Support Networking Strategies of Female Chinese Immigrants in London, Ontario

Abstract

Drawing on data gathered from semi-structured interviews with eighteen professional Chinese women with young children who have recently migrated to London, Ontario, this paper examines the social support networks of these women. Despite a range of barriers and difficulties, Chinese immigrant women actively mobilize their family resources and develop new support systems to meet their settlement needs in Canada. Their support networks are seen as being strategic in response to the challenges they face. Strong ties continue to be perceived as important sources of support for some immigrants, but weak ties that are established via post-migration religious participation and the use of modern communication technology, particularly the Internet, clearly provide these immigrant women vital support in dealing with settlement concerns, such as childcare and education. The findings also underscore the dramatic effect of immigration on some women's religious practices. The findings are discussed in relation to the ongoing debate about gender and social support networks of immigrants. The findings have implications for social service providers and policymakers involved in providing appropriate services to immigrant families and their children.

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