Chapter 2 - Historical and Cultural Perspectives on the Canadian Family

Question 1

What is the difference between race and ethnicity?

Answer 1

Race is based on arbitrary physical features and has no biological reality whereas ethnic groups share a common cultural heritage and a sense of shared identity.

Question 2

Name some characteristics of Aboriginal families.

Answer 2

Individuals were required to marry outside of their clan, over generations every family in a community was related by descent or marriage to every other family in the community. The family signifies parents and children living together, but also has a much broader meaning, it also means an extended network of other relatives, ex. grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Extended family networks often take responsibility for the care and nurture of their members.

Question 3

What are some of the qualities of English Canadian families?

Answer 3

in order to further expansionist goals, the traditional ‘masculine’ characteristics were encouraged, ex. enterprise and aggression. Religious diversity didn’t encourage community-wide cooperation, rather there was much discrimination and separation based on religion and race. The chief responsibility was to nuclear family members, less value than the Aboriginals and French on extended family ties.

Question 4

Is there greater genetic variation between individuals living in the same racially geographic region, or between individuals living in different racially geographic regions?

Answer 4

There is a greater genetic variation within racial groups from the same racially geographic region (94%) than between them (only 6% difference between racial groups from different geographic regions)

Question 5

What are the 4 elements that Traditional Quebec society is built upon?

Answer 5

1. Roman Catholic Church used to define family roles & educational goals
2. Maintaining a rural lifestyle
3. Large families idealized
4. French language and culture

Question 6

What are the 3 main factors that influence immigration patterns?

Answer 6

The desire to maintain a ‘British’ character, need for labour, and humanitarian motives.

Question 7

Name some examples of waves of immigration for humanitarian motives.

Answer 7

Underground Railroad, American draft dodgers during the Vietnam War, 1956-57: Hungarians fleeing Communist government, 1947-1962: refugees and displaced peoples from WW2, 2013: Citizenship and Immigration Canada has committed to resettle more than 1300 Syrian refugees

Question 8

Explain how the need for cheap labour motivated Canada to allow various foreigners to immigrate into Canada despite racism and prejudice?

Answer 8

Because they would accept the low wages and primitive work conditions in work camps that British immigrants wouldn’t, ex. Chinese, Sikh, and Japanese workers.

Question 9

What are the 4 classes of immigrants as established by the Immigration Act?

Answer 9

1. The family class, whereby nuclear family members and aging parents and grandparents can be sponsored
2. The economic class, admits skilled workers, entrepreneurs and investors
3. The refugee class
4. Other immigrants, those admitted on humanitarian and compassionate grounds

Question 10

True or False: Currently, the majority of immigrants to Canada are coming from Europe.

Answer 10

False, only about 16% of current immigrants come from Europe. Three-quarters of immigrants come from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

Question 11

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Answer 11

A prejudice is a negative attitude wheres discrimination involves acting upon a previously held prejudice.

Question 12

What are the four different acculturation strategies used by immigrants? Explain each.

Answer 12

1. Separation; a collective rather than individual strategy, voluntary rejection of dominant culture or involuntary exclusion from dominant culture, can be by choice or be forced, ex. Hutterites, living in ethnic enclaves, First Nations reserves
2. Assimilation; rejection of heritage culture, full and exclusive orientation towards the dominant culture, a form of passing, can be voluntary or forced, ex. residential schools as forced assimilation
3. Integration; high levels of engagement in both heritage and mainstream cultures, most adaptive pathway because it implies bi-cultural competence and flexibility
4. Marginalization; occurs when there is little possibility or interest in maintaining the heritage culture and little interest in having relations with others in the dominant culture, associated with deviant behaviours, ex. delinquency, drug abuse, family abuse

Question 13

What are the different acculturation policies used by dominant groups? Explain each.

Answer 13

1. Multiculturalism; policy that accepts diversity and includes all ethnic and cultural groups
2. Melting pot; policy that encourages individuals to assimilate into the dominant culture
3. Segregation; policy based on forced separation from the dominant group
4. Exclusion; policy that marginalizes immigrants

Question 14

Define: passing

Answer 14

Trying to hide the fact that one is a member of a minority group, forces the individual to live a double life.

Question 15

Define: stigma

Answer 15

A trait or an attribute that is used to differentiate individuals and has a negative value.

Question 16

What are some examples of members of minorities being stigmatized by the majority?

Answer 16

The stigma that immigrants are taking jobs from ‘real’ Canadians, Aboriginals as ‘savages’ in need of civilizing.

Question 17

Define: acculturation strategies

Answer 17

Psychological and behavioural changes in individuals as a result of migration.

Question 18

Define: acculturation policies

Answer 18

Strategies for integrating or excluding immigrants that are promoted or enforced by the dominant group through laws or official programs.

Question 19

Name some reasons that immigrants have trouble finding work in the same field as their original country.

Answer 19

Reasons include: lack of Canadian experience, problems having their qualifications recognized, and lack of fluency in English.