A Democratic Society

Searching for an identity within a society of perceiving and labeling one’s culture

Canadian culture is often defined as multicultural and accepting in a democratic society, though often time unjustifiably. In the essay “Riding the Hyphen,” Anurita Bain recalls her experience towards her feelings and actions after immigrating to Canada. She attempts to relate her feelings towards the immigration and attainment of her Canadian citizenship while at the same time connecting with her Indian identity. In regards to her family adapting to a new lifestyle, her family instantly changes their look in order to look and act Canadian. Bains clearly emphasizes herself as being a Canadian dressed in casual attire. However, she discovers that her boss has questioned if she prefers wearing her traditional Indian dress instead. Bains tries constantly to fit in by withholding her Indian traditions, and attempts to learn English quickly and adapt to a Canadian lifestyle. In all the effort that she has tried to accommodate and adjust to this lifestyle, she loses part of her identity by not being able to speak Punjabi. Anurita Bains’ essay provides the insight into her life in becoming a Canadian, judgement based on race by people of multicultural backgrounds, and searching for a personal identity. Exploring a definition of self in a society that seeks individuals to create their own distinctive culture is a difficult task, especially for people of a traditional background, and is solved only when people are comfortable with themselves.

In Anurita Bain’s essay it is written from a multicultural point of view, where it provides a more informal perspective than a Canadians’ view. Bains uses the example of Indian short stories by Hanif Kureishi because it shows how “characters are trapped between their parents’ traditions and what surrounds them in society.” (Bains 39). These short stories only relates to the “predicaments of wandering in an unknown space discussed with seriousness and complexity.” (Bains 39). In addition, another author’s studies states that discriminatory practices such as not recognizing foreign credentials and work experience were identified as barriers to the immigrants’ sense of full acceptance into Canadian society.” (Grant’s (2002)). He believes that “the incompatibilities between the immigrants’ culture of origin and Canadian culture were identified as an important barrier to immigrants developing a national identity.” (Grant (2002)). In fact I do think that an immigrant trying to balance both culture of origin and Canadian culture can be difficult when you are seeking an identity to call your own. In all of the contrasts displayed, Bains’ essay leaves the readers with an understanding of what multicultural people feel in their everyday life. It thoroughly explains her initial beliefs that she was Indian and sometimes Canadian, before discussing the outcome of her