THE CHALLENGES OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY
1.Stable Identity & Socialisation: Every individual seeks understanding about their place and purpose in the world. The way they are brought up, the values instilled in them by their families, and their interactions with society play pivotal roles in shaping their identity. This formation isn’t a one-way process; it’s an interactive journey, encompassing dialogues, negotiations, and sometimes even confrontations with key figures in one’s life, such as family and community members.
2.Language & Cultural Values: Our immediate surroundings equip us with tools like language and cultural norms. These elements not only offer a lens to interpret the world but also firmly anchor our understanding of self, providing context to our existence.
3.Ascriptive Identity: One’s identity often leans heavily on factors that are inherent, elements they are born into and haven’t actively chosen. Attributes like family background, ethnic lineage, and birthplace are intrinsic and often pivotal to how one identifies oneself.
4.Accidental Membership & Emotional Attachment: There’s a peculiar phenomenon where individuals develop profound emotional bonds to groups they are inherently part of, without any active choice. This contrasts with groups or associations one might join based on merit or qualifications, where active effort and choice are involved.
5.Enduring Nature Of Ascriptive Identities: Even if an individual decides to step away or distance themselves from these inherent identities, the wider society might still view or categorise them based on these attributes. Such identities, deeply rooted in one’s being, elicit strong reactions, especially when they are perceived as being under threat.
6.Universality Of Ascriptive Identities: Across the globe, most people can relate to inherent identifiers, whether related to their nation, language, faith, or other such parameters. While not every individual might resonate deeply with each of these aspects, the potential for such connections is almost universal.
7.Conflict & Dual Perceptions: Disputes arising from these core identities can be intense and hard to navigate. During such disputes, opposing sides often have amplified, distorted views of each other. Each faction tends to see themselves as just and the opposing side as flawed. This often results in each side constructing mirrored, yet contrasting perceptions of each other, each perceiving themselves as the righteous party.