Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada Research Paper

Exclusively available on IvyPanda Available only on IvyPanda

Introduction

Canada is not known to be a racist culture. However, racist occurrences have been known to take place. According to Harry and Tater, Canada really is a racist society; essentially the culture is divided by racism while people choose to ignore it and simply live under the colorful illusion that it does not exist (Harry and Tater, 2006). The Canadian culture apparently forgets past instances in this area, while the reason for this has not been hypothesized or assumed.

We will write a custom essay on your topic a custom Research Paper on Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada
808 writers online

Canadian citizens and local institutions operate in collaborative denial while ignoring past and present instances of racist laws, policies, and other processes that have had a significant effect on critical cultural, social, political, and economic entities for over three centuries (Harry and Tater, 2006). Meanwhile, values and processes that either wholly or partially racist are effectively ignored by most or all citizens whom they do not apply to despite their consistency and reach.

The Caucasian Canadian citizens are prone to disregard claims of their discrimination towards race, while victims of prejudice ultimately go unheard as if there are no social or legal standards against such actions. Organizations for public affairs do consider most cases while taking them seriously however they generally do not take proper action. The government, on the other hand, will take action to find the causes or statistics in this area while even their results are not implemented into any functional preventative measure.

Similarly, educational institutions commonly research to find a number of racially biased statistics only to have their results ignored. The circumstances that ultimately prevent people of ethnic backgrounds from succeeding in politics, education, employment, and other areas are rationalized for other reasons by politicians (Harry and Tater, 2006).

For Canada to truly be the nation as tolerant to diversity as it claims to be, it must give regard to research while considering removing barriers which cater to prejudice and discrimination. While Canada may not be as bad as other cultures, it is far from being free from stigmas and functional oppressive barriers.

Caucasian culture

Preference towards the Caucasian race is evidently part of the Canadian lifestyle, though this is never admitted nor even in the active thought processes of most citizens. As a result, theories for the causes of and solutions to discrimination and prejudice are never given adequate consideration. It remains powerful, yet subliminal, though unfortunately not dormant altogether. The democratic society does not acknowledge such levels of discrimination and furthermore rationalizes the circumstances which create functional barriers.

While many who will even acknowledge this reality consider racism to be an ever-fading issue due to the abolition of slavery, continued globalization, and melting-pot cultures, some experts are concerned that the issue is actually ever-growing while social, economic, and political power continue to favor Caucasians (Henry and Tater, 2006). When crimes and violence take place towards minorities, the possibility of racism is rarely considered to any significant extent, and as a result neither the root problems nor means to a solution are ever given the proper consideration from authorities.

1 hour!
The minimum time our certified writers need to deliver a 100% original paper

Currently theories with regards to the roots of so-called ‘hate crimes’ consider the concept of space and minorities perceived as more of an ‘invader’ to Caucasian space than other Caucasians. This ‘zone of violence’ is attributed to instinctual human nature, genetics, family, and colonization among other factors (Razack, 2000). The solution to such a root cause, assuming this theory is true, is to adopt and enforce the mentality of the equality of human beings, the importance of diversity, and a mentality supporting melting-pot cultures and globalization.

Diversity has generally been an open and relevant topic through many aspects of Canadian life for some time. This is likely the reason racism is never adequately addressed, because so many prominent figures see their attempts at perspective to be in itself a lack of discrimination or prejudice. Simply not ignoring other races, however, it not proof of a lack of racism. Meanwhile, the Canadian corporate sector now spends some of its energy that it used to spend discussing profit to instead discuss multiculturalism (Bannerji, 2000).

Construction of organizations

The structures of important governmental and non-governmental bodies alike have been constructed to include an overly-generalized mentality of diversity and multiculturalism, one that effectively regards the ethnicities as different while not actually catering to the equality as it pretends to. There are types of active diversity awareness and assistance efforts such as university scholarships, employment quotas for diversity, and other such efforts.

Ultimately even here, as with the majority of the Canadian effort and general mentality, there are many contradictions and paradoxes which undermine the efforts while the government and bodies in power hide behind it (Bannerji, 2000). Though these processes are thought to exist, the Caucasian group retains all power for change and other areas while there is highly competitive atmosphere for other racial groups (Teelucksingh, 2006).

Furthering the concept of space, one modern theory suggests that the blind acceptance of multiculturalism creates a ‘racialized space’ in Canadian culture, one which is competed for (Teelucksingh, 2006). Multiple discrimination, despite multiculturalism, is evident in groups such as minority women or even minority homosexuals. Rinaldo Walcott documented numerous incidents against African homosexuals as a subculture, despite the numerous claims of multiculturalism and diversity from the majority of functioning organizational entities (Walcott, 2000).

Comparative consideration of non-Canadian cultures

Comparing Canadian culture to other groups, however, helps to reveal the positive aspects which is does have. Considering such actions as the violence towards Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib, the Canadians do not seem so bad. Male and female, American and British, and soldiers of multiple positions and ranks chose to not only breach policy for violence, but furthermore sexualized their abuse of the prisoners. Some experts consider this situation as a perfect one to analyze as it is an example of the current flaws with human nature with regards to the conceptual embodiment of empire and racial hierarchies (Razack, 2008).

It can also be seen as the Caucasian assertion of power over other cultures, here in an unbridled symbolic action. While this is likely exaggerated, considering the prisoners were considered criminals and not responsible citizens of another culture, many implications can be drawn regarding racism in general (Razack, 2008). Also another relevant group outside of Canadian culture, the gay Asian is commonly stereotyped regardless of location by Caucasians; Caucasians everywhere commonly see the Asian man as ‘undersexed’ while Asians are actually subject to barriers in many industries. Even such industries as pornography and other film industries have been documented to discriminate against Asians in addition to the aforementioned areas (Fung, 1991).

Remember! This is just a sample
You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers

Concluding remarks

While the Canadian culture is apparently not as racist as some countries where violence or even rampant stigmatization has obvious power, it is nowhere near as open to ‘diversity’ or ‘multiculturalism’ as it claims to be. While races are not simply ignored through the actions of many organizations, the statistics and barriers with regards to racial and general prejudice and discrimination are. For Canada to truly become the nation it claims to be with regards to these topics, it needs to consider the research, statistics, and theories with the same consideration it already gives to integrating generic multiculturalism notions into the processes of key organizations.

References

Bannerji, H. (2000). The Paradox of Diversity: The Construction of Multicultural Canada and “Women of Colour.” Canadian Scholars’ Press.

Fung, R. (2000). Looking for My penis: The Eroticized Asian in Gay Male Porn. Rutgers University Press.

Henry, F. and Tater, C. (2006). The Colour of Democracy Racism in Canadian Society. Harcourt Brace Canada.

Li, P. (1990). Race and ethnic relations in Canada. Oxford University Press.

Razack, S. (2002). Gendered Racial Violence and spatialzed Justice: The Murder of Pamela George. Between The Lines.

Razack. S. (2002). If it wasnt for the Sex and Photos: The torture of Prisoners at Abu Gharib. Between the Lines.

Song, M. (2000). Asian American studies: a reader. Rutgers University Press.

We will write
a custom essay
specifically for you
Get your first paper with
15% OFF

Teelucksingh, C. (2006). Claiming space: racialization in Canadian cities. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press.

Walcott, R. (2000). Black Men in Frocks: Sexing Race in a gay Ghetto. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press.

Print
Need an custom research paper on Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada written from scratch by a professional specifically for you?
808 writers online
Cite This paper
Select a referencing style:

Reference

IvyPanda. (2021, November 13). Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prejudice-and-discrimination-in-canada/

Work Cited

"Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada." IvyPanda, 13 Nov. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/prejudice-and-discrimination-in-canada/.

References

IvyPanda. (2021) 'Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada'. 13 November.

References

IvyPanda. 2021. "Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada." November 13, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prejudice-and-discrimination-in-canada/.

1. IvyPanda. "Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada." November 13, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prejudice-and-discrimination-in-canada/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada." November 13, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prejudice-and-discrimination-in-canada/.

Powered by CiteTotal, best citation maker
If you are the copyright owner of this paper and no longer wish to have your work published on IvyPanda. Request the removal
More related papers
Cite
Print
1 / 1