Introduction
Globalization’s impact on the cultural sphere has for a long time been perceived pessimistically. It has been viewed as a contributing factor to the decay of cultural identities and a victim of infringement of western culture. Researchers have tried to define globalization as a euphemism or even a flawless extension of western culture and imperialism. But in contradiction to this, another version of the perception is that it has played a significant part and has been a steering force in proliferating and creating cultural identity. It should be noted that it is globalization that brings about the existence of modernity and still modernity is the harbinger of identity. Identity is the people’s source of meaning and any person without an identity has therefore no meaning. Self-interpretation of the position where one is situated whether in a higher-order or personal does involve actions as the important element. Cultural identities are not originally about beliefs that people think they have or hold but about the activities that the cultural identity constitutes. This is because to talk of cultural identity, one has to be involved in key activities in the society such as religious holidays, sacrifices and festivals without which one can not talk of having a cultural identity. (Elisabeth, 2002)
Main body
Historical periods of crisis in cultural identities have been realized in various parts of the world. Canada is no exception as it is going through such a crisis whereby the country is experiencing an escalation of unfixed identities. Ethnocultural identities are very few in Canada. Thus the identities escalate into relationships that are totally different from the identity and they escalate without being fixed. In this regard, the relation between the context and the content, the container and the contained, universal and particular becomes less of an issue to be determined. It should be well understood that the escalation of politics of cultural identities in Canada is a result of the background of the cultural nationalism that came before it. Thus globalization distributes the institutional facial appearance of modernity in all cultures and particularly in Canada. It also produces a cultural identity where none like it existed before.
Elisabeth (2002) observes that globalization has enabled people to come and relate together in Canada but the major revolutions that come with it such as technology and communication cause fears about the possible erosion of cultural identity. The Canadian cultural identity is just a product of its geography, history, and political system. For example, the British occupation of Quebec in early1759 brought a large population with the francophone under British rule; this created a need for accommodation and conciliation. Canadian native people interacted well with the incomers and as a result, there was a strong influence on the national culture while the people preserved their own identities. Globalization however has not affected much of the culture of the people in Canada because they are firmly embedded into the social-cultural institutions.
The government also contributes greatly in furthering and enhancing the continuity of the cultural identity through different institutions and infrastructure. In a state like Quebec cultural identity is and has always remained very strong with many commentators who speak in French-speaking of Quebec culture as the most eminent from the culture of the English speaking Canadians. Globalization has also had its negative effects that have risen with cultural identities. For example, Canada’s variety in culture has created an environment that is more accepting of lesbian and gay people. To further ensure that gendered cultural identity is upheld, Canada has emphasized the need to have extensiveness and equality for all categories and groups of people. As noted by Tine (2005) due to the multi-cultural nature of the Canadian population the women participatory nature in the economic, cultural, social, and political life of the country has improved extensively.
Globalization and issues arising from modernization have necessitated gender sensitivity in all the spheres of operations in the country. The status of women in Canada (SWC) which is a federal agency was established to purposely, ensure that the women played a major role in enhancing the cultural identities and heritage, promoting women participation in industries that deal with cultural matters and more so in broadcasting this cultural aspect of identification. The radio-television network in Canada established its first policy on equality, something that was enhanced by the need to have women participate fully in issues regarding the challenges arising in a globalized world. Tine (2005) adds that private broadcasters did ensure that they adhered to the sex role in portraying the gender sensitivity code in the television and radio indoctrination. Globalization holds that women as free individuals can find accommodation if an essentialist approach is adopted.
The concept of a nation as a national entity stipulates that it should be able to accommodate new elements which originate from outside. The switch to modernity is needed to unshackle women into motherhood from enlistment. Globalization has resulted in compatibility because the modernity concept in nation-building has been adopted. Gendered equality identity enables one to identify with a cultural space whose cultural devices and communication one has mastered. The specific location in a culture multiplies and enhances an individual’s abilities.
A sense of identity avails a powerful channel of locating and defining individual selves through a collective personality prism and also through a distinctive culture. In the global world, it is only through a distinctive cultural identity that is shared that we can be able to trace our originality and establish who we are in the contemporary world. Globalization contributes to disentangling women from hierarchial cocoons which place them into specific gender roles and leaves them open to weave all cultural identity components in an intricate world. Gender can not be therefore analyzed outside the scope of cultural identity. In the present globalized world, gendered cultural identity has pushed the gender sensitivity topic into dealing with an identity that is made of cultural as well as social issues. All gender groups in Canada have achieved a significant level of improvement with each one of them deriving their base from their cultural backgrounds. Cultural identity has therefore been so far necessitated by the need to be open and loose from the strings that are the core enemy to globalization. (William, 2003) Globalization generates a sense of gender identity and in some cases, it produces much identity which is an issue that requires a form of embellishment so as not to relate globalization with fading away of gendered cultural identity.
According to William (2003), gendered cultural identity is not a departure from the local particularity but an enhancement of the cultural values that make the base of every person regardless of his/her cultural affiliation. Worth noting is the fact that modernity brought by globalization regulates cultural practices which we imagine are a strong core to the community, for example, improper interpretation of women’s role in the society as only housewives. In Canada, gendered cultural identity through globalization has achieved some form of social balance where all gender responsibilities are respected and honored by the majority.
Conclusion
Gendered cultural identity is well necessitated by globalization. Globalization itself can have both positive and negative effects on gendered cultural identity but of much concern is the fact that globalization promotes rather than being an obstacle to gendered cultural identity. Globalization has helped distribute the features of modernity across cultures while trying to prevent people from departing from local particularity. It is, therefore, true to say that there would be no complete gendered cultural identity without globalization.
References
Elisabeth, M. (2002), Histories, identities, cultures, Boston: South End Press, pp. 113-125.
Fred, L. (1997), cultural identity and globalization of gender, Routligde: Routligde publishers’ pp.11-119.
Tine, D. (2005), gender and globalization, Ashgate: Ashgate publishing limited pp. 16-93.
Walter, E. (2004), gender and cultural identity, Texas: University of Texas publishers, pp. 70-117.
William, M. (2003), globalization in the contemporary Canada, Duke: Duke University Press. pp 7-142.