Looking back and looking in: Rethinking adaptation strategies of Ghanaian immigrant women in Canada
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Martha Donkor
- Source
- Journal of International Migration and Integration / Revue de l'integration et de la migration internationale. 5:33-51
- Subject
- Cultural Studies
Anthropology
media_common.quotation_subject
Immigration
Agency (sociology)
Homeland
Gender studies
Sociology
Adaptation (computer science)
Settlement (litigation)
Adaptation strategies
Demography
media_common
- Language
- ISSN
- 1874-6365
1488-3473
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.