A Qualitative Exploration of Career Identity Development among "Dependent" Immigrant Women: Preliminary Findings

Deepika Rastogi; Cristelle  Audet

Authors

Deepika Rastogi University of Ottawa
Cristelle Audet University of Ottawa

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to understand the process of career identity development among women immigrants arriving as applicants with dependent status. Past research has shown that most dependent applicants under the economic class of immigrants are women and constitute a group of skilled individuals capable of contributing positively to Canada’s economy. However, women arriving to Canada on a dependent visa have largely been ignored within immigrant literature. Exploring their career-related experiences upon immigration may assist in understanding career identity development within preand post-migration contexts. A qualitative inquiry, inspired by a grounded theory methodology, was carried out to identify themes relevant to immigrant women’s career identity development and their possible interactions. Six study participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Transcripts of semi-structured interviews conducted with each participant were analyzed using thematic analysis. Eight themes were generated, illuminating gender-specifi c experiences of women immigrants during their career journey. The findings may provide useful information to career counsellors who play a key role in helping immigrant women navigate through career transitions in a new country.

References

Adsera, A., & Chiswick, B. (2007). Are there gender and country of origin differences in immigrant labor market outcomes across European destinations? Journal of Population Economics, 20(3), 495–526. doi: 10.1007/s10048-006-0082y

Amundson, N. E., Yeung, T., Sun, I., Chan, K., & Cheng, J. (2011). The transition experiences of successful Chinese immigrants. Journal of Employment Counseling, 48(3), 129–135. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1920.2011.tb01119

Banerjee, R., & Phan, M. (2015). Do ‘Tied-Movers’ get tied down? The labour market adjustment of immigrant women in Canada. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 16(2), 333-353. doi:10.1007/s12134-014-0341-9

Bauder, H. (2003). “Brain abuse”, or the devaluation of immigrant labour in Canada. Antipode, 35(4), 699–717. doi:10.1046/j.1467-8330.2003.00346.x

Berzonsky, M. D. (1989). Identity style: Conceptualization and measurement. Journal of Adolescent Research, 4, 267-281. doi:10.1177/074355488943002

Branden, M. (2014). Gender, gender ideology, and couples’ migration decisions. Journal of Family Issues, 35(7), 950–971. doi:10.1177/0192513X14522244

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77-101. doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Chen, C. P. (2008). Career guidance with immigrants. In J.A. Athanasou & R. Van Esbroeck(Eds.) International Handbook of Career Guidance, (pp. 419-442). New York: Springer Publishing Company.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (2013). Retrieved from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/facts2013/permanent/02.asp#female

Cobb-Clark, D., & Crossley, T. F. (2004). Revisiting the family investment hypothesis. Labour Economics, 11(3), 373–393. doi:10.1016/j.labeco.2003.05.002

Cooke, T. J. (2001). ‘Trailing wife’ or ‘trailing mother’? The effect of parental status on the relationship between family migration and the labor-market participation of married women. Environment and Planning A, 33(3), 419 – 430. doi: 10.1068/a33140

Creswell, J. W., Hanson, W. E., Piano, V. L., & Morales, A. (2007). Qualitative research designs: Selection and implementation. Counseling Psychologist, 35(2), 236-264. doi:10.1177/0011000006287390

De Silva, N. (2010). Sri Lankan women’s career identity evolution after immigration to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Doctoral dissertation, McGill University). Retrieved http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/pqdtft/docview/902903292/13553861C6E6023DB49/1?accountid=4485

Inglis, C. (2003). Mothers, wives, and workers: Australia’s migrant women. Retrieved from http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/mothers-wives-and-workers-australias-migrant-women

Iredale, R. (2005). Gender, immigration policies and accreditation: Valuing the skills of professional women migrants. Geoforum, 36(2),155-166. doi: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2004.04.002

Koert, E., Borgen, W. A., & Amundson, N. E. (2011). Educated immigrant women workers doing well with change: Helping and hindering factors. The Career Development Quarterly, 59(3), 194–207. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2011.tb00063.x

Meijers, F. (1998). The development of a career identity. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 20, 191-207. doi:10.1023/A:1005399417256

Purkayastha, B. (2005). Skilled migration and cumulative disadvantage: the case of highly qualified Asian Indian immigrant women in the U.S. Geoforum, 36(2), 181–196. doi: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2003.11.006

Sandell, S. (1977). Women and the economics of family migration. Review of Economics and Statistics, 59(4), 406–414. doi: 10.2307/1928705

Spitze, G. (1984). The effect of family migration on wives’ employment: How long does it last? Social Science Quarterly, 65, 21–36.

Suto, M. (2009). Compromised careers: the occupational transition of immigration and resettlement. Work, 32(4), 417–429. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2009-0853

Vojdanijahromi, R. (2016). Career transition of Iranian immigrants in Canada:what helps and what hinders. Retrieved from https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0314919

Yakushko O., Backhaus, A., Watson, M., Ngaruiya, K., & Gonzalez, J. (2008). Career development concerns of recent immigrants and refugees. Journal of Career Development,34(4), 362-396. doi:10.1177/0894845308316292.