The purpose of this study is to explore the adjustment experiences of McGill University graduate students from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Following a qualitative approach to research, interviews were conducted with 10 graduate students from the PRC using semi-structured and open-ended methods. More structured interviews with McGill University administrative staff provided background to the study as did government and university registration statistics. This study explores student involvement and interaction with Canadian society, avenues and barriers to interaction, and communication between professors/supervisors and students. It focuses on the overlapping relationship between communication skills and culture learning as part of how students define adjustment. Students identify the particular challenges in adjusting to Canadian society as becoming more self-reliant and feeling comfortable with uncertainty in their futures. Women students discuss issues of independence and freedom and how these factors sometimes conflict with their traditional social roles. This study also includes some recommendations for further research.

A qualitative - exploratory study was conducted to investigate the experiential consequences of underemployment for Chinese immigrants who were former professionals in their country of origin. Twelve male immigrants aged 28 to 63 who have resided in Canada 1 to 4 years were interviewed. For the most part, the study was existentially based using a phenomenological - content analysis format to derive results. Results indicated that Chinese immigrants' problematic responses to underemployment differed greatly depending upon their initial place of origin i.e., familiarity with and adaptability to the host society being the significant factor. Counseling suggestions to assist these individuals followed the existential paradigm. Finally, several possibilities that exist for further research into this topic of the underemployed immigrant are described. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

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In tracing the experience of Chinese Canadians in the 20th Century, we need to look further back into its history. Most people believe that the increasing number of immigrants from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China in the 1980s and 1990s played the most important roles in the social and economic changes during the latest decades of the 20th Century. The contribution of the Chinese Canadians settlement throughout the 20th Century should also be considered as it marks the beginning of the rise of their social status and identity in Canada. Although the Chinese Canadians earned their fame and status since the 1980s, they had been racially discriminated for more than a century. To probe into the situation, the social and political situations in the Chinese Canadian community will be meticulously analyzed and their contribution in difference aspects examined. In addition, other minority ethnic groups, such as the Japanese, Jewish and Indian, will be used as a comparison to demonstrate the change of policies towards the Chinese in Canada. In doing so, both English and Canadian Chinese newspapers will be used to illustrate the cultural difference between the “whites” and “non-whites”. To illustrate the changes, the 20th Century will be break into three parts. In most of the pre-Second World War period, the Chinese community was isolated from the mainstream community with their activities largely confined to Chinatowns in cities, such as Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and so on. For the Chinese living in small townships, such as Prince Rupert, Richmond and so on, their daily life will also be examined. When Canada declared war on Japan on 7th December 1941, Canada became an ally of China during the war. A sentiment of acceptance of the Chinese in the mainstream society began to take shape. Some of the Chinese chose to contribute their efforts to Canada by joining the Canadian Armed Forces and went into battle alongside the White Canadians. After the Second World War, Canada adopted a new policy towards the minority ethnic groups and Chinese Canadians started to enjoy political equality. In May 1947, the Canadian Government repealed the Chinese Immigration Act. In 1967, after the liberalization of the Canadian immigration policy, the Chinese, once again, were allowed to immigrate freely to Canada as an individual. With granted full citizenship, the Chinese social and political status began to change. In 1957, Douglas Jung, a Canadian born Chinese, was elected a Member of the Parliament, which can be seen as the beginning of the Chinese involvement in the political arena of the Canadian community. Since then, Chinese Canadians were able to achieve equality in the society. Based on documentary accounts and oral history research, this thesis re-constructed the history of Canadian Chinese involvement in the 20th Century and the change of their identity and social status thereafter. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy