Recently, OMNI Television, a network of stations catering to a diverse ethnic community, started a campaign, asking the federal government and CRTC in Ottawa to offer the channel to all Canadians across the country and not just in certain communities. While this is extremely important to help new Canadians integrate into society, they are often forgetting (or at least not emphasizing) another thing. People like ME. We are first Generation kids whose parents were immigrants – specifically, first generation kids of parents who come from non-English speaking countries and/or non-western nations. Often, we fall off the radar when it comes to Diversity talk.
What do you mean? Well, just look at all the emphasis on diversity. It’s always about “well, if we hire someone of XYZ ethnicity, we’ll have a broader perspective. Well, maybe you will, maybe you won’t. If your team is made up mostly of people who have golf playing dads and went to certain schools and you hire someone who is of a different racial/religious/ethnic background who ALSO has a golf playing dad and went to the same schools, how MUCH of a difference would you make? Other than a little smatter of “otherness?” This is why I have been encouraging OMNI to feature REAL diverse programming, such as more bilingual shows as well as ones which could help immigrant parents/grandparents better understand the younger generations. It could even help them better integrate (even my very well-integrated parents kind of freaked out when I said I wanted white flowers at my wedding. They said that was a funeral colour. Sure, then why are you okay – even encouraged me – to get a “traditional” white, western gown? We ended up compromising with cream/off-white). Watching TV shows produced in the old country doesn’t really help. Nor would regular current event shows made in one’s language. It’s important to know what your (Canadian-raised) kids are doing – and WHY they’re doing it a certain way – which does. And I don’t think people necessarily get it. Sad, I know.
Let’s put it this way. I’m pretty much your typical city girl. I wear yoga pants on a regular basis. I take barre. I have even joked about being “that girl” at Whole Foods (or rather, being one green juice away from being such). I’ve done the whole low starch (but not exactly gluten-free), almost vegetarian/flexitarian thing (still kind of do). But wait, CAN I fit that stereotype? I’m a child of immigrants from Hong Kong. When people talk about women like me, they’re usually thinking about a white woman, 30-ish, blonde (probably fake, but not in a bad, reality TV kind of way) and tanned (though not reality TV orange. Or at least I HOPE she’s not). Or she’s a (white) hipster. And unlikely first generation Canadian – regardless of ethnicity. You know the type I’m talking about. She probably works in PR or something like that (I can check that off too). In other words, she doesn’t look like me – but she might act like me. They see me? Well, they think “what, is she a wannabe? Is she a sell-out?” This often comes from people who claim they promote diversity and multiculturalism. I know I’m not the only person who is “like this,” yet doesn’t fit the description, physically (hey, there’s a Cantonese term (okay, slur) for people like me – Jook sing, which I embrace with pride). In fact, I’ve come across people who are completely surprised that I AM this way. I usually laugh it off as ignorance, but they tend to come from people who are fairly well-educated. Usually, they’re older, however. So I guess it has to do with exposure.
Once in a while, they are NOT older, but people in my age range – 30somethings. I’ve spoken with these people at various events (media-related or not) and online. Typically, they too are children or grandchildren of immigrants and often non-white (they’re almost NEVER of East Asian descent, though). Now THESE are the individuals which REALLY make my eyes roll. And when you tell them otherwise, they just brush it off as anecdotal, or sometimes, tell you you’re ENTIRELY INCORRECT. So what, people like me don’t exist? Or CAN’T exist? Or worse, are sell-outs because we are the way we are (see my post on questioning my privilege)? I am happy to be me, so why are you telling me otherwise? What is WRONG with YOU? Jealous/resentful that you didn’t have flexible/open-minded parents (especially if you’re a child of immigrants)? You are well-educated, so why don’t you use your head? Or maybe you just don’t want to. Sadly, these people are never called out on their comments because we’re NOT SUPPOSED to call people who aren’t Anglo out on such things (though we are allowed to make fun of it. And we have. Just look at movies like My Big Fat Greek Wedding).
I know this is a really long rant and I’ve talked about such things before on this site, but I won’t stop until something is actually DONE. And nothing HAS been done. Diversity and multiculturalism isn’t only about where one comes from and emphasizing the more traditional (read: immigrant generation) aspects of the culture. It’s also respecting that things will evolve and blend once in a new country – especially for kids of immigrants who are growing up in a new country and exposed to things which they might not be in their parents’ homeland. People forget that sometimes – especially those who are multigeneration Canadian. The focus on old heritage is important, but so is integration and adapting to new ways (as a home cook who likes to experiment, I’m sure many of my recipes would make my ancestors turn in their graves due to the so-called “appropriation” (is it really?). That’s what multiculturalism and diversity SHOULD mean.
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