Last two weeks, we’ve done a word search puzzle on basic concepts of ethnic relations. As we were required to work in pair, I chose Laily Ashrah bt Yahya as my partner and her blog is http://www.sayittoday.blogspot.com. It is one kind of an interesting activity and I am proud to say that we were the first group to finish this activity in about 10 minutes time.
There are about 12 basic concepts of ethnic relations that we needed to find in this word search puzzle. The words are:
- assimilation
- enculturation
- accommodation
- discrimination
- racism
- segregation
- pluralism
- prejudice
- nation
- acculturation
- ethnocentrism
- stereotype
Let us discuss about the meaning of all the basic concepts found in the word search puzzle. Assimilation is the process whereby a minority group gradually adapts to the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture and customs. Assimilation happens when there are people from different ethnics always interact to each other and it is a lifelong interaction. It differs from amalgamation which usually occurs through intermarriage among ethnics.
Enculturation gives us the meaning of the process by which a person learns the requirements of the culture by which he or she is surrounded, and acquires values and behaviours that are appropriate or necessary in that culture. Most importantly the individual knows and establishes a context of boundaries and accepted behaviour that dictates what is acceptable and not acceptable within the framework of that society. It teaches the individual their role within society as well as what is accepted behaviour within that society and lifestyle.
Acculturation is slightly different from assimilation as it is not cause the loss of community identity although it is also known as the process of adapting the culture among the different ethnics of different culture. The original cultural patterns of either or both groups may be altered, but the groups remain distinct.
A process of mutual adaptation of an individual person or groups is known as accommodation. It is usually achieved by eliminating or reducing hostility, as by compromise or arbitration. One of the countries which distinguish the characteristics of accommodation ethnic is Switzerland.
Prejudice is a negative thinking of other people or ethnics which is not openly disgorged. It commonly happens based on the inaccurate and unclear information. When it is being said it is called stereotype instead of prejudice. Stereotype is the negative statements towards the ethnics such as the Dutch are stingy and whatsoever.
Discrimination happened corresponding to the prejudice and stereotype. It means the negative thinking of an individual person or a group of people towards another individual or ethnics which will affect the action of the one that thinks negatively. It can be said that the discrimination is an action of differentiating an individual or ethnic based on the characteristics of the ethnics. Apartheid policy is happened to prevent the racial segregation in South Africa. People commonly discriminate other ethnics based on the colour of their skins. For example, white people having more advantages than black people in United States.
Racism may lead to the discrimination as it is the negative thoughts towards a social group only based on the physical-biological differences. Racism the belief that race is a primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that the racial differences may produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
Segregation is a social system that provides separate facilities for minority groups. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, using a washroom, attending school, watching movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home.
Pluralism is a term used when smaller groups within a larger society maintain their unique cultural identities, and whose values and practices are accepted by the wider culture. Nation is a group of people who share culture, ethnic origin and language, often possessing or seeking its own independent government. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture.
