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Core issues, real concerns 

What is fare?…. and Why? 

The challenges: 

It is generally perceived that ‘integration’ as described in Berry’s(1) acculturation model is the fairest form of acculturation possible within the theoretical frame works discussed. It allows immigrants to maintain both the cultures satisfactorily. However, this model prescribes the structural and cultural dimensions as two distinct and separate entities. Theoretically this may be possible. While considering the operational dimension, many of you may or may not differentiate these aspects nor agree that attaining either one independent of the other is possible.

It may be noted that in Gordon’s (2) argument, he has pointed out that structural assimilation is the corner stone and once it is achieved everything else would follow. This is in fact a disputable observation. While reviewing the literature, other theorists have pointed out that, various components of integration need not necessarily be sequential. The researcher proposes to assess whether acculturation is possible without participation in economic and productive enterprise and vice versa.

A third area of observation is that, in the present context of globalized economy, many researchers feel that a dominant culture with emphasize on economic activity will only survive. At the same time considering the possibility of movements within a transnational space, many new comers may follow either a dual culture or a hybrid culture as suggested by Kuran and Sandholm (3) However, this depends on the immigrant’s attitudes, perceptions on his/her social capital and cultural sensitivity.Though the literature gives an abstract idea about racialization and discrimination, south Asian immigrants may have a different story to tell.

On one hand there may be feelings of exclusion, and oppression by the dominant groups, the researcher anticipates possibility of expressions of internalized oppression, and there may even be stories of oppression from within the immigrant community itself.

There has been a number of studies on ethnic communities and their process of integration into the mainstream of Canadian social and economic life. However, studies` looking at the perspective of integration in relation to the cultural identity of immigrants are very limited except a few focusing on the immigrant communities from India by Somerville,(4).  She studied the process of identity formation within a transnational social field, specifically examining the second generation of south Indians. But it was limited to the Canadian born children of early immigrants.

The focus of this research is on recent immigrants to the country who are skilled and highly qualified and facing the reality of integration and it will be a refreshing exposure. Moreover, no such studies have been reported in relation to the experiences of those immigrants from Kerala who speak Malayalam as their native tongue. Hence, this highly interpretive study is expected to contribute new knowledge on the emerging ethnic and cultural differences within the main stream communities from India. It would help practicing social workers that work with new communities and the marginalized groups.

However, the researcher does not underestimate the limitation of the sample, which may not be cent percent representative.

For social work, this is a relevant area as it fits well within its practice realms of helping individuals for better adaptation, working with marginalized people, fighting oppression, advocacy for social justice etc and some of the issues like social exclusion referred earlier, therefore opens up new avenues for research and provide new knowledge for practicing social workers and academia. It will help in out-reaching and educating immigrant communities on the current discourse on social inclusion. Though the coverage is small, this study will bring out more insights on individual and collective perceptions of exclusion and strategies for inclusion. As a larger objective, the researcher expects the study to bring socially isolated people together on common grounds and on the basis of needs. It will validate their experiences and facilitate a creative and critical reflection. On a wider platform, individualized or personal experiences will be contextualized.

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