I concur with the preference of a society that leans towards cultural pluralism as opposed to cultural assimilation. Having a society with several cultural groups is beneficial as it provides room for diversity and introduction of new behaviors, lessons, norms, and values where an individual from a different culture is subjected to new experiences. Diversity is important in every person’s life because it improves, instills and increases knowledge and experiences which leaves the individual more informed than before (Mini-lecture 6). Cultural pluralism serves as a unique way to foster unity among people from different origins and backgrounds by creating a common ground for interactions and exchanges. As we have learned from the Mini-lecture 6, the major disadvantage of cultural assimilation is that “In a society in which there is a setting with a dominant culture and subcultures, ethnocentrism tends to be prevalent because the dominant culture is often seen as the better culture”.
I agree with you on the issue of each culture having their strengths and weaknesses. Some cultures possess practices that have been handed down generations after generations but when presented with a different culture will be termed unacceptable and criticized deeply. It is therefore important to accept each culture as it is and take from it if we have to only what is beneficial and acceptable to us. It is indeed true that culture pluralism exposes our innocence by taking what we know from our cultures and disclosing to us different worlds to be part of, be imparted from and if need be borrow from the culture. This will lead us to acceptance of different responses to different cultures as Parrillo argues that “A cultural relativist would remind us that cultural practices are simply different, rather than right or wrong, and need to be understood within their own context.” (Parrillo, 2009)
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References
Parrillo, Vincent N. 2009 (3rd Ed.). Diversity in America. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
SOC&101, Mini-Lecture 6 on Culture
