International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 20, 2019

‘There You Enjoy Life, Here You Work’: Brazilian and Dominican Immigrants’ Views on Work and Health in the U.S. (Article) (Open Access)

Brinkerhoff C.A. , Siqueira C.E. , Negrón R. , Tracy N. , Lama M.T. , Martinez L.S.*
  • a School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
  • b Department of Environment and Public Health, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, United States
  • c Anthropology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, United States
  • d Brazilian Worker Center, Boston, MA 02134, United States
  • e Dominican Development Center, Boston, MA 02130, United States
  • f School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States

Abstract

Structural inequalities in the U.S. work environment place most immigrants in low paying, high-risk jobs. Understanding how work experiences and influence the health of different immigrant populations is essential to address disparities. This article explores how Brazilian and Dominican immigrants feel about their experiences working in the U.S. and how the relationship between work and culture might impact their health. In partnership with the Dominican Development Center and the Brazilian Worker Center, we held five cultural conversations (CCs) with Brazilians (n = 48) and five with Dominicans (n = 40). CCs are participatory, unstructured groups facilitated by representatives from or embedded in the community. Brazilian immigrants focused on physical health and the American Dream while Dominicans immigrants emphasized concerns about the influence of work on mental health. Dominicans’ longer tenure in the U.S. and differences in how Brazilians and Dominicans are racialized in the region might account for the variation in perspectives between groups. Future studies should further investigate the relationship between health and how immigrants’ work lives are shaped by culture, race and immigrant status. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

immigrants Health work Dominican Brazilian

Index Keywords

immigrant mental health human work environment controlled study health status Brazilian Dominican (Dominica) United States workplace worker dream clinical article race Article conversation human experiment work experience cultural influence immigrant population
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85073748177&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16204025&partnerID=40&md5=942d93b2f27d7c2cc3474fde2d5adc6b
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16204025
ISSN: 16617827
Original Language: English