In 2010, Maclean’s magazine released an article originally titled ‘Too Asian’. However, the article resulted in a great amount of backlash and as a result, had a title change, ‘The enrollment controversy’. The article suggests, as revealed by the original title, that certain universities within Canada have are admitting too many Asian students, and that it is unfair to the so called white Canadian students as it creates more competition for them, as well as higher standards to get into university and have higher expectations set for them once in university because Asians are purely academically focussed, (Dale, 2010). Therefore, ‘Canadian’ students, white students, do not have an opportunity to not be academically focussed at university. The …show more content…
This of course, relies on the assumption that these universities have a high Asian population solely because of these reputations, assuming that Asian students want to go to schools which are only academically focussed. It points out Canadian universities’ admission system is one based purely on meritocracy, which has resulted in having more Asian students within Canadian universities, which, according to the article, can be seen in the student population at certain universities. The article also brings up how in the United States, elite universities, have started asking more racially based questions about their applicants, to ensure that there are not too many Asian students enrolled at their schools. In the United States, race currently is used as a determinant of whether or not an applicant is …show more content…
However, every Asian person within Canada is different, and has had a different experience with their race. It describes all Asians in Canada as a monolith, which not only causes tremendous problems, but it is highly unlikely that any Asian in Canada relates to each one of the stereotypes Asians are believed to have within Canada. This article articulately brings forth the problem with generalizing a racial population, it can make them an enemy to other races. At the beginning of the article, a student being interviewed that she didn’t even consider going to certain universities, University of Toronto, University of British Colombia, and University of Waterloo, because the student population was ‘too Asian’. The article views the fact that admission into Canadian university is race-blind is actually a problem. It has resulted in minorities being overrepresented in Canadian universities, especially Asians. This reveals underlying white privilege in what many believe is a multicultural Canadian society. It views those who fit into the racial category of Asian as not Canadians, and that because they all work hard, Canadians are not able to get the university experience they desire, which ventures outside of academics, (Ma, 2012). Even when Maclean’s magazine released a apology for the article, which
In the Canadian society there exists millions of people of which majority are white people scientifically referred to as Caucasian, there too exists black people whom are referred to as ethnically African people and of course our case study today Aborigines whom have been Canada’s marginalized minority that have suffered social injustice across the board.
During the time period of 1880 - 1885 approximately 17,000 Chinese immigrants immigrated to Canada in the hopes of better work, and improved living conditions. These immigrants were sadly disappointed as they were met throughout Canada with resentment and racist views. After the completion of the Canadian transcontinental railway the mainly Chinese population that had been employed as works began to disperse throughout Canada. This dispersion created “Chinatowns”, generally located within British Columbia and Vancouver. This time period of prejudice and hate becomes extremely significant as it shows the way that Canada overlo...
The fear of Japan invading Canada in World War Two cause racism to arise in Canada. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941 (Bolotta et al, 2000), Canadian citizens feared the Japanese immigrants living in Canada may aid Japan in attacking. Worried about its citizens and problems that may arise, the Canadian government prevented the problem by interning Japanese Canadians. The issue with this solution was the Canadian Government was not justified in interning the Japanese Canadians. The Canadian government had no reason to intern the Japanese Canadians; it was unreasonable, unnecessary and discriminatory.
Canada is internationally renowned for its commitment to multiculturalism. In fact, Canada was the first nation to officially adopt a multicultural policy. However, while the Canadian government has developed a broad-based multicultural mandate that includes a national human rights code and increased penalties for hate-motivated crimes, and most Canadians oppose overt forms of discrimination and hate, racism continues to exist in Canadian society, albeit in a subtle fashion.
Driedger Leo and Shiva Halli, Race and Racism Canada’s Challenge, Kingston, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2000
Systemic discrimination has been a part of Canada’s past. Women, racial and ethnic minorities as well as First Nations people have all faced discrimination in Canada. Policies such as, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, provincial and federal Human Rights Codes, as well has various employment equity programs have been placed in Canada’s constitution to fight and address discrimination issues. Despite these key documents placed for universal rights and freedoms Aboriginal and other minority populations in Canada continue to be discriminated against. Many believe there is no discrimination in Canada, and suggest any lack of success of these groups is a result of personal decisions and not systemic discrimination. While others feel that the legislation and equality policies have yet resulted in an equal society for all minorities. Racism is immersed in Canadian society; this is clearly shown by stories of racial profiling in law enforcement.
On the contrary, the definitions and meanings of race and ethnicity “shift constantly, reflecting the changing dynamics of gender, race/ethnic, and class relations over time” (Ng 107). Thus, there is a relation between class and ethnicity (Ng 108). In Canada, the desired “race” and, therefore, upper socioeconomic class in Canada were the white, Anglo-Saxons. The “others” were typically Southern and Eastern Europeans, Jews, Asians, and Blacks.
To begin with, the role of Critical Race Theory provides us with the idea of “racial realism”, the idea that racism, the normalcy of white supremacy is part of the everyday life of an ‘other’, in other words, racial or indigenous minorities in Canada (Slides on Critical Race Theory). The Critical Race Theory gives an understanding of the power that can be given to a definition such as ‘race’, and how
In this very controversial article “I’m Not Racist, But…” Bisoondath use his own experience as example to criticize the abuse of racism words and the community care a little about the stereotype and ignorance problem. Bisoondath describe racism is as Canadian as maple syrup, American as apple pie, as French as croissants, as… This shows Bisoondath’s ideas is about everyone in the community. We all know Canada is a multiculturalism country and no doubt Canadian is proud of it, but this is not completely true. Canada is more open and accept than the other countries but the racisms still exist.
Minimalizing racial bias prevents students from being the victims of preference, rather than being judged on personal merit. As Roger Clegg’s response to the Wall Street Journal’s thoughts on banning race-conscious admissions illustrates,
“intelligent young Black men who had achieved a measure of education that should have guaranteed them a job befitting their academic achievements and in line with their training. But they were denied those opportunities by a racist society” (Grizzle, 1998) is a quote that connects to the course since it relates to all the racism and discrimination Black Canadians faced. Even though many Black Canadians had the qualifications for higher-level jobs, they were often denied these opportunities and offered lower-level positions, while white people were accepted very quickly. Black Canadians were frequently laid off to make room for white workers who were "more deserving" of those jobs. The “Canadian government continued to discourage Black immigration and those that entered Canada faced discrimination, including segregation that was often upheld by provincial Supreme Courts” (D’Agostino, 2024).
Looking forward, it was only after 1949 when China sided with Allies during the outbreak of WWII that the Chinese Exclusion Act was revoked and the open racism towards Chinese Canadians simmered down. Things started looking better for the Chinese Canadians as they were given rights, citizenship and could vote. This was due to the fact that many Chinese Canadians were enlisted and sent overseas to fight in WWII, representing Canada. Though it may seem like Canadian society has progressed into a multicultural, accepting place the blatant racism of the 1800-1900s still survives to this day ingrained from the years of racial exploitation. On the other hand, today the government wants no part in the racism dished out, rather works towards ignoring
Canada’s reputation on the world stage is one that is peerless, or at least it would be were it not for the Japanese-Canadian internment. Canada, a country of equality, racial acceptivity, and of ideal human rights, was one of the countries that participated in the internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War. Canada's decision to intern had many impacts, and not simply on the Japanese, but also on Canada. The Internment of Japanese-Canadians, during the Second World War, directly impacted Canada’s identity in a negative way by molding it into one that was racially intolerant. Canada’s identity was negatively affected due to the fact that the internment showed Canada as a country destitute of proper human rights, a people with
Banting noted that some Canadians fear multiculturalism will bring, “…challenges to historic cultures, anxieties about Islam, and fears about insecurity,” (797). As people migrate from one cultural or religious backgrounds, maintaining the identity of the host country becomes difficult. Young children born interact with the immigrants and they could easily emulate foreign cultures thereby putting the historic cultural identity of Canadians at risk of erosion. Winter Elke warned that multiculturalism is changing to give too much preference to the immigrants thereby risking it to become a minority affair (638). Therefore, the relationship between national the majority of Canadians and immigrants need rethinking. Erosion of other cultures as immigrants introduce new ways or adapt to the cultures of the host county (Canada). Furthermore, education of the immigrants could face challenges if they experience difficulty settling in Canada. Given that immigrants later work in Canada, the human resource sector faces a new challenge of managing a diversified workforce, which can create headache for Canadian employers. Banting indicated that there is, “a strong sense that multiculturalism policies have “failed” a reaction that is strongest perhaps in the Netherlands, but is felt in many other countries as well,” (797). Such assertions only fuel resentment towards
Canada. The typical stereotype: kind, considerate, always saying sorry. Everyone of every size, shape, and color seem to inhabit one part or another in Canada. The question really is how they got there. Granted, the stereotype didn't always apply to Canada. At points, Canada wasn't all smiles and rainbows. Rather, violent periods of cultural crashing occurred in the country that were hidden in plain sight via specific literary devices such as imagery, conflict, and irony. These same devices were used to convey more mild blending of cultures as well. This blending of cultures eventually became a prominent theme in Canadian writing.