Multicultural Matrix and Analysis Worksheet

Part 1: Matrix

Using Ch. 10 of Sociology in Modules and your own Internet research, select and identify six different ethnic groups. Complete the matrix for the groups you identified.

Ethnic Group	Explain a historical fact about this group that has implications in the present. (100-150 Words; Citations needed)	What are some cultural practices and/or customs shared by this group? (100-150 Words; Citations needed)	How is this group represented in the media? (100-150 Words; Citations needed)	What is a current challenge faced by this group in the workplace? (100-150 Words; Citations needed)
1. Native/Alaska Native Americans	Native Americans are also known as Indian Americans, First Nation, Eskimos Native Alaskans, and Inuits and were the first people to settle in Northern America before the arrival of any Europeans. The Term Indian Americans were largely used in the 16^th century about the cultures of the Western Hemisphere. The word Indian was derived from Christopher Columbus’s repeated use presuming to have reached the South Asian shores. Around 1960, activists rejected the use of Indian Americans because the term was associated with negative connotations such as racism. Thus, the term Native Americans became the preferred version though many still hold on their tribal identities. (Brittanica.com,2020)	The Native Americans were culturally and tightly bound people. Traditionally, they were practiced nomadic, semi-nomadic, and static lifestyles. The people lived in different parts of northern America in tribal clusters. Most of their tools were entirely made of stone. Religiously, the Native Americans believed in Animism. This doctrine commonly shared among the natives supposed that the universe and everything in it, including people and animals, had a soul and spirit. They worshipped the sun, animals, plants, and other natural phenomena. The Native Americans also believed in the power of the Great Spirit, which they claimed was the Force behind every existence. Furthermore, they performed ceremonies and rituals involving chanting and singing to appease the spirits. These ceremonies and festivals were incorporated into their culture. They held them yearly.	Native Americans’ coverage is relatively low in films, TV shows, Video games, and other print media. When included, the media portrays them as historical figures from the 18^th and 19^th centuries who wear buckskins, live in teepees and ride horses. However, when covered as modern people, the media associates them with poverty, addiction, and lacking formal education. (Qureshi,2016) Also, the media shows them a single entity, diminishing their wide diversity and representation among the hundreds of tribes spread across the country. For instance, they are portrayed only as Apache or Navajo. Further, although the Native Americans constitute a small percent of the American population (about 2% as in 2013), the percentage representation I popular films and shows ranges between 0 and 0.4%. The little or almost no interaction with the Native Americans is the major reason for underrepresentation in the media (Qureshi, F. (2020). Native Americans: Negative impacts of media portrayals, stereotypes – Journalist’s Resource. Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/race-society/native-americans-media-stereotype-redskins/)	According to Brewer (2017), a poll conducted by NPR in 2017 shows that approximately one-third of the native Americans experience discrimination in the workplace when seeking employment, promotion, or equal pay at work. Moreover, according to the survey, 10% experience discrimination when trying to vote or participate in politics, 13% face discrimination when applying to attend college. Also, while trying to rent or buy housing, 17% face challenges. Over 50% of Native Americans further claim to face discrimination when seeking healthcare services or interacting with police. Although there are initiatives that aim to eliminate these forms of discrimination, many Native Americans still face economic hardships. Their employment rates are generally lower both overall and at the state level compared to the whites. (Austin 2013). Native Americans and Jobs: The Challenge and the Promise. (2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.epi.org/publication/bp370-native-americans-jobs/ (NPR Choice page. (, 2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.npr.org/2017/11/18/564807229/as-native-americans-face-job-discrimination-a-tribe-works-to-employ-its-own)
2. African Americans	African Americans settled in North America during the period of colonization and slavery. Being slaves, the African Americans were treated as subordinates, and their rights and privileges were cast off. However, the emergence of civil rights movements was a major turn-around for African Americans. They now realized that as a subordinate group, they could no longer voluntarily submit to their masters. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 significantly altered traditional racial prejudice. The Act banned discrimination based on color, race, sex, or religion. However, although the Act is in place to date, some sociologists argue that institutionalized racism continues to haunt African Americans, especially considering that their economic status, access to health and insurance coverage are relatively low compared to the whites. (History.com 2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-milestones)	Although the African Americans settled in America following years of colonization and slavery, they became more united and passed down the tradition of art to subsequent generations. Their African heritage, values, and beliefs only got stronger amidst oppression. They further incorporated elements of European American culture, adding to the dynamic African heritage and practices. Consequently, although the slaves came from different African countries, their struggles bound and developed their traditions in music, art, religion, literature, food, among other practices. Although some sociologists argue that African Americans lost most of their cultural ties and alignment with Africa, anthropologists’ studies indicate a continuum of African traditional cultures in their new world (Brown, 2013). Brown, A. K. (2013). Black Culture. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 1(1), 108-110.	In the recent past, US media outlets have expanded and become more accessible to African Americans. This shift is contrary to the slave days when the whites dominated the entertainment industry. They chose what images of African Americans to portray. Often, African Americans were shown as lazy or violent. With the drastic changes that have occurred in the industry, the image of African Americans, especially males, is distorted. The blackface is portrayed based on negative stereotypes and perceptions throughout the film, radio, television shows, and other popular media outlets. However, following the rise of a few influential African Americans in the media scene, they have challenged how the blacks have been and continue to be represented both historically and contemporary (Barnett,2014). Barnett, M., & Flynn, J. E. (2014). A century of celebration: Disrupting stereotypes and portrayals of African Americans in the media. Black History Bulletin, 77(2), 28-33.	According to Weller (2019), although the US labor market has seen a record improvement in job growth, African Americans still experience discrimination in the workplace. These challenges include lack of employment, limited job opportunities, comparatively lower pay rates, few or no benefits, and unstable employment terms. Consequently, there exist significant barriers to employment that range from discrimination against African American workers to occupational segregation and segmentation in labor markets. Occupationally, the African American workers end up with lower quality and lower-paying jobs. In the segmentation of labor markets, the African American workers have minimal chances of being hired in stable and high-paying jobs. African Americans Face Systematic Obstacles to Getting Good Jobs – Center for American Progress. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2019/12/05/478150/african-americans-face-systematic-obstacles-getting-good-jobs/
3. Asian Americans	The Asian immigrants arrived in the US around the Eighteenth century, where young single men were recruited as laborers. They worked as miners, farmers, railroad builders, fishermen, and factory workers. During this period, Asian Americans comprising mainly Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans, faced segregation and inequity in accessing education through discriminatory policies. Because of the segregation from attending schools belonging to the whites, the Asian immigrants set up their schools where their children schooled. In 1924, all Asian immigrants were excluded by law and denied the right to citizenship and intermarriage with the Caucasians. However, over the years, their population has grown steadily to surpass Hispanics. Despite the eighteenth-century segregation against education, today, they are the highest income earners, the best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the US (Pewresearch, 2012).	Asian Americans mainly comprise Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Filipinos. The Asian Americans hold a bicultural identity involving traditional values and customs from each distinct group and that are practiced within the community. Notably, the philosophies of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are the main pillars in which the family set-up is highly organized. The family units are structured, hierarchical, and paternal. The philosophies also emphasize peace, balance, and harmony, which makes most Asian Americans non-confrontational, passive, and sometimes indecisive (McKay, 2020). American Asians & Asian Diversity Cultural Information \| BYU McKay School of Education. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://education.byu.edu/diversity/culture/asianamerican.html	According to Force (2018), the representation of Asian Americans in the television and film industry has been very small for a long time. Force also argues that according to a study by the University of South Carolina’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism in 2017, Asian-American actors represented only 1% of all lead roles in Hollywood. This is despite Asian-Americans being 18million, representing 6% of the American population. Notably, the media has held to the negative stereotypes showing the Asian Americans as yellow-faced villains and neutered helpmates. The men have also been portrayed as sexless or sex-crazed while the women as dragon ladies or docile concubines (Newyorktimes.com, 2018). Why Do Asian-Americans Remain Largely Unseen in Film and Television?. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/t-magazine/asian-american-actors-representation.html	Although Asian Americans do outpace other ethnic groups academically according to the US Census data, they face several challenges arising from negative stereotypes that have long been in existence. Such negative biases, according to Jaschik (2019), include the notions that “Asian-Americans are hardworking but not assertive,” ‘that they are not outgoing’ and ‘lacking in social and leadership skills.’ These types of stereotypes hinder the Asian-Americans accessibility to quality jobs, professional development, and career advancement. They are also prevalent in the admission of Asian-American students in Ivy league learning institutions. Research suggests bias against Asian Americans after they earn degrees from top colleges \| Inside Higher Ed. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2019/03/04/research-suggests-bias-against-asian-americans-after-they-earn-degrees
4. Hispanic Americans	The current geographical boundaries of the United States include areas annexed from 1848 during the American-Mexican war. Hispanic/Latino Americans come from a wide array of backgrounds and nationalities, including Mexican Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, Cuban Americans, and other small Spanish speaking ethnicities from South and Central America. Mexican Americans are the oldest and largest of the Hispanic group, with most of them living in the South West. They have low rates of civil and economic integration. (Bordvarsson, 2009) Although they live in cities, most of them reside in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods called barrios. Also, most of them live in poverty, speak minimal English, and have menial jobs. Since the colonial period, illegal immigration continues to be a subject of concern, with the illegal immigrants offering cheap labor to American firms. Bodvarsson, Ö. B. & Van den. Berg, H. (2009). Hispanic immigration to the United States. The economics of immigration (pp. 315-341). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.	In America, Hispanic/Latino Americans from the four sub-groups tend to cluster in certain states and cities. According to Bordvarsson (2009), Hispanic Americans tend to cluster in specific states and cities due to the presence of network externalities. Earlier emigrants help new immigrants to settle by providing valuable information on destinations in America. Further, there are unique values and beliefs characterized as themes among Hispanic Americans. These shared beliefs include familismo, personalismo, jerarquismo, presentismo, and espiritismo. Familismo is the common belief on the importance of the family unit at all levels; personalismo refers to the display of mutual respect and the building of trust; jerarquismo confers the art of respect to hierarchy; presentismo emphasizes the present while espiritismo is the shared belief that good or evil spirit affects the wellbeing and spirit of a dead person (Stanford, 2020). Cultural Traditions, Beliefs, and Values. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://geriatrics.stanford.edu/ethnomed/latino/fund/traditions.html	Hispanic/Latino Americans are vastly underrepresented in the media. Despite being about 18% of the American population, Latino only accounts for 6.5% of primetime television. Stereotypical presentation of Latino Americans attacks the group’s morality, dignity, work ethic, and intelligence. For instance, most media outlets portray Latino men as comedic, unintelligent, aggressive, sexual, and unprofessional. Latin women are however presented as lacking work ethic, verbally aggressive and lazy (Vallejo 2016)	The Harvard Business Review (2016) agrees that Hispanic/Latino Americans have to recoil themselves to feel accepted at workplaces. They are obliged to modify their language, appearance, and communication styles to suit different working environments. For instance, because of the negative stereotypes linking Hispanic/Latino Americans to aggression and unprofessionalism, they are often reminded to ‘calm down,’ ‘be careful with their voices’ and ‘careful with their hands.’ Notably, according to the survey, more than half (53%) are forced to conform to the traditional white male, and another 66% feel discriminated against in the workplace, lack the opportunity to share ideas, and have no confidence their ideas are considered. US Latinos Feel They Can’t Be Themselves at Work. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://hbr.org/2016/10/u-s-latinos-feel-they-cant-be-themselves-at-work
5. Arab Americans	This category of American ethnicity is hard to define as their country of origin; Arabia has been non-existential for centuries. Also, Arab Americans represent religious practices commonly associated with Islam. Geographically, these groups of people are believed to have originated from the Middle East region and Northern Africa (Lumen,2020). As of 2010, the US Census struggled with the identity of Arab Americans despite their population consistently rising. The first group of Arab Americans arrived in America in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. They mainly consisted of Lebanese, Syrian, and Jordanian Christians who escaped persecution. After the end of immigration laws, the second generation of Arabs (mostly) moved into the US in search of better opportunities as they were highly educated and were escaping political unrest. However, prejudice and discrimination on the beliefs of perpetrating terrorism have marked years of Arab-Americans in the US. Race and Ethnicity in the United States \| Introduction to Sociology. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-states/	The customs of Arab- Americans center on hospitality and cuisines. They believe in socialization around friends and family and mostly prefer to stay near relatives. The Arab-Americans also hold a negative attitude towards pre-marital sex and highly regard female chastity. This group also values education, family ties, and economic achievement. While the Arab-American uphold family and common sharing of food, it prohibits the consumption of pork and pork products. Also, within the family, a member of two or three generations often reside in a single household in one family compound. On children’s upbringing, boys are given higher status than girls, and girls are often married at a relatively younger age. Education for girls is not highly regarded. (Abraham,2020) Arab Americans – History, Modern era, Arabs in America, Significant immigration waves. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/Arab-Americans.html	Following certain historical events such as the Gulf War, the bombing of Oklahoma, and the twin towers, the western media holds the Arab-Americans as forces behind these tragedies, terming them as enemies. The Western print and television media continues to depict distorted images of the Arab and Muslims because of these longstanding negativities. This hatred is also fueled by the belief that Arabs and Muslims are one. Further, the Arabs’ orient culture symbolized by a scarf and veil is associated with the masks worn by terrorists, heightening the stereotype more. This portrayal veers of the true identity of the veil and scarf which religiously and culturally signify chastity (Driss, 2011) Driss, R. (2011). The Representation of Arabs and Muslims in Western Media. Meknes, Marocco: School of Art and Humanities.	Several years past Oklahoma and the twin tower bombing, negative stereotypes predominantly exist. These negative stereotypes link the Arab-Americans with Islam and terrorism. The media further propagates these biases, leading to discrimination and segregation of the Arab-Americans from gaining meaningful employment. The public believes that the Arabs are violence-seeking and, therefore, threaten national security. Some racial discrimination against the Arab community at work has gone as far as referring to them as “Osama.” Consequently, because of the negative stereotypes associating with the Arab-Americans with Islam, they face barriers that hinder them from professional advancement and promotion (Audi,2008). Challenges Facing the Arab American Community from a Legal Perspective \| American Studies Journal. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from http://www.asjournal.org/52-2008/challenges-facing-the-arab-american-community-from-a-legal-perspective/
6. Native Hawaiians	Native Hawaiians represent any of the aboriginal people from Polynesia who settled in Hawaii from the Marquesas Islands and Tahiti around the third and tenth centuries, respectively. They were characterized by brown-skinned with wavy black hair. They traditionally depended on seafood, coconut, banana, and yams and practiced traditional festivals and dances such as the ‘Hula.’ They had ruling classes, who inbred and exercised tyrannical leadership over the common people. The Native Hawaiian movement into the US is spread across four periods with concentrated settlement in the state of Hawaii and California. Their traditional festivals and ceremonies form a significant part of cultural tourism that is practiced today (Kay,2020). The Struggle For Hawaiian Sovereignty – Introduction. (2020). Retrieved 18 May 2020, from https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/struggle-hawaiian-sovereignty-introduction	The Native Hawaiians made implements, utensils, and weapons out of stones, wood, and bones. They were very diligent and skilled. They made their houses using frames of wood while the floors were made of stones covered with a mat. The Native Hawaiians cooked food in Imus, which were holes dug in the ground. Although they used hot stones as fire for cooking their food, most of their food, including fish, were eaten raw. Religiously, they had four gods, and everything else that existed had a spirit. Politically, they were closely knit. However, their priesthood was brutal and oppressive to the common people, with a myriad of traditional festivals. With the coming of the European missionaries, these tyrannical religious powers were weakened (Kay,2020).	Like other minority groups in the US, Native Hawaiian representation in the media is often inaccurate and exaggerated. Mainstream media presents them as uncivilized and primitive, suggesting that Native Hawaiians are on the brink of history and have no touch with the modern world like white American domination. Further, filmmakers depict Native Hawaiians as ‘primordial, sexual and fertile'(Miyose, 2019). The Hawaiian female is presented as objects ready to bestow sexual favors to the white domination in the US. Also, the media portrays the Hawaiian culture as being inclusive and generous through the popular aloha spirit. This picture conceals the underlying trouble and demands for equity that Native Hawai’i seek. Miyose, Colby & Morel, Rayna. (2019). Eh… You Hawaiian? Examining Hawaii Five-0’s “Hawaiian.” Prism. 15. 66-80

Ethnic Group

Explain a historical fact about this group that has implications in the present. (100-150 Words; Citations needed)

What are some cultural practices and/or customs shared by this group? (100-150 Words; Citations needed)

How is this group represented in the media? (100-150 Words; Citations needed)

What is a current challenge faced by this group in the workplace? (100-150 Words; Citations needed)

1. Native/Alaska Native Americans

Native Americans are also known as Indian Americans, First Nation, Eskimos Native Alaskans, and Inuits and were the first people to settle in Northern America before the arrival of any Europeans. The Term Indian Americans were largely used in the 16^th century about the cultures of the Western Hemisphere. The word Indian was derived from Christopher Columbus’s repeated use presuming to have reached the South Asian shores. Around 1960, activists rejected the use of Indian Americans because the term was associated with negative connotations such as racism. Thus, the term Native Americans became the preferred version though many still hold on their tribal identities. (Brittanica.com,2020)

The Native Americans were culturally and tightly bound people. Traditionally, they were practiced nomadic, semi-nomadic, and static lifestyles. The people lived in different parts of northern America in tribal clusters. Most of their tools were entirely made of stone.

Religiously, the Native Americans believed in Animism. This doctrine commonly shared among the natives supposed that the universe and everything in it, including people and animals, had a soul and spirit. They worshipped the sun, animals, plants, and other natural phenomena. The Native Americans also believed in the power of the Great Spirit, which they claimed was the Force behind every existence.

Furthermore, they performed ceremonies and rituals involving chanting and singing to appease the spirits. These ceremonies and festivals were incorporated into their culture. They held them yearly.

Native Americans’ coverage is relatively low in films, TV shows, Video games, and other print media. When included, the media portrays them as historical figures from the 18^th and 19^th centuries who wear buckskins, live in teepees and ride horses. However, when covered as modern people, the media associates them with poverty, addiction, and lacking formal education. (Qureshi,2016)

Also, the media shows them a single entity, diminishing their wide diversity and representation among the hundreds of tribes spread across the country. For instance, they are portrayed only as Apache or Navajo. Further, although the Native Americans constitute a small percent of the American population (about 2% as in 2013), the percentage representation I popular films and shows ranges between 0 and 0.4%. The little or almost no interaction with the Native Americans is the major reason for underrepresentation in the media (Qureshi, F. (2020). Native Americans: Negative impacts of media portrayals, stereotypes – Journalist’s Resource. Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/race-society/native-americans-media-stereotype-redskins/)

According to Brewer (2017), a poll conducted by NPR in 2017 shows that approximately one-third of the native Americans experience discrimination in the workplace when seeking employment, promotion, or equal pay at work.

Moreover, according to the survey, 10% experience discrimination when trying to vote or participate in politics, 13% face discrimination when applying to attend college. Also, while trying to rent or buy housing, 17% face challenges. Over 50% of Native Americans further claim to face discrimination when seeking healthcare services or interacting with police.

Although there are initiatives that aim to eliminate these forms of discrimination, many Native Americans still face economic hardships. Their employment rates are generally lower both overall and at the state level compared to the whites. (Austin 2013).

Native Americans and Jobs: The Challenge and the Promise. (2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.epi.org/publication/bp370-native-americans-jobs/

(NPR Choice page. (, 2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.npr.org/2017/11/18/564807229/as-native-americans-face-job-discrimination-a-tribe-works-to-employ-its-own)

2. African Americans

African Americans settled in North America during the period of colonization and slavery. Being slaves, the African Americans were treated as subordinates, and their rights and privileges were cast off. However, the emergence of civil rights movements was a major turn-around for African Americans. They now realized that as a subordinate group, they could no longer voluntarily submit to their masters. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 significantly altered traditional racial prejudice. The Act banned discrimination based on color, race, sex, or religion. However, although the Act is in place to date, some sociologists argue that institutionalized racism continues to haunt African Americans, especially considering that their economic status, access to health and insurance coverage are relatively low compared to the whites. (History.com 2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-milestones)

Although the African Americans settled in America following years of colonization and slavery, they became more united and passed down the tradition of art to subsequent generations. Their African heritage, values, and beliefs only got stronger amidst oppression. They further incorporated elements of European American culture, adding to the dynamic African heritage and practices. Consequently, although the slaves came from different African countries, their struggles bound and developed their traditions in music, art, religion, literature, food, among other practices. Although some sociologists argue that African Americans lost most of their cultural ties and alignment with Africa, anthropologists’ studies indicate a continuum of African traditional cultures in their new world (Brown, 2013).

Brown, A. K. (2013). Black Culture. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 1(1), 108-110.

In the recent past, US media outlets have expanded and become more accessible to African Americans. This shift is contrary to the slave days when the whites dominated the entertainment industry. They chose what images of African Americans to portray. Often, African Americans were shown as lazy or violent. With the drastic changes that have occurred in the industry, the image of African Americans, especially males, is distorted. The blackface is portrayed based on negative stereotypes and perceptions throughout the film, radio, television shows, and other popular media outlets. However, following the rise of a few influential African Americans in the media scene, they have challenged how the blacks have been and continue to be represented both historically and contemporary (Barnett,2014).

Barnett, M., & Flynn, J. E. (2014). A century of celebration: Disrupting stereotypes and portrayals of African Americans in the media. Black History Bulletin, 77(2), 28-33.

According to Weller (2019), although the US labor market has seen a record improvement in job growth, African Americans still experience discrimination in the workplace. These challenges include lack of employment, limited job opportunities, comparatively lower pay rates, few or no benefits, and unstable employment terms. Consequently, there exist significant barriers to employment that range from discrimination against African American workers to occupational segregation and segmentation in labor markets. Occupationally, the African American workers end up with lower quality and lower-paying jobs. In the segmentation of labor markets, the African American workers have minimal chances of being hired in stable and high-paying jobs.

African Americans Face Systematic Obstacles to Getting Good Jobs – Center for American Progress. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2019/12/05/478150/african-americans-face-systematic-obstacles-getting-good-jobs/

3. Asian Americans

The Asian immigrants arrived in the US around the Eighteenth century, where young single men were recruited as laborers. They worked as miners, farmers, railroad builders, fishermen, and factory workers. During this period, Asian Americans comprising mainly Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans, faced segregation and inequity in accessing education through discriminatory policies. Because of the segregation from attending schools belonging to the whites, the Asian immigrants set up their schools where their children schooled. In 1924, all Asian immigrants were excluded by law and denied the right to citizenship and intermarriage with the Caucasians. However, over the years, their population has grown steadily to surpass Hispanics. Despite the eighteenth-century segregation against education, today, they are the highest income earners, the best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the US (Pewresearch, 2012).

Asian Americans mainly comprise Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Filipinos. The Asian Americans hold a bicultural identity involving traditional values and customs from each distinct group and that are practiced within the community. Notably, the philosophies of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are the main pillars in which the family set-up is highly organized. The family units are structured, hierarchical, and paternal. The philosophies also emphasize peace, balance, and harmony, which makes most Asian Americans non-confrontational, passive, and sometimes indecisive (McKay, 2020).

American Asians & Asian Diversity Cultural Information | BYU McKay School of Education. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://education.byu.edu/diversity/culture/asianamerican.html

According to Force (2018), the representation of Asian Americans in the television and film industry has been very small for a long time. Force also argues that according to a study by the University of South Carolina’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism in 2017, Asian-American actors represented only 1% of all lead roles in Hollywood. This is despite Asian-Americans being 18million, representing 6% of the American population. Notably, the media has held to the negative stereotypes showing the Asian Americans as yellow-faced villains and neutered helpmates. The men have also been portrayed as sexless or sex-crazed while the women as dragon ladies or docile concubines (Newyorktimes.com, 2018).

Why Do Asian-Americans Remain Largely Unseen in Film and Television?. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/t-magazine/asian-american-actors-representation.html

Although Asian Americans do outpace other ethnic groups academically according to the US Census data, they face several challenges arising from negative stereotypes that have long been in existence. Such negative biases, according to Jaschik (2019), include the notions that “Asian-Americans are hardworking but not assertive,” ‘that they are not outgoing’ and ‘lacking in social and leadership skills.’ These types of stereotypes hinder the Asian-Americans accessibility to quality jobs, professional development, and career advancement. They are also prevalent in the admission of Asian-American students in Ivy league learning institutions.

Research suggests bias against Asian Americans after they earn degrees from top colleges | Inside Higher Ed. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2019/03/04/research-suggests-bias-against-asian-americans-after-they-earn-degrees

4. Hispanic Americans

The current geographical boundaries of the United States include areas annexed from 1848 during the American-Mexican war. Hispanic/Latino Americans come from a wide array of backgrounds and nationalities, including Mexican Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, Cuban Americans, and other small Spanish speaking ethnicities from South and Central America. Mexican Americans are the oldest and largest of the Hispanic group, with most of them living in the South West. They have low rates of civil and economic integration. (Bordvarsson, 2009) Although they live in cities, most of them reside in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods called barrios. Also, most of them live in poverty, speak minimal English, and have menial jobs. Since the colonial period, illegal immigration continues to be a subject of concern, with the illegal immigrants offering cheap labor to American firms.

Bodvarsson, Ö. B. & Van den. Berg, H. (2009). Hispanic immigration to the United States. The economics of immigration (pp. 315-341). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

In America, Hispanic/Latino Americans from the four sub-groups tend to cluster in certain states and cities. According to Bordvarsson (2009), Hispanic Americans tend to cluster in specific states and cities due to the presence of network externalities. Earlier emigrants help new immigrants to settle by providing valuable information on destinations in America. Further, there are unique values and beliefs characterized as themes among Hispanic Americans. These shared beliefs include familismo, personalismo, jerarquismo, presentismo, and espiritismo. Familismo is the common belief on the importance of the family unit at all levels; personalismo refers to the display of mutual respect and the building of trust; jerarquismo confers the art of respect to hierarchy; presentismo emphasizes the present while espiritismo is the shared belief that good or evil spirit affects the wellbeing and spirit of a dead person (Stanford, 2020).

Cultural Traditions, Beliefs, and Values. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://geriatrics.stanford.edu/ethnomed/latino/fund/traditions.html

Hispanic/Latino Americans are vastly underrepresented in the media. Despite being about 18% of the American population, Latino only accounts for 6.5% of primetime television. Stereotypical presentation of Latino Americans attacks the group’s morality, dignity, work ethic, and intelligence. For instance, most media outlets portray Latino men as comedic, unintelligent, aggressive, sexual, and unprofessional. Latin women are however presented as lacking work ethic, verbally aggressive and lazy (Vallejo 2016)

The Harvard Business Review (2016) agrees that Hispanic/Latino Americans have to recoil themselves to feel accepted at workplaces. They are obliged to modify their language, appearance, and communication styles to suit different working environments. For instance, because of the negative stereotypes linking Hispanic/Latino Americans to aggression and unprofessionalism, they are often reminded to ‘calm down,’ ‘be careful with their voices’ and ‘careful with their hands.’ Notably, according to the survey, more than half (53%) are forced to conform to the traditional white male, and another 66% feel discriminated against in the workplace, lack the opportunity to share ideas, and have no confidence their ideas are considered.

US Latinos Feel They Can’t Be Themselves at Work. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://hbr.org/2016/10/u-s-latinos-feel-they-cant-be-themselves-at-work

5. Arab Americans

This category of American ethnicity is hard to define as their country of origin; Arabia has been non-existential for centuries. Also, Arab Americans represent religious practices commonly associated with Islam. Geographically, these groups of people are believed to have originated from the Middle East region and Northern Africa (Lumen,2020).

As of 2010, the US Census struggled with the identity of Arab Americans despite their population consistently rising. The first group of Arab Americans arrived in America in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. They mainly consisted of Lebanese, Syrian, and Jordanian Christians who escaped persecution. After the end of immigration laws, the second generation of Arabs (mostly) moved into the US in search of better opportunities as they were highly educated and were escaping political unrest. However, prejudice and discrimination on the beliefs of perpetrating terrorism have marked years of Arab-Americans in the US.

Race and Ethnicity in the United States | Introduction to Sociology. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-states/

The customs of Arab- Americans center on hospitality and cuisines. They believe in socialization around friends and family and mostly prefer to stay near relatives. The Arab-Americans also hold a negative attitude towards pre-marital sex and highly regard female chastity. This group also values education, family ties, and economic achievement. While the Arab-American uphold family and common sharing of food, it prohibits the consumption of pork and pork products.

Also, within the family, a member of two or three generations often reside in a single household in one family compound. On children’s upbringing, boys are given higher status than girls, and girls are often married at a relatively younger age. Education for girls is not highly regarded. (Abraham,2020)

Arab Americans – History, Modern era, Arabs in America, Significant immigration waves. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/Arab-Americans.html

Following certain historical events such as the Gulf War, the bombing of Oklahoma, and the twin towers, the western media holds the Arab-Americans as forces behind these tragedies, terming them as enemies. The Western print and television media continues to depict distorted images of the Arab and Muslims because of these longstanding negativities. This hatred is also fueled by the belief that Arabs and Muslims are one. Further, the Arabs’ orient culture symbolized by a scarf and veil is associated with the masks worn by terrorists, heightening the stereotype more. This portrayal veers of the true identity of the veil and scarf which religiously and culturally signify chastity (Driss, 2011)

Driss, R. (2011). The Representation of Arabs and Muslims in Western Media. Meknes, Marocco: School of Art and Humanities.

Several years past Oklahoma and the twin tower bombing, negative stereotypes predominantly exist. These negative stereotypes link the Arab-Americans with Islam and terrorism. The media further propagates these biases, leading to discrimination and segregation of the Arab-Americans from gaining meaningful employment. The public believes that the Arabs are violence-seeking and, therefore, threaten national security. Some racial discrimination against the Arab community at work has gone as far as referring to them as “Osama.” Consequently, because of the negative stereotypes associating with the Arab-Americans with Islam, they face barriers that hinder them from professional advancement and promotion (Audi,2008).

Challenges Facing the Arab American Community from a Legal Perspective | American Studies Journal. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from http://www.asjournal.org/52-2008/challenges-facing-the-arab-american-community-from-a-legal-perspective/

6. Native Hawaiians

Native Hawaiians represent any of the aboriginal people from Polynesia who settled in Hawaii from the Marquesas Islands and Tahiti around the third and tenth centuries, respectively. They were characterized by brown-skinned with wavy black hair. They traditionally depended on seafood, coconut, banana, and yams and practiced traditional festivals and dances such as the ‘Hula.’ They had ruling classes, who inbred and exercised tyrannical leadership over the common people. The Native Hawaiian movement into the US is spread across four periods with concentrated settlement in the state of Hawaii and California. Their traditional festivals and ceremonies form a significant part of cultural tourism that is practiced today (Kay,2020).

The Struggle For Hawaiian Sovereignty – Introduction. (2020). Retrieved 18 May 2020, from https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/struggle-hawaiian-sovereignty-introduction

The Native Hawaiians made implements, utensils, and weapons out of stones, wood, and bones. They were very diligent and skilled. They made their houses using frames of wood while the floors were made of stones covered with a mat. The Native Hawaiians cooked food in Imus, which were holes dug in the ground. Although they used hot stones as fire for cooking their food, most of their food, including fish, were eaten raw.

Religiously, they had four gods, and everything else that existed had a spirit. Politically, they were closely knit. However, their priesthood was brutal and oppressive to the common people, with a myriad of traditional festivals. With the coming of the European missionaries, these tyrannical religious powers were weakened (Kay,2020).

Like other minority groups in the US, Native Hawaiian representation in the media is often inaccurate and exaggerated. Mainstream media presents them as uncivilized and primitive, suggesting that Native Hawaiians are on the brink of history and have no touch with the modern world like white American domination. Further, filmmakers depict Native Hawaiians as ‘primordial, sexual and fertile'(Miyose, 2019). The Hawaiian female is presented as objects ready to bestow sexual favors to the white domination in the US.

Also, the media portrays the Hawaiian culture as being inclusive and generous through the popular aloha spirit. This picture conceals the underlying trouble and demands for equity that Native Hawai’i seek.

Miyose, Colby & Morel, Rayna. (2019). Eh… You Hawaiian? Examining Hawaii Five-0’s “Hawaiian.” Prism. 15. 66-80

Part 2: Analysis

Write an analysis of the advantages of a multicultural society and the labor force. To do so, fill out the empty spaces in the following items (each item should have 100 to 200 words). Include specific examples related to at least three of the ethnic groups you identified in Part 1. Provide appropriate citations following APA.

Intro:

Unlike the early centuries that mirrored negative stereotypes and insubordination, the twenty-first century brings a new frontier to the workforce. When considering a company’s workforce, blending a multicultural team can often be challenging because of the different cultural, religious, and historical aspects of the people involved. However, companies that succeed in fusing employees from diverse ethnicities also reap huge benefits. For instance, employees from diverse cultures also bring a diverse perspective that can help solve a problem. Also, employees often have different tolerance levels. Companies can further reach customers from different cultural backgrounds through their team of multicultural employees. Furthermore, companies that promote a multicultural labor force can benefit from the unique expertise such as marketing and innovation courtesy of staff from diverse ethnicities (Reference for business, 2020).

How has US society influenced these ethnic groups’ mindset and identity? Provide at least four points.

Ethnicity and national identity are recurrent themes in the US. Although the US is a nation founded on shared values rather than shared ethnic identities, the population is composed of identifiable varying ethnic groups. The American identity is thus psychologically accorded more to the European Americans than members of other ethnic minority groups such as African, Asian, and Latino. For instance, although the native Americans were the first people to inhabit America with the term native implying original inhabitants, these minority group is often depicted as ‘exotic’ and faces oppression by the whites. Thus, from implicit assessment, there exist exclusions of ethnic minorities from national identity. Many Americans’ conception of being American is still associated with white domination (Thiery, 2016 ).

How has each group been stereotyped? How accurate are these stereotypes?

Today, stereotypes form an ingrained part of American society, subsequently affecting the socialization process. Inaccurate imagery of cultures and clichés continue to be transmitted from one generation to another. For instance, the African Americans are shown as being overly violent and addicted to drugs; the Latino as being comic, verbally aggressive, unintelligent and unprofessional while the Asian American are depicted as a model minority who are born scientists but are unable to master English(Barnett 2014, Qureshi 2016, Wei 1999 & Vallejo, 2016). However, case studies reveal otherwise. Latino Americans, for instance, college attendance is relatively high, and they work in professional occupations or own businesses. Asian Americans, on the contrary, speak fluent English while the Africa Americans are hardworking and not overly addicted to drugs nor violent. These stereotypes thus accurately reflect unequal relations among the many American society ethnicities.

How do the social concepts of prejudice, discrimination, and privilege affect multicultural groups?

Discrimination and prejudice affect the social and economic wellbeing of minority groups such as Asians, African, Hispanic, and Latino Americans. For instance, it hinders their accessibility to decent job opportunities, health insurance, fair legal justice, and education. Furthermore, persistent exposure to stereotypes and discrimination tends to affect the psychological wellbeing of the targeted populations, resulting in stigmatization, low self-esteem, shame, stress, and poor health (UN, 2018). The endowment of white domination as the perfect representation of America hinders national values that promote equity, fairness, justice, cohesion, and peaceful coexistence among the diverse, multicultural American society. Thus, it fuels social exclusion and hampers the attainment of national goals.

How do the behavior and thinking patterns in US society (biases, stereotypes, discriminatory practices) affect multicultural groups, especially regarding class systems and employment?

The US society’s behavior and attitudes towards immigrant multicultural groups if often clouded in biases, stereotypes, and discriminatory practices. White domination assumes a superior social class and an ideal representation of American society despite the existence of other multicultural groups. These inaccurate misconceptions lead to negativity towards immigrants, including that immigrants take away jobs that should otherwise be reserved for the native white domination. Thus, many firms give preference to the white dominants in the hiring process. When hired, immigrants get low paying occupations that are unstable, and they get low benefits such as health coverage. Also, the belief that ethnic groups like Africans and Latinos being violent leads to segregation for fear of causing trouble and committing other illegal acts (Horowitz,2019).

Conclusion:

Thus, companies that embrace a multicultural labor force can gain a competitive advantage, especially when expanding to foreign markets. These benefits can include increased problem-solving, flexibility, innovation, and creativity within an organization. Klagge (2016) further asserts that multiculturality expands the rationality of an organization through an increased pool of new ideas, new perspectives, and interpretations of prevailing circumstances. However, the companies should put in place measures that facilitate positivity and inspire openness, such as effective communication among all organization employees. Multicultural organizations should realize that the differences that come from a diverse workforce are far less compared to the benefits reaped from a diverse labor pool.

Part 3: References

Wei, W. (1999). The nature and problem of stereotypes. On diversity in teaching and learning: A compendium, 18-21.

Devos, T., & Mohamed, H. (2014). Shades of American identity: Implicit relations between ethnic and national identities. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 8(12), 739-754.

The effect racist rhetoric has on young Latinos and why all Americans should care. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://theconversation.com/the-effect-racist-rhetoric-has-on-young-latinos-and-why-all-americans-should-care-57408

Multicultural Workforce. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Mor-Off/Multicultural-Workforce.html

Klagge, Jay. (2016). Advantages and Disadvantages of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace.

Americans See Advantages and Challenges in Country’s Growing Racial and Ethnic Diversity. (2020). Retrieved 17 May 2020, from https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/05/08/americans-see-advantages-and-challenges-in-countrys-growing-racial-and-ethnic-diversity/

Multicultural Matrix and Analysis Worksheet

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Part 1: Matrix

Part 2: Analysis

Part 3: References

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