School–Work Transitions Among Second-Generation Immigrants
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Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 10-7-2016 12:00 AM School–Work Transitions among Second-Generation Immigrants Awish Aslam The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Dr. Wolfgang Lehmann The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Sociology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Master of Arts © Awish Aslam 2016 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Aslam, Awish, "School–Work Transitions among Second-Generation Immigrants" (2016). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4212. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4212 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 Canadian data show that second-generation immigrants generally achieve higher levels of educational attainment when compared to the children of Canadian-born parents; however, those who are racialized experience poorer labour market outcomes, such as higher rates of underemployment, lower rates of pay, and less access to jobs with opportunities for advancement. This study uses in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of both racialized and non-racialized second-generation immigrants in their school–work transitions. It focuses on examining the roles of human and social capital, and the differences that racialized and non- racialized groups experience when navigating this transition. Findings highlight the value of social capital, experiential learning opportunities, and the pervasiveness of racial discrimination in the job search process. As the labour market share of young workers with an immigrant background increases, this research will help shed light on the experiences of this population, and shape policy and practice in the Canadian economy. Keywords second-generation immigrants; school–work transitions; knowledge economy; post- secondary education; racialization; social class; immigrant status; human capital; social capital; discrimination; experiential learning i Acknowledgments I would like to take this opportunity to thank those people who have contributed to this thesis. First, thank you to all the participants who took part in this study. Without your knowledge and experiences, this project would not be possible. I appreciate your willingness to share your stories with me. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my supervisor Dr. Wolfgang Lehmann. Your continued enthusiasm, support, and endless patience not only made this thesis possible, but also made for an invaluable and enjoyable experience that allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. You have been nothing short of extraordinary throughout this entire process. You provided me with the tools I needed to work independently, but were always available to meet when I needed guidance and encouragement. I have learned so much from you over the past two years, and I continue to learn from you every day. Your expertise, insight, and honest feedback have been critical to strengthening this work and to my own development as a sociologist. I hope you know that I appreciate everything you have done for me. Your dedication to your students is inspiring, and I will always be appreciative of your kindness. I would also like to express my gratitude to my examiners Dr. Belinda Dodson, Dr. Jerry White, and Dr. Tracey Adams for taking the time to read my thesis, be part of my examination committee, and provide me with helpful feedback. The knowledge and skills I have gained from each of your graduate courses has contributed to the development and completion of this project. Dr. Tracey Adams, you have been a particularly important source of motivation and support for me throughout my Master’s degree. Your generosity with your time and your virtually endless patience with my scattered thoughts has been much appreciated. Your quick responses to my many questions and panicked emails, your attention to detail, and your ability to help me structure my ideas into a coherent argument have been invaluable. You are an exemplary academic and an excellent mentor. Thank you for being so thoughtful and enthusiastic throughout this entire process. You are always approachable and kind, and your positive attitude left me feeling motivated after all our meetings. Dr. Scott Schaffer, thank you for always making time for me. Your “motivational quotes,” sense of humour, and tough love have helped me get through even the most trying times. Your ability to talk me out of a stress-induced panic was essential to the completion of this thesis. I appreciate your tremendous encouragement and your ability to foster confidence and courage in me. Everyone needs someone like you in their corner. Mr. Simm, from high school history teacher to my on-call editor, your support and encouragement over the years have not gone unappreciated. I will be forever grateful for the endless hours you have put into editing my work, but more importantly for instilling in me the importance of thinking critically. Thank you. ii To my chaotic but wonderful family, thank you for your love and support throughout this process. I am especially grateful to my mother. Although we have different dreams, you sacrificed everything so that I am able to achieve mine. Finally, thank you to my friends who saw me through this thesis. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Natalie Iciaszczyk and Robert Nonomura for their endless emotional and intellectual support. Nat, your friendship has meant a great deal to me. Your unwavering confidence in me has been both aggravating and much appreciated. Rob, thank you for always listening to me and for encouraging me to talk about my work. I appreciate the many long discussions we had when I struggled with my ideas. I am grateful for your detailed editing and critical feedback that challenged me to push my work further. Most of all, thank you for making me laugh on the toughest of days. iii Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii List of Appendices ........................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................. 1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................. 5 2 Literature Review ........................................................................................................... 5 2.1 School–Work Transitions in a Post-Industrial Society ........................................... 5 2.1.1 The Knowledge Economy Shift .................................................................. 6 2.2 Human Capital in the Transition from School to Work ........................................ 10 2.3 The Limits of Human Capital: Extended School–Work Transitions and Overqualification .................................................................................................. 16 2.4 Limits to Human Capital: Structural Inequality .................................................... 19 2.4.1 Class .......................................................................................................... 20 2.4.2 Racialization ............................................................................................. 22 2.4.3 Immigrant Status ....................................................................................... 27 2.5 Social Capital in the Transition from School to Work ......................................... 34 2.6 The Limits of Social Capital ................................................................................. 37 2.7 Summary ............................................................................................................... 41 2.8 Objectives and Research Questions ...................................................................... 42 Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................... 44 3 Methodology ................................................................................................................ 44 iv 3.1 Eligibility Criteria ................................................................................................. 44 3.2 Recruitment ........................................................................................................... 47 3.3 Interview Guide and Structure .............................................................................