Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T14:54:45.415Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ethnic Identity Among Foreign-Born Chinese Canadian Elders*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Ellen M. Gee
Ellen M. Gee
Affiliation:
Simon Fraser University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Based on data from a random sample of foreign-born Chinese elders (n = 708) interviewed in Vancouver and Victoria in 1995–96, this paper examines the extent, determinants, and consequences of ethnic identification. Of the respondents, who have a median age of 75 and a median age at immigration to Canada of 55, 49.3 per cent stated that they felt more Canadian than Chinese, 36.6 per cent felt more Chinese, and 14.1 per cent felt equally Chinese and Canadian. Logistic regression analysis is performed, in an attempt to discover the determinants of Chinese ethnic identity. Significant independent variables include: place of residence, age, years since immigration, English-speaking ability, and personal monthly income. Consequences of retention of Chinese ethnic identity are explored, in terms of religious affiliation, health-related behaviours, family variables, and well-being variables. Only well-being is affected by retention of Chinese identity, an effect that is negative and felt largely by women only.

Résumé

En se fondant sur les données d'un échantillonnage aléatoire de personnes âgées d'origine chinoise nées à l'étranger (n = 708), interrogées à Vancouver et à Victoria en 1995–96, cet article examine l'importance, les facteurs déterminants et les conséquences de l'identification ethnique. Parmi les répondants dont la médiane d'âge est de 75 ans et qui avait une médiane d'âge de 55 ans lorsqu'ils ont immigré, 49,3 pour cent ont déclaré qu'ils se sentent plus canadiens que chinois, 36,6 pour cent se sentent plus chinois et 14,1 pour cent se sentent autant chinois que canadiens. L'analyse de régression logistique tente de découvrir les facteurs déterminants de l'identité ethnique chinoise. Les variables indépendantes significatives incluent le Heu de résidence, l'âge, le nombre d'années depuis l'immigration, la capacité de parler anglais et le revenu personnel mensuel. Les conséquences de la conservation de l'identité ethnique chinoise sont examinées, selon l'appartenance religieuse, les comportements liés à la santé, les variables familiales et celles liées au bien-être. La conservation de l'identité chinoise a des effets seulement sur le bien-être; ce sont des effets négatifs grandement ressentis uniquement par les femmes.

Keywords

ChineseForeign-BornOlder PersonsEthnic Identity.Chinois(e)né(e) à l'étrangerpersonnes âgéesidentité ethnique.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , Hiver/Winter 1999 , pp. 415 - 429
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chan, K.B. (1983). Coping with aging and managing self-identity: The social world of elderly Chinese women. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 15, 36–50.Google Scholar
Chappell, N.L., Lai, D.C.Y., Gee, E.M., Chan, A., & Behie, G. (1997). Elderly Chinese in BC: Ethnic group membership and old age: Report. Victoria: University of Victoria, Centre on Aging.Google Scholar
Chi, I. (1995). Cross-national study on Chinese elderly. Paper presented at the International Conference on Health Promotion for the Elderly. Kaohsiung, Taiwan, May.Google Scholar
Cool, L.E. (1981). Ethnic identity: A source of community esteem for the elderly. Anthropological Quarterly, 54, 179–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Driedger, L., & Chappell, N. (1987). Aging and ethnicity: Towards an interface. Toronto: Butterworths.Google Scholar
Gee, E.M. (1996). Aging and Immigration in Canada: The elderly foreign-born population. Paper presented at the National Symposium on Immigration and Integration, University of Manitoba, October.Google Scholar
Gee, E.M. (1997). Living arrangements of Chinese Canadian elders: The effects of demographic, economic and cultural variables. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Toronto, June.Google Scholar
Gelfand, D.E. (1994). Aging and ethnicity: Knowledge and services. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Kitano, H.H.L., Lubben, J.E., Berkanovic, E., Chi, L, Zhang, C.C., & Ying, Z.X. (1991). A Cross-national study of elderly Chinese and Chinese Americans. Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong.Google Scholar
Kitano, H.H.L., & Maki, M.T. (1996). Continuity, change, and diversity: Counseling Asian Americans. In Pedersen, P.B., Lonner, W.J. & Draguns, J.G. (Eds.), Counseling across cultures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Lai, D.W.L., & McDonald, J.R. (1995). Life satisfaction of Chinese elderly immigrants in Calgary. Canadian Journal on Aging, 14, 536–552.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lubben, J.E. (1999). Personal communication.Google Scholar
Simmons, A. (1998). Racism and immigration policy. In Satzewich, V. (Ed.), Racism and social inequality in Canada. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.Google Scholar
Sokolovksy, J. (1985). Ethnicity, culture and aging: Do differences really make a difference? Journal of Applied Gerontology, 4, 6–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statistics Canada. (1997). A portrait of seniors in Canada (2nd ed.). Ottawa: Statistics Canada Catalogue No. 89–519–XPE.Google Scholar
Tanjasiri, S.P., Wallace, S.P., & Shibata, K. (1995). Picture imperfect: Hidden problems among Asian Pacific Islander elderly.” The Gerontologist 35, 753–760.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ujimoto, K.V. (1995). The ethnic dimension of aging in Canada. In Neugebauer Visano, R. (Ed.), Aging and inequality: Cultural constructions of differences. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press.Google Scholar
Ujimoto, K.V., Nishio, H.K., Wong, P.T.P., & Lam, L. (1995). Cultural factors affecting self-assessment of health satisfaction of Asian Canadian elderly. In Neugebauer-Visano, (Ed.), Aging and inequality: Cultural constructions of differences. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press.Google Scholar
Yee, P. (1983). Chinese business in Vancouver, 1886–1914. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.Google Scholar