The perfect society. No conflicts, no inequality. Does it exist? Many argue that Canadian society is the closest resemblance to a utopian society. However, after taking a closer look at Canada’s history, it is evident that Canadian society has a deep rooted history of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. Hundreds of years of systematic and institutional racism have been overlooked as Canada has developed multiculturally. It is evident that hate and intolerance in Canadian society are defined by social and legal marginalization and political turmoils throughout history. Institutional racism is defined as prejudice and discrimination incorporated in the policies and practices of social institutions, such the government or education system
…show more content…
The political relationships of a country affect the minority groups that are prejudiced and personal racial views affect who individuals may vote for. In Canadian history, the mistreatment of Japanese Canadians can be accredited to the political turmoil between Canada and Japan during the Second World War. As Japan started to gain attention on the world stage and sided with Germany, overt racism against Japanese people increased however, they continue to develop as a community. However, after Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, Canadians began to associate Japanese Canadians, some who had never been to Japan, as the enemy (“Japanese Canadians,” n.d.). Their image was heavily stigmatized by government authorities, such as senior military and RCMP officers thus, leading to the incarceration of Japanese Canadians in internment camps. In addition, this mistreatment led to feelings of violation amongst the minority. (Kallen, 1995, p.131). This is an ample example of xenophobia, as it exhibits the characteristic of fear that is most often the root cause of discrimination and prejudice. Furthermore, it reinforces the social economic theory that states that minority groups may become scapegoats for problems within society, which in this case is political turmoil between Canada and Japan. Throughout Canadian history, various events exemplify the reality that is Canada’s long relation with racism, prejudice, and discrimination. Social and political marginalization, as well as political turmoil most accurately, construe Canada’s inherent history of
The political relationships of a country affect the minority groups that are prejudiced and personal racial views affect who individuals may vote for. In Canadian history, the mistreatment of Japanese Canadians can be accredited to the political turmoil between Canada and Japan during the Second World War. As Japan started to gain attention on the world stage and sided with Germany, overt racism against Japanese people increased however, they continue to develop as a community. However, after Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, Canadians began to associate Japanese Canadians, some who had never been to Japan, as the enemy (“Japanese Canadians,” n.d.). Their image was heavily stigmatized by government authorities, such as senior military and RCMP officers thus, leading to the incarceration of Japanese Canadians in internment camps. In addition, this mistreatment led to feelings of violation amongst the minority. (Kallen, 1995, p.131). This is an ample example of xenophobia, as it exhibits the characteristic of fear that is most often the root cause of discrimination and prejudice. Furthermore, it reinforces the social economic theory that states that minority groups may become scapegoats for problems within society, which in this case is political turmoil between Canada and Japan. Throughout Canadian history, various events exemplify the reality that is Canada’s long relation with racism, prejudice, and discrimination. Social and political marginalization, as well as political turmoil most accurately, construe Canada’s inherent history of