Moving across borders: immigrant women’s encounters with globalization, the knowledge economy and lifelong learning

Abstract

The (un)reality of open/porous borders is starkly represented/manifested in the experiences of immigrant women in lifelong learning contexts. While globalization effectively destroys some borders, it simultaneously creates new ones. State institutions respond to global reconfigurations of borders at local levels by establishing policies that exclude women from working in their fields unless they participate in re‐education programs. At the same time the global competition among states within the discourses of the knowledge economy for attracting ‘the best and the brightest’ entice women to leave (or the effects of Western imperialism force them to flee) their homes with the promise of economic wellbeing or physical safety. Within this environment, lifelong learning can (dangerously) serve to privilege some forms of learning, knowledge and citizenship while devaluing others. This paper draws on research conducted between 2004 and 2006 in two immigrant service organizations. We explore possibilities for developing policies and practices that redress symbolic and cultural injustices with respect to immigrant women in Canada.

Acknowledgements

The study from which the data are drawn is entitled The effectiveness of formal and informal processes of learning essential skills: A study of immigrant service organizations, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Campbell et al. 2006). The principal investigator was Dr Shibao Guo, University of Calgary. Co‐investigators were Dr Katy Campbell, University of Alberta, Dr Tara Fenwick, University of Alberta, currently with the University of British Columbia, and Dr Yan Guo, University of Calgary. We wish to acknowledge their support.

Notes

1. Understanding essential skills: essential skills are the skills needed for work, learning and life. They provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change. Through extensive research, the Government of Canada and other national and international agencies have identified and validated nine essential skills. These skills are used in nearly every occupation and throughout daily life in different ways and at different levels of complexity. The nine essential skills identified by HRDC are: reading text, document use, numeracy, writing, oral communication, working with others, continuous learning, thinking skills and computer skills. See also HRSDC 2004.