Journal of International Migration and Integration
Volume 10, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 217-244

Are immigrants socially isolated? An assessment of neighbors and neighboring in Canadian Cities (Article)

Ray B.* , Preston V.
  • a Department of Geography, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • b Department of Geography, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

Abstract

Recently, the media have expressed concern about the apparent concentration and social isolation of immigrants in central and inner suburban neighborhoods in large Canadian cities. This paper compares and contrasts the frequency and nature of neighborhood-based social contacts among three cohorts of immigrants distinguished by their period of arrival in Canada and Canadian-born individuals. We begin by outlining the family, friend, and acquaintance relationships that immigrants build and argue that their networks are culturally diverse and dominated by acquaintances. In this context, intense friendships rarely develop between neighbors, even for recent newcomers. Rather, neighboring consists mainly of casual interactions between individuals that often involve the provision of mundane forms of assistance. Despite their fleeting and routine qualities, social relations with neighbors lead the vast majority of people to express strong levels of belonging to their neighborhoods. As a consequence, we argue that the neighborhood is an underestimated locale for understanding social inclusion. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.

Author Keywords

Diversity immigrants Neighbors Neighboring Inclusión Networks

Index Keywords

Canada social network immigrant social inclusion migrants experience neighborhood suburban area North America

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-67849135869&doi=10.1007%2fs12134-009-0104-1&partnerID=40&md5=614333a0367b09da815d5327f417a735

DOI: 10.1007/s12134-009-0104-1
ISSN: 14883473
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English