I'm being asked if I consider myself monocultural or multicultural, I don't understand what this means?

[startingafresh1]

I'm completing a survey and I'm being asked if I consider myself to be a monocultural or multicultural individual.

I'm not sure what this means? My ethnic background is from one culture so does that make me monocultural?

It is it aimed more at my attitude?

I've tried google but it's not helped.

It’s wanky bollocks. If they haven’t defined terms it’s not a legitimate question.

I have no idea. I'd put multicultural, because I'm bilingual and lived in a few countries, but is that really the only definition of multicultural? Is it about your heritage? (If so, I'd be monocultural) Your experiences? Some vague attitude? Meeh.

I think that it is about having different but equal identities. For example someone born in the uk of Pakistan heritage will have both British and Pakistani identities, and thus will be multicultural as they live within 2 or more cultures.

Equally you might be dual heritage and thus be multicultural for the above described reasons.

You might have heritage which is solely from the UK as far as aware and yet have close friends or in laws from another heritage, that too counts as multicultural. You are being exposed (voluntary or involuntary) to another culture and thus perhaps another way of thinking.

The inverse would then be true, if all of not most interactions, relationships and influences are solely from one culture, then it would be described as monoculture.

Depends on your perspective. I am monocultural because I am a white British citizen as are all my forebears. My niece and nephew have three different heritage lines (white British, white Spanish and black St Lucian) and speak both Spanish and English so I would say they are multicultural.

Data collection loves labels.

This is what Wikipedia says

Monoculturalism is the policy or process of supporting, advocating, or allowing the expression of the culture of a single social or ethnic group.[1] It generally stems from beliefs within the dominant group that their cultural practices are superior to those of minority groups.[2] In this context, it may also involve the process of assimilation whereby other ethnic groups are expected to adopt the culture and practices of the dominant ethnic group. Monoculturalism, in the context of cultural diversity, is the opposite of multiculturalism.

So on that basis I assume you would be multicultural

Interesting... my ethnic background is monocultural, but DH is of a different nationality, so aspects of that are embraced in raising our DCs, and regular visits to the ILs.

I like a variety of international cuisine too

It doesn't mean much without context!

The wikipedia passage there is written with intent to warn of Nazi type tendencies and ethnic cleansing. It's not really relevant to the OPs question!

Starting, if you're from one culture then you're monocultural. You'd be very aware if you had diverse ethnic backgrounds, after all.

what fresh hell is this?

"if you're from one culture then you're monocultural."

how does anyone even know the answer to that - am I from one culture?!

why should I be judged by where ancestors lived, or what religion they might have followed.....bonkers.

It's for a job profile. I'd like to put that it's a ridiculous and confusing question but I would like to be considered so think I need to fill it in.

In terms of my heritage I guess I'm monocultural, in terms of my attitude, beliefs and outlook I'd say multicultural?!!!

TeaAddict "For example someone born in the uk of Pakistan heritage will have both British and Pakistani identities, and thus will be multicultural as they live within 2 or more cultures."

um, no. just no. just because my olds hail from elsewhere doesn't put me in 2 cultures.

OP, just out of interest, is it an anonymous question - attached to the diversity sheet etc?

Is it with the ethnicity question or instead of?

It is in addition to the ethnicity question.

Is it for a public sector job?

Does it not @Grace212 ? I was led to believe that it would, but of course it is your choice. Every country has its own cultural practices (whether it be Christmas stockings, to a tree, is the tree upright or base down, different languages and dialects etc etc etc) so naturally it would follow that if the heritage in which you practice and celebrate is from more than one country, then one would have multi (more than one) cultures.

It's something that has been occupying social economists since year dot. Just look at Mary and Joseph being forced to go back to the original town where Joseph's family originated for the Census, hence Jesus being born in Bethlehem.

Fascinating stuff eh?