You’ll be reading three journal articles based on your instructor’s research. Reading three journal articles might seem like a lot, but if you read with attention to the “big points” and follow the tips provided below, you will find this exercise takes less time and feels less overwhelming. In addition to the questions below, here are some tips to guide you:
- Start with the abstract, and then read the introduction and conclusion first. This will give you a sense of the “big points” the authors are making before you get into the details.
- Journal articles often include discussions of the researchers’ methods. For this course, you will not be assessed based on your understanding of the authors’ methods, so you can skim those sections.
- Write down the “big point” from the findings sections in point form. Your notes do not need to be too detailed.
- Skip ahead to the discussion questions on the “Summary” page so you can help guide your reading.
Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika and Bukola Salami,
“Men Become Baby Dolls and Women Become Lions”
In the assigned resources for this module, you have the unique opportunity to engage with your professor’s own research into migrant experiences. In this article, Dr. Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika and Dr. Bukola Salami study the gendered experiences of African Immigrant men in Alberta. By engaging with African men’s experiences of migration, they shift the focus from an association of gender with women to one that takes into account men’s experiences. Africans, Dr. Okeke-Ihejirika and Dr. Salami note, are among the fastest growing populations of immigrants in Canada, and as such research into their experiences is crucial to develop policy and services.
As you read:
- Pay attention to the authors’ explanations of postcolonial and transnational feminism (page 94)
- Try to define these approaches in your own words
- Why do the authors say it is important to study gender and experiences of migration? (see page 95)
- Identify the three main stressors that shape gender relations in the post-migration context (see page 96)
- Try to explain each of these stressors in your own words.
Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika, Bukola Salami, and Ahmad Karimi
“African Immigrant Women’s Transition and Integration into Canadian Society”
Next, you’ll read about Dr. Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika, Dr. Bukola Salami, and Dr. Ahmad Karimi’s research into African women’s experiences of integrating into Canadian society. Their research reveals the challenges African women experience when integrating into Canadian society, particularly challenges related to their economic wellbeing and gender roles, a lack of community support, and Canadian socio-legal systems.
As you read:
- Why do the authors argue that there is a need to study the experience of African Immigrant women in particular?
- Identify specific examples of ways that migration is a gendered experience according to the migrants who share their experiences.
- Think about supports, services, or policy changes required in Canada/Alberta to address the challenges described by the participants in the study.
- Think about the question of who is best positioned to take the lead in these changes. What do the authors say about this?
- Note: this article includes discussions of domestic violence.
Sophie Yohani and Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika,
“Pathways to Help-Seeking”
Finally, you’ll read about Yohani and Okeke-Ihejirika’s research on African women’s experiences of GBV pre- and post-migration. Yohani and Okeke-Ihejirika study African women’s experiences of trauma, but also highlight their resilience. Note that the authors frame the problem of violence as not just a problem for individuals, but for communities. While re-settlement, they note, can provide safety from violence and instability, re-settlement can bring new challenges in the absence of appropriate supports.
As you read:
- Note how the authors describe distinct gender roles in the post-migration context (see page 384)
- What are the four priorities and pathways to mental health supports that the participants identified? (see page 386-87) Can you explain each of these priorities and pathways briefly (1-2 sentences) in your own words?
- What kinds of policy changes do you think should be implemented as a result of these findings? Who should lead the implementation of these changes?
- Note: this article includes discussions of gender-based violence.