Running head: MELTING POINT THEORY VS MULTICULTURALISM 1

Melting Point Theory Vs Multiculturalism

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The notion of “a melting pot” supports an introduction of a new identity as a citizen of a

specific country through assimilation while the multicultural theory appreciates the diversities of

people’s identities as nationals of a particular state. The coherence of the melting pot has been

questioned for years from the fact that it pushes people to share a collective identity through the

loss of their cultural identities (Kivisto, 2015). The efforts of the melting point to weld people

into a homogenous society are in a way lethal as people have to put their cultural identity second

to their acquired one which may lead to resentment. Therefore, multiculturalism is preferable

considering that it encourages people to live in harmony while still preserving their heritage and

believes.

Multiculturalism allows people to coexist despite their ethnic disparities. It gained

popularity in the 1970s especially in American society when different communities were

exploring their history (Modood, 2007). Multiculturalism is a policy that aims at addressing the

issues of different cultural groups. These issues are the different normative challenges that arise

from ethnicity, for example, national autonomy. The mosaic notion thus strives to correct the

disadvantages that result from a person belonging to a particular ethnic or minority group. Apart

from addressing social imbalances, multiculturalism also encourages people to pursue their

ethnicities. It thus advocates for policies that support people to seek their differences but not

standardization of culture or any other form of homogeneity. Among the many advantages of the

mosaic is that it encourages people to be more open and accepting as they understand that people

come from different backgrounds.

“A melting pot” else known as assimilation supports that people adopt a similar culture

despite their ethnicities. The ideology calls upon the fusion of foreign people with different

believes in creating harmony in a new culture (Kivisto, 2015). The theory argues that the
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bonding of people may result in the creation of a culture that every citizen can identify with and

decrease tensions created by ethnicity by promoting nationalism. Typically, the melting pot

theory suggests that ethnic groups blend into one culture while restraining themselves from

strong ties to their ethnic backgrounds.

Despite the bid of both ideologies to enhance the welfare of societies, they have

disadvantages that alter their efficiency. Multiculturalism, for instance, may create conflicts due

to differences in beliefs and practices (Taylor, 2014). One ethnic group may disregard the

practices of another group causing a rift between the two. Likewise, assimilation may be

problematic to society. Although assimilation point of view may support disparities, its primary

objective is to make policies that encourage minority groups to become part of the majority

group (Taylor, 2014). Assimilation, therefore, puts the heritage of the minorities at stake of the

consensus of the majority group. The requirement of “a melting pot” that a person drops their

culture to fit in a new culture is somewhat invalid as there is no guarantee of a better experience

with the new culture than the previous one and it causes cultures to drift over time. The most

significant disadvantages of assimilation are that if embraced, it will alter and possibly lead to

the disappearance of a culture that was once loved.

Multiculturalism creates a diverse environment but in a peaceful way. Different people

from different regions can share their experiences in a country that has various cultures as

opposed to a nation having only one society. Multiculturalism is also more realistic considering

that people and states all over the world coexist without trying to alter their heritage into a

common culture that will identify with every person. The mosaic theory is thus more applicable

than “a melting pot theory.”

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References

Kivisto, P. (2015). Incorporating diversity: Rethinking assimilation in a multicultural age.

Routledge.

Modood, T. (2007). Multiculturalism. The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, 1-4.

Taylor, D. M. (2014). The social psychology of racial and cultural diversity: Issues of

assimilation and multiculturalism. In Bilingualism, multiculturalism, and second

language learning (pp. 21-40). Psychology Press.