The challenges hyphenated Canadians face in work place

Challenges that are Faced by Hyphenated Canadians in the Workplace
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Abstract
This paper will delve into the most common challenges that are faced by multicultural Canadians regarding their workplaces. Moreover, it will try to explain how their backgrounds and origin are the sources of the complications. Hyphenation in identity will also be explained concerning their origin and allegiance. Furthermore, it is apparent that individuals, especially women, are mostly on the receiving end of discrimination in the Canadian labor market. They are therefore more exposed to the ill effects of psychological and general health as will be discussed in this excerpt. The paper will also describe and explain the direct proportionality of hyphenation in identity and their adverse mental and psychological effects regarding the loss of professional integrity and status. Vividly, discriminations do occur in their workplaces, and the paper will also encompass how discrimination can promote a difference in pay gap for the same required set of skills. This paper will also entail the findings and conclusions of researchers in these fields and will further include their professional opinion on the subject.
Keywords: hyphenated, discrimination, challenges, workplace
Challenges That Are Faced by Hyphenated Canadians in the Workplace
There are different challenges faced by people in their workplace. Particularly among these individuals are those who have a hyphenated identity. A hyphenated Canadian is a person who is of foreign origin or birth and has after that, had allegiance to Canada, for example, Irish-Canadians.

They are, therefore, people with a known mixture of culture and race. Hyphenated Canadians face problems due to their backgrounds. This is mostly attributed to the fact that they are not the original inhabitants of Canada. They are, therefore, bound to face hurdles in fitting into the Canadian society, especially in their workplace.
One of the major problems faced by hyphenated Canadians, according to research by Fang and Goldner, is that there exists income discrimination that is mostly gender-based which suggests that the created inequities are not experienced equivalently within the hyphenated groups (2011). Moreover, the research suggests that immigrant women are frequently embedded into low-skill low-income jobs in the service sectors and also the other industries, e.g., manufacturing. This is contrary to the study by Bauder which suggested that the level of education of these people are rapidly increasing and yet they are unable to benefit from their set of skills (2003).
Acculturation and language are also barriers that cripple the adaptation process. Acculturation is the phenomenon in which individuals are willing to retain their old culture and adopt a new one, in this case, the Canadian culture. The process, according to Berry (1997), is a significant challenge and may have a negative impact on their mental health. This is because it directly alters the successful integration of an individual, into the Canadian labor market.
Barriers such as discrimination and deskilling are one of the primary grounds that lead to the loss of professional identity that in turn, cultivates the feelings of frustration, shame, bitterness, and insomnia. This is according to research by Ishiyama and Westwood (1992). Consequently, the stress due to unemployment accelerates depression, psychological distress and attempted suicide. It is in this sense that multiculturalism and hyphenation of identities can significantly contribute to the deterioration of one’s mental health and general wellbeing.
In conclusion, it is apparent that those with foreign identities have significant complications in their workplace. As evident, it extends to not only their social wellbeing but also their mental. Thus hyphenated Canadians face problems due to their backgrounds. It is also expected that challenges of adoption of a new culture are inevitable and, therefore, measures should be taken to promote equality and identity in workplaces.
References
Bauder, H. (2003). “Brain Abuse,” or the Devaluation of Immigrant Labour in Canada. Antipode, 35, 699-717.
Berry, J. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46, 5-68.
Fang, M. L., & Goldner, E. M. (2011). Transitioning into the Canadian workplace: challenges of immigrants and its effect on mental health. Canadian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(1), 93-102.
Ishiyama, F. & Westwood, M. (1992). Enhancing client-validating communication: Helping discouraged clients in cross-cultural adjustment. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 20, 50-63.