Multicultural society

Multicultural society is a society where people of different races, cultures and traditions live side by side with a mutual respect. Multiculturalism is important to a society, because each society consists of people from different ethnic backgrounds, cultures and religions living and working together– we talk about a cultural diversity.

Advantages / pros When people learn about different ways of life, it helps to break down barriers between ethnic groups which are caused by ignorance. (Human beings have a tendency to be suspicious of cultures they do not understand). Living with different cultures brings a better understanding of other cultures, enrich our lives and helps to encourage tolerance.

Disadvantages/cons Cultural differences can divide a society. This can lead to prejudice and discrimination towards minorities There will always be racists who think their religion and culture is right and that other beliefs and cultures are wrong These people try to blame ethnic minorities for social and economic problems even when it is not true. Because of different opinions there sometimes happen riots, e.g. in France or the USA Racism is sometimes a problem of multicultural society

Multicultural education Prepares children for living in a multicultural society. It creates equal educational opportunities for students from different racial, ethnic and cultural groups it helps all students to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to function effectively in a society

Multiculturalism in Slovakia Slovak people are not used to people of different races and cultures. Until 1989 we were not an open society. There were some students from African countries at our universities. Nowadays, many foreigners with their customs and very different cultural backgrounds are coming to our country and we are getting used to the of multicultural society We are becoming more tolerant if we experience living in mixed society. Apart from the Slovak majority, the territory is inhabited by over half a million Hungarians in the South of Slovakia, along with smaller groups like the Ruthenians in the east - minorities

Gypsies / Romanies One minority without a territory are the Romany. A rapidly rising birth rate among the Romany means an increasingly important issue in Slovak politics and Slovakia is working hard to integrate them into society. A new phenomenon has appeared in Slovak traditions. More and more women are getting married to men of different religion and skin colour. There is still a certain amount of prejudice, but most young people are tolerant, without any prejudice.

Cosmopolitan countries and cities GREAT BRITAIN Britain is and has always been a mixed race society. During the past centuries many different races have settled in Britain from different reasons, e.f. Africans were brought by force to the country as slaves and servants, later refugees from France, Ireland or Russia tried to escape from persecusion or find a better way of life.Then there live people from the former British colonies. ( India, Pakistan, Bangladesh). People moving to Britain brought their own cultures and they still try to keep them alive. An exellent example of this is the Nothing Hill Carnival which celebrates the Caribbean Culture and is a part of the British life, too.

The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill in London, each August, over two days.

NEW YORK New York is as cosmopolitan as London but is not as mixed. Nationalities stay in their own areas. Polish people settled down in a cosmopolitan district of Chicago. The area of a city where many Chinese people live and where you can find many Chinese shops and restaurants is called Chinatown. People go there because of its special atmosphere, good restaurants and shops selling cheap Chinese souvenirs.

Vocabulary race, colour of someone´s skin, whites, blacks, Afro-American, Native American ethnic group, ethnic divisions, ethnic unrest, ethnic violence racial conflict, racial prejudice, racial harmony, racial tension, racism, racist, race riots, fight the police, throw rocks, fire-bombs, smash windows, prejudice integration, integrated society, segregation, segregated schools/restaurants multicultural, multiracial, interracial, cosmopolitan society/district/city, mixed marriage/parentage/ origin (in)/tolerance, understanding, acceptance, co-existance, cooperation assimilation, immigration, controversial, individuality arranged marriage, wedding, couple, church, registry office, marital status equality, partnership, confidence, faithfulness, responsibility, reliability refugee, immigrant, flee the country, seek asylum