In this article, Dalrymple starts by discussing the nature of multiculturalism and how the proponents of this idea perceive the future will be. According to them, there is a possibility of living in a society with restaurants being built in large cities to serve all the cuisines of the world. These restaurants will be available for people from different cultures; they may visit ‘Thai on Monday, Italian on Tuesday and Szechuan on Wednesday” without any problem (Dalrymple 1). This kind of development, according to multiculturalists, would motivate people to embrace multiculturalism globally. Dalrymple went further to compare this multiculturalist view to Marx’s argument of life under communism. Marx believed that people could live in a society where there are no competing classes. In this regard, people should be allowed to pursue more than one sphere of activity and do everything they want.
However, Dalrymple’s main argument, in refuting the above claims, is that the multiculturalists’ imagination is unrealistic and false. According to the author, the notion that all cultural values can be replicated in every cultural group is senseless; some cultural values are more dominant and superior to others within the society. Dalrymple held that multiculturalism should be approached from the ground up, not from theory down. However, it is important to note that the author did not refute the fact that multiculturalism promotes the co-existence of diverse cultures; the only concern is that it does not apply to all cultures.
Dalrymple supported his argument largely by sharing his eye-witness experiences. First, the author discussed the struggles immigrant women from remote villages in India and Pakistan face when they move to England. They are not allowed to practice multiculturalism; their only option is to live their lives in line with their parents’ expectations and beliefs. Dalrymple stated that “it is clear from what I see almost every day that not all cultural values are compatible or can be reconciled by the enunciation of platitudes” (2). The cultures of most women from foreign countries do not allow them to develop new lifestyles as per the multiculturalists’ imagination. In fact, many of them are forced to marry men they do not love, thus leading a miserable life.
Second, the author supported his argument by showing the challenges his patients encounter in their daily lives within and outside their communities. He gave an account of how the life of a 16-year-old Muslim girl was predetermined by her father. His plan was to marry her off to a cousin, a man she knew nothing about. The girl’s plan, as revealed in the article, included completing her education, pursuing a career, and marrying a man of her choice. In fact, the father knew nothing about her daughter’s wishes; she dared not tell him because she feared he could lock her in the house and not let her leave it except under supervision. It is clear that Muslims do not value education and career for girls.
Lastly, the author showed how one of his patients tried to hang herself to escape an arranged marriage. This came after her husband, on the wedding night, beat her after suspecting that she was not a virgin. The husband did not allow her to leave the house, hit her, and burned her body with a cigarette; her family naturally approved it. She ran away eventually, but her mother demanded she returns to her husband immediately.
I agree with the author’s belief that not all cultures embrace the idea of multiculturalism. His experience working with females from different cultures shows how most of them were raised to follow their traditions and obey their parents. As a doctor, Dalrymple learned a lot about distinct cultures, which makes his argument justifiable. Some people prefer sticking to their cultures to avoid being labeled as outcasts by their relatives and family members. However, this does not mean that they are unwilling to adapt to new ways of living.
One fact that emerged clearly from the reading assignments is that multiculturalism is a far-fetched dream. While diversity seems to reflect people’s reality, it is not necessarily their choice. Many individuals around the globe are comfortable with their beliefs and traditions; they are content and prefer not to be exposed to the challenge of diversity. It is impossible for people to be completely free from ethnocentrism. For instance, in Asian culture, individuals use chopsticks to eat every meal. Therefore, it would be senseless for them to start eating without chopsticks. According to Bizumic et al., cultures help prevent people from losing their reason for existing; humans need to live in a world with different cultures and remain passionately fond of each other without losing the attraction they have (62). This insight is relevant because it strives to show why some people continue to willingly support their cultures despite living in multiethnic societies. Their decision, according to Bizumic et al., stems from the need to strengthen their own culture against anyone who can weaken it (65). However, such people should exercise greater tolerance for diversity by reducing stereotypical labeling and attitudes.
References
Bizumic, Boris, et al. “The Return of Ethnocentrism.”Political Psychology, 2020, pp. 59−65.Web.
Dalrymple, Theodore. “Reader, She Married Him—Alas.” The Magazine, 1995, pp. 1−3. Web.