IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS 1 Running head: IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS Exploring the Processes of Identity Construction among Chinese Immigrant Parents and Young Adults in Montreal Lingwei Qian Department of Integrated Studies in Education McGill University July, 2015 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts in Education and Society © Lingwei Qian 2015 IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS 2 Abstract This qualitative inquiry describes and analyzes the contrasts and interrelationships among the pathways through which Chinese immigrant parents and immigrant young adults construct their identities in a context of Quebec’s Interculturalism Policy. My theoretical foundation is shaped by the works of Hall (1990, 1996), Taylor (1994), and Bhabha (1996). In order to understand the lived experiences of the Chinese immigrants from their perspectives, I conducted 15 in-depth, face-to-face individual interviews with both the parents and young adults from five Chinese immigrant families living in Montreal. This inquiry aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics and complexity of identity construction. Results from the interviews reveal the multiple, fluid, and malleable nature of identity. Through their individualized definitions of the meanings of “being Chinese” and “being Canadian,” participants indicate the coexistence of their Chinese and Canadian identities. They demonstrate that their identities are constructed and reconstructed through the dialectical interplay among self, others, and the socio- cultural contexts that they negotiate. The multiple social identifications that participants claim are closely intertwined with each other during the process of their identity constructions. This inquiry has implications for policymakers and educators who can take an active role in the fostering of hybrid identities, which serve to challenge and problematize the hegemonic definition of a “Chinese-Canadian” identity. Hybrid identities open up the possibility of dismantling old cultural boundaries, and reinventing new shared cultural spaces, which are of great significance in today’s increasingly globalized world. IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS 3 Résumé Dans un contexte d’interculturalisme québécois, cette recherche qualitative décrit et analyse les moyens à travers lesquelles parents et jeunes adultes immigrants chinois développent leur identité. Les fondements théoriques de cet ouvrage reposent sur les travaux de Hall (1990, 1996), Taylor (1994) et Bhabha (1996). Quinze entretiens individuels en profondeur ont été conduits auprès de parents et jeunes adultes au sein de cinq familles d’immigrants chinois vivantes à Montréal. Cette méthode a été utilisée afin de comprendre le vécu des sujets à partir de leurs expériences. Cette recherche tente de contribuer à une compréhension plus nuancée de la dynamique et de la complexité de la construction identitaire. Les résultats obtenus grâce aux entretiens révèlent le caractère pluriel, fluide et malléable de l’identité. De plus, à travers leurs propres définitions de ce que signifie « être chinois » et « être canadien », les participants ont démontré la coexistence de leur identité chinoise et canadienne. Ainsi, ces derniers démontrent que l’identité est construite et reconstruite par le biais d’interactions entre le soi, l’autre, et le contexte socioculturel qu’ils frayent. De plus, durant le processus de construction identitaire, les différentes identités sociales des participants se trouvent à être étroitement liées l’une avec l’autre. Finalement, cette étude a un impact sur les législateurs et éducateurs pouvant promouvoir des identités hybrides, qui, contestent et problématisent la définition hégémonique d’une identité « chinoise-canadienne ». Ce concept d’identité hybride ouvre la voie à une réévaluation des anciennes théories concernant la limite des frontières culturelles ainsi qu’à une réinvention d’espaces culturelles partagées, ce qui est d’autant plus important en raison de la mondialisation croissante. IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS 4 Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the support and inspiration of a number of wonderful individuals. I own my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Mary Maguire for her endless support and tireless guidance at every stage of my learning and writing. She always provided me with prompt and detailed feedback, and kept me updated with the latest reference list which is extremely helpful to my grasp of the topic. She never gave up on me when the lengthy burden of completing this thesis threatened to become so overwhelming that I almost gave up on myself. I could not have imagined having a better supervisor for my master’s studies. I would also like to thank to the five immigrant families who took time to participate in my inquiry and shared with me their personal experiences and feelings with complete honesty and integrity. I feel very privileged to have been able to work with and know about them. I own a great debt to my uncle and aunt, not only for the love, warmth and caring that they gave to me throughout my study life in Montreal, but also for their great assistance in putting me in touch with potential participants. Without their help, the thesis would not have been even started. I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue full time studies at McGill University, and to work closely with the professors whose courses have greatly facilitated my learning. I feel forever indebted to my family, especially my parents. It was their unparalleled love and continuous support that made such invaluable opportunities and experiences possible. Many thanks to my “comrade-in-arms” at McGill, Ashley Manuel, Shuwei Liu, Mao Ding, and my best roommate ever, Romy Alyssa Letourneau, for turning the long and arduous course of a thesis into an enjoyable and memorable journey. IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS 5 Finally, my deep and sincere gratitude to my fiancé, Liang Huang, for always standing by me, providing me with constant encouragement and valuable advice. He was the greatest source of confidence and motivation that enabled me to accomplish this thesis successfully. IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS 6 Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Résumé ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 4 List of Photos ................................................................................................................................. 7 Chapter 1 Introduction................................................................................................................. 8 Chinese Immigration to Canada .................................................................................................. 9 Chinese in Montreal .................................................................................................................. 14 Multiculturalism & Interculturalism ......................................................................................... 21 Focus of My Inquiry .................................................................................................................. 26 Research Questions and Themes ............................................................................................... 28 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 2 Theoretical Framework and Literature Review .................................................... 30 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................. 31 Culture and Identity ............................................................................................................... 31 Recognition/Misrecognition/Nonrecognition ........................................................................ 37 Hybridity and Hybrid Identities ............................................................................................. 39 Language and Identity ........................................................................................................... 42 Agency ................................................................................................................................... 46 Literature Review ...................................................................................................................... 48 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 68 Chapter 3 Methodology and Methods....................................................................................... 69 Background and Role of Researcher ......................................................................................... 69 Phenomenology ......................................................................................................................... 73 Methods of Inquiry ...................................................................................................................