This thesis examines the social history of the Vancouver Korean community from
1965 to 1997. Within the Canadian context, first generation immigrant Koreans have
experienced two key phenomena which have challenged their social status and made for a
unique immigrant experience in Canada. First, there has been a negative estimation of
Korean cultural merit by the host society. Second, first generation Koreans were highly
educated professionals who could not find employment commensurate with their
educational and professional backgrounds. Prestige is extremely important for all
individuals and groups. In light of the two challenges of cultural devaluation and
downward occupational adjustment, the question that this thesis investigates is how
Vancouver Koreans have historically reestablished lost prestige within their own
community. It is concluded that immigrant generation Koreans have contested for
personal status in two ways: by promoting Korean cultural heritage and by pursuing
positions of authority within the structure of the Korean community.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/6362 |
Date | 11 1900 |
Creators | Song, Marc |
Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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