Sociology 433

msg to class and coordinators

Today we had our last class at the global lounge, where we had an international potluck! Alden came to visit us and we started talking about the future of the concept of cultures.

As a coordinator, from day 1 to the last day, the class has been a place for an inspiration and a motivation. Thank you to each one of you who supported our SDS and last but not least to everyone who made the decision to take our course. Our class is really a product of the collective effort. It was quite an experience to weave our personal stories together and discuss about new ways to understand and critique multiculturalism in Canada.

Anyhow, it was amazing having a seminar with all of you. All the best with your future endeavours!

Asuka

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Commemorative photo! 😀

presentation by Michael, Mélissa and Asuka

How has converging world affected your cultural identity?

Will cultural boundaries exist in the future?

What does belonging mean in the context of a converging world?

Great job to everyone who presented today!

We’ll be looking forward to the Day 2 of Group Presentations.

Have a good weekend.

March 25 (Fri)

– Elaine, Ellie, Selina, Chris

– Michael, Melissa, Asuka

March 28 (Mon)

– Sara, Cel, Chafic

– Hanae, Namzay, Morvarid

Hi all,

it appears that for the remainder of this term we have to take our class to elsewhere; on Fridays (March 18, 25, and April 1), we will meet IBLC Room 265. The time we meet is unchanged (9:30-11a). We’ll let you know as soon as possible about the location for Mondays; we’re currently trying to have the same room (196 or 265) for Mondays as well.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Regards,

Asuka, Chris & Hanae

Howe

1. Discuss some of the results of the study and whether you trust them. Discuss the methodology used in the paper and whether it is a good indication of rationalizing Quebec’s question of sovereignty.

2. The paper keeps making connections between having sovereignty and having better standards of living. Do you agree with this connection? Do you think separation usually results in better standards of living? What do you think is the rationale behind Quebecois’s version of sovereignty?

3. Do you think there is any conflict between the dual identity of Canada as a whole and Québécois identity (or any kind of dual identity like Chinese Canadian) for that matter? What are the differences between being French Canadian and being Chinese Canadian or is there any difference?

Meadwell

1. In the early chapter of Quebecois history, the Roman Catholic church enjoyed a significant degree of political control over the province. Meadwell states that “The population was mobilized by the church around local symbols, with rural life and la patrie linked together and glorified as part of a natural community.” Also, consider the fact that during the mid 19th century there was growing support for secular education and a liberal state. Do you think that such a fact greatly affected the province’s economy? Its economic relationship with the Anglophones?

2. The Internal Colonialism hypothesis suggests that support for nationalism is the strongest in “inferior positions in occupational structures,” and a more complete division of labour makes “independence … a more plausible option.” If we are to take for granted that this thesis is not as flawed as Meadwell suggests, do you think this thesis can work outside the Quebecois context? For instance, can the cultural makeup of BC make the province strive for independence?

3. The New Middle Class theory perceives that “strengthening of the provincial state must at least be a by-product, if not the central goal, of nationalism.” In regards to Quebec, do you think there is usually a conflict of interests between the province and the federal state?

4. The Capitalist State Thesis “points out that the expansion of the parapublic sector has provided not only employment for the middle class but also the infrastructure for private sector growth”, and in the 1980’s, “neoliberalism and a moderate nationalism went hand in hand.” Would you agree that nationalism promotes a certain kind of ideology or economic principles? Why/Why not? Examples?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12610268

Since we spent a lot of our time in classes discussing about the promotion of intercultural communication at universities,  here is an article that might interest you.

Interestingly Canada is not listed under the top 11 countries with overseas friendly universities.

FYI, we will be inviting the director of Go Global, Katherine Beaumont to our class on March 18th!

See you in class on Friday,

Asuka

http://askakorean.blogspot.com/

This forum is operated by a Korean American lawyer who answers pretty much any question about Korea and its culture. “The Korean”, as he calls himself, does not claim that he is an expert in this field; he simply offers his take on the culture, and explains societal components that non-Koreans would find difficult to understand. If he feels that he cannot give a thorough answer, he turns the question to his readers.

Today a lot of people expressed their concerns over cultural critique for the group project, and I thought it could be beneficial for us to look at this website since it is somewhat along the line of what the topic suggests.

Some of the articles that I find particularly interesting are:

How do I pick a Korean among Asians just by looking at them?
Why is StarCraft so popular in Korea?
Why do Koreans hate Japanese?
How to be a Constructive Critic of Korea

If you ask me, I thought that a lot of the stuff he posted were bang-on.

This short film talks about the foreign doctors struggling to get residencies in Canada even after they have obtained their Canadian medical qualifications. This raises the concern of ”systemic racism” in the evaluation of immigrant workers. Considering that Canada is currently suffering from doctor shortages, one would expect that Canada would welcome foreign doctors (who are qualified) to work in residency. However, that is not the case. What are some of the issues holding the Canadian-qualified immigrant doctors back from working in Canada? Why are they refused residency regardless of their qualifications?

Please click on the link below to view this film.

http://www.nfb.ca/film/doctors_without_residency/

Brain Abuse by Bauder

1. Bauder points out that “immigrants (under the “skilled-workers” category) are selected by a point system that gives credit to education and credentials that not not recognized in Cacada.” How do you feel about such de-skilling discrepancy? If occupations that are not highly desired by Canadian-born residents are filled up by immogrants, why is it more beneficial for high skilled immigranst to immigrate to Canada?

2. A lot of immigrants with valid education and credentials still face difficulties finding adaquate careers because they lack “Canadian Experience.” What is your definition of Canadian experience? Do you think in some professions it is necessary to concider “Canadian Experience” in finding employees? Or is it an abstract hurdle for immigrtants being discrimitated by the Canadian-borns in finding occupations?

3. According to Bauder, some of the toughest standards for finding recognition of foreign credentials are imposed on the medical professions. Many immigrants grunt that this is because the Canada-born personnel associated in medial corporation does not “want people from Third World countires coming in because it reduces thire demand.” Do you agree?

4. In his journal, Bauder quoted Bourdieu’s observation that “under particular circmusntances, institutionalised cultural capital can be replaced by other forms of cultural capital.” Agree or disagree? If so, why?