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Muslims living in Western countries experience high psychological distress yet underutilize professional mental health services. Unfortunately, research aimed at exploring strategies to improve treatment seeking in this population is limited. In this dissertation, through two studies, I developed, and pilot tested, a mental health literacy (MHL) intervention to improve treatment seeking among Western Muslims. In Study 1, I interview 10 Canadian Muslims about their beliefs about mental health and treatment seeking, employing a validated theoretical model to guide interviews and analyses. I analyse transcripts of these interview using the Framework method, generating both a priori and inductive themes. Participants recognized their susceptibility to mental health issues, believed only severe mental health problems warrant treatment, highlighted barriers to treatment (e.g., stigma, low MHL, lack of treatment access), and held generally positive beliefs about the benefits of professional treatment. My findings highlight gaps in knowledge about mental health and its treatment which could be addressed through a tailored MHL intervention. In Study 2, I outline the development of Mental Health 101: For Muslims, an intervention designed to improve MHL among Muslims living in Western countries by addressing gaps in knowledge. I pilot tested the intervention in a sample of 26 Canadian Muslims. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing MHL, public and self-stigma, attitudes toward treatment seeking, and intentions to utilize and recommend various sources of support. Participants also completed a program satisfaction questionnaire post-intervention. Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention, improvements in MHL, intentions to recommend treatment from family physicians, mental health professionals and imams. Intentions to seek various sources of support oneself, attitudes toward treatment seeking, and self-stigma also improved.

Colourism, the act of discriminating individuals as a result of their skin tone, is often perpetuated by members of the same ethnic group, resulting in this form of prejudice being intraracial. Colourism prevails within Black communities worldwide. Within the growing body of literature, which primarily reveals the experience of African American women in the United States, research shows African American women of darker skin tones face barriers in their everyday lives due to this discrimination. This research examines instances of colourism within rap and hip-hop music. I examine the lyrics of 20 popular songs performed by Black North American artists who all reinforce colourist ideologies. Drawing on Black Feminist Thought to explain the systemic discrimination faced by Black women, the research finds the ongoing negative colourist messaging within hip-hop and rap music to be prevalent within the last twenty years. This research addresses the ongoing struggles faced by Black women, particularly those of darker skin tones.

Although everything has been slowly returning “back to normal”, the coronavirus pandemic has caused irreversible social and economic harms, chief among them the racial discrimination experienced by Asian people. Anti-Asian terms are more frequently seen in social media, and news articles and research indicate the disturbing escalation in verbal and physical assaults that Asian people have witnessed or suffered from. Grounded in critical race theory and intersectionality and using cross-national survey data from the COVIDImpacts.ca team in Canada, USA, and Mexico, this thesis examines, quantitatively, if and to what extent does the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbate racism against Asian people in Canada and the U.S. Findings from bivariate and logistic regression analyses reveal that Asians in both countries have higher odds of experiencing racial discrimination during COVID-19 compared to those with other socioeconomic statuses or identities, and Asians living in the U.S. are more likely to experience racial discrimination or more inclined to report such experience compared to those living in Canada. These results provide insight into the lived Asian experience during COVID-19 and shed light on the struggles that the Asian community has been facing since even before this pandemic.

The rise of nation branding points to the ubiquity and pervasiveness of brands. Under nation branding, the nation state and national identity—like the corporate brand—are transformed into commodifiable entities. Here, national identity is reconfigured to meet the demands of the global marketplace. This project explores the nation branding via tourism advertisements in the context of Iceland and aims to answer the following dual-pronged question: How do Iceland’s tourism advertisements contribute towards the country’s nation-branding strategies? How do the visual and discursive representations of Iceland in tourism media (re)inforce and (re)articulate a mythologized Icelandic national imaginary and identity? In conducting a semiological analysis of four of Iceland’s tourism advertisements, released during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, this project examines how, through visual and discursive representations, a nationalist image of Iceland—one that upholds the ‘Icelandic imaginary’—is (re)constructed and (re)circulated. Using a synthesis of critical constructivist theories that examine the interconnections between geographies, national imaginaries, tourism representations, branding strategies, and consumption, I develop four key themes (presented as ‘mythologies’)—The Mythology of the ‘Sublime Landscape’ (Iceland as Ontologically ‘Wild’); The Mythology of Inheritance (Iceland as ‘Primordial’: An Authentic Antidote’ to Modernity); The Mythology of Eccentricity (Iceland as ‘Otherworldly’ and ‘Exotic’); The Mythology of Irreverence (Icelandic Humour and Performances of Nonchalance)—that critically examine the effects of nation branding on the formation and articulation of Iceland’s national identity.

Using survey data from the CIHR-funded three country project "COVID-19's Differential Impact on Indigenous Peoples and Newcomers: A Socioeconomic Analysis of Canada, USA and Mexico", this thesis explores two central questions: How are community connections affecting COVID-19 vaccination rates, and how are these connections affecting our belief in COVID-19 myths? The study's findings reveal that our social connections, political and religious affiliations, social media usage, trust in institutions, and our social circles, play a significant role in shaping perceptions of vaccines and myths regarding coronavirus. Although political divisions affect vaccine uptake and myth beliefs in both countries, this pattern is stronger in the USA. Social media has also polarized opinions and has influenced vaccine uptake in both countries. The thesis employs social constructionism to explain how social interactions and connections shape our perceptions of reality. Additionally, it draws on political culture theory to analyze how political beliefs influence various facets of our lives, including responses to public health crises. The thesis concludes by providing critical data and results that can assist government officials, epidemiologists and policymakers to bridge social divides and develop strategies to manage future pandemics better.

Indigenous learners are overrepresented in Manitoba adult learning centres (45% province-wide). Indigenous organizations like the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD), have introduced literacy and adult learning programs to meet the educational needs of their communities. According to Pierre Bourdieu’s (1984) social reproduction thesis, schools tend to preserve existing social inequity across generations. But could the opposite be true in an Indigenous-led adult learning centre (ALC) explicitly designed to achieve better outcomes for Indigenous learners? This case study of Indigenous learner experiences at CAHRD’s Aboriginal Community Campus ALC draws primarily on data collected via semi-structured interviews of seven Indigenous adult learners and four adult educators, with the analysis of the interview transcripts applying a two-cycle coding process (Saldaña, 2016). The interview scripts and code list draw on neo-Bourdieusian and critical race theory scholarship. The findings from this study suggest that a number of factors influence Indigenous adult learners’ ability to reach their educational goals at the ALC. The provision of critical resources such as daycare, nutrition programs, and counselling referrals are often key. Social structures in the school are also found to be effective in shifting learner habitus in tandem with the building up of educational and cultural capital. Because these act in opposition to those observed by Bourdieu, reducing rather than preserving inequity, I label them as emancipatory field structures. This study’s findings also suggest significant opportunities for improvement in Manitoba adult education as a whole, with CAHRD’s ALC as a potential model. Implementing these improvements would require an expanded investment in adult learning by the provincial government, but this cost would be more than justified by the societal benefits.

Immigrants and individuals without permanent resident status make up 29.1 percent Winnipeg’s population (Census of Canada, 2022). In Winnipeg, and across Canada, permanent residents (PRs) and those with precarious status, do not have the right to vote in municipal elections. This paper investigates the possibility of granting PRs the right to vote in Winnipeg by drawing from recent examples within Canada and in the global north. I am guided by a comparative case study approach which allows me to identify, then compare and contrast, the municipalities that have already granted the right to vote to those who do not currently hold citizenship. Grounding itself in Anne Schneider and Helen Ingram’s social construction of target population, this paper examines the continued disenfranchisement of newcomers and imagines a more equitable policy landscape where all newcomers have the chance to vote in municipal elections. While Canada is celebrated multiculturalist deeply embedded policies on multiculturalism and inclusion, a large portion of our population is prevented from voting and having their voices be heard. This disenfranchisement is fundamentally inequitable and impedes integration. While permanent residents are not eligible to vote in most municipal elections, they are required by law to pay municipal, provincial, and federal taxes in exchange for access to city services such as the bus, libraries, or garbage and recycling services. Despite enjoying these municipal “perks”, not having a voice on municipal politics and decision making creates a sense of exclusion and inferiority, that although individuals without citizenship are abiding by the laws and using city services, they are not receiving the same rights as individuals with citizenship. Implementing the right to vote to all permanent residents not only promotes better integration, it may encourage the next generation of newcomers to run for political office.

This scoping review aims to identify socio-cultural barriers to accessing mental healthcare services for immigrant and refugee women in Canada, with a particular focus on Winnipeg, Manitoba, to guide the development of policies and interventions to improve access to mental healthcare services for this population. The main research question for this thesis asks, “What is currently known about the socio-cultural barriers to accessing mental healthcare services for refugee and immigrant women in Canada with reflections for Winnipeg, Manitoba?” The Arksey and O’Malley framework, 2005 is the methodology of this scoping review. MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, JSTOR, and Women’s Studies International have been searched for publications in English. The Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement (PRISMA) flow diagram has been used for study selection. The study findings suggest that newcomer women face various socio-cultural barriers when accessing mental healthcare services, such as lack of cultural knowledge, differences in expectations, social stigma, discrimination, and system complexity. Language barriers were the most common, leading to difficulty in communication, understanding diagnoses, and accessing appropriate services. Cultural beliefs around mental illness and the stigma associated with seeking mental health services were also major barriers. Immigrant and refugee women often have limited trust in the healthcare system due to past experiences of discrimination or mistreatment. These barriers clearly indicate that the current system still lacks cultural competency in providing appropriate care. As access to healthcare, including mental healthcare, is a fundamental human right, it is important to work towards equitable access for all, irrespective of status.

This study explores the student visa application experiences of Nigerian international graduate students at the University of Manitoba and addresses the research question: how do Nigerian international graduate students at the University of Manitoba perceive the Canadian student visa application process based on their experiences? The purpose of this research is to increase awareness of the visa application challenges and concerns of Nigerian international graduate students applying to study in Canada—with the intention of informing future policy and research. This study uses Giddens’ (1984) structuration theory to examine the effect of the bureaucratic structure (Canada’s visa system) on individual student agency, as evident in how individuals’ goals are modified to fit within the structural requirements. Critical race theory is also used to examine how racism and its various intersections affect student visa requirements and outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine Nigerian international graduate students at the University of Manitoba, each of whom had applied for a Canadian student visa from Nigeria using a Nigerian passport. Three sub-themes related to the bureaucratic complexity of the visa application process emerged from the interview data: “life on hold” (the process was laborious with no definite timeline regarding how long the wait for a decision would be, which resulted in life delays, stress and emotional turmoil); “social networks and social capital” (students commented on the importance of peer groups and online sources in navigating the visa process); and “discrimination” (students discussed the influence of race and other intersecting forms of discrimination on visa outcomes). Several recommendations and future research directions are also discussed.

As a major hosting country of international students, Canada has benefited both socially and economically. Although international students come from diverse backgrounds, the majority are South and East Asians (Crossman, Choi, Lu, & Hou, 2022). Many Asian international students choose Canada to pursue better educational and occupational futures, but along the way, they experience a number of challenges to achieving this goal. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly worsened the economic, social and cultural conditions for many Asian international students. My study is a part of a SSHRC-funded project named “Examining the Racialization of Chinese, Indian and Korean Students in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg”. As a research assistant in Winnipeg, I have conducted eight interviews with South and East Asian international students to ask about their experiences at the University of Manitoba. This study uses critical race theory to interpret the results. The results of this study reveal that many Asian international students experience difficulties such as low income, cultural shock, and racism. These experiences are partly the result of institutional policies at the university that embed inequality into various aspects of the educational experience. The reduction of services and the lack of networking during the COVID-19 pandemic have further jeopardized Asian international students from reaching their goals. The conclusion of this thesis outlines some policy recommendations for the improvement of Asian international students’ educational experience at the University of Manitoba in the future.

Research on the representation of Muslims in the media has predominantly focused on stereotypes that misrepresent Muslims. Sutkutė’s (2020) analysis on “The Kite Runner,” and Morey and Yaqin’s (2011) analysis on “Yasmin” both conclude that these narratives affirm the dominant discourse that represents Muslims as primarily violent and oppressive. This thesis examines the presence of more multi-faceted representations of Muslims through a narrative and discourse analysis of the Hulu series, “Ramy.” Critical race theory is used to deconstruct the presence of racism within the series. It is concluded that racism is only present here when the narrative wants to make a commentary on how Muslim characters are dealing with certain social issues. The dominant discourse of Muslims as terrorists is seldom present in the series and, when it is present, it is only there to be addressed with alternative discourses, such as outlining how damaging anti-Muslim coverage on the news is to Muslim communities. While the series does not promote the representation of Muslims as violent, it also does not promote Muslims as “perfect.” Rather, we get a nuanced representation that humanizes Muslims, illustrating their mistakes and their aspirations to be pious. There have been representations of Muslims in film and television that do not solely conform to negative stereotypes, but “Ramy” is unique in that it does not put the characters’ Muslim identity in the background. Islam is a moral anchor for all Muslim characters featured in the series. The tensions between one’s Muslim and American identity is a central theme. “Ramy” does not attempt to encompass an overarching representation that applies to all Muslims. Instead, it primarily focuses on its nuanced character arcs. Such a specific character-focused narrative provides us with more depth and specificity than is often seen from Muslim characters on television. I conclude by arguing that this is a step in the right direction for the future

This research focuses on the rights and agency of victims of wars and persecution, especially the rights of displaced women and youth. Using Naila Kabeer’s empowerment approach, it addresses the question, “To what extent are refugee women and youth in Canada able to (or unable to) practice their agency accessing resettlement services and programs in order to gain empowerment?” Using two sets of qualitative data, the study examines the Canadian resettlement process and questions whether it allows women and youth to act as creative agents drawing upon resources, creating opportunities to improve their lives, create better mental health conditions, and empower themselves as newcomers in a new society. The first study includes secondary data from an Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) funded project on 21 Yazidi women (qualitative structured interviews); and the second study in study two is part of my primary data which was collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 Syrian, Somalian and Ethiopian refugee youth and women living in Manitoba. This study adds new theoretical perspectives to the existing academic literature on resettlement by examining the micro (individual refugee women), meso (settlement services and programs) and macro (national refugee policies) perspectives of successful resettlement. It establishes a new conceptual model for studying empowerment among refugee women using development theory, exclusion theory, and relational theory to investigate empowering attributes of the existing resettlement services and support system in place for refugees. A significant empirical finding from this research is that existing resettlement policies and settlement programs are designed to protect refugees and focus mainly on meeting their immediate settlement related needs rather than increasing their sense of agency and self-sufficiency in the long-term.

There is a growing political, academic and practical interest in refugee integration in Canada. The challenge, however, is that not much of the existing research focuses specifically on refugee women and their unique experiences beyond mental and physical health. My dissertation contributes to addressing this gap by examining their successes and challenges in the Canadian labour market. Using the 2016 version of the Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB), this dissertation addresses the question: What are the characteristics that predict economic success among refugee women in Canada? A secondary question asks, to what extent does arriving during an economic recession influence the income of refugee women? This dissertation uses Critical Race theory, Intersectional theory and Segmented Labour Market theory informed by a quantitative research design to address these questions. These theoretical perspectives help to understand the findings suggesting that the barriers in the Canadian labour market help to sustain existing racism, discrimination and inequality refugee women experience. The findings indicate that the level of education at arrival for refugee women in Canada varies. Based on the sample population in my dataset and existing research, there are large numbers of refugee women with low levels of education compared to those with graduate-level education and of those with university degrees. A significant number (62%), however, have skilled and technical education and work experiences prior to their arrival to Canada. In addition, the most dominant skill level among refugee women in Canada is elemental labour followed by intermediate labour and clerical skills. Very few refugee women (mainly those aged between 35 to 49 years) arrive in Canada with managerial and professional skills. Education is an important predictor of the employment income of refugee women in Canada according to the results of the multivariate analysis. The findings in this study, not sur

In the era of globalization, Canada is one of many industrialized countries involved in the worldwide race for talent (McHale 2003). Thus, Canada plans to accept 401,000 immigrants by 2021 by giving preference to economic immigrants to strengthen the country’s middle class (IRCC, 2020e). Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia are the top intended destinations of newcomers (Statistics Canada 2010; IRCC 2015; IRCC 2018). Consequently, smaller provinces do not fully benefit from immigration. Equal distribution of immigrants among provinces and territories is a key issue in Canada. Since immigration is a shared responsibility, there are policies designed to address it in both federal and provincial levels. This research is focused on two such programs: the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) and the Francophone Immigration Strategy. The MPNP is based on federal-provincial agreements to meet Manitoba-specific labour-market needs. The second initiative is designed to enhance vitality of French-speaking minority communities outside Quebec through immigration (IRCC 2019). By focusing on the province of Manitoba, this study uses new institutionalism and nudge theory to examine both programs that aim to attract highly skilled immigrants to the province. The research methodology is mainly qualitative as it applies a case study approach and uses thematic analysis of government documents related to both immigration programs. Through this analysis we can learn how the theories help us understand Manitoba’s immigration programs and make useful policy recommendations. This combination of innovation and learning can be a powerful tool for developing effective policies to build a better future for Canadian- and foreign-born peoples.

Violence against women has severe health and social repercussions for everyone involved. As a result, gender-based violence (GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE) has become a greater concern for activists, feminists, scholars, and increasingly, migration workers. Although the issue of gender-based violence is the subject of much research, the experiences of newcomer women are often ignored. Several factors make newcomer women more vulnerable to GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE in their new country. These factors are exacerbated by migration, change in environment, socioeconomic status, cultural differences, language barriers, and lack of awareness of resources that prevent them from receiving assistance. Studies have shown that immigrant and refugee women face additional systemic, interpersonal, sociopolitical and cultural barriers that are reproduced through the interaction of multiple forms of identity dimensions and forms of oppression (Jayasuriya, 2018; Thurston et al., 2013). My study is informed by the intersectional theory which is used to understand the experience of newcomer women survivors. My research is part of a larger international project examining the experience of gender-based violence among immigrant and refugee women in seven countries (Freedman et al., 2021). I conducted six (6) semi-structured interviews with immigrant and refugee women in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to answer the question, “How does violence against immigrant and refugee women affects their psychological well-being and integration process in Canada? My results indicate that lack of safe and alternative housing, social support, access to social services, financial independence coupled with unemployment, and lack of awareness are major reasons for newcomer women not seeking or leaving abusive relationships. I conclude by providing some suggestions regarding policy and programing around newcomer women and GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.

The existence of national integration policies does not imply that such policies are effective. This research examines the integration policies in place for Canada, Hungary, and, Sweden. Factoring in each country’s history and present-day affiliations with nationalism, I examine the extent to which Canadian immigration policy demonstrates nationalism/nationalistic ideals in comparison to similar policies in Hungary and Sweden. Referencing the Migration Integration Policy Index and the Sustainable Governance Indicators, the cross-national comparison of these countries is supported through standardized data. Drawing on the theoretical work of Ernest Gellner to explain the creation of nationalism and its sustainment in the modern era, the research finds the active presence of nationalism in each country of analysis. Nationalism influences the immigration and integration policies of each country studied and subsequently, hinders the ability for immigrants to foster a sense of belonging. This research addresses the importance of belonging, both for immigrants and for the country to which they have immigrated. This research provides recommendations for effective policies of integration, reimagined institutional processes, and further explorative research into integration policy’s impacts on gender and family.

Rural immigration in Canada is increasing, but still underrepresented. While regionalization strategies designed to entice newcomers to settle in rural areas expand, it is necessary to have a deeper understanding of the implications in welcoming them to places that may not be able to offer necessary settlement services, language classes, or other supports. Using a case study approach, I ran focus groups and interviews with newcomers, leaders, educators, and community members in Brandon, Manitoba to explore the role of education and the community more broadly in providing an environment of welcome. Because of a large-scale meatpacking plant, Brandon hires large numbers of immigrant workers and has seen a dramatic demographic change in the last two decades. What does it mean to welcome well? What are the perceptions surrounding newcomer integration, and what experiences do newcomers have outside urban centres? How do the host society and educational institutions need to change to accommodate growing diversity? And finally, what are ways forward for equity, inclusion, and cohesive society? This study found that newcomers in Brandon experience both systemic and individualized racism.Through a Critical Race Theory analysis, I examined the ways racial inequity is upheld through conversational maneuvers that serve to assuage white guilt, hedge, shift blame, recentre white agency, or provide covering justification for racist practices. These maneuvers included upholding inaccurate stereotypes, expressing conflicting perceptions, and using coded language such as ‘clear communication’ or ‘our culture,’ to justify exclusionary stances. Using Intersectionality as a theoretical lens allowed me to explore the ways that multiple identities of newcomers can overlap and compound barriers and inequities, and the ways that multiple positions of privilege can overlap to solidify power. Participants in this study expressed ways to move forward to create positive social change, including