009) advises that a good counselor should be honest when dealing with clients. They should not lie to their clients. Lying can mislead clients and when they realize that the person whom they trusted with their problems and secrets is untrustworthy they will look for another reputable counselor.

Some counselors lie to their clients even when they know very well that whatever they are saying could be dangerous. If a counselor is not sure about something he/she should be sincere while giving advice. Lying occurs when some people want to portray themselves to know everything.

A counselor should be caring to his/her clients. A counselor should caution his/her client about the consequences of any affirmative action that the client wishes to take. There are times when clients have fallen victims of dangerous consequences at the hands of their counselors. Such counselors are only interested on the money that they are paid by their clients.

A counselor should be flexible such that if the measure he/she recommends to the client does not work he/she should have another strategy ready for implementation. Some counselors are not flexible because they stick to the same strategy for a long time just because it worked for a few clients while it does not work for the rest. There are usually several ways of doing something to achieve the same results.

A counselor should have a clear objective towards helping the client’s problems. A counselor should overcome the hurdles that arise in the course of helping the client. He/she should consider doing anything possible to assist the client. Sometimes the counselor has to make sacrifices towards the success of his/her client. This means that the client is given the first priority.

There are counselors who put money before their clients to an extent they can’t listen to the problems that are being passed across by the client unless money is put on the table. A good counselor should be patient with his/her clients. This means he/she should give the client some time to get used to the measure they intend to implement on the client.

A counselor should know that since the problem of the client did not develop in one day it’s not possible to eliminate it in one day. Healing is a gradual process because if it happens abruptly it might cause drawbacks.

Diller (2007) argues that a counselor should not show any sign of weakness even when it seems the situation is getting out of hand. Showing weakness will make the client loose confidence in him/her because the client expects him to offer the necessary support that is needed by the client. It is during such occasions that the counselor should provide warmth to the client which is meant to encourage the client to continue soldiering on.

Multicultural counseling theory demands a lot of efforts in cultural diversity and thus its limitations overweigh the strengths. This paper has discussed the pros and cons of multicultural counseling with regard to factors the influence the theory. The factors include ethnicity, gender, age, disability, and religion.

I essence, a multicultural counselor should have compassion over his/her clients. This aspect goes hand in hand with love for people because without love a counselor cannot make a single sacrifice towards the wellness of his/her client. In addition, the counselor should exercise caution over sensitive issues that concern his/her clients.

He/she should consider the consequences that are most likely to occur when sensitive issues that are highly valued by the client fail to bring the desired results. Therefore, a multicultural counselor should have dealt with many people from diverse cultures for him/her to have broad knowledge of carrying out multicultural counseling.

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James, K.R. (2008). Crisis Intervention Strategies . Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

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Pope-Davis, B. & Coleman, L.H. (2001). The Intersection of Race, Class, and Gender in Multicultural Counseling . California: Sage Learning.

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IvyPanda. (2019, December 14). Multicultural Counseling Theory and Multicultural Counselors. https://ivypanda.com/essays/multicultural-counseling-theory-research-paper/

"Multicultural Counseling Theory and Multicultural Counselors." IvyPanda , 14 Dec. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/multicultural-counseling-theory-research-paper/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Multicultural Counseling Theory and Multicultural Counselors'. 14 December.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Multicultural Counseling Theory and Multicultural Counselors." December 14, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/multicultural-counseling-theory-research-paper/.

1. IvyPanda . "Multicultural Counseling Theory and Multicultural Counselors." December 14, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/multicultural-counseling-theory-research-paper/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Multicultural Counseling Theory and Multicultural Counselors." December 14, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/multicultural-counseling-theory-research-paper/.

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  1. 26 Key Pros & Cons Of Multiculturalism

    Helmut Schmidt, Statesman Advantages & Disadvantages of Multiculturalism Multiculturalism (sometimes also referred to as ethnic pluralism) is a term that describes the presence and acceptance of many different minority cultures besides the main culture in a specific region.

  2. Multiculturalism: Causes, Advantages and Disadvantages

    Introduction Nowadays, due to the economy globalisation, many people come from different countries with various cultural backgrounds living in same city permanently or for a period of time, they live with local people together. Eventually, the mixture of different cultures will lead to multiculturalism.

  3. Multiculturalism

    (Jan. 19, 2024) See all related content → multiculturalism, the view that cultures, races, and ethnicities, particularly those of minority groups, deserve special acknowledgment of their differences within a dominant political culture.

  4. Pros and Cons of Multiculturalism

    Pros and Cons of Multiculturalism admin December 8, 2018 Human 6 Comments Image source: huffingtonpost.com Acceptance and promotion of multiple cultural traditions within a particular jurisdiction form a multicultural nation.

  5. 30 Pros and Cons of Multiculturalism

    Frequently Asked Questions How Can Multiculturalism Affect The Political Landscape And Government Policies? What Impact Does Multiculturalism Have On Social Cohesion And National Identity? Are There Any Negative Effects Of Multiculturalism On Indigenous Cultures And Traditions?

  6. Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiculturalism with Examples

    1. Education There have been changes in the syllabus of subjects, like history, to accommodate a more comprehensive and broader version of the past events. This can be seen as giving more exposure to children, wherein they learn about different perspectives on a given topic.

  7. Views on America's Growing Racial, Ethnic Diversity

    More than six-in-ten Americans (64%) say the fact that the U.S. population is made up of people of many different races and ethnicities has a positive impact on the country's culture; 12% say it has a negative impact and 23% say it doesn't make much difference. Hispanics (70%) are more likely than whites (64%) and blacks (58%) to say the ...

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    The Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism. Canada is a place known to be a multiculturalism country to many. ... Multiculralism, and Canadian citizenship" by Will Kymlicka. Both essay make powerful points to why multiculturalism is negative, but also shows the method that the authors use to write such as racism, how both author's use the pathos ...

  9. Multiculturalism in Sociology

    Pros and Cons of Multiculturalism While analyzing multiculturalism from a sociological point of view, there are various pros and cons that can be observed. These are listed below.

  10. Multiculturalism in contemporary Britain: policy, law and theory

    Ultimately, therefore, a study of the law, policy and theory of contemporary multiculturalism indicates we are yet to negotiate the challenge posed by decolonisation to the British nation and state, or to mitigate parallel tensions at the heart of Enlightenment liberalism and democracy.

  11. Essay on Pros and Cons of Multiculturalism

    5 Works Cited Open Document Pros and Cons of Multiculturalism In the United States, the people rule, but in order for the people to rule with the best interest in the whole of society in mind they must have an understanding of all cultural elements of society.

  12. Pros And Cons Of Multicultural Education

    Pros and Cons of Multicultural Education Essay details Category: Social Issues Subcategory: Discrimination, Poverty Topic: Cultural Diversity, Human Migration, Multiculturalism Words: 1797 (4 pages) Download Please note! This essay has been submitted by a student. Table of Contents

  13. Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism

    Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism; Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism. Decent Essays. 1170 Words; ... Multiculralism, and Canadian citizenship" by Will Kymlicka. Both essay make powerful points to why multiculturalism is negative, but also shows the method that the authors use to write such as racism, how both author's use the pathos and ...

  14. Multiculturalism Essay

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  15. Multiculturalism Essay Examples and Topics at Eduzaurus

    According to Squelch, Lemmer & Dekker (1993:35) multicultural education is a multiple education program providing multiple learning environments that match the needs of learners. It is an intervention and an ongoing assessment that helps institutions and individuals become more…. 1 Page 486 Words. Culture and Communication Multiculturalism.

  16. Multiculturalism: Pros & Cons

    Summaries Homepage » Essays » Multiculturalism: Pros & Cons - Essay/Discussion Multiculturalism: Pros & Cons - Essay/Discussion Definition of multiculturalism In today's interconnected world, the concept of multiculturalism has gained significant importance.

  17. Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism

    Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism 1024 Words5 Pages Multiculturalism is a place an assortment of a wide range of a group live respectively in the same society. In a multicultural society, there is not an official culture that each individual must be a piece of, yet all societies are regarded just as.

  18. Multicultural Society Essay

    multicultural society Essay. Multicultural Society. The retrospective view of human history shows that it has always been a moving and mixing of peoples caused by different reasons. For centuries the intervention of cultures grew reciprocally. As a result of this process people now have mixed cultures and many intercultural conflicts.

  19. Pros And Cons Of Multicultural Education Free Essay Example

    Essay Sample: With all these innovations in technology, we became a globalized world. We live in a multicultural and pluralistic society so we need to teach and pass ... Pros And Cons Of Multicultural Education. Categories: Cultural Diversity Human Migration Multiculturalism. Download paper. Download. Essay, Pages 8 (1968 words) Views. Save to ...

  20. Multicultural Counseling Theory

    Pros and Cons of Multicultural Counseling Theory. The pros and cons of MCT are attributed to factors such as ethnicity, gender, age, disability, and religion. The following are the strengths of MCT: (1). is flexible and takes into consideration different cultures; 2. It is in itself a theoretical model; 3. Understanding it helps counselors to ...

  21. The Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism In Britain

    The pros of being a multicultural society is that the society gets the best from each culture. An open-minded society that enables different beliefs where positive aspects of one culture may be adopted by others to create and contribute a better society. The cons of being a multicultural society are tendencies to prejudice.

  22. Pros And Cons Of Multicultural Teams

    Pros And Cons Of Multicultural Teams. 1458 Words 6 Pages. Today, globalization is getting more and more common. For example, from 2006 to 2016, percent of international students at UCSD grew from 3% to %19. Under such a circumstance, multicultural teams will likely be built. In a multicultural team, people with different nationalities and ...

  23. Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism

    A sociological theory developed by an American named Milton Gordon helps to create a further in depth look into the levels of multiculturalism. There are three levels multiculturalism; Anglo conformity, melting pot, and cultural pluralism. All three levels are evident in the texts we read.

  24. The Pros And Cons Of Multiculturalism

    Sociologists believe that the concept of multiculturalism approaches the cultural diversity in a method or the opposite among the society. However, every conception has pros and cons attached to it that in itself makes it debatable. The deadly attacks that took place in Paris on Friday systematically slaughtered many people present at that time.