The Pacific Island Fight Against Eurocentric Hegemony Joseph Kohlhase Auckland, New Zealand Hegemony is defined as: leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, especially among smaller nations, through aggression or expansionism. Hegemony is rooted in ideology and is achieved through those in power who institute and influence the values, norms, ideas, expectations, worldview, and behaviors of their society to reflect the majority and dominant culture. Moving to America from New Zealand three years ago, I have been able to see firsthand the dogma that cultural hegemony breeds. Whilst I have not seen the extremes that many individuals face on a daily basis, I have been subjected to the expectation that my worldly beliefs are wrong, and that I must change the way I dress, speak and act to fit American Eurocentric standards. Although there is hegemonic influence in New Zealand, moving to the United States, opened my eyes wider to the everyday adversi...
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