(SOM1b) Roots and Returns II: “New Home” and (Re)integration
Friday Jun 21 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Eastern Daylight Time)
Trottier Building - ENGTR 0070
Session Code: SOM1b
Session Format: Paper Presentations
Session Language: English
Research Cluster Affiliation: Sociology of Migration
Session Categories: In-person Session
Migrants often maintain strong ties to their homelands while engaging in the process of homemaking within their host societies and participating in circular migration between their homeland and host country. Within their transnational lives, the notions of “home” and belonging may transform or gain new significance. This session explores the construction of a “new home” and the journey of integration in the host country, as well as the process of reintegration upon returning “home” to show the complexities and nuances of such processes in various global contexts. Tags: Home And Housing, Migration and Immigration
Organizers: Sara Hormozinejad, University of Toronto, Foroogh Mohammadi, Acadia University; Chairs: Sara Hormozinejad, University of Toronto, Foroogh Mohammadi, Acadia University
Presentations
Ka Po Kong, University of British Columbia; Frankie Cabahug, University of British Columbia
Reimmigration, Resettlement and Reintegration: A Case Study of Recent Hong Kong Re-return Immigrants
In the 21st century, return, repeat, and circular migration have become more prominent, introducing new time-space dynamics and intensifying research interest in non-static migration patterns. Existing literature has identified patterns of human migration activities, including repeat and circular migration between immigrants and guestworker host countries (Constant and Zimmermann, 2003, 2011, 2012), and onward emigration due to global labour market changes (Aydemir and Robinson, 2008; Nekby, 2006). For example, Bratsberg et al. (2007) document an increasing migration trend among Pakistani immigrants returning to Pakistan and later returning to Norway, defining a re-return (or post-return) dynamic. This re-return migration dynamic suggests a unique experience for those who possess previous experiences with the host country and re-engage in settlement and integration. While increasing discussion focus on motivations, incentives and enabling factors for return migration, limited research examines and follows up on re-return immigrants resettlement and reintegration trajectories. The scarcity of research on re-return immigrants can be attributed, in part, to a prevailing assumption that their prior familiarity with the host society ensures a smooth process of resettlement and reintegration. Consequently, their experiences remain inadequately examined. Within Canada, there is a recent influx of Hong Kong immigrants. According to the Canadian 2021 Census, more than 210,000 Hong Kong immigrants are residing in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2023). Among these Hong Kong immigrants, re-return immigrants in Canada face unique challenges in resettlement and reintegration. In the Canadian context, funding guidelines for settlement services set by the federal government may limit the availability of programming geared towards return immigrants, as the continuum of services is designed primarily to address the needs of newly arrived immigrants (House of Commons, 2003). Settlement services are not provided once immigrants achieve naturalisation, and even competitive programs pertaining to internship and workplace mentoring opportunities restrict their eligibility to newcomers who have arrived within five years or less (Canadian House of Commons, 2019; MOSAIC, 2023). Re-return immigrants in Canada are, therefore, generally denied access to necessary integration and settlement services, leaving them more vulnerable to adaptation barriers. In light of this, the paper asks: 1) Do Hong Kong re-return immigrants and Hong Kong migrants share similar experiences of (re)settlement and (re)integration in Canada? 2) How do Hong Kong re-return immigrants navigate and evaluate their resettlement and reintegration? In 2022, the UBC School of Social Work conducted a survey study on Hong Kong re-return immigrants and migrants in Canada. The study surveyed Canadian passport holders (N = 107) who returned from Hong Kong to Canada and Work permit migrants (N = 251) across various settlement domains such as health, housing, employment, community, and family. Participants were asked about the primary stressors within these domains. From descriptive statistics, this paper reveals that Canadian passport holders identified challenges related to healthcare accessibility, education of children, and family responsibilities (e.g., childcare) as significant settlement stressors. This discrepancy is further reflected in their higher average age, implying an increased likelihood of medical needs and family structures with dependent children. However, Canadian passport holders demonstrated advantages with familiarity with the Canadian setting. They reported less stress in employment, housing settlements and language barriers in contrast to Work permit migrants. Surprisingly, Canadian passport holders exhibit similar stressors on adaptation to Canadian society (26%) and loneliness (17%) to Work permit migrants (23% and 17%, respectively). Meanwhile, more Canadian passport holders (60%) reported having immediate family members and new friends (96%) in Canada than the latter group (23% and 92%, respectively). Despite their access and quantity of local social ties, Canadian passport holders conveyed similar concerns regarding social integration. These results contradict the claim that prior familiarity with the host society secures smooth integration, suggesting a need for further qualitative research to contextualise their integration experiences. Future research on re-return immigrants is also recommended to incorporate intersectionality into analysis, considering factors such as sex and class. This study explores re-return immigrants’ experiences, challenges and trajectories of resettling and reintegrating to their host country. The quantitative findings reveal that barriers to social integration are not exclusive to newcomers but are also relevant to re-return immigrants. This paper aims to offer insights for policymakers regarding integration and settlement services to support their return to home.
Non-presenting author: Miu Chung Yan, University of British Columbia
Jinpu Wang, Syracuse University
In an era marked by Chinas burgeoning yet paradoxical influence in global affairs, its expanding footprint in Africa, primarily through aid, investment, and entrepreneurial engagements, has spurred a significant demand for skilled Chinese labor. The demand has transformed thousands of Chinese labor migrants into a highly mobile workforce, predominantly driven by short-term financial aspirations (Ma Mung 2008; Driessen 2015). This paper, drawing upon rich ethnographic research conducted between 2016 and 2022 with Chinese labor migrants in Ghana and returnees in China, examines the nuanced interplay between temporal disruptions and the migratory aspirations and trajectories of these individuals. The research illuminates how the unpredictable operational dynamics of Chinese businesses in Africa generate a complex tapestry of temporal experiences for these laborers. This temporal mosaic comprises elements of disruption, extension, suspension, and circular mobility, profoundly impacting the migrants lived experiences and future-planning. One of the main findings is the emergence of a state of excessive duration in their lives. This phenomenon manifests in two contrasting ways. Firstly, the slow-paced industrial activities in Africa, coupled with monotonous social interactions, culminate in an abundance of unproductive, suspended time. This not only hinders the migrants efficiency in capital accumulation but also creates a sense of temporal dislocation from their usual rhythm of life. Secondly, many migrants find themselves adapting to, and even enjoying, the decelerated tempo of Ghanaian time, which offers a more relaxed pace of life and work compared to their experiences in China. The experience of living and working in Africa signifies not just a physical relocation for these migrants but also a significant temporal dislocation. They find themselves increasingly disembedded from the accelerated temporalities characterizing Chinas rapid market transitions. This disembedding process leads to a substantial reconfiguration of their migratory aspirations and life-course arrangements. Contrary to previous interpretations that frame their African sojourns as displacements of the present (Driessen 2016), oriented towards an eventual return to China, this study posits these migrations as uncertain, open-ended ventures that pave the way for diverse and unforeseen life trajectories. Furthermore, this research provides a novel perspective by situating these migratory experiences within the broader context of contemporary migration in the Global South. It underscores the significance of understanding migration not just as a spatial phenomenon but as a temporal one, where time and its various manifestations play a critical role in shaping migrants experiences and decisions. The study thus contributes to the emerging body of literature on Sino-African relations by focusing on the temporal dimension, which has been relatively underexplored in existing literature. In conclusion, this paper offers a unique lens through which to view Chinese labor migration to Sub-Saharan Africa. By emphasizing the temporal aspects of these migrants experiences, it sheds light on the complex, multi-dimensional nature of contemporary migration. It highlights the importance of considering temporal factors alongside spatial and economic ones in understanding migratory patterns and their implications. This approach not only enriches our understanding of Sino-African migration but also contributes to a more nuanced comprehension of what time and locality mean when migrants travel through different modes of modernity.
Non-presenting author: Yu Xiang, Shanghai University
Laura Perez Gonzalez, Toronto Metropolitan University; Henry Parada, Toronto Metropolitan University
This presentation will discuss findings from the Rights for Children and Youth Partnership (RCYP) Project, a project which seeks to explore the factors that protect and hinder children and youth’s rights in Central America, the Caribbean, and among their diasporas in Canada. This study uses Critical Race Theory and Latino Critical Theory to understand the different barriers Latin American and Black Caribbean immigrant youth face in the adaptation process in Ontario. We examine the experiences of newcomer racialized youth and the meaning that family holds in their view of the world, underscoring the social, cultural, and emotional challenges that influence their sense of self and understanding of “home”. Based on 25 interviews with Latin American and Black Caribbean immigrant youth and Ontario-based service providers and community leaders, our presentation highlights the concept of family from the standpoint of youth trying to adapt to their new lives in Ontario. The findings point to the complexities of navigating the decision made to immigrate, as youth are not often a part of this decision-making process. Participants reported dealing with family separation and reunification, balancing between the notion of holding onto their identities while simultaneously being required to fit in to new environments, and the social and economic pressures to support their families and uphold a family-oriented culture. The dynamics of family and immigration played a key role in how youth perceived their sense of self and the emerging responsibilities that came with being in a new country. These experiences reveal the need to critique the normative understanding of family and belonging in a predominantly White settler society to better understand the ways in which intersections of immigration, race, ethnicity, and cultural values impact family structures and adaptation processes. While Canada promotes the vision of a diverse and multicultural state, racialized immigrants continue to face systemic barriers towards equal opportunities for success, including racial discrimination, language barriers, precarity towards accessing resources based on legal status, and limited recognized social and cultural capital. The findings ultimately highlight the important role that migrant and resettlement services can play to better support families and youth, particularly drawing on the need to understand the reality and intersections of racialized immigrant family experiences.
Non-presenting author: Veronica Escobar Olivio, Toronto Metropolitan University
Jiaxin Gu, University of British Columbia
As a precondition for maintaining one’s Chineseness, is it necessary to become a full participating citizen of one’s adopted country? Tu Weiming, one of the most prominent Chinese Confucian thinkers of our era, once posed this compelling question when underscoring the evolving role of overseas Chinese, positioned on the periphery of the cultural China, in reshaping the trajectory of Chinese civilization. The late 20th century had witnessed the Asian Miracle in Taiwan and Hong Kong, followed by the economic boom in mainland China after its transformative “opening-up” policies. Collectively, such economic ascendency in these societies with Chinese culture deeply embedded triggered a significant wave of educational migration marked by young Chinese diaspora seeking enhanced educational and career opportunities in western countries. In contrast to their predecessors, who were dedicated providers for their families back home weathered flagrant racial discrimination in the host country, this new generation of locally educated young Chinese immigrants hails predominantly from middle-class background with their financial and human capital not only valued but also welcomed by the adopted society. This evolving demographic raises essential questions about the immigration journey of these young immigrants in this new era of the Chinese diaspora. If we were to gauge their integration mindset on a scale, with traditional sojourner mentality – anchored in the eventual return to one’s homeland – at the far-left, and the complete embrace and full commitment to the host society – or in the word of migration scholars, the “settlers”—on the right, where does this new generation of Chinese immigrants position themselves? Encompassing migration and immigrant studies, social networks, social capital, Chinese diaspora, and comparative sociology in this project, I conducted interviews with immigrants from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong who reside and work in two Canadian provinces with distinct sociodemographic, cultural, and economic landscapes -- the Great Vancouver Area along the Pacific coastline and Nova Scotia, Canada’s second-smallest province, with the Atlantic Ocean to its east. Furthermore, to facilitate a meaningful comparison between skilled immigrants who arrived in Canada in earlier years and the locally-educated young immigrants under the TR to PR track (a Canadian immigration stream aimed at granting temporary residents with local education and working experience permanent residency), 30 in-depth interviews with Chinese immigrants and international students conducted prior to the onset of COVID-19 pandemic will be added into the analysis. Central to the research methodology lies the Interaction Ritual Chain (IRC) approach. Rooted in symbolic interactionism, IRC approach will guide my analysis of the identity formation process among Chinese immigrants in their everyday social interactions, the embrace or rejection of group affiliations and collective identities in workplace and public sphere as the key factors. In parallel, I will scrutinize the structure of the ethnic-based social web within the Chinese immigrant community, evaluating its impact on the economic and political integration, or disintegration, of its members from the social network and social-capital (guanxi) perspectives. Through an intersectional lens of racialization, immigration, and cultural traditions, my dissertation research aims explore the experiences of economic and political integration of this new generation of Chinese immigrant in the North American context – with a focus on Western Canada and Atlantic Provinces. By revisiting and tracing the sojourner mentality and exploring new ecological niches within Chinese immigrant communities, I hope to not only enhance our sociological understanding of the integration mechanisms of locally-educated Chinese immigrants but also engage with the conversation on the evolving relationship between the first symbolic universe (including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China) and the second (overseas Chinese communities) in reshaping the meaning of being Chinese in the contemporary era of Chinese diaspora.