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Racism in North-America Instructor- Mr.

Paul Adjei
Section-180

Proposed by: Rehana Islam Nitish Sehgal Ravikumar Patel Parveen Malik Shamil Verma Varinder Sidhu Vinay Kumar 300609871 300714151 300716840 300712643 300673259 300722549

Research Proposal: Racism in Canada


Racism is a commonly used word by very difficult to define due to multiple meanings of the word. According to Oxford Dictionaries, racism is the belief that all members of each race possesses characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to the race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races (Oxford Dictionaries). Racism is discrimination against minority, treating people differently due to their skin color, gender, religion, culture and other identities (Hier & Walby, 2006). Racism completely ignores the multiple identities of individual and focus on a particular identity based on color of skin, superiority of race, religion, and other cultural identities (Hier & Walby, 2006). Racism is also discrimination and power. It gives more power and privileges to one group, and deprives other groups in terms of social, economic and political benefits based on some prejudice such as one group is superior to others (Hier & Walby, 2006). For example, in the 19 th century and early 20th century, it was common prejudice in Europe that white people in general and European people or culture in particular is superior to other races and cultures. It gave them excuse to justify many evil deeds such as slavery, brutality, and territorial expansion or colonized other parts of the world. Although slavery and colonialism ended, many forms of racism still exist in all over the world in many forms. Racism is one of the most important social issues in Canada. Although, there is no direct and legal racism such as slavery and discriminatory laws in Canada, still there are indirect or perceived discrimination against women, aboriginals, visible minorities such as Asians and Africans, and religious groups in terms of attitude towards minorities, job availability, workplace treatments against minorities, and other social discrimination. The purpose of this research is to

investigate discrimination against new immigrants particularly skilled-worker immigrants in Canada. Significant of the Study: Canada is one of the wealthiest and peaceful countries in the world. It also has one of the most liberal immigration policies that attracted many immigrants, particularly skilled-worker immigrants in recent years. Many professional are coming to Canada due to problematic social and political situations in their home countries, and to enjoy better living standard in Canada and bright future of their next generation. Most of these immigrants are highly educated and had white color professional jobs in their home countries, and even job experiences in developed countries such as the United States, France, United Kingdom, and Singapore. However, these new immigrants face serious difficulty in entering Canadian job market due to various discriminations such as lack of recognition of their degrees and professional experiences, lack of so called Canadian job experiences, connection-based Canadian job market, lack of so called cultural experience, language barriers, and lack of direct entryoption in many government job services. As a result, an increasing number of immigrants are working in many areas much below their educational background and professional experiences that create frustrations among new immigrants. Immigrants played key roles in economic development of many western countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Canada. Immigrants particularly India and Chinese immigrants played key role in high-tech industries in the United States. Similarly, new immigrants can play a key role in Canadas high-tech industrial development. They are meritorious, highly industrious, and highly motivated. Assimilation of new skilled immigration in Canadian workforce is essential for Canadas economic and social development. The research will investigate a number of issues: first, what are the major barriers
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for new immigrants to assimilate in the Canadian job markets? How discriminatory policies are hampering Canadian economic and social development? Third, How Canadian government can help new immigrants to integrate into Canadian job market? Research Methodology: The purpose of any research is to gather information and increase knowledge about a particular subject or issue. According to the Cambridge Dictionary (In Polonsky & Waller, 2011: 3), research is a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding (In Polonsky & Waller, 2011: 3). This research will use both primary and secondary data sources. As part of primary information, we will gather primary data by taking in-depth interview of few individuals who came to Canada as skilled immigrants. Our group will gather secondary information from various sources such as government documents and research papers, journal and newspaper articles, books and other internet sources. Social Analysis Framework: To analyse the social issue of racism, we are going to use the Iceberg model that gives the opportunity to analyse the different phases like which are the individual acts that encourage it, what are the ideologies exist in people's minds so that they behave badly and the structures that maintain such devil in society.

References Hier, Sean E & Walby, Kevin (2006). Competing Analytical Paradigms in the Sociological Study of Racism in Canada, Canadian Ethnic Studies, 30 (1): 83-102.
Polonsky, Michael J, & Waller, David S (2011). Designing and Managing a Research Project: A Business Students guide, Sage publication, Second Edition.

Oxford Dictionaries (http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/racism).

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