20 page essay. Here are the first two paragraphs...
It is widely understood that globalization has affected the sociological conception of identity. The process of identification, through which we project ourselves into our cultural identities, is becoming more subjective, variable, and ultimately, problematic. The subject, previously experienced as having a unified and stable identity, has become fragmented, as it is composed of not a single, but of several unresolved identities. This change has produced what Stuart Hall calls the “postmodern subject,” conceptualized as having an essentialized, or fixed identity (2006). Despite this shift in identification, there is still a practice of defining race and ethnicity as permanent, impermeable categories. Having a single, fixed identity is a fantasy, as race is not literally imprinted in our genes. That said, there remains an intrinsic need to identify ourselves as part of a greater social network, and this is asserted by the Canadian government and dominant members of society (Scruton 1986). Identity thus stitches the subject into the structure, stabilizing both subjects and the cultural worlds they inhabit, making both reciprocally more unified and predictable.
Despite the ideals of liberal multiculturism which aim to encourage individual choices of identity, race continues to be formed and transformed within a system of cultural representations. Although citizens know what it is to be a Canadian according to our social policies, calling oneself “Canadian” is still not accepted as a way to define one’s racial identity. There is a false sense of security in Canada’s multiculturalism policies, as the dominant group continues to have the power to define what constitutes a subordinate group using physical and social features as justifications. A complex issue arises, however, when an individual does not “fit” within one of the pre-set categories of race. There are an overwhelming number of Canadians who identify as a “mix,” or hybrid of ancestries, and they find themselves struggling to find their place in society. Looking specifically at the precariousness of mixed races within Canada, it is clear to see that there is an ongoing struggle to find a frame of reference if you do not fall within the boundaries of racial categories. Exemplified by those who claim to be multi-racial, cultural identity in Canada is far more complex and problematic than what our multicultural utopia implies.
