Mixed Cultures
Seventeen year old  Khawlah Mian from Pakistan adapts to life in Canada.  (Followed by discussion points for young people.)

Having been brought up in Pakistan, adapting to Canadian life can be difficult. But it's not Western culture that is difficult to adapt to. Rather, the hardest thing to overcome is the biases and stereotypes that people harbour about Pakistani culture.

Recently, more and more families living in Pakistan have picked up Western culture. Jeans, rock 'n' roll, and English as a first language have become a common part of Pakistani life.

Unfortunately, the emphasis put on Western ways can be damaging to future generations. Speaking English is very important in today's society, but Urdu, the native tongue of most Pakistanis, is also vital to self-esteem and cultural survival and should be taught to youth.

Ironically, 'Shalwar-Kamiz', traditional East-Indian clothing, is seen more and more on the streets of Toronto, but it is slowly disappearing in Pakistan.

Pakistani culture also has a lot of influence on Western life. 'Mehndi', the traditional hand paint used by Pakistanis at weddings and during the Muslim celebration of 'Eid-ul-Fitr', has been brought to North America and is quite often used as a temporary tattoo. East Indian jewellery is commonly seen being worn by many models and actresses.

Despite the reciprocity between cultural traditions, a lot of cultural differences remain. For instance, the Pakistani tradition of arranged marriages, where the parents of young men and women find suitable partners for their children to marry, is alive and well.

This custom has been misunderstood and misinterpreted by many people in the West, as well as by the media. Both the bride and the groom have the right to refuse the proposal, and are allowed to meet and get to know their fiancé before marriage.

The actual wedding ceremony is also completely different from those in the West. A traditional Pakistani wedding consists of four parts. The first one, called the 'Mehndi', is much like a wedding shower, but the bride's hands are painted with henna. Next comes the 'Nikah', which is the actual marriage ceremony performed by a religious figure. Following this is the 'Baraat' and then the 'Valimah'. The Baraat is a function held by the bride's family for the groom's family, where the bride is given away by her parents. This celebration is usually held on the same day as the Nikah. The Valimah is held on the following day by the groom's family.

Another misunderstood aspect of Pakistani life is child labour. Most people don't understand the problems these children will face if they do not work. They come from poverty stricken families, and will do anything to raise money. The men of poor families do small jobs for construction workers such as stacking bricks, mixing cement, etc. The women work as cleaning ladies. Young boys get factory jobs, not because they are forced to, but because they need the money. A media myth about this issue is that these boys are abused, which occurs occasionally, but not in every case.

Pakistani heritage is something to be proud of, one with many beliefs and values. But it is not some backward culture untouched by Western influence. We do not come to this country oblivious to Western ways! Furthermore, many of our traditional practices have been picked up by Westerners.

Pakistan is a growing nation with a lot of potential and should be valued. It should also be understood for what it is. We are not your stereotype of a backward and oppressive culture! We cherish our culture and we will carry it in our hearts forever.

Discussion Points for young people

1. Mian lists some Pakistani contributions to Canadian culture. What are they? Does the assimilation of elements from other cultures contribute to cultural stereotyping or combat it? Explain your answer.

2. Do immigrants in Canada cling more tightly to home traditions than their counterparts still living in their native land? If so, why might that be?

3. In what ways that you know of is the importation of Western culture variously resented and embraced?

4. What is your opinion of arranged marriages? Are there some traditions that only make sense in their country of origin?

5. Should child labour be allowed in Canada for families that need another income to make ends meet? What are the ramifications of either a 'yes' or 'no' answer to this question?

6. Mian writes that Pakistani culture, "is not some backward culture untouched by Western influence." What are the implications of her statement?

7. Is there evidence that non-Westerners feel culturally inferior to Westerners? Do Western countries represent themselves abroad as superior? How?

8. Western, and particularly American, cultural influence seems to be both embraced by many around the world, and rejected by those who would keep their culture "pure". Is this kind of cultural protectionism possible in the "global village"? Why might it be desirable? In what ways might it damage the culture it seeks to protect?

Source: http://www.equalitytoday.org