ABDIE KAZEMIPURDepartment of Sociology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
CRDCN Conference
Evidence-Based Policy Formation and EvaluationFredericton, NB
October 23-24, 2012
The Economics of Attachment: Immigrants’ Employment Experiences and Attachment to Canada
Predictors of Attachment to Canada
Attachmentto Canada
Pleasantnessof Socio-cultural Experiences
Interaction of Canadians withMuslims
Pleasantnessof Economic Experiences
Acknowledgmentof Discriminationagainst Muslims
PositiveImpressionof IslamInteraction of
Muslims withMuslims
Interaction of Muslims withCanadians
Positive Image of Canadians
INTERACTIONWITH OTHERS (social)
PLEASANTNESSOF EXPERIENCES
Social/Cultural Integration of Immigrants(pre-1960s)
Social/Cultural Integration of Immigrants:In the pre-1960s Environment, ....
• Most immigrants came from Europe• Were Self-selected (willing to confront the risks,
costs, uncertainties)• Came from many countries • Were dispersed in many neighbourhoods• Immigration was discontinuous• Host populations shared a common/clear identity
Immigrants were more inclined to assimilate
Social/Cultural Integration of Immigrants(post-1960s)
This study …• … examines the impact of
economic experiences of immigrants on the strength of their attachment to Canada• … controls for other relevant variables• … uses the data from the Longitudinal Survey
of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC)–7700 immigrants–2001-2005–3 waves(cycles)
...Religion matters
… and Gender matters
Conclusions• In a pull-driven international migration
environment…• … Immigrants’ attachment to their new homes is a
by-product …• … not of their conscious decisions but of their
experiences, … • … and particularly, their economic experiences.• Against this background, the situation of Muslim
immigrants calls for some attention…• … and that of Muslim immigrant women calls for a
particular attention.
