Abstract
Based on research that the author conducted in 1998 this paper re-examines theories of immigrant adaptation by relating Philomena Essed's three-point framework of immigrant adaptation to the settlement of Ghanaian immigrant women in Canada. Essed identifies three phases of the adaptation process that she categorizes as “when are we going back”, “are we going back”, and “here to stay.” This paper examines what it meant for Ghanaian women to “look back” and how “looking back” dictated their adaptation strategies. The paper moves beyond notions of adaptation that stress measurable and quantifiable outcomes to one that stresses the agency of immigrant women. The author argues that Ghanaian immigrant women's seemingly low status in the economy was not a reflection of poor adaptation but rather a measure to help them connect with people in the homeland.
Résumé
Reposant sur la recherche entreprise par l'auteur en 1998, cet article examine de nouveau des théories sur l'adaptation des immigrants en appliquant le cadre de Philomena Essed sur l'adaptation des immigrants à l'établissement de Ghanéennes au Canada. Essed identifie trois phases du processus d'adaptation qu'elle décrit ainsi: “Quand retournerons-nous?», «Retournerons-nous?» et «Nous nous établissons ici». Cet article porte sur la signification pour les Ghanéennes de se tourner vers le passé et l'influence de cette démarche sur leurs stratégies d'adaptation. Cette étude va au-delà des conceptions de l'adaptation qui visent les résultats mesurables et quantifiables pour s'approcher d'une interprétation basée sur la capacité d'agir des immigrantes. L'auteur affirme que le statut économique apparemment peu élevé des immigrantes ghanéennes n'était pas une indication d'une adaptation mal réussie mais plutôt un reflet d'une démarche ayant comme but d'établir un lien avant les gens de leur patrie.
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Donkor, M. Looking back and looking in: Rethinking adaptation strategies of Ghanaian immigrant women in Canada. Int. Migration & Integration 5, 33–51 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-004-1001-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-004-1001-2