ALONE IN PARADISE: EXPLORING INTERSECTIONALITY WITH SINGLE, IMMIGRANT MOTHERS IN CANADA

Abstract

Researchers have traditionally examined and explored immigration and single motherhood in isolation from one another. In the research reported in this thesis, I adopted intersectionality theory as the framework to examine the lived experiences of single, immigrant mothers in Canada. This includes investigating single motherhood and immigration in relation to the intersections of gender, ethnicity, social class within the context of cross-cultural transitioning, diverse mothering ideologies, and shifting social locations. The aim of the study was to gain insight into the challenges that single, immigrant mothers face and thereby to inform the provision of counselling services for them. The findings indicate that the single, immigrant mother participants’ lived experiences and acculturation processes were influenced by discourses related to gender, ethnicity, and mothering, from both their former world and their new world. Findings also revealed that single, immigrant mothers’ relationships with their children were affected by the intersectionality of their cultural identities. Service providers play an important role in supporting these mothers through their cross-cultural transitions; this study provides insights into how they can better address the specific and complex needs of this population.