Cultural Diversity in London - 1162 Words

The phrase â€Å"British culture† is often used carelessly, as if it completely and comprehensively defines all of the 63 million people living in Great Britain as well as their culture. People who use terms such as this either willingly or unconsciously forget the fact that Great Britain is a culturally diverse country, the biggest representative of this being its largest and most populated city – London. In order to understand things better, we should take a few steps backwards and attempt to define these two important terms – (1) culture and (2) cultural diversity. According to â€Å"Longman’s Dictionary of Contemporary English†, culture is primarily defined as â€Å"the beliefs, way of life, art, and customs that are shared and accepted by people†¦show more content†¦What is also interesting is that in most London boroughs, the majority of pupils speak a language other than English at home. For example, in Tower Hamlets, Newham, Westminster and Brent this amounts to more than 60%. Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, Bexley, Bromley and Havering, where the rate is less than 20 per cent, are exceptions to this rule. The biggest contributor to such a huge level of diversity in all major cultural aspects is without doubt immigration. London had been the trade capitol of the world for a long time, and its numerous colonies provided it with abundant workforce in the past. Even today, when this is not the case, â€Å"London is the city with the second largest immigrant population (after New York)†, as no less than 36.7% of its population are foreign born people. LIFE IN THE MELTING POT It is now perfectly clear why London is often reffered to as â€Å"the melting pot of nations†. However, it is necessary to say that this term is also wrongly used, as â€Å"melting pot† suggests a homogyny in culture, i.e. a common culture for all people in a society, which does not apply to London. But how do exactly all these nations, with all their personal beliefs and traditions, get along in this so called â€Å"pot†? The capitols culture has been shaped over time by the many nationalities and their cultures into a highly heterogenous yet progressive environment. Testament to this are the numerous annualShow MoreRelatedTransport for London: A Case Study in Equality923 Words   |  4 PagesTransport for London: Case Study in Equality Question 1 In todays diverse environment it is crucial to embrace diversity in a continuously evolving international community. Even more day to day industries must continue to promise an environment that understands and promotes diversity in order to best serve and represent the public at large. Thus, even Transport for London, a government agency supervising public transportation must show that they incorporate equality and diversity into their operatingRead MorePostmodern Graphic Designer: Paula Scher1528 Words   |  7 PagesAs stated by Jonathan M. 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