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Paris is divided into 20 districts, called arondissements, conveniently known by their numbers.
Manhattan is divided
into 28 districts, most
of which are named
after their location.
New York City's 2000 foreign-born population of 2.87 million was an all-time high and represented 36 percent of the city's population of 8 million.
Around 310,000 foreigners live in Paris, accounting for 14 % of the total population.
While both cities are viewed as "melting pots" there is a noticeable difference in cultural representation between Paris and New York City.
New York City is continuously celebrating ethnic cultural diversity. It is often seen in the form of parades.
Examples
St. Patrick's Day Parade
National Tartan Day Parade
Greek Independence Day Parade
Puerto Rico Day Parade
West Indian Day Carnival
Paris celebrates cultural events based on music and the arts. For the most part these events are unifying instead of individualistic.
Both celebrate National Holidays including New Years and Independence Day.
The NYC Department of Education encourages teachers to implement activities that underline the importance of diversity and multiple perspectives. This initiative can thus “nurture democratic thinking and civic engagement” in students as they can learn more about “the authentic voices of many peoples” and are given “the opportunity to explore alternate ways of perceiving the world.”
This notion of cultural pluralism is written into the structure of many organizations and institutions including the NY Times.
"Great organizations thrive and grow on a diversity of thought and ideas. The Times’s statement of values calls for us to embrace diversity and inclusion. These factors require that we report on our diverse cities, nation and world, with perception and insight. Only by having a staff as wide as it is deep, broad in perspective, backgrounds and experiences are we able to capture the multitude of voices of America and the world, with true fidelity."
Territorialization of immigrants started in the 1960’s. The crisis of housing, after the war, spurred massive arrivals of immigrants recruited for reconstruction jobs. High-rise buildings were created in isolated areas to accommodate immigrants.
One policy forced the youth to attend schools in their home area and prevented their interaction with peers from other regions. They were restricted only to local job opportunities.
The headscarf represents “an intrusion of Islamic practices into the public sphere of education”, which is why it was banned in 2004.
In 2013, France proposed to outlaw the scarf in universities, further marginalizing its Muslim population.
Secularism or social laïcité pertains to “the privatization of religious affiliation and the religious neutrality of the public sphere”.
It has strong, albeit perceived, connections to the foundation of the French Revolution and the Republican government and forces people to privatize the practice of any form of religion.
The French state is not willing to conduct census about its cultural or religious minorities so as to preserve the state’s neutrality.
We have learned a lot in our time reflecting in this course and with each other about what it means to shape a congruent life. There are a lot of important things to take into consideration when trying to make all the pieces of your life come together seamlessly.
Some important components of a congruent life are balance, vulnerability, and community.
A lot of your life is based off of the location in which you live.
Characteristics Prevalent in Paris Society
Characteristics prevalent in New York City
Paris has many characteristics that lead to a congruent life. People are united and therefore friendly personal interactions happen on a regular basis. They appreciate the little things more as well.
However, the opportunity that a city like New York provides is priceless. There is so much to be learned from other ethnicities and cultures and it is important to live in a society that embraces those differences and encourages interactions that will lead to learning the best skills for shaping a congruent life.
The French and American cultures share many similarities but also exhibit differences. Having had the opportunity to be immersed in both cultures, I have come to appreciate different aspects in each one. However, from my research and personal experience, if given a choice I would rather live in New York. One of my favorite things is the cultural diversity of New York City. St. John’s captures this aspect of the city as there are so many people from all over the world. Cultural pluralism enriches society as one can learn so much from people from all walks of life.
Coming from Mauritius, I am more accustomed to a diverse environment with different cultures and traditions blending in. Based on our research, the cultural integration model is different for both cities and New York seems to be a more fruitful hub for cultural diversity and the celebration of distinct foreign traditions. This is why I would prefer to live in New York City than Paris.
There are characteristics that each city brings that I can appreciate and enjoy. As mentioned many times the slow pace of Paris is inviting. However, my heart draws me into New York. The chance to know and learn from so many different cultures and religions I feel is an important part of shaping the congruent life.
This assignment was a very challenging one, but nonetheless I enjoyed it. The topic we chose, cultural pluralism, was a new topic for me. Being able to research this topic and then discuss it with my group was very beneficial to my understanding as well as being able to reflect on my time in Paris. The best part of this project for me was being able to work with Joe, Kristina and Mel. Working with such hard workers and smart individuals encouraged me through out the process of creating the final piece.
"Demographics : A Cosmopolitan City." - Paris.fr. N.p., n.d. Web.
De Wenden C. W. Urban Riots in France. The SAIS Review of Inernational Affairs 26.2 (Summer 2006): 47-53. The author describes how territorialization of immigrants occurred in France and presents reasons to account for the youth revolt.
Meiers, H. Difference and Laïcité- France’s Headscarf Debates and the Banning of Religious Symbols in French Public Schools. Thesis, University of Kansas. Ann Arbor: ProQuest/ UMI, 2007. (UMI Number: 1449857). This paper defines the concept of laïcité and explains why this principle is used in France. It also provides extensive information of the headscarf prohibition and how this is affecting the Muslim population in France.
“Population - New York City Department of City Planning." Population - New York City Department of City Planning. N.p., n.d. Web.
Reuters. France Proposes Extension of Muslim Headscarf Ban. Arabianbusiness.com (August 2013). <http://m.arabianbusiness.com/france-proposes-extension-of-muslim-headscarf-ban-512758.html> This article also explains why the headscarf was banned from public schools and also provides an update on the headscarf ban in France.
Sellers F. S. When in Paris…; What Should the Algerians and Morrocans Do? The Washington Post (November 2005): B.05. The author of this article compares the approaches of different countries in Western Europe and the success of their immigration integration models.
"Who We Are - Diversity." The New York Times. The New York Times Company, n.d. Web. <http://www.nytco.com/who-we-are/culture/diversity/>.
References
Cultural Pluralism
Definition: A condition in which minority groups participate fully in the dominant society, yet maintain their cultural differences. (Dictionary.Com)
Cultural pluralism doesn't mean that
there is just the presence of
multiple ethnic or cultural groups
within one society. It means
that in addition the existence
of this diversity is accepted
and appreciated by the
society on the whole.
By,
Mel Cheung, Kristina Quan, Lauren Ferris and Joe Reis
Personal Reflections
Acceptance of Diversity
Paris
Congruent Life
Mel Cheung
Joe Reis
There have been many examples of the Parisian government opposing cultural pluralism.
Lauren Ferris
Kristina Quan
The Landscape of Paris
The Landscape of
New York City
Diversity
Cultural Pluralism and Congruent Life
Acceptance of Diversity
New York
There are different ways that cultural pluralism affects the lifestyle of people.