Rethinking Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism has a number of major flaws, and these are critically assessed in this chapter. First, underlying multiculturalism is the assumption that cultures are discrete, independent, and stable over time. Second, multiculturalism is based on relativism and the idea that the phenomena within each culture can only be evaluated through the value system and norms of that particular culture. This relativistic perspective has serious shortcomings, because it harms minorities within minorities (e.g., women in male-dominated cultures, where women do not enjoy equality). Related to this, third, it is assumed that minorities are motivated to retain their heritage cultures—but minorities within minorities (e.g., women in fundamentalist Islamic societies) are often motivated to escape their heritage cultures. Fourth, the priority given to celebrating differences is wrong and results in divisions and conflicts. Besides, humans are far more similar to one another than they are different. Fifth, the priority given to differences can sidetrack minority children from mainstream education. Sixth, the multiculturalism hypothesis, proposing that confidence and pride in the ingroup will lead people to be open and accepting toward outgroups, is highly questionable. Finally, the highlighting of cultural differences sidetracks from the growing inequalities in group material resources.