Wiley-Blackwell Multiculturalism and Diversity: A Social Psychological Perspective: 2 (Contemporary Social Issues)

Multiculturalism and Diversity focuses on the ways in which history and identity inform each other, and examines the politics of culture as well as the politics of cultural identities within the U.S. Illustrates the basic proposition that each of us is a unique multicultural human being and that culture affects individual self-definition, experience, behavior, and social interaction Moves from early simple definitions of multiculturalism to more complex understandings focused on culture as learned, teachable (shared), and fluidUses a critical approach to the study of culture and personal identity that is informed by historical and social factors and an appreciation of their interactionExamines the various cultural threads within the mosaic of a person’s multicultural self such as sexual identity, gender, social class, and ethnicity Review "Readers will enjoy its clarity, succinctness, and current examples. A timely contribution, the book can enrich training for research or practice and should prove valuable for anyone interested in culture and diversity." (Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2011) "For instructors and researchers looking for new and better ways to define and describe the difficult constructs of culture, diversity, and multiculturalism, Multiculturalism and Diversity lives up to the task....... Furthermore, its individual chapters may serve as helpful stand-alone treatises on the four major cultural groups." (PsycCRITIQUES, September 15, 2010) "A very good introduction for academics and (separately) the truly provincial for whom college is the first step out of their cultural womb." (Prometheus 6, January 2010) Review "Incisive, wise, and extremely thought-provoking is the new book by Bernice Lott. From her brilliant observation that all of us are multicultural flows a narrative that invites us to re-think issues of self and society. The implications of Lott's analyses are both exciting and profound. A great book!" –Faye J. Crosby, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA "This book is truly unique. Integrating research and theories, the author makes a case that every individual is multicultural and further elucidates how contexts, roles, and power differentials underlie the conditions of major ethnic/gender/social class/sexual orientation groups. Written in an engaging and accessible manner, this book is suitable for any course on multiculturalism and diversity." –Ying-yi Hong, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore"Multiculturalism and Diversity -- two words that capture the essence of our contemporary social worlds. In this book Bernice Lott explores the social psychological impact of cultural diversity. The result is a resounding success: The writing is cogent, the examples striking, the analysis clear and insightful. Lott’s comprehensive and compelling thesis represents a significant advance in our efforts to understand the evolving nature of self in multicultural societies." –Richard J. Crisp, University of Kent From the Inside Flap Multiculturalism is a theoretical, political, and educational perspective that has had great influence within contemporary psychology but of which the meaning and implications are not yet fully understood. In Multiculturalism and Diversity, Bernice Lott uses the lenses of social and critical psychology to illuminate the meaning and scope of culture and its relationship with diversity. Lott posits that all human beings in contemporary society are multicultural and focuses on the many dimensions and politics of culture and how these shape individual identities. The definition of culture guiding this book is one that is inclusive and pertains to many human groups, large and small. The author argues that such an approach provides an authentic way of understanding how significant group memberships affect individual self-definition, experience, behavior, and social interacti