Abstract
Conventional research on acculturation often presents immigrant integration into Western mainstream society as a linear process defined by prescribed stages. For instance, Berry’s (2005) acculturation framework—assimilation, integration, rejection, and deculturation—often overlooks women’s experiences and their social, historical, and cultural locations. Given the cultural diversity among immigrants from similar backgrounds, acculturation theory appears too broad. This study adopts an alternative integrated model that emphasizes the non-linear nature of acculturation patterns. Employing the theory of cultural hybridity and concepts such as Third Space and Dialogic Space within a feminist-postcolonial intersectional framework this research examines the unique acculturation experiences of South Asian immigrant women in Canada. This approach highlights the importance of considering diverse and intersecting influences, particularly for marginalized groups. The paper begins with a literature review on cultural hybridity and intersectionality, followed by a discussion of the significance of feminist methodology for understanding women’s perspectives and integration strategies. Selected study findings are highlighted. Findings suggest that participants selectively adopt Western norms while maintaining their cultural and religious identities. These insights can support new South Asian immigrant women encountering acculturation challenges, showing how integration does not require abandoning cultural identities. From a feminist-postcolonial perspective, participants continually negotiated between two cultures, constructing hybrid identities reflecting both.
Author Information
Ghazala Ahmed, Niagara College, Canada
Kamini Jaipal-Jamani, Brock University, Canada
Paper Information
Conference: IICAH2025
Stream: Ethnicity
This paper is part of the IICAH2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Ahmed G., & Jaipal-Jamani K. (2025) Exploring South Asian Immigrant Women’s Strategies to Construct Hybrid Identity: An Integrated Approach to Acculturation ISSN: 2432-4604 – The IAFOR International Conference on Arts & Humanities – Hawaii 2025 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 51-63) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2432-4604.2025.5
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2432-4604.2025.5
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