Photographic Essay Assignment Sample

Photographic Essay Assignment Sample

Migration is now a global phenomenon as it is taking place all over the world. People are moving from one country to another or even within one country but in different regions. They seek better quality of life, services, health, and education facility.In this essay, the impacts of migrations on the cultural and social landscapes of Sydney are outlined. Also, a discussion on ethical considerations and its pros and cons are illustrated. At last, the challenges faced by the immigrants in the host country are highlighted.

Impacts of Migration on Cultural and Social Landscape in Sydney

The impact of migration is a debating issue as it brings many cultural, economic, and social impacts and changes in the host country. Talking about the social impacts, immigration in Sydney has both positive as well as negative impacts. The positive impact is that people will get better services and will advance themselves & their community. In other words, migration results in the welfare of the migrating community and may revolutionise the cultural and social transformation (Dunn, 1998). While surveying in the Cabramatta, community welfare centers and youth clubs were found. These centers assist in gathering Indo-Chinese community people to gather for social support, group activities, commemorating rituals, festivals, and other purposes.

On the other hand, the negative social consequence of migration is that it increases unemployment in the region. In Sydney, there are a limited number of jobs and resources which are sufficient to cater to the native people of Sydney. But, immigrants would consume certain jobs which will create pressure on the government to create more jobs. Ultimately, it will escalate the unemployment rate. Also, migration would create a pressure on the government to provide housing, educational, and medical facilities to immigrants. It will increase the price of services for native Australians (Jakubowicz, 2015).

Talking about the impact of migration on the cultural landscape, immigration provides a diversity in the culture of Sydney. People coming from Asian countries and settling in Cabramatta bring their culture and values along with them (Dunn, 1998). With this diversity, natives of Sydney would learn about a better way of life and explore the foreign culture. Cultural diversity helps the people of Sydney to appreciate traditions, human rights, and humanity. On the other hand, there are certain critiques who argue that Indo-Chinese people and their culture are a threat to the Australian culture (Birrell, 1993).

Benefits and challenges of ethnic residential concentration

Ethnic concentration is the term used for a large number of individuals who live in a particular geographical region and share a common ethnic identity. In addition to this, the term is rhetoric while discussing the ethnical groups of migrants who have come to a new country and settle in a specific parts of it (Hu, 2015). Cabramatta is one of those regions in Sydney that houses a large population of immigrants belonging to the Indo-Chinese community (Fujibayashi& Nakayama, 2017).

One of the benefits is preserving cultural identity. Having a large population in a particular region, the communities can enjoy and preserve their culture and rituals. They can establish their religious places (Birrell, 1993). An example of this can be Sydwest Asian Christian Church located on Hughes Street, Cabramatta.

In addition to this, ethnic concentration helps the Indo-Chinese community of Cabramatta to avail of the benefits of various services, such as employment opportunities, political benefits, and bargains (Koleth, 2015).

Some of the downsides of ethnical concentration include social exclusion, poverty challenge, and stereotyping. According to Dunn (1998), the stereotypes projected a negative image of the migrant communities in Cabramatta. Pauline Hanson, former Member of the Australian Parliament stated that Australia may soon get swamped by Asian people. Another stereotype is that Asian communities have certain predilections for residential concentration. However, some researchers like Koleth(2015) deny this fact by quoting that Asians give priority to other factors, such as employment opportunities, housing affordability, and better access to basic amenities and services. Another critique of ethnical concentration is that it promotes ethnic divisiveness and separateness.

Challenges of Migrating to a New Country

Migrating to a new country is easier than adjusting to its new cultural, climatic, locational, and social characteristics. There are many challenges people have to deal with after moving to a new country (Fujibayashi& Nakayama, 2017). A few most critical challenges are enlisted below:-

• Language and Cultural Barriers: Moving to a foreign country where culture and languages are different may pose the greatest challenge to any migrant. Adjusting in a new culture is hence, a tough task for most people (Robertson& Colic‐Peisker, 2015).
• Housing Issue: Being a migrant, getting a house with all the basic amenities may be difficult. Due to security concerns, people may not rent a home to expats. One has to do a lot of research and planning to get the best house (Koleth, 2015).
• Social Integration and Networking Issue: Usually, expats find it hard to get themselves socially accepted. Social integration in some parts of the country is difficult as not everyone in the host country is active and lively (O'Hanlon& Stevens, 2017).
• Getting Equal Rights, Subsidies, and Identity: Migrants often find it difficult to avail benefits, such as health insurance, property insurance, and other subsidies given by the government of the host country. In addition to this, many a time, they have to pay extra charges to avail of some services given by the government (Koleth, 2015).

Conclusion

Before ending the essay on a high note, it is concluded that migrations can have both positive and negative impacts on the host country. It was seen that on one hand, migration increases pressure on the host country to provide food, cloth, and shelter to the immigrants and on the other hand, it helps in increasing diversity in the culture. It was also witnessed that migrants face numerous challenges related to equality, housing, and social integration. At last, the consequences of ethnical concentration were outlined, such as racism and stereotyping.

References

• Birrell, B (1993), ’Ethnic concentrations: the Vietnamese experience’, People and Place, vol. 1, no. 3, pp.26-32.
• Dunn, K. M. (1998). Rethinking ethnic concentration: the case of Cabramatta, Sydney.  Urban studies,  35(3), 503-527.
• Fujibayashi, H., & Nakayama, M. (2017). An Option to Avoid the Sudden Mass Influx of Migrants Resulting From Worldwide Environmental Threats.  Int'l J. Soc. Sci. Stud.,  5, 1.
• Hu, R. (2015). Competitiveness, migration, and mobility in the global city: insights from Sydney, Australia.  Economies,  3(1), 37-54.
• Jakubowicz, A. (2015). ‘In the beginning, all is chaos…’: Roaming the Dystopic Realm in Australian Multiculturalism. Social Transformation and Migration(pp. 221-236). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
• Koleth, E. (2015). Multiculturalism at the margins of global Sydney: Cacophonous diversity in Fairfield, Australia. Social Transformation and Migration(pp. 237-254). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
• O'Hanlon, S., & Stevens, R. (2017). A Nation of Immigrants or a Nation of Immigrant Cities? The Urban Context of Australian Multiculturalism, 1947–2011.  Australian Journal of Politics & History,  63(4), 556-571.
• Robertson, S., & Colic‐Peisker, V. (2015). Policy narratives versus everyday geographies: perceptions of changing local space in Melbourne's diverse north.  City & Community,  14(1), 68-86.