StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Barbarism and its Cultural Construct - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The author of this essay "Barbarism and its Cultural Construct" points out that Canada is one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries. In fact, according to the CIA World Fact Book, Canada is the fifteenth country in the world with most migrants…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.7% of users find it useful
Barbarism and its Cultural Construct
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Barbarism and its Cultural Construct"

Your Sociology March 23, “Barbarism” and Its Cultural Construct Canada is one of the world’s most culturally diversecountries. In fact, according to the CIA World Fact Book, Canada is the fifteenth country in the world with most migrants. The figures say that there are 5.65 migrants per 1,000 people in the population. That is not a surprise since the Canada is often referred to as the land of immigrants, which is actually a good thing considering the trend of globalization. On March 15, 2011, Liberal MP Justin Trudeau caught himself in a controversy when he was asked about his reaction on the updated Discover Canada booklet.

He expressed his discomfort on the use of the word “barbaric” in the booklet, which was used to describe cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, 'honour killings', female genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/pub/discover.pdf). In the article by Paula Simons on the Edmonton Journal she examined the repercussions of the controversy. This controversy also brings to light how, as a student, I understand culture. At one point, Trudeau has a valid point that the word barbarism is rather prejudicial.

It implies that certain behaviors, like “honour killings”, are uncultured and primitive. The uneasiness probably stems from the idea that you cannot judge a culture with one’s own cultural lenses. This is cultural relativism and it is sometimes unfair to the other culture because it is quite limiting. But at the same time, the Discover Canada booklet is addressing to the migrants. They are joining a new society for them and they should adhere to the new social norms (or laws in this case).

In Immigration Minister’s Kenney’s words, the context of the word barbarism serves as an icebreaker to immigrants who might continue their old practices in Canada, some of which are indeed heinous. Culture, according to Murray, is the knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society (75). Obviously, this changes in every society. There are cultural universals too, which are practices that every culture has.

The most common of them is probably language. But this particular controversy probably has more significance when discussing norms. Norms are established and conventional behavioral standards maintained by a certain society. These are supposedly inherent behavioral rules. Laws, on the other hand, are norms that are formal in nature and are legally imposed and enforced. When one is an immigrant, it is assumed that the one’s culture is different; hence, there may be a need for education on the new culture he/she is going to be immersed in.

It is imperative that the immigrant should know about the new place’s laws and norms so as not to be culturally sanctioned, because doing so may incite more misunderstandings. The Canadian Immigration’s effort of informing the immigrants about these “barbaric” acts is certainly understandable if put in the context of education and warning. It also helps them integrate themselves in a new society. Trudeau’s point of the word “barbarian” being too harsh to describe certain cultural practices are valid too because, right and wrong behavior are dependent to culture.

For example, an act may be acceptable in this society but not in that society. And the term “barbarian” is suggesting superiority But at the end of the day, these words mean well. It protects Canada by maintaining their norms and laws, and possible incorporation of exotic, foreign practices that may destabilize known societal rules. It also protects the immigrants because, really, genital mutilation and forced marriages are violations of certain human rights, even if some cultures tolerate them.

And even if the statement of the citizenship study guide is oozing with cultural relativism, it is valid because the immigrants are just joining the fray, and doing so means following the rules of the game, and in this case, the Canadian laws and norms. Works Cited: “Canada”. The World Fact Book. CIA. CIA, 14 March 2011. Web. 22 March 2011. ----. “Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”. cic.gc.ca. Citizen and Immigration Canada, March 2011. Web. 22 March 2011.

Fitzpatrick, Meagan. “Trudeau Retracts Barbaric Remarks”. CBC News. CBC News, 15 March 2011. Web. 22 March 2011. Murray Jane, et al. Sociology in our Times. 5th Canadian Ed. Canada: Nelson Publishing, 2011. Print. Simons, Paula. “How One Word Ignited a Political Storm”. Edmonton Journal. Edmonton Journal, 17 March 2011. Web. 22 March 2011.

Read More
Tags
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Barbarism and its Cultural Construct Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Barbarism and its Cultural Construct Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/sociology/1412981-sociology
(Barbarism and Its Cultural Construct Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
Barbarism and Its Cultural Construct Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1412981-sociology.
“Barbarism and Its Cultural Construct Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1412981-sociology.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Barbarism and its Cultural Construct

Discussing Theodore Roosevelt's views of American Nationalism and Imperialism

This situation strengthened the desire of Theodore Roosevelt to construct the American race so that it becomes one that is full of ambitious, brave and hardworking men.... Date: Course of Learning: Discussing Theodore Roosevelt's views of American Nationalism and Imperialism Introduction The Theodore Roosevelt's ideology on American Imperialism and Nationalism was majorly motivated by his strong belief in the superiority that existed in the Anglo-Saxon peoples in relation to civilization and race....
12 Pages (3000 words) Research Paper

Human nature and Western civilization

For Europeans “civilization” was the benefit they had received from the intellectual upheavals which had overturned medieval barbarism and ignorance.... For Europeans “civilization” was the benefit they had received from the intellectual upheavals which had overturned medieval barbarism and ignorance.... The reason is that each person is born into a social and cultural setting.... Around three hundred years ago European intellectuals, inspired by the astonishing cultural changes they had witnessed over the previous century, began to develop the concept of “civilization” as a way of describing the differences they perceived between their manner of understanding the world and that of other peoples....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Theory of Leisure Class

From the discussion in the paper "The Theory of Leisure Class," it is clear that In the sequence of cultural evolution the emergence of a leisure class coincides with the beginning of ownership.... hellip; The early differentiation out of which the distinction between leisure and a working class arises is a division maintained between men's and women's work in the lower stages of barbarism (Hodgson, 2004).... The early differentiation out of which the distinction between leisure and a working class arises is a division maintained between men and women's work in the lower stages of barbarism (Hodgson, 2004)....
14 Pages (3500 words) Research Paper

Epic Encounters, Arabian Nights

The immediate connection which one can make with these images is linking the Middle East to barbarism and brutality.... It seems to me that the idea of barbarism being attached to any real or imagined enemy is a universal construct which comes from a lack of enlightenment.... These images show that the burqa is a tool to subjugate women rather than a cultural implement which is used in countries like India and Pakistan as well.... The lyrics of the song as they were originally created and sung in the first edition of the film were, “Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place/ Where the caravan camels roam/ Where they cut off your ear/ If they dont like your face/ its barbaric, but hey, its home (Lyrics007....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

The Sight of Sound: Visual Culture and Popular Music

From the minute that MTV broadcast its first video, the responsibility and cultural implications of music had changed.... This paper researches the culture of production of popular music and media market as changing industry.... … Music performance has been a core part of the musical experience for as long as recorded history has discussed the topic....
11 Pages (2750 words) Term Paper

The Portrayal of Streets as the Symptoms of the Darker Side of the American Society

nbsp;… Though for Jane Jacobs, the streets are a critical part of neighborhood life in particular, and the urban life in general, she does not, in any way, relate it to different discriminatory socioeconomic and cultural issues such racism, discrimination, underestimation, etc, as Thomas Piri does in his novel “Down These Mean Street”.... In this sense it can be said that if any of the views are taken apart from the other, the socio-cultural notion of a street will remain incomplete; both Jacobs's and Piri's views are complementary to each other....
6 Pages (1500 words) Book Report/Review

Female Genital Mutilation: Exploring Gender and Religion as Axes of Difference

rdquo; If we begin to trace the root of gender differentiation, and even subordination, it is imperative to consider the notion of gender as a social construct and see how men and women are assigned different social roles and are treated or considered differently because of perceived biological differences.... The discussion is made in light of an oft-discussed cultural practice: female genital mutilation....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

The Relationship between Class and Culture

The cultural differences within ethnic communities has gained fame in the literature field especially in the revival of the different social structure perceived to originate different interests that results to diverse modes of behavior and attitudes.... On another aspect culture is regarded to be significant to public relations as it enable organizations practice better global communication, cross-cultural and transnational (Karush, 2012: 46).... Classism is pegged on a system of cultural attitudes and beliefs that ranks individuals according to level of education, economic status, job status, family lineage and other divisions....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us