An Overview of Intersecting Themes
The following are four themes that are highlighted throughout the collection. Intersecting with violence against women and precarious immigration status, these stories reveal further consequences faced by immigrant women -- including family separation and reunification.
Spectrum of Violence and DiscriminationThe spectrum of violence refers to different forms of violence across the life-span including: domestic abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault and discrimination. Often, immigrant women leave one country for another in hopes of finding security and safety for themselves and their children. These stories illustrate how women struggle with violence and discrimination while living with precarious status in Canada. Family SeparationFamily separation is a harsh reality for many migrant women who come to Canada for refuge or employment. Whether through years of separation working as a Live-In Caregiver or as a refugee claimant in Canada with precarious status, migrant women struggle to reunify with their children. With few pathways to permanent residence, family reunification remains an obstacle of constant fear and anxiety that they have yet to overcome. |
Immigration and Precarious WorkNearly half of the temporary foreign workers who come to Canada are female. Without the proper protection and monitoring many temporary foreign workers are subjected to exploitation and abuse. Often, they work for long hours with very low wages and no work benefits or security. These stories illustrate the precarious work conditions that migrant women face, while seeking to support themselves and their family.
Detention and DeportationA growing number of people living in Canada are vulnerable to detention, deportation, family separation, and related financial and emotional difficulties. These stories illustrate how recent changes in Canadian immigration policies that have led to increased criminalization and illegalization of migrants who have little to no access to permanent residency. |