Discrimination Against Indians In Singapore Cultural Studies Essay

Discrimination Against Indians In capital of capital of capital of capital of capital of capital of capital of Singapore Cultural Studies EssaySingapore may be highly advanced in terms of culture and technology however in that respect remain social fault lines that contend to be addressed. This paper aims to outline a common form of racism against Singaporean Indians and how this affects the particular individual and the society. The paper take also cross-reference to the USA and discuss the home of American-Indians living there. Recommendations to solve this problem will also be further discussed.Section II THE ISSUES AND WHO ARE relateThe population in Singapore is somewhat 4.9 million state, 3.7 million people ar Singaporeans and Per opusent Residents while the rest be foreigners. The ethnic diffusion of Singaporeans is as follows, 9.2% of Singapores population is Indians, 13.4% of Singapores population is Malays, 74.2 % of Singapores population are Chinese, while t he remain 3.2% of Singapores population are Eurasians. (http//www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/reference/sif2010.pdf)From the above mentioned statistics Indians are one the non term groups in Singapore while the Singapore population is dominated by the Chinese race.The interest paper will highlight the racism against Indians in Singapore from the major(ip)ity race which is the Chinese population. This topic has been chosen because the informant has experienced racism in many forms from the Chinese population in Singapore, and then the author is able to relate to this topic better and give better mentionions to solve the problem on hand.According to Nadra Kareem, one of the major causes of racism is because of the skin intensity, where the minorities are rejected by the society and raise verbal abuse because of their ethnic background. (http//racerelations.about.com/od/understandingrac1/a/internalizedracism.htm)The following are two quotes taken from interviews (conducted by me) to st rengthened Nadra Kareems literary argument.Vinodini, 25I was about 13 years old when this incident happened, I went to the swimming aim with my female group of friends. I and my friends did non really know how to swim, we secure went for the sake to try out something new. My group of friends were wearing our swimming deck up and we were about to enter the pocket billiards when a Chinese man say to his wife Charcoal coming inside the pool lets go. At that consign I felt so insulted. I did not know whether to yack away him or just simply run away to escape the humiliation. From that mean solar day onwards I lost the interest in swimming and I have never worn a swimming costume.The following statement illustrates the point that colour is a cause of racism, naturally swimming costumes tends to acquaint more of the body and the Chinese man had to comment on her colour as fusain. The respondents body is shamed by being referred to as charcoal (in relation to its black colour) and on a worse note the Chinese man felt that by the respondent entering the pool it meant that the man and his wife should leave the pool and that they cannot be in the same pool together. On a whole this incident is extremely damaging to Indians arrogance in their body.Thevandran, 16During primary nurture there was an incident whereby a Chinese boy from my class would cover his nose and encourage new(prenominal) students to cover their noses because he thought I was smelly and dirty. When I confronted him he told me that it was his parents who told him that Indians dont bathe at all. That day I convinced myself that I did not want to socialize with the Chinese.In both instances it can be famed that there are actually racially-motivated racism by the Chinese against the Indians in Singapore based on their colour. The multiple disgraceful terms much(prenominal) charcoal and dirty is mainly to mock the Indian body as inferior to theirs. Ardis C. Martin, M.D. states that if ones culture continues to be devalued it results in low self-esteem. (http//ap.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/ mental ability/full/32/4/338) In both cases above, the respondents felt insulted by the remarks that they received. Vinodini did not ever want to swim again while Thevandran did not want to socialise with Chinese to ease his pain.Section III wherefore THIS PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION AFFECT SOCIETY AND IS IMPORTANTThe racism of Chinese against Indians in Singapore should not be treated lightly and essential be treated seriously. One only has to look back into Singapores taradiddle and remember of the two racial events that nearly tore apart Singapore The Maria-Hertogh Riots and 1964 Race Riots.On 11 of December 1950 the court decided to awarding custody of Maria Hertogh (who was raised by Muslims) her biological Catholic parents. outraged Muslims protested the decision which eventually led to rioting when images showing Maria Hertogh rest before a statue of Mother Mary were p ublished. Rioting in Singapore lasted 3days. Many properties were destroyed but more importantly 173 people were injure and 18 were killed. (http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Hertogh_riots)The 1964 Race Riots was a series of riots that took settle in Singapore in July and September in the midst of Chinese and Malay racial groups. The racial violence killed 36 people and a further 556 people were injured. (http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_race_riots_in_Singapore)The following two events illustrate how racial conflicts can destroy Singapore.To deal with this mail the government has continuously and actively promoted racial conformity as the discover pillar of the nation by means of various policies and measures emphasizing tolerance, understanding and appraise among the contrasting races and religions in Singapore. (http//www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20100429-213067.html)Singaporeans are also constantly regularly reminded in official speeches of the racial in events in Singapores history and how it threatened to engulf the nation in turmoil. (http//www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/sp/nationaldayrally2009/090817_hard_work_on_harmony.html)The situation in Britain/United Kingdom will now be discussed, whereby Indians there are one of the minority race groups and they are discriminated violently and viciously by the majority groups.Even though the situation in Singapore regarding the racism against Indians by the Chinese may be seem as tame as compared to the situation in Britain/United Kingdom, lessons has to be learnt from those countries to preclude our nations future from becoming bleak as Britain and United Kingdom.Section IV WHERE CAN WE START TO FIX THE PROBLEMRacism of Indians by the Chinese in Singapore results in marginalisation between the two groups and so creates divide within the multi-racial society within Singapore. (http//www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20100429-213067.html)There are m any measures put in place by the government to tackle the issue of racism between the different racial groups. During Mr Lee Hsien Loong National Day Rally speech in 2009 he mentioned about Singapores efforts at fostering harmony among the different races and religions. (http//www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/sp/nationaldayrally2009/090817_hard_work_on_harmony.html).The flat coat for doing so is to create social interaction between different races and thus promote cultural diversity among them. Examples to promote national integration between the different races include through promotion of public housing, national service, educational policies, the mass media and grassroots organizations.One such measure I suggest to tackle the issue of racism against the Indians by the Chinese is to implement a system in primary schools whereby for one day a Indian student will have to live a Chinese students house. The undermentioned day the Chinese student will have to live in the Indian stud ents house. This thus creates the social interaction required to foster harmony between the different racial groups. The reason for implementing this system during primary school is because young children are impressionable and through interaction at this age it will continue a trend to interact with other races as they grow up.Martin Luther King once said I look to a day when people will not be judged by the simulation of their skin, but by the content of their character. I totally agree with him, through the implementation of my idea it will help Chinese in Singapore to judge Indians based on their character and nothing else, thus creating a harmonious and multi-racial Singapore for all to see.