Joining and Belonging: Language Use and the Civic Participation of Immigrants Monica Boyd University of Toronto

Joining and Belonging: Language Use and the Civic Participation of

Immigrants

Monica Boyd University of Toronto

Why the interest in the Civic Participation of immigrants?

1) Indicator of integration

1) High levels may be associated with social cohesion and with active social networks that offer social support

Indicators of Civic Participation (CP)

a) Membership and activities in associations

b) Voting

c) Feelings of Belonging

Research results are mixed in terms of FB and Canadian born similarities or differences.

Differences also exist within the immigrant population.

Variations exist by duration and language skills

My core questions:1) Do immigrants differ from the Canadian

born in the type and level of CP

2) Does poor/high language proficiency reduce/increase CP for immigrants

Use 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey, language proficiency defined from language first learned in childhood & home language used most often

Language proficiency typology from language first learned and home language most often used:

Type I: English and/or French

Type II: Mixed- Other language first learned; home languages most used are English and/or French

Type III: Other language first learned; home language most used is NOT English and/or French

Membership and activities in associations or groups

Art, Dance, Cultural Group

Youth Organization or children’s groups

Business or Job Related

Hobby, Social Club or Seniors Group

Sports Club or Team(s)

Service Club, Agency or Charitable Organization

Community Organization(s)

Ethnic or Immigrant Associations

Religious Affiliated Group(s)

Chart 1: Percent Having Membership or Participation in a Group or Organization by Nativity and Language Proficiency, Age 20+, Canada 2002

47

4445

36

32

30

35

40

45

50

Canadian Born, Type 1


Foreign Born, Type 1



Chart 2: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Only One Group or Organization, Ages 20+, Canada 2002

7776

74

8281

65

70

75

80

85






Chart 3: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Sports Club or Team(s), Ages 20+, Canada 2002

44

38

30

20

15

0

10

20

30

40

50






Chart 4: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Service Club, Agency or Charitable Organization(s), Age 20+, Canada 2002

16

14 14

7

5

0

5

10

15

20






Chart 5: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Community Organization(s), Age 20+, Canada 2002

18

15

19

22

16

0

5

10

15

20

25






Chart 6: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Ethnic or Immigrant Association(s), Age 20+, Canada 2002

2

9 9

21

28

0

5

10

15

20

25

30






Chart 7: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Ethnic or Immigrant Association(s), by Year of Arrival, Age 20+, Canada 2002

2

9 8

23

30

13

16

25

0

10

20

30

40

CanadianBorn, Type 1


Foreign Born,Arrived <'91,

Type 1


Type 2


Type 3

Foreign Born,

Arrived '91-'01, Type 1

Foreign Born,


Foreign Born,


Chart 8: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Religious Affiliated Group(s), Age 20+, Canada 2002

12

24

2122

32

0

10

20

30

40






Chart 9: Of Those Participating, Percentages Belonging to Religious Affiliated Group(s) by Year of Arrival, Persons Ages 20 and Over, Canada 2002

12

24 23

19

14

30

24

38

0

10

20

30

40




Type 1


Type 2


Type 3

Foreign Born,


Foreign Born,


Foreign Born,


Other Indicators of Civic Participation

Very strong feelings of belonging to

family, ethnic or cultural group, town, province, Canada, North America

(for those who were eligible): voting in municipal, provincial or federal elections

Chart 10: Percentages Feeling a Strong Sense of Belonging to Types of Affiliations by Nativity and Language Proficiency, Ages 20+, Canada 2002

0

20

40

60

80

100






Family Ethnic or cultural group Town, city or municipality Province Canada North America

Chart 11: Percentages Voting in Types of Elections For Those Who Voted by Nativity and Language Proficiency, Ages 20+, Canada 2002

60

65

70

75

80

85

90






Federal Election Provincial Election Municipal Election

Conclusions: Differences in Civic Participation exist by nativity and language usage

1) FB with low English/French language skills less likely to be members or organizations, groups and they are most likely to belong to only one group

Conclusions:

2) FB with low language skills in English and/or French most likely to be members of ethnic or religious organizations

3) Slightly less likely to vote

4) Slightly lower % saying they feel they belong to town, province, Canada, or North America

Documents

Joining and Belonging: Language Use and the Civic Participation of Immigrants Monica Boyd University of Toronto