Men Become Baby Dolls and Women Become Lions: African Immigrant Men’s Challenges with Transition and Integration
Abstract
Over the past decade, scholars have begun to explore neglected aspects of immigrant family life such as gender relations, domestic violence, parenting, and relationships with service providers. Many of these studies, however, are based on women’s experiences. As an equally crucial starting point in building sustainable and resilient immigrant communities, our study focuses on the experiences of African immigrant men in a Canadian context. It reveals African immigrant men’s frustration with their search for a better life. Our thematic analysis of participants’ responses identified three main stressors among this group: challenges with economic integration, changing ideals about masculinities and gender relations across transnational spaces, and tensions in the parent-child relationship. These findings suggest that despite the vulnerabilities they face in Canada, African men could play a strategic role as critical agents of change in families’ transitions and integration. Overall, our study calls for the active engagement of both African immigrant men and women in developing policies and practices that impact their everyday lives.
Notes
Location
NA
Key recommendations
Need to engage African immigrant men in policies and practices that shape their lives, including immigrant serving agencies and organizations. Important to engage community organizations and elders in this process
Key populations
African immigrant men
Key findings
African immigrant men identify key challenges in the following areas: Economic integration; changing masculinities and gender relations; and tensions in the parent-child relationship.
Gaps identified
Need for greater engagement with men by immigrant serving agencies, especially in relation to family and gender issues
Community organizations
NA
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
NA
Open-access – No