Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Globalized Identities: The Impact of Globalization on Self and Identity, Springer International Publishing Ag, ss.131-156, 2022
Globalization has led to an increase in immigration and intercultural contact. As societies become increasingly diverse, the definition and boundaries of national identities are questioned and negotiated. In this chapter, I consider essentialism as an ideological tool that both dominant and subordinated populations use in the process of constructing racial/ethnic and national identities within diverse societies. Essentialism of social categories entails lay beliefs in a distinct and fixed nature that defines all members of a category, and distinguishes them from members of other categories. I discuss how people endorse or challenge essentialist ideas depending on their position within sociopolitical contexts characterized by high levels of immigration. Dominant groups may find diverse immigrant populations threatening, and may resort to essentialism in order to push them out of the boundaries of the nation, or force them to assimilate, whereas subordinated groups may use essentialist ideas strategically as they strive to achieve recognition of their own cultural identities while becoming part of a nation. Over time, inhabiting a multicultural society is likely to transform essentialist thinking tendencies across both groups, feeding back into patterns of intergroup relations. I end with a discussion of future trends that may shape essentialism and responses to diversity.