Paul Mathews
06 Jul 2017, 01:19 AM
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Chapters 1 › Journal Assignment for Chapter 1: Do you feel like part of the 'Us' or the 'Them'? View instructions Hide instructions

Do you feel like part of the 'Us' or the 'Them'?

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Tell us: Where do you fall on the ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ spectrum?

In this chapter, you've seen many examples of how diversity is understood and contested in Germany and Canada. We imagine you may want to comment on what you've heard and maybe even share your personal experiences. The 'Us' & 'Them' course community would love to hear from you:

Here are some guiding questions to draw from:

  • How is diversity perceived in your country?
  • How are the communities you identify with (race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender...) represented in media and public life?
  • What examples can you mention or find that indicate your inclusion or exclusion from mainstream society?
  • What experiences have you had where others perceived you in a certain way based on how you look or where you come from? Were these correct or incorrect?
  • Does your country recognize itself as a country of immigration and in which ways? Do you see your country as a country of immigration?

Now what?
Click 'Start in Journal', and fill out the entry. How you do this is up to you: You can use just words, or add pictures or links to articles or videos to highlight your point!

Is this journal assignment required?
No! Nothing in our course is 'required', and there are no grades, but we encourage you to reflect on these topics and share if you feel comfortable, so that others in the course can benefit from your experiences.

Us or Them

1

I live in New Zealand, which has a similar history to Canada regarding immigration. The majority of our population is non Maori so clearly an immigrant society. I was born in the UK but moved to NZ when I was four, so very much think of myself as a New Zealander, the 'US' but I am also British by birth, and a naturalised Canadian having lived there for 8 years. What I find interesting is that after living in Scotland for 12 years and now returning to NZ, I very much have a mongrel accent which people just can't place, and as a result I am constantly assumed to be 'foreign' even though I did all my growing up, schooling, university and initial employment in NZ. I frequently get lectures on NZ history and context when people assume I'm some new immigrant that doesn't understand.

Comments

Sophia Burton (instructor_assistant)
almost 7 years ago

Hi Paul, thanks for your comments. I'm curious if it bothers you that you are constantly assumed as foreign or if you don't mind, and whether people accept you as from New Zealand once you explain that you did all your "growing up, schooling, etc." there?

p.s. The journal entry before yours by Ellie is also about NZ by the way. :)

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