1. S. Torres with D. Spitzer and A. Beboso, A. Calzado, C. Bernardino, N. Berkes & J. Pallard University of Ottawa, CANADA September 13, 2011 Metropolis International Conference, Azores, Portugal

2. Acknowledgements Support for this project provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) With assistance from: LINGAP Institute, Changing Together…A Centre for Immigrant Women, Carleton University Filipino Student Association National Advisory Committee and Monina Febria We wish to extend our gratitude to all of the women, men and children who shared their stories with us

3. Filipino Identities in the Canadian Diaspora A diaspora (from Greek διασπορά, "scattering, dispersion") [1] is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" [2] or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", [3] or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands". [2]Greek [1] [2] [3] [2] Source WIKIPEDIA : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diasporahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora

4. Canada’s Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP) LCP 1992 Primarily from the Philippines University-educated Characteristics Work/Live with employers Education & training 24 months out of 48 months Incentives after completion of LCP Eligible to apply for Permanent Residency Eligible to bring families to Canada

5. Employers and workers Demonstrate need Children, elderly, infirm Unable to locate Canadian to fill position Offer of employment Brokered by government Lockable private room Workers and nationality Over sixty thousand women and men came to Canada between 1996 and 2000 Philippines (91%); Women (95%)

6. Family Reunification In Philippines, an estimated 9 million children are growing up with at least one migrant parent Prolonged and often indeterminate separation between parents and children Sponsorship through the LCP since 1995 Transnational family separation and reunification is a relatively new development in Canadian society

7. Study objectives Examine the impact of separation on the families of former live-in caregivers from the Philippines now residing in Ottawa and Edmonton, Canada Explore how family members renegotiate gender, parental, familial, and marital roles Situate the experiences of informants in the context of gender, globalization, identity, socioeconomic status, and the local host community Illuminate the impact of these phenomena on the health and well being of former live-in caregivers and their family members Identify supportive individual, familial and/or community coping or adaptive strategies as well as ways for governmental and non-governmental agencies to support these efforts; and Consider the implications of these findings for Canadian immigration and labour policy and society

8. The study Sample Women who completed the LCP (N=28) Children of women who completed the LCP (N=14) Spouses of women who completed the LCP (N=9) Sites Edmonton (Canada), Ottawa (Canada) Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews – completed Photo-voice project – in progress Survey (demographic information) (this is potentially condescending, why not, “Still Filipinos” or something like that?)

9. Preliminary Findings Happy people That’s what we are always trying to tell them. That they must keep ah, customs and traditions that they, that they, you know, used to follow. Like things, even they are here in Canada already because they still, they are still Filipinos. Yeah, and their nationality is, you know, they are very happy with, you know. The, the good traits of the Filipinos. Gladiz

10. Preliminary Findings Parenting is stricter in the Philippines than in Canada Well in the Philippines you’re really more strict to your children. There’s rules. But when it comes in Canada there are more, there are more freedoms here. So and then especially the children. So it’s really hard. But even the parenting now, although they are already matured I’m still talking to them the good values. The values that what we had back home. So that’s it because wherever, wherever we go the values that what we had back home, it must goes on. Rosita

11. Preliminary Findings Asking permission … Well, of course it's different, husband and wife challenges, yeah, well, I guess, we don't have complete independence!... You have to have permission to, you know, well, we're in the traditional Filipino way but, they he knows where I go and, he knows where I go and, if we go together and, that sort of thing right. We're not like, independent adults, we're as one. That's kind of hard, because, you know, I've been here for more than him and I have lived my life independently for some years, and all of a sudden,... we're... like, what's wrong... like, can't say something so like, that comes with the... of having a husband! Ramona

12. Discussion Filipinos, especially the youth, have not solidified their identity before coming to Canada, so upon arrival, they don’t know who they are, or why they are in Canada (We will discuss youth more later) Filipino’s identity is largely developed and/ or “provided” to them upon arrival in the country

13. Discussion Filipino live-in caregivers are portrayed as being willing to please their employers Due to circulating stereotypes, Filipinos are regarded as less willing to revolt and more submissive than other communities of live-in caregivers, such as the Caribbean community Filipino workers are therefore in high demand because they are socially constructed as subservient

14. Discussion The construction of Filipino women as natural domestic workers, subservient and passive, is critical to marketing Women’s role as the ‘light of the home’ is still pervasive Resultantly, most fathers, children and mothers share the tacit understanding that women are still expected to do home chores, even if she works outside the home

15. Discussion Filipinos born in Canada may not want to identify or socialize with the new Filipinos contributing to further marginalization of newcomer Filipinos, who might benefit from already established Filipino communities in their integration and settlement in Canada

16. Conclusion From a global perspective, Filipino migrants not only transnationalize gender roles between Canada and the Philippines, but also maintain racialized and social hierarchies in Canada

17. Thank you Questions