University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences / Department of Communication

Magister Commercii - MCom / There has been a lot of comment and reaction to the presence of immigrants in South Africa, and most of it has been very negative. In light of the negative reaction, one can ask whether immigrants do in fact add any value to the well being of the host countries, given their education, experience and high involvement in small businesses. Several studies have noted that the relatively highr level of education and skills of migrants is at the same level as those of the host populations. This research is aimed at contributing to the debate of the perception that immigrants are taking up jobs that are supposed to belong to South Africans. / South Africa

There is some evidence suggesting that the rate of breastfeeding initiation is lower among particular ethnic or cultural groups who have immigrated to Canada and South Asian women comprise one of these groups. Given the evidence that breastfeeding is important in promoting infant health and maternal health, it is important to understand factors that influence breastfeeding initiation among South Asian immigrant women. This descriptive exploratory study investigated the following research question: What are South Asian women's perceptions about the social, socio-economic, personal and acculturation factors that influence their initiation of breastfeeding? The study explored factors that could influence the initiation of breastfeeding among primiparous South Asian immigrant women who have immigrated to Canada. It was informed in part by the conceptual framework used by Kong and Lee (2004), whose study investigated factors that influenced 252 first-time mothers in their decision-making about whether or not to breastfeed. A convenience sample of 15 subjects was interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide with 10 questions. Data were transcribed and analyzed using inductive constant comparative analysis. The following themes emerged: the representation of breastfeeding, vicarious learning about breastfeeding, family influences, spiritual connection, breaking with tradition, resisting the moral mandate, deferring to medical authority, transition to work and cultural mores. With respect to the findings, implications are discussed for nursing research, theory and education. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

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Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

The dominant discourse in Korea is that Canada is a multicultural country wherein no racial discrimination exists. This significantly contributes to making Canada their first choice of destination. The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers faced by Korean skilled immigrants in the Canadian labour. This thesis presents the findings of a qualitative study. Six participants were interviewed, who have lived in Canada for at least three, and using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were conducted in Korean, transcribed and later translated for analysis. Critical Race Theory and Democratic Racism were used as theoretical frameworks. This informed a critical review of major theoretical concepts, data collection and analysis. The findings indicate that structural exclusion was a significant barrier faced by the participants. Structural exclusion includes lack of recognition of international knowledge; conventional hiring practice in Canada; accented English; and settlement services not meeting the needs of skilled immigrants. Also, it was found that as their state of unemployment or underemployment continued for a long time, they experienced loss of identity and low self-esteem. Furthermore, how they respond to such exclusion was too a significant finding. While some of the participants sought to take additional Canadian education in order to overcome the barriers, others gave up efforts to integrate into the mainstream or were planning to go back to Korea. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

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Contexte : Les hommes gais sont largement stigmatisés dans le monde. Dans ce contexte, plusieurs choisissent de migrer vers des sociétés plus tolérantes envers l'homosexualité en vue d'accéder non seulement à de meilleures conditions socioéconomiques, mais aussi à un climat culturel, social et politique adéquat et sécuritaire leur permettant une vie plus satisfaisante. En ce sens, le Québec apparaît comme une destination de choix du fait que les personnes gaies y bénéficient d'une égalité juridique complète et d'une relative acceptation sociale. Or, on en sait peu sur les expériences post-migratoires et le bien-être des immigrants gais. Objectifs : L'objectif général de cette thèse est de comprendre comment l'expérience de vie d'immigrants gais au Québec façonne leur bien-être. Plus spécifiquement, nous cherchons à : 1) saisir leurs représentations de leur vie quotidienne au Québec, les sentiments qu'ils éprouvent au regard de cette vie ainsi que les actions qu'ils mettent en place pour l'orienter; 2) identifier les stratégies qu'ils déploient en vue de favoriser leur bien-être; 3) identifier les possibilités et contraintes de bien-être dans leur vie au Québec; 4) faire état de leur bien-être en examinant leur satisfaction à l'égard de leur vie au Québec et leur sentiment d'être heureux. Méthodologie : Un devis qualitatif a été utilisé. Nous avons mené des entretiens individuels semi-dirigés auprès de 25 jeunes hommes originaires de pays où l'homosexualité est peu acceptée, ayant immigré volontairement à Montréal ou Québec depuis quelques années. Des questions ouvertes leur ont été posées pour obtenir une vue d'ensemble de leur vie au Québec à travers quatre dimensions (économique et matérielle, sociale et intime, identitaire, sanitaire), et pour cerner les éléments qui les rendent plus ou moins heureux et satisfaits. Les données ont été analysées selon un processus d'analyse thématique. Nous avons complété la collecte de données et validé l'analyse en organisant trois groupes de discussion avec 14 participants de l'échantillon initial. Résultats : La majorité des participants se considèrent heureux et satisfaits de leur vie au Québec. D'autres sont plus affectés par différentes épreuves ; et quelques-uns, plutôt malheureux, sont déçus de leur vie dans leur société d'accueil. Leur expérience de vie au Québec et les éléments qui façonnent leur bien-être s'articulent autour de cinq thématiques. 1) Le projet migratoire : Les motifs de l'ensemble des participants pour immigrer au Québec s'inscrivent dans un récit de réalisation de leurs aspirations à une meilleure vie à travers leur situation socioéconomique d'une part, et la possibilité de vivre leur orientation sexuelle en sécurité et plus librement, d'autre part. Une moitié donne une visée permanente à ce projet, alors que l'autre n'envisage pas son avenir en terre québécoise de façon aussi définitive. 2) La situation socioéconomique et professionnelle : Alors qu'une moitié des participants était financièrement à l'aise et s'actualisait professionnellement, les autres souffraient plutôt des barrières socioéconomiques et professionnelles liées surtout à leur condition d'immigrants. 3) L'environnement physique, culturel et sociopolitique québécois : Le milieu naturel et bâti, le niveau de vie, le mode de vie, la paix sociale et la liberté auxquels ils ont accès, en particulier en tant qu'hommes gais, apparaissent comme de grandes sources de bien-être pour l'ensemble des participants. 4) L'expression de l'orientation sexuelle et l'expérience d'homophobie : Presque tous expriment plus facilement leur orientation sexuelle au Québec mais demeurent affectés par l'homophobie. Ils déploient trois principales stratégies : tenter d'échapper à l'identification comme gais, demeurer dans un environnement social exempt d'homophobie, et s'efforcer d'être acceptés malgré leur orientation sexuelle. 5) Les relations sociales et intimes : Gais dans un monde hétéronormé, racisés dans une société blanche et portant un bagage culturel, linguistique ou religieux étranger à la majorité, ils sont régulièrement vus à travers le prisme de la différence. Néanmoins, ils se sentent plus acceptés comme gais, et les milieux gais peuvent servir de portes d'entrée pour s'intégrer à leur société d'accueil. Enfin, ils explorent et vivent généralement mieux au quotidien une homosexualité autrefois contenue, mais peinent souvent à trouver un conjoint stable. Conclusions : Cette thèse apporte un éclairage nouveau sur les possibilités et les contraintes qui façonnent la vie en terre québécoise d'immigrants gais et leur bien-être. Elle apporte des connaissances essentielles aux acteurs et actrices en santé communautaire pour œuvrer en faveur du bien-être de cette population. / Context: Gay men are widely stigmatized around the world. In this context, many choose to migrate within societies that are more tolerant of homosexuality in order to access not only better socio-economic conditions, but also an adequate and safe cultural, social and political climate that allows them a more satisfying life. Thus, the Province of Quebec appears to be a destination of choice since gay people living there can enjoy a complete legal equality and a relative social acceptance. However, little is known about the post-migration experiences and the well-being of gay immigrants. Objectives: The general objective of this thesis is to understand how the life experience of gay immigrants in Quebec shapes their well-being. More specifically, we seek to: 1) understand their representations of their daily life in Quebec, the feelings they experience with regard to this life as well as the actions they put in place to orientate it; 2) identify the strategies they deploy to promote their well-being; 3) identify the possibilities and constraints of well-being in their lives in Quebec; 4) report on their well-being by examining their satisfaction with their life in Quebec and their feeling of being happy. Methodology: A qualitative design was used. We conducted semi-directed individual interviews with 25 young men coming from countries where homosexuality is not widely accepted, and who voluntarily immigrated to Montreal or Quebec City a few years ago. Open-ended questions were asked to them to get an overview of their life in Quebec through four dimensions (economic and material; social and intimate; identity; and health dimensions), and to identify the elements that make them more or less happy and satisfied. The data was analyzed using a thematic analysis process. We then completed the data collection and validated the analysis by organizing three focus groups with 14 participants from the initial sample. Results: The majority of participants consider themselves happy and satisfied with their life in Quebec. Others are more affected by different hardships; and a few, rather unhappy, are disappointed with their life in their host society. Their experience of life in Quebec and the elements that shape their well-being revolve around five themes. 1) The migration project: For all participants, reasons for immigrating to Quebec are part of a story of the realization of their aspirations for a better life through their socioeconomic situation on the one hand and, on the other hand, the possibility of living their sexual orientation with more safety and freedom. For half of them, this project aims to be permanent, while the other half does not consider their future in the province in such a definitive way. 2) The socioeconomic and professional situation: While half of the participants were financially comfortable and were actualizing themselves professionally, the others suffered rather from socioeconomic and professional barriers mainly related to their immigrant status. 3) The physical, cultural and sociopolitical environment of Quebec: The natural and built environment, the standard of living, the way of life, the social peace and the freedom to which they have access, in particular as gay men, appear as major sources of wellbeing for all participants. 4) The expression of sexual orientation and the experience of homophobia: Almost all express their sexual orientation more easily in Quebec but remains affected by homophobia. They deploy three main strategies: trying to avoid being identified as gay; ensuring they stay in spaces that are free from homophobia; and attempting to be accepted despite heterosexist norms. 5) Social and intimate relationships: As gay men in a heteronormative world and racialized immigrants in a white society carrying a cultural, linguistic or religious background that is unfamiliar to a majority of people, they are regularly seen through the prism of difference. Nevertheless, they feel more accepted as gay men, and gay environments can serve as gateways to integrate themselves into their host society. Finally, they generally explore and live better on a daily basis with a homosexuality that was formerly restrained, but often struggle to find a stable partner. Conclusions: This thesis sheds new light on the possibilities and constraints that shape the lives of gay immigrants in Quebec and their well-being. It provides essential knowledge to community health actors to work for the well-being of this population.