This thesis focuses on Chinese immigrant women’s experiences of household work and leisure in Canada. Socialist feminist perspective is used for an analysis of in-depth conversations with ten Chinese immigrant women with children. Results show that Chinese immigrant women experienced a significant increase of household work and a dramatic decrease on leisure pursuits after immigration and/or the birth of their children, implying that gender inequalities are reproduced and reinforced. Chinese immigrant women encounter and negotiate forms of tension resulted from the striking difference of being in China and being in Canada, their change in social status and their changed gender status. This thesis may contribute background knowledge for the practitioners in recreational programs and social works specialized in immigrant settlement services. Future research could be the motives for immigration, the actual experiences of immigration; a comparative study between Chinese immigrant women and women of other ethnicities is also suggested.

The literature on the effects of race and ethnicity on informal caregiving is sparse and incomplete. Furthermore, most caregiving studies do not control for immigrant status. In the few studies that have analyzed the impact of ethnicity on informal care, ethnicity was categorized as African American, Hispanic, or non-Hispanic White. In Canada, the relationship between informal care and immigrant status and ethnicity needs to be better understood as the country has a growing population of immigrants and individuals who will require informal care in the future. This thesis aims to understand how immigrant status and ethnicity affects the propensity and intensity of care received by using probit and ordinary least squares models. Throughout the thesis, immigrant status was measured as binary variable (0/1) and as year of immigration and region of origin.

This thesis investigated the choice of nursing among immigrant women from Nigeria in Canada. I sought to understand why increasing numbers of immigrant women from Nigeria with degrees and professional backgrounds are opting for careers in nursing. The study was conducted through an antiracist feminist lens and uncovered the many dimensions in which African immigrant women encounter marginalization and discrimination in the Canadian labour market, resulting from entrenched norms and values. I placed centre stage the voices of the Nigerian women, and through their narratives found that the decision to change careers was based on barriers they faced, the availability of jobs within nursing, as well as personal perceptions and interactions with other Nigerian women who had successfully changed careers. The conclusion reached is that despite the structural barriers faced, the choice of nursing had overall benefited the women, elevating their status and improving their economic situation.

The high prevalence of nutrition-related chronic conditions in children and adolescents is an emerging public health problem. Research has shown that newcomers to Canada (<5yrs) are at a greater risk of experiencing health and nutrition issues compared to the Canadian-born. The literature shows newcomers have better health upon arrival than the Canadian-born. However, as their length of stay in the country increases, their health status declines to that of Canadians or even surpasses them. To my knowledge, there has not been a comprehensive study on health and nutrition issues in newcomer children to Canada. Very few studies distinguish refugees from immigrants, even though they are two very different populations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the health and nutrition of newcomer refugee and immigrant children to Canada. Various health indices were examined. Questionnaires were administered to describe demographics, socio-economic status, physical and sedentary activity levels, and food security. Dietary assessments provided information on food group and nutrient intake and allowed us to develop scores based on Canadas Healthy Eating Index. Biomarkers of disease were also examined and included serum vitamin D, total cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, and total body bone mineral content. Immigrant and refugee children were eligible to participate if they were between the ages of 7-11 years and had been in Canada no more than five years (n=72). Descriptive analyses were conducted for all variables of interest. The prevalence of food insecurity was much higher in newcomers in this study compared to immigrant children from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2008. In this study, 66% of refugees and 39% of immigrants experienced some form of food insecurity whereas the CCHS 2008 found this value to be only 13%. Food security is directly related to income. The majority of participants in this study were classified in the lowest income category and 72% of refugee and 12% of immigrant children lived in a household where neither parent had a secondary level of education. Food insecurity has a negative impact on nutrient intake and overall health. Results from this study showed that immigrant and refugee newcomer children had a higher rate of overweight/obesity at approximately 29% compared to 26% in Canadian-born children. Participants also had lower mean scores based on Canadas Healthy Eating Index compared to their Canadian-born counterparts. Immigrants consumed a greater amount of sodium than refugees, however, still lower than Canadians. Low levels of dietary vitamin D and calcium in immigrants and refugees were consistent with a low consumption of milk and alternatives. Immigrants and refugees were also consuming lower amounts of fibre and folate (DFE) compared to Canadians. Other nutrients of concern for refugees included iron and zinc. Total body bone mineral content of newcomer children was similar to the Canadian-born. Comparing with published data, Canadian-born children had higher serum vitamin D levels than newcomer immigrant and refugee children in this study, 72.5% of whom were vitamin D deficient or had inadequate levels. Blood cholesterol was high in 40% of participants. Blood glucose was high in 7% of participants. In this study, newcomer children, particularly refugee children, were at risk of experiencing negative health outcomes such as higher levels of food insecurity, high prevalence of intake inadequacy of key nutrients, overweight and obesity, and vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy.

The high prevalence of nutrition-related chronic conditions in children and adolescents is an emerging public health problem. Research has shown that newcomers to Canada (<5yrs) are at a greater risk of experiencing health and nutrition issues compared to the Canadian-born. The literature shows newcomers have better health upon arrival than the Canadian-born. However, as their length of stay in the country increases, their health status declines to that of Canadians or even surpasses them. To my knowledge, there has not been a comprehensive study on health and nutrition issues in newcomer children to Canada. Very few studies distinguish refugees from immigrants, even though they are two very different populations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the health and nutrition of newcomer refugee and immigrant children to Canada. Various health indices were examined. Questionnaires were administered to describe demographics, socio-economic status, physical and sedentary activity levels, and food security. Dietary assessments provided information on food group and nutrient intake and allowed us to develop scores based on Canadas Healthy Eating Index. Biomarkers of disease were also examined and included serum vitamin D, total cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, and total body bone mineral content. Immigrant and refugee children were eligible to participate if they were between the ages of 7-11 years and had been in Canada no more than five years (n=72). Descriptive analyses were conducted for all variables of interest. The prevalence of food insecurity was much higher in newcomers in this study compared to immigrant children from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2008. In this study, 66% of refugees and 39% of immigrants experienced some form of food insecurity whereas the CCHS 2008 found this value to be only 13%. Food security is directly related to income. The majority of participants in this study were classified in the lowest income category and 72% of refugee and 12% of immigrant children lived in a household where neither parent had a secondary level of education. Food insecurity has a negative impact on nutrient intake and overall health. Results from this study showed that immigrant and refugee newcomer children had a higher rate of overweight/obesity at approximately 29% compared to 26% in Canadian-born children. Participants also had lower mean scores based on Canadas Healthy Eating Index compared to their Canadian-born counterparts. Immigrants consumed a greater amount of sodium than refugees, however, still lower than Canadians. Low levels of dietary vitamin D and calcium in immigrants and refugees were consistent with a low consumption of milk and alternatives. Immigrants and refugees were also consuming lower amounts of fibre and folate (DFE) compared to Canadians. Other nutrients of concern for refugees included iron and zinc. Total body bone mineral content of newcomer children was similar to the Canadian-born. Comparing with published data, Canadian-born children had higher serum vitamin D levels than newcomer immigrant and refugee children in this study, 72.5% of whom were vitamin D deficient or had inadequate levels. Blood cholesterol was high in 40% of participants. Blood glucose was high in 7% of participants. In this study, newcomer children, particularly refugee children, were at risk of experiencing negative health outcomes such as higher levels of food insecurity, high prevalence of intake inadequacy of key nutrients, overweight and obesity, and vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy.

In early October 2005, just over a month after Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast region of the United States, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin asked local business leaders how he was to ensure that the city was not overrun by Mexican workers. These remarks vocalized the concerns of many regarding Latino immigrant workers to post-Katrina New Orleans. Likewise, they foreshadowed the obstacles faced by Latino reconstruction workers in the city. This dissertation examines Latino day labor participation in New Orleans, Louisiana by focusing on the racialized experiences of immigrant reconstruction workers. There is an established literature on racial/ethnic immigrant labor market inequality, addressing Latino wage penalties and occupational segregation as well as recent studies focusing on the gendered and racialized experiences of Latina and Chicana domestic workers in the U.S. However, established demographic research on day labor participation in the U.S. has failed to capture fully how day laborers experience "race" and how this has impacted their integration into the labor market. The broad questions guiding this dissertation are: "What are the racialized experiences of day laborers?"; "How does the process of racialization shape the work experiences of day laborers?"; "How do day laborers negotiate these experiences and interactions with co-workers, employers, and their community?" This dissertation focused on a 23 month ethnographic research and 31 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Latino day laborers in post-Katrina New Orleans. This research underscores the crucial role that Latino day laborers play as non-standard workers in a racialized labor market, historically organized along a black/white continuum. The findings demonstrated day laboring is a process that takes place in racialized spaces, where day laborers exert emotional work. Findings also demonstrated how "race" impacts the day-to-day work experiences of day laborers, and how immigration status is a racialized social characteristic that allows for exploitation of immigrant workers. Finally, this dissertation examined the resistance strategies used by day laborers, and their organizing efforts toward achieving social justice in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Abstract The purpose of this practicum project was to facilitate access to mental health services and those health services that address issues causing emotional distress for new Francophone non English-speaking arrivals in the City of Winnipeg. The objectives were 1) to uncover Francophone mental health and specialized health resources in the city of Winnipeg, 2) to identify barriers, attitudes, and access issues pertaining to Francophone services, 3) to develop a directory of Francophone resources and links for health care professionals and other essential providers, and 4) to develop recommendations for future study and consideration. The project was implemented through telephone interviewing of 24 administrators and direct providers in 19 agencies that provided mental health and specialized health services, as well as refugee and immigration agencies. The study used qualitative methods and a semi-structured survey interview design. Via analysis of the results, the project presents an argument that language barriers are indeed preventing access to care for Francophone immigrants, refugees and international students in the City of Winnipeg. This was widely stated by participants from key organizations that work with this aggregate population on an occasional to a frequent basis. It is also evident that, with use of Bachrach’s Continuity of Care Dimensions/Principles, continuity of care for this population is equally compromised because of language barriers, lack of culturally sensitive providers, and lack of Francophone providers. / October 2005

HEALTH RISKS, NUTRITION ASSESSMENT AND DISEASE PREVALENCE AMONG AFRICAN IMMIGRANT GROUPS IN ATLANTA GEORGIA Background: Though past studies have suggested immigrants are generally healthier than the native population, the immigrant acquisition of chronic diseases, such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes, over time, is poorly understood among African immigrants. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the health status, health risks chronic disease prevalence, and acculturation among immigrants from Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. Participants/setting: 130 adult African immigrants living in Atlanta and attending any of four church health fairs. Participants completed anthropometric, health status assessments and a Home Environment Family connections Survey. Main outcome measures: BMI, waist circumference, blood glucose, blood pressure, fruit consumption frequency, availability of sugared sweetened drinks and physical activity were assessed and compared among African immigrant groups. Statistical analysis: Prevalence was calculated. Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to compare anthropometrics while demographic and categorical survey data was compared using chi-squared tests. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean BMIs of African Immigrants (Nigeria and Ghana) (p=0.013) but not in the waist circumferences (p>0.05). High blood pressure prevalence in Ghanaian, Nigerian and Kenyan immigrants was 42.6 %, 36.8 %, and 25.8 % respectively. The prevalence of diabetes in Ghanaian, Nigeria and Kenyan immigrants was 18.8 %, 11.8 %, and 4.9 % respectively. Obesity prevalence in Nigerian, Kenyan and Ghanaian immigrants was 52.6 %, 45.8 %, and 31.1 % respectively. There were no statistically significant associations between the Years of Stay status and disease prevalence (p>0.05). There were no statistically significant associations between the BMI status and the availability of sugared sweetened drinks in the household, fruit consumption frequency, or the physical activity of African immigrants. Conclusion: African immigrants appear to have a slightly lower prevalence of diabetes, but a higher prevalence of hypertension and obesity than the United States population. Acculturation did not play a strong role in determining the health trajectories of African immigrants. Grouping immigrants by their country of origin does provide another important dimension in understanding the variation in immigrant health as each group had significant differences in the prevalence of diseases.

Ce mémoire de maîtrise présente les résultats d'une recherche exploratoire sur la migration mexicaine à Montréal. Les immigrants mexicains ont attiré l'attention de plusieurs chercheurs et théoriciens de la migration internationale en raison de leur capacité d'organisation et d'apport au développement local de leurs municipalités de départ. Rédigé dans une perspective géographique, ce mémoire présente une radiographie de l'état de consolidation de l'espace transnational Mexique-Montréal. Nous nous sommes appuyés sur l'approche théorique du transnationalisme, laquelle inclut dans ses analyses les échanges de biens matériels et symboliques des immigrants sans limiter la recherche de la mobilité humaine à l'étude de flux de personnes et de main d'œuvre (Canales et Zlonski, 2000 : 228). Notre échange auprès de vingt interviewés a permis de constater que les efforts d'organisation de cette collectivité d'immigrants ont été présents depuis plusieurs années, bien qu'il existe certaines contraintes au renforcement de la solidarité à l'intérieur de ce groupe. À Montréal, les liens d'entraide de cette collectivité traversent une étape de consolidation et l'espace transnational qui en découle reste encore dans une phase de construction. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : migration internationale, transnationalisme, espace transnational, migration mexicaine à Montréal.

This qualitative case-study research investigated how Eastern European immigrant youth in a southern English public secondary school adjusted to and experienced the British educational system, which involves streaming students into levels of academic ability. The study focused on these students experiences of day-to-day life in a British secondary school and it explored the challenges and successes that they experienced. The study also investigated the experiences of teachers and administrators involved in the education of immigrant students. Through the use of student and faculty experiences, through recorded interviews, this study sought to understand how educators could improve the ways they are educating immigrant students.