Insider/Outsider Debate

To me this issue of the insider outsider debate is tricky. I don’t feel that just because someone isn’t actually from a particular culture that they do not have the right to write about that culture. However, if an outsider is to write about a culture in which they are not a part of, it must reflect accuracy. A great deal of research would need to be done and proof that the author is credible to be writing on particular topics should be noted. I don’t think it is true that outsiders cannot write correct and accurate pieces of multicultural literature just the same as I disagree that any insider can and should write about their own culture. Insiders of a particular culture can be just as bias in their writing if they are taking in to account only their own immediate experiences and surroundings. One insider cannot speak for all of that particular group and therefore it is just as important that they be educated and accurate about the culture when representing it as a whole as the outsider should do. I can see the arguments of both sides of the authors in the articles for this week. I think that because both sides are valid, the debate is complicated. If both insiders and outsiders could work together and take into account both and all perspectives then that would be ideal for the creation of multicultural literature.