No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Purpose -In this study, the life experiences of Canadian non-refugee immigrant women were studied to understand their pre-migration lives, the process of decision making about migrating to Canada, and their experiences after resettlement in Canada. Design/methodology/approach -A qualitative methodology involving repeated in-depth person-centred interviewing (n ¼ 14) engaged five recent Canadian immigrant women. "Word of mouth" was used to recruit participants. Thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative data set. Findings -Loneliness became manifest given the loss of social networks and support systems immigrant women enjoyed in their home countries. Second, the presence of young children and absence of job opportunities for these women had them spending most of their time at home. Third, in some cases, the lack of professional employment opportunities forced the husband leaving Canada to find jobs -resulting in a deeper level of loneliness experienced by the immigrant women. Loneliness and isolation, and mental health issues associated with such isolation are potentially substantial, especially during the initial settlement years. Research limitations/implications -Given the small sample size, the generalizability of the study findings are limited and cannot represent the entirety of experiences of all Canadian immigrant women. The sample diversity in this study was also limited. The participants were highly educated and had professional careers in their home countries. The experience of less educated women can be different. Further research with a large sample size and diverse sample is needed. Practical implications -The study offers deeper insights to the day-to-day challenges associated with the journey of migration. Understanding these concerns is important for mental health professionals, counsellors, and social service workers to offer effective treatment, counselling, and emotional support for immigrant women. Originality/value -The findings further the understanding of immigrant women's experiences and the need to address relational aspects of their immigration journeys. Examining the experiences of immigrants in relation to their lives before and after coming to Canada is important to gain insight about the contemporary daily lives of individuals. A holistic understanding of immigration experiences can assist service providers, professionals, and policy makers to recognize the obstacles faced by immigrants. Suggestions for future research are also addressed in this study.

This well-timed book is a badly needed Canadian contribution to the fast-growing literature on the "challenge of diversity," pointing to a potentially uneasy relationship between the rise of ethnic/cultural diversity and a variety of public goods, such as having a politically secure country, a well-developed welfare state, a common national identity, and a high degree of social cohesion, social capital, and sense of belonging. It also addresses the issue of Muslim minorities in immigrant-receiving countries, a topic of rising importance. The bulk of research in these two areas has been European, with echoes in Australia and the United States. This book adds Canada to the picture, and shows, if not conclusively, a "Canadian exceptionalism" in contrast to the rest of the industrial world. This contrast puts Diaspora By Design at the heart of the worldwide debate about diversity. The book is the product of an ambitious research project studying the experiences in Canada of four Muslim immigrant groups-Afghans, Iranians, Pakistanis, and Palestinians-compared to those of people of similar backgrounds in a few other countries: Iranians and Pakistanis in the UK, Afghans in Iran, and Palestinians in the Palestinian Territories (West Bank). The first 2 chapters provide the background information for the project, as well as sociodemographic information on the groups under study in the 4 countries. Chapters 3-7 tackle some important and interesting aspects of life in the diaspora: family and spousal relations, religious identities and identification, youth, socioeconomic integration and senses of belonging. The authors approach these issues against the background of misperceptions about Muslims in the West, such as that Muslims constitute one homogeneous group and that their attitudes and behaviours are primarily dictated by religious conviction. The book also gives some indications of "Canadian exceptionalism" by pointing to some differences between how things are in this country and in Europe, where Muslim immigrants face a much harsher environment. Drawing on census information, data from a special survey, and a large number of interviews, the book provides a rich and extensive