The modern society recognizes the importance of reconsidering race issues that influence of the concept of identity belonging and equality among culturally diverse groups. However, the principles of identity and belonging are not confined to ethnic affiliation only, but also to new social constructs that are affected by such famous trend as McDonald’s.
In fact, the fast food chain embodies new symbols and patterns of behavior among members of society (The Disenchanted Kingdom n. p.). The above-presented conceptions reflect certain principles defining my attitude to racial stereotypes and consumerist culture. Being a representative of Asian Diaspora, I agree with the idea that psychology of racism should be reevaluated to acknowledge the fact of existence of privilege for white people (Truth in Advertising: Breaking the Spell of Consumerism n. p.).
I have always been the foreigner in the United States because of my cultural and national backgrounds. On the other hand, creating equitable environment is also impossible because it would definitely mean the loss of some community members (Interview with Beverly Daniel Tatum n. p.). In fact, creating equitable communications excludes the possibility of personal choices and, as a result, the divergence is inevitable.
Loss of identity in the American community is on the current agenda due to the challenges of cross-cultural communication and social interaction.
Being a non-native representative of the society imposes certain social, cultural, and economic boundaries. In particular, the fact of cultural variation also creates challenges for communication. It also motivates people to highlight differences and identities among human behaviors in accordance with these differences. The existence of stereotypes is already a tangible obstacle to maintaining cultural affiliation.
The constitution of ethnic groups, along with their ideological and religious underpinnings, is another challenge that non-native citizens should confront. In addition, the difficulty in maintaining the sense of belonging is explained by the impossibility to ignore the existence of other cultures adjacent to an ethnic community. Therefore, while living in an Asian community, I am especially aware of the necessity to face the challenge and reach a compromise to co-exist peacefully.
The above-described obstacles are congruent with collaborative views about the challenges that a multi-cultural society poses to ethnic minorities. However, the introduction of new consumerist culture poses even a more serious threat to modern society.
The loss of authentic American culture prevents the community from preserving their original roots, as well as establishing a favorable environment for sustaining cultural heritage. Consumerist patterns of behavior create another serious problem that contributes to the identity destruction because ethnic values have been vanished under the influence of consumerism.
When it comes to border transgression, I should admit that the globalization can be considered the defining moment because the issue of cultural diversity is of high importance in a globalized community. Therefore, entering the American community, no serious adversity to maintaining identity has been revealed. Despite the aspiration to create an equal society, the influence of globalization has the reverse side of the medal.
This is of particular to concern to consumption trends that prevent my ethnic community from sustaining our ethnic preferences and tastes. Liberal ideology of the modern time is another challenge that a conservative Asian Diaspora has to overcome on the way to shaping cultural and historic heritage within the new national context. Therefore, the transgression process has been encouraged in economic terms, but social conditions have not contributed to it.
Works Cited
Interview with Beverly Daniel Tatum. 2003. Web.
“The Disenchanted Kingdom: George Ritzer on the Disappearance of Authentic American Culture”. Sun. 2002. Web.
“Truth in Advertising: Breaking the Spell of Consumerism: An Interview with Kalle Lasn”. Sun. 2002. Web.