Assimilation Ideology: Critically Examining Underlying Messages in Multicultural Literature

Abstract

Using the framework of multicultural education, this article presents an analysis of multicultural picture books that depict the features of assimilation ideology. The findings suggest that assimilationist ideas are presented through the main characters' identities in the resolution of the story and through the portrayal of a glorified dominant culture. These findings contribute to the literature by exploring the assumptions that multicultural texts are indeed “multicultural” and that they promote cultural pluralism. Additional criteria for selecting multicultural texts that critically examine underlying ideologies are included, as well as suggestions for promoting critical reading practices to support multicultural education.