Sense of Place Amongst Immigrant and Refugee Women in Kingston and Peterborough, Ontario

Abstract

Individuals making their way to Canada as immigrants and refugees have risen since the early 1990s, so too have the number of newcomers who position themselves in smaller cities. As spaces that have historically been less ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse, smaller Canadian cities are struggling with how to make their communities more welcoming and inclusive for newcomers from all backgrounds. Being a racialized refugee from Africa, Asia or South America is very different than being a white immigrant from Europe or the United States. The ways in which place is experienced by women with different backgrounds and context of exit from their countries of origin greatly affect the way in which women adapt to their new lives in Canada. This chapter explores some of the ways in which refugee and immigrant women in Kingston and Peterborough have experienced their process of migration and adaptation to life in a small city in Ontario. By discussing the findings from a qualitative research project that used “photovoice” as a means of exploring women’s experiences, this chapter highlights how racialized women struggle with achieving a sense of belonging in small cities where they experience discrimination and racism.