In a world where the word ‘multiculturalism’ has often been replaced with the term ‘integration’ (Knight, 2008), we can observe society’s movement away from the promotion of “celebrating difference” towards the notion of a “shared destiny and a cohesive society” (Becoming an Australian Citizen, 2007).
A
recent article posted by Allison Jackson on globalpost.com however, exemplifies
the need for society to restore its original perception of ‘multiculturalism’. In
particular, it highlights the promotion of diversity and uniqueness, and the
idea that different cultures (rather than one dominant national culture) can
coexist peacefully and equitably in a single society.
As
of last Wednesday, 21-year-old
Obabiyi Aishah
Ajibola was crowned the winner of a beauty pageant for Muslim women in
Indonesia. Jackson comments that ‘The Muslimah World’ contest was thought to be
“Islam’s answer to the controversial Miss World competition”. Organizers of the
event, now in its third year, deliberately staged the contest ahead of the
September 28 final of the Miss World competition. Muslimah World founder, Eka
Shanti quotes, “This year, we deliberately held our event just before the Miss
World final to show [that] there are alternative role models for Muslim women”.
This
event clearly signifies the idea that just because different people hold
different values and beliefs, it is not a justification for them to be
sidelined or discouraged from participating in anything. When culture is
concerned with a certain minority group, (such as a specific religion or way of
life), the guidelines and distinctive belief systems are often distinguished
first and generalized amongst the group’s population. This article is an
example of society’s need to be increasingly sensitive and considerate for
different cultural groups and their values. This contest in particular not only
promotes cultural uniqueness, but is a celebration of being a Muslim and having
Islamic values.
“Contestants
from Iran, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Nigeria and Indonesia were judged on
their beauty, ability to recite Koranic verses and views on Islam in the modern
world…The women wore headscarves and long embroidered dresses as they walked up
and down a catwalk in front of an audience of mainly religious scholars and
devout Muslims”. Here, traditional Islamic culture and practices seem to be
preserved and promoted, but at the same time it is integrated with a different
culture and their practices (arguably, Western culture and their beauty
contests in particular).
Just
as Williams (1958) famously quoted, “Culture is a process through which any
social organization develops and reproduces itself”, this article reflects the
ability of culture to transform and adapt to other cultures, whilst
maintaining its uniqueness and individuality. Ultimately, it can be argued that
similarities can also be found within different cultures. The Muslimah World
contest in particular, exhibits a celebration of women, and their desire to be
seen as beautiful and valued.
References:
Becoming
an Australian citizen: Citizenship. 2007. ACT: Commonwealth Copyright
Administration
Jackson,
A. (2013) ‘Nigerian woman wins Muslim beauty pageant in Indonesia’, viewed on
21 September 2013,
Knight,
K. (2008) ‘What is Multiculturalism?’, Griffith
Working Papers in Pragmatics and Intercultural Communication, Vol. 2, No.
2, pp. 106-118
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