OUR CULTURAL MOSAICGrade 9- Social StudiesCulture- Ch.6

CELEBRATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Ethnic group- a group of people who share racial background, which can include a country of origin; there can be different ethnic groups within a racial group.

Linguistic group- a group of people who share a common language

Religious group- a group of people who share a common religion

Cultural group- a group of people who share a common culture

Assimilate- become absorbed into mainstream culture

Multicultural- encouraging contributing cultures to mainstream their identities while still participating in economic, political, and social life of the society.

WHAT IS RACISM?Canadians are encouraged to accept all members of contributing cultures, but it is a reality that not everyone in our society is treated equal.

The view that all members of a group are the same-- rather than individuals with differing abilities, personalities, and values--is known as a stereotype.

For example: some people think that all teenagers are loud and thoughtless. This is a stereotype, and while some teenagers--like many other people-- maybe occasionally loud and thoughtless. This doesn't mean that all teenagers are like that. Some are never loud and thoughtless.

Someone that holds this stereotype about teenagers will expect that any young person that he or she encounters will hold a prejudice- a view based on previously held ideas, and not on knowledge or experience.

That person might even discriminate against teenagers--that is, treat them unfairly, based simply on the fact that they are teenagers.

Racism is the belief that a person's abilities, personality, and values are influenced by race, colour, or ethnic origin. Racism is any action based on stereotypes that view all members of a racial, ethnic,or cultural groups as being the same,rather than individuals.

It is the mistaken belief that one group is superior to another and is often the cause of discrimination by organizations, institutions and individuals.

RACIAL STEREOTYPES

http://youtu.be/MdFRWf-CNC8

http://youtu.be/2e5xbof0kZE

GENDER STEREOTYPES

http://youtu.be/9d6Q72Gq850

http://youtu.be/QhEXVkay0UU (stop at 2:30 mins)

HTTP://WWW.NEWSER.COM/TAG/22876/1/GENDER-BIAS.HTML

BIAS in the News

UNDERSTANDING STEREOTYPES

Assumption:

Definition: an idea that is taken for granted but not necessarily proven.

Context: Non-Asians often make assumptions that Asians are smart.

Bias:

Definition:

CLASS ACTIVITIES

Have the entire class create a collage by combining the posters from days one and two, the written personal experiences, and pictures and artwork that present how assumptions and stereotypes make them feel. To create these images, provide magazines, construction paper, paint, markers, glue, and scissors.

For homework, review the Take Home Activity Sheet: Identifying Stereotypes in the Media with the class. Over the course of several days, they will use this sheet to keep a log of stereotypes they notice in television shows, commercials, or movies.

Students should record the name of the show, movie, or product advertised; the group stereotyped; the stereotype portrayed; and any thoughts or feelings the student experienced while watching the program..

This exercise might not be as easy as it seems; many of us are so accustomed to seeing certain stereotypes that we don’t even notice them. Encourage students to look for patterns in the images they watch.

EDUCATING AGAINST RACISM

A Personal response: The example of Rita Joe

A Community response- The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia