Wendy Frisby, Lucie Thibault, Colleen Reid -University of British Columbia, SRG-RELEASE TIME STIPEND 2006
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Project Summary
The purpose of this study was to examine how experiences with physical activity for recent immigrant Chinese women living in Vancouver can inform Canadian sport and recreation policy at the local, provincial, and national levels to increase their participation. The Chinese population is the largest ‘visible minority’ group’ in Canada, yet little is known about the role of physical activities in local community centres in their settlement into a new country. While many important sport and physical activity initiatives are aimed at children and youth, much less emphasis is placed on adults or immigrants, which is surprising given immigrations rates, the aging of the Canadian population, and the related costs to the health care system. Our focus was on women because their sport and physical activity participation rates are lower than men and our previous research has shown that women want to be positive role models for their children, they desire the health benefits, and they have a major influence over sport participation decisions within the family (Frisby, Reid, & Ponic, 2007).
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SCRI 2009 Presentation Slides
The purpose of this study was to examine how personal and family experiences with physical (in)activity for recent immigrant Chinese women living in the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) can inform Canadian sport and recreation policy at the local, provincial, and national levels. The Chinese population is rapidly growing in major Canadian cities, yet little is known about their experiences in local sport and recreation. Literature on social in/exclusion, participatory policy development, and hybridity theory inform the theoretical framework. Multiple data collection strategies included: an analysis of current policies, interviews with immigrant Chinese women (n=50) and with local, provincial, federal policy makers (n=50).
Our initial analysis reveals that involvement in physical activity has an important role to play in helping immigrant Chinese women with settlement. While many of them expressed interest in continuing activities done before immigrating, they were also interested in learning more about “Canadian activities”. Yet, most receive no information on the opportunities available in their new communities. Their ideas for promoting inclusion included: reaching them through immigration services organizations; providing facility tours and information sessions; a buddy system; providing free passes in the first year and for those who continue to live on low income; instruction in “Canadian sports” with family and adult/women’s programs offered at the same time their children’s programs; childcare; multi-language information and instruction, and consultation.
Local, provincial and federal recreation and sport policy makers saw multiculturalism as an important policy area but were often unsure how to proceed because of the complexities involved. We will be hosting a Multiculturalism and Physical Activity Workshop at UBC in February 2009 to promote further dialogue among study participants.
While there have been numerous critiques of top-down approaches to public policy
development and renewed calls for meaningful citizen participation (Arai, 1996; Lowndes,
Pratchett & Stoker 2001), there are few documented cases of citizen engagement processes
where marginalized groups and government come together to deliberate policy alternatives. The
strategies that are most likely to elicit the trust, confidence, and involvement of traditionally
excluded groups are longer-term community development and capacity development initiatives
(Frisby & Miller, 2002; Lowndes et al., 2001; Pedlar & Arai, 1997). The underlying assumption is
that citizens can more readily interpret social problems affecting their lives and consider
innovative and relevant ways of addressing them, but active government involvement is
required because they are ultimately responsible for public policy (Berner & Phillips, 2005;
Naples, 1998).
The purpose of this study is to examine how personal and family experiences with physical
(in)activity for women of Chinese descent living in the Greater Vancouver Regional District
(GVRD) can inform Canadian sport and recreation policy at the local, provincial, and national
levels. The Chinese population is rapidly growing in major Canadian cities, yet little is known
about their experiences in local sport and recreation. The specific objectives are to:
- Examine current sport and recreation equity/inclusion policies, procedures, and
approaches to development at the local (GVRD), provincial (BC), and national levels.
- Explore social in/exclusion from organized sport and recreation for Chinese women and
their families and how this intersects with race, gender, and class.
- Identify policy gaps that fail to acknowledge the experiences and needs of women of
Chinese descent and their families.
- Explore alternative ways that the women and sport and recreation policy makers might
collaborate together in policy development.
The literatures on social in/exclusion, participatory policy development, and hybridity theory
inform the theoretical framework. Multiple data collection strategies are being used including: an
analysis of current policies, interviews with Chinese women and policy makers, and focus
groups. A communication plan will be developed to ensure the results are widely
communicated.
SCRI 2007 Presentation Slides
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