Economic security and structured ambivalence among immigrant seniors

• In Event: 3251 - Section on International Migration Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 15. Life Course and Historical Perspectives

Abstract

Immigrant seniors reflect on their past and present lives and their migration decision and desire to stay or return, or both, with emotions that range from positive to indifferent to negative to all of the above. In this paper, we focus on how emotions are structured for immigrant seniors and in particular, in the structure of immigrant ambivalence. Conflicting emotions, or ambivalence, can arise within individuals from conflicting societal values, and the mismatch between normative expectations and structural opportunities. Drawing on the structured ambivalence framework, we highlight the incongruity in Canada’s perceptions of
immigrants, and between values around work and economic opportunities, and we explore how they structure economically secure older immigrants’
ambivalent feelings towards Canada. Using data from 31 semi-structured interviews with immigrant seniors from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, we examine how subjective views of economic security and post-migration experiences in the labour market throughout an immigrant’s life may be associated with strong or indifferent feelings about Canada, or some combination of conflicting feelings of regret and satisfaction.

Authors

• Ann H. Kim, York University

• Nancy Mandell, York University