SOCI 371 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Racialization, Nuclear Family, Matrilocal Residence
19 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
03-29-2018- Migration and Families
Segmented Assimilation- If you have high level of human capital, have some means, and transferable
qualifications you will integrate faster. Assimilation is not a uniform process for everyone, it is segmented
(1)Human capital- education, language skills, income prior to migration. Includes your qualifications,
socioeconomic background.
(2)Existing Social Capital- what kind of social networks you have coming into a new country.
(3)Racialization- white people have historically held the majority of resources in North America. People
when they come into the host societies as visible minorities, even with human and social capital, it will be
harder for you to immediately integrate.
Multiculturalism Act- passed in 1971, so that canadian institutions are welcoming of different cultures.
An effort to fix Canadian policies that up until 1962 were explicitly racist.
Immigration in Canada guided by three pillars: (1) Development of a strong economy- points system,
minimum points 67/1000, lower points have longer wait times. Produces a differential system of
integration. This is how most immigrants come to Canada. (2) Family reunification (3)Humanitarian
goals towards refugees.
Normal North American Family- white middle class heterosexual family with two kids. This is a false
story.
Connection between single stories and intersectionality.
Single stories do not allow for variation in people’s lives. If you look a certain way, your citizenship is
questioned regardless of whether or not you are from the host society.
04-03-2018
Single story- creating the ‘self’ and ‘other’
Over a decade of research, there was no change in the reception of Sierra Leonean families. In the minds
of the host society the idea of Africa was one of a monolithic space- a single story.
Struggle against the larger narrative of the host society caused conflict between generations of
immigrants. Children felt ashamed of their homeland, and the parents did not feel the same way.
Legal liminality- not permanent citizens in the host country, but are working in the host country and so
they cannot speak up for their rights because they could be fired and have to leave the country.
Pre -Christian Indigenous Families:
-Interdependent
-Huron tribe: no interference (imposed norms) on unions from families, communities
-No claim of husband over wife, obedience not expected
-Arranged marriages in some societies, sometimes younger women to older men. Women still had power
to leave their marriages.
-Polygyny- often preferred by women because there was sharing of household work.
Pre-Christian Divorce
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Segmented assimilation- if you have high level of human capital, have some means, and transferable qualifications you will integrate faster. Assimilation is not a uniform process for everyone, it is segmented (1)human capital- education, language skills, income prior to migration. Includes your qualifications, socioeconomic background. (2)existing social capital- what kind of social networks you have coming into a new country. (3)racialization- white people have historically held the majority of resources in north america. People when they come into the host societies as visible minorities, even with human and social capital, it will be harder for you to immediately integrate. Multiculturalism act- passed in 1971, so that canadian institutions are welcoming of different cultures. An effort to fix canadian policies that up until 1962 were explicitly racist. Immigration in canada guided by three pillars: (1) development of a strong economy- points system, minimum points 67/1000, lower points have longer wait times.
