In the modern world, globalization takes place at a rapid pace, affecting not only the economy and trade relations of countries but the lives of every separate individual. If communities were formed before based on straightforward interpretations of geography, ethnicity, race, and others, today, more and more people can find themselves between existing definitions. Established frameworks do not provide the complete picture, making it a more complex and sensitive issue.
This is why such a definition as a ‘multicultural community has appeared; to which I believe I belong. A multicultural society is where people of different origins, nationalities, languages, religions, and ethnicities live. Multicultural society could be formed due to different reasons: immigration, diverse ethnic ancestry, education, and self-identification (Vora et al., 2018). The definition is quite broad due to the variety of formation origins. Combinations of cultural backgrounds provide an endless list of multicultural communities which can form all around the globe. More and more people get included in the community, which unites so-called ‘citizens of the world.
In my case, being raised in a multiethnic family provided me with a bicultural background. Living in Japan, I embraced Asian culture growing up, but I also picked up a Western character. A multicultural community brings many advantages in terms of communication and a broader understanding of the world. It helps me to socialize and educate myself by giving two perspectives on the same issue.
However, multicultural society does go through some hardships connected to identification and internalization. Even though globalization affected almost all parts of the world, it is still assumed that cultures distinguished and separated from one another. People with multicultural backgrounds can struggle to be identified by their communities because they belong to several at the same time.
Overall, the multicultural community is a global society that develops incredibly fast. It is complex, including different types of people, and unique. It unites people in their diversity, which helps them to feel like they belong.
Reference
Vora, D., Martin, L., Fitzsimmons, S. R., Pekerti, A. A., Lakshman, C., & Raheem, S. (2018). Multiculturalism within individuals: A review, critique, and agenda for future research. Journal of International Business Studies, 50(4), 499–524.