Parent–Child Relationships Among African Immigrant Families in Canada

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine the factors that influence parent–child relationships in African immigrant families in Alberta, Canada.BackgroundAfrican immigrants are increasingly migrating to high‐income countries, including Canada, in search of a better life. These immigrants often face several challenges, including parenting their children in new sociocultural contexts. We present findings from a critical ethnographic study of parent–child relationships among African immigrants in Alberta, Canada.MethodInformed by transnational feminist theory, we conducted interviews with 14 African immigrant community leaders, 31 African immigrant parents, and 12 service providers and policymakers.ResultsWe found that conflicting cultural practices and value systems, shifting power relations, low socioeconomic status, and gender relations exert both beneficial and strenuous influences on parent–child relations.ConclusionThe determinants of parenting practices and parent–child relationships include the intersecting influences of gender, social class, culture, and changing power relations across transnational spaces.ImplicationsOur findings suggest several policy and practice implications. In particular, we suggest a need to attend to diverse determinants of child well‐being, including income, gender relations, culturally sensitive service delivery, and changing power relations across transnational spaces.