joining and belonging: language use and the civic participation of immigrants monica boyd university...
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Joining and Belonging: Language Use and the Civic Participation of
Immigrants
Monica Boyd University of Toronto
Why the interest in the Civic Participation of immigrants?
1) Indicator of integration
1) High levels may be associated with social cohesion and with active social networks that offer social support
Indicators of Civic Participation (CP)
a) Membership and activities in associations
b) Voting
c) Feelings of Belonging
Research results are mixed in terms of FB and Canadian born similarities or differences.
Differences also exist within the immigrant population.
Variations exist by duration and language skills
My core questions:1) Do immigrants differ from the Canadian
born in the type and level of CP
2) Does poor/high language proficiency reduce/increase CP for immigrants
Use 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey, language proficiency defined from language first learned in childhood & home language used most often
Language proficiency typology from language first learned and home language most often used:
Type I: English and/or French
Type II: Mixed- Other language first learned; home languages most used are English and/or French
Type III: Other language first learned; home language most used is NOT English and/or French
Membership and activities in associations or groups
Art, Dance, Cultural Group
Youth Organization or children’s groups
Business or Job Related
Hobby, Social Club or Seniors Group
Sports Club or Team(s)
Service Club, Agency or Charitable Organization
Community Organization(s)
Ethnic or Immigrant Associations
Religious Affiliated Group(s)
Chart 1: Percent Having Membership or Participation in a Group or Organization by Nativity and Language Proficiency, Age 20+, Canada 2002
47
4445
36
32
30
35
40
45
50
Canadian Born, Type 1
Canadian Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 1
Foreign Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 3
Chart 2: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Only One Group or Organization, Ages 20+, Canada 2002
7776
74
8281
65
70
75
80
85
Canadian Born, Type 1
Canadian Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 1
Foreign Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 3
Chart 3: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Sports Club or Team(s), Ages 20+, Canada 2002
44
38
30
20
15
0
10
20
30
40
50
Canadian Born, Type 1
Canadian Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 1
Foreign Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 3
Chart 4: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Service Club, Agency or Charitable Organization(s), Age 20+, Canada 2002
16
14 14
7
5
0
5
10
15
20
Canadian Born, Type 1
Canadian Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 1
Foreign Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 3
Chart 5: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Community Organization(s), Age 20+, Canada 2002
18
15
19
22
16
0
5
10
15
20
25
Canadian Born, Type 1
Canadian Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 1
Foreign Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 3
Chart 6: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Ethnic or Immigrant Association(s), Age 20+, Canada 2002
2
9 9
21
28
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Canadian Born, Type 1
Canadian Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 1
Foreign Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 3
Chart 7: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Ethnic or Immigrant Association(s), by Year of Arrival, Age 20+, Canada 2002
2
9 8
23
30
13
16
25
0
10
20
30
40
CanadianBorn, Type 1
CanadianBorn, Type 2
Foreign Born,Arrived <'91,
Type 1
Foreign Born,Arrived <'91,
Type 2
Foreign Born,Arrived <'91,
Type 3
Foreign Born,
Arrived '91-'01, Type 1
Foreign Born,
Arrived '91-'01, Type 2
Foreign Born,
Arrived '91-'01, Type 3
Chart 8: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Religious Affiliated Group(s), Age 20+, Canada 2002
12
24
2122
32
0
10
20
30
40
Canadian Born, Type 1
Canadian Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 1
Foreign Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 3
Chart 9: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Religious Affiliated Group(s) by Year of Arrival, Persons Ages 20 and Over, Canada 2002
12
24 23
19
14
30
24
38
0
10
20
30
40
CanadianBorn, Type 1
CanadianBorn, Type 2
Foreign Born,Arrived <'91,
Type 1
Foreign Born,Arrived <'91,
Type 2
Foreign Born,Arrived <'91,
Type 3
Foreign Born,
Arrived '91-'01, Type 1
Foreign Born,
Arrived '91-'01, Type 2
Foreign Born,
Arrived '91-'01, Type 3
Other Indicators of Civic Participation
Very strong feelings of belonging to
family, ethnic or cultural group, town, province, Canada, North America
(for those who were eligible): voting in municipal, provincial or federal elections
Chart 10: Percentages Feeling a Strong Sense of Belonging to Types of Affiliations by Nativity and Language Proficiency, Ages 20+, Canada 2002
0
20
40
60
80
100
Canadian Born, Type 1
Canadian Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 1
Foreign Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 3
Family Ethnic or cultural group Town, city or municipality Province Canada North America
Chart 11: Percentages Voting in Types of Elections For Those Who Voted by Nativity and Language Proficiency, Ages 20+, Canada 2002
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
Canadian Born, Type 1
Canadian Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 1
Foreign Born, Type 2
Foreign Born, Type 3
Federal Election Provincial Election Municipal Election
Conclusions: Differences in Civic Participation exist by nativity and language usage
1) FB with low English/French language skills less likely to be members or organizations, groups and they are most likely to belong to only one group
Conclusions:
2) FB with low language skills in English and/or French most likely to be members of ethnic or religious organizations
3) Slightly less likely to vote
4) Slightly lower % saying they feel they belong to town, province, Canada, or North America