Detalles del documento

Immigrant domestic workers make up one of the oldest classes of migrants to have come to Canada since the European settlement. However, living and work conditions for this group of immigrant women have not improved a great deal. Although several works have been written on the socio-economic conditions of immigrant domestic workers in Canada, none has examined how this group of workers adapt to Canadian society. The purpose of this study is to analyze the adaptation of Latina domestic workers to Canadian society under the Live-In Caregivers Programme (LCP) in Toronto. The two components which influence this adaptation process and which were considered in this thesis are the migratory process of Latina immigrant domestic workers and the immigration policy which binds this group of workers to Canada. The live-in obligation and the temporary visa status are the two main elements which have a direct impact on immigrant domestic workers during their process of integration to Canadian society. These constraints result in problems of maladaptation. As far as the migratory process of Latina domestic workers is concerned, the issues dealt with are the reasons which contribute to the decision to migrate to Canada, and the disappointments generated by the discrepancy between expectations prior to migration and reality. Furthermore, a discussion is presented on the particular LCP regulations which influence the socio-economic and psychological well-being of immigrant domestics as well as how these regulations contribute to their adaptation process. An analysis of acculturation and adaptation variables affecting Latina domestic workers is also carried out in this thesis.