Ideology of Multiculturalism As a Double-Edged Sword: Second-Generation of Black Jamaicans and Dark-White Portuguese" (2018)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 4-19-2018 2:00 PM Ideology of Multiculturalism as a Double-Edged Sword: Second- Generation of Black Jamaicans and Dark-White Portuguese Esra Ari The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Allahar, Anton L. The University of Western Ontario Co-Supervisor Nunes, Fernando The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Sociology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Doctor of Philosophy © Esra Ari 2018 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Ari, Esra, "Ideology of Multiculturalism as a Double-Edged Sword: Second-Generation of Black Jamaicans and Dark-White Portuguese" (2018). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 5353. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/5353 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract This research examines the interlocking effects of race and class on the integration of second- generation Jamaicans and Portuguese into Canadian society. Comparing a “visible minority group” (black Jamaicans) with a “non-visible minority group” (Portuguese) controls for the effects of “race,” assisting in the assessment of these two second-generation groups’ degrees of integration. This study uses an historical and critical approach to provide a background for the discussion of this study topic. The main research questions concern the role of multicultural ideology in both cementing social control and in the integration of working- class second-generation Jamaicans and Portuguese into Canada. To address these lines of inquiry, forty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with second-generation Jamaicans and Portuguese in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). There are two arguments this study develops that may be considered significant contributions to the literature. First, the ideology of multiculturalism is not merely a distraction from structural inequalities nor is it without value, for it can bear both negative and positive meanings when understood in the context of integration of second-generations. Second, this study argues that multiculturalism is a stepping stone to assimilation for immigrant groups, especially those that are racialized. The integration of second-generation Portuguese and Jamaicans into Canada’s mainstream social, economic, and political institutions is greatly limited in spite of the fact that its policy of multiculturalism promises equal access to institutions, regardless of national origin. Both Jamaican and Portuguese immigrants have been used as cheap labor since their arrival to Canada, which has contributed to the racialization of these two groups. Another factor that has racialized these groups is their culture, which diverges from the mainstream. Accordingly, for the Portuguese their culture and low socio-economic positions give shade to their whiteness. In other words, this study argues that, the “social color” of the Portuguese has served to render them “dark-whites”. However, on the part of the Jamaicans, in addition to these two factors, the politics of race and color as well as the meanings assigned to their phenotype have blackened them. They are thus seen as “blacks” in a society, where skin color matters. i Keywords multiculturalism, ideology, social class, racialization, assimilation, white privilege, dark- whites, identity construction, globalization, development, immigration, diaspora, integration, second-generations, Portuguese, Jamaican, Canada ii Co-Authorship Statement Chapter 1 is sole-authored. Chapter 2 is sole-authored. Chapter 3 is sole-authored. Chapter 4 is Ari, Esra (principle author) and, Allahar, Anton L. (secondary author). Chapter 5 is sole-authored. Chapter 6 is sole-authored. iii Acknowledgments First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Anton Allahar. My intellectual journey would never have been complete without him. He has always been generous in sharing his wealth of knowledge and his time with me. Our hours-long conversations about my dissertation and “sociology” shaped my research and sharpened both my arguments and theoretical background of my research. Those critical exchanges are treasure to me, which is not easy to find. Without your patience, support, guidance, encouragement and belief in me, this project would not have been possible. I always feel lucky having you as my supervisor, although I don’t believe in luck in life. I am also deeply indebted to my co-supervisor, Dr. Fernando Nunes. When I first contacted him about reaching the Portuguese community, we did not know each other. He never hesitated to help me, and since then, he has always been supportive to me for my dissertation research and within academia. I would like to thank Dr. Erica Lawson, with whom I had a chance to discuss about my research time to time. I would also want to thank my other committee members, Dr. Carl James, Dr. Teresa Abada, and Dr. Laura Huey, who took the time to read my dissertation. I also appreciate Dr. Tracey Adams’ assistance for preparing my ethics application. Dr. Lorraine Davies and Dr. Kim Shuey, your help is highly appreciated as graduate program directors. My love, Gokhan Erol, we have overcome many hurdles in this country. During my Ph.D. process, you were the only one who was there for me seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day. Not only your emotional support, but also our provocative discussions, have always kept me motivated. Dear Secil, Erden, Arda and Kaan, thank you for making me feel at home during my fieldwork in Toronto. My friends, Annaliese Pope, Cliff Davidson and Allison Cordoba, thank you for being around during these challenging years of my Ph.D. program. Dear Randa, Lorraine, Ray, Anton Allahar and Anne Allahar, our dinner meetings were wonderful iv breaks in my hectic life. And dearest Fatos, thank you for staying in our tiny apartment for three months, helping us and cooking delicious meals. Lastly, my parents, Halil and Servet Ari, they have never hesitated to support me throughout my education. My father is the most unusual dad I have ever seen. When I was desperate to graduate from my programme, contrarily, he always encouraged me take more time during my Ph.D. to work on a project that I am passionate about and to take slow but sure steps. My mom, in spite of the Atlantic Ocean between us and the time difference, I was always able to hear your voice whenever I needed. Thank you. v Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ i Co-Authorship Statement ................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................. iv Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Appendices .............................................................................................................. x Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................. 1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the Study and Research Question ......................................................... 1 1.2 Theoretical Framework and Contextualizing the Problem ..................................... 3 1.3 Dissertation Outline .............................................................................................. 16 1.4 Research Methodology ......................................................................................... 19 1.5 References ............................................................................................................. 28 Chapter 2 ........................................................................................................................... 41 2 A Comparative Immigration History: Situating Portuguese and Jamaican Immigration in the Global Political Economy .................................................................................. 41 2.1 The Point of Departure .......................................................................................... 41 2.2 An Historical-Structural Approach and Global Labor Migration ......................... 42 2.2.1 Primitive accumulation of capital ............................................................. 45 2.2.2 Expansion of immigration routes .............................................................. 47 2.3 A Brief Theoretical Introduction to Globalization, Neoliberalism, and Immigration ........................................................................................................... 48 2.4 A Brief History of Jamaica ................................................................................... 50 2.5 A Brief History of Portugal ..................................................................................