“It doesn’t sound strange to me”: The influence of Ghanaian immigrants’ integration stressors of language and discrimination on their perceptions of mainstream Canada

Keywords: perceptions, integration, Ghanaian immigrants, Toronto
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

Integration-related stresses of language barrier, discrimination, insufficient socio-economic capital and misunderstanding of conventional host culture sever immigrants from fully integrating into mainstream immigrant-receiving society. These stressors further complicate immigrants’ perceptions of mainstream host attitudes and way of life. Knowing these, this paper argued that the Ghanaian immigrant’s integration stressors of language barrier and discrimination influence their perceptions of the host context. Using interviews with 9 Ghanaian immigrants in Toronto, the author examined the influence of integration stressors on the perceptions of Ghanaians’ understanding of mainstream culture and how that affects their integration in Canada. The study revealed that Ghanaian immigrants’ negative or positive perceptions of Canada stem from cultural differences and integration stressors which skew their choice of socio-cultural affinities to familiar social networks. This study suggests that long-term policy incorporation of immigrant cultural needs into social support services will mitigate Ghanaian immigrants’ integration challenges.