Immigrant Identity Interview
Randal G. Tonks
Sept 28, 1998
Simon Fraser University
General Opening (+school &/or work)
How old are you?
Where were you born?
Where were your parents born?
What did your parents do in your home country? What do they do now?
What led to your parents &/or you leaving your old country for Canada?
How long have you been in Canada?
Are
you a Canadian Citizen? Landed Immigrant? Other?
Where do you live now? Do you live with your parents, on your own, with someone else?
How do you feel about living where you do?
Do you have any brothers or sisters? Tell me about them.
Did you go to school in your old country? Up to what grade?
Do you go to school now? If so, where and what do you study?
If not, do you work? In what field or what type of work do you do?
[if neither school nor work - ask about income / support - parents, family, UIC, Welfare?]
How did you come to do what you are doing? Did you train for it?
What do your parents think of what you are doing?
Do they expect you to do something in particular? A certain profession?
What do you think you will do in the future? What kind of work?
Have you thought about or done much to figure out what career path you might take?
Where do you think you will live in the future?
Do you think you will return to your old country? Live in Canada?
[activities, rituals - thoughts, feelings, social exchanges ]
Ethnicity
[thoughts & feelings]
Self Identification
How would you describe yourself in terms of belonging to an 'ethnic' or cultural group? What label would you give? ___________ (e.g., Canadian, Chinese, Chinese-Canadian).
How do you
feel about being ____________ Have you always felt this way?
When did you become aware of your feelings?
[Values]
Have you thought much about who you are in terms of belonging to an ethnic group?
Back home? Here in Canada? How old? What circumstance?
When did you start questioning or becoming aware of your
traditions?
[Ideologies]
What do your parents consider themselves to be ___________? [Label-subjective sense]
What do you share with your parents, in terms of culture and tradition?
Activities Rituals
[past]
At home did your parents carry on the practice of traditions from your ethnic background (such as languages, holidays, reading newspapers, magazines, folk music or dance, festivals, sports, ...)?
Did you ever g o certain places or do certain things on a regular basis?
Were there certain people with whom you socialised on a regular basis?
What did you do that kept you all together?
What sorts of "rights of passage" do or have your parents seen as important? Have they recognised one or some of these with you and siblings? If so, how are they recognised (with responsibilities or rights or gifts)?
What about responsibilities for the family or family traditions? How do you feel ?
[present]
Do you now carry on traditions or practices (such as languages, reading newspapers, magazines, folk music or dance, festivals, sports, ...) from your ethnic group? [objective activities] (i.e., learning: African or Celtic dancing, T'ai Chi or Cricket, Playing the sitar or Chinese bamboo flute)
Do you now go certain places or do certain things on a regular basis?
Are there certain people with whom you socialised on a regular basis?
What do you do to keep the group of you all together?
[search]
Have you ever thought about taking up the practices of (or "joining") some other "ethnic" group? (Or have you engaged in activities that are part of another "ethnic tradition"?
If so how often? Under what circumstances?
[reasons and process of searching, i.e., for subjective sense of belonging or just doing it?]
[perhaps bring->Religion, Gender Role issues into the interview]
Passing on of traditional practices
[future]
Would you want marry someone from your ethnic group? Why or Why not?
[intimacy considerations]
How would you raise your children with respect to ethnicity and culture? Would you encourage them to learn languages, dance, sports, music or other traditions?
[generative foresights? or just forget about them?]
In general how do you feel 'settled' in a community (or communities) with other people?
What can you tell me about your sense of belonging to your cultural group __________?
Are there a few people in particular with whom you feel a greater sense of comfort or belonging? When you go to 'events' are there other people who recognise you and you feel comfortable?
If you are having a 'good day' and want to spend time with someone, sharing stories or talking, who do you turn to? Anyone?
What if you happen to have a 'tough day' and you need someone to talk to, who do you turn to? Anyone?
* Points for the 'bio-psycho-social' health index *
Do you get regular exercise? (e.g., sports, dance, walking, swimming). What do you do?
Do you eat regular meals or just grab something once in a while? Do you pay a lot of attention to what you eat? Do you have trouble eating sometimes (often?)?
Do you have trouble sleeping or getting up for the day?
Do you have a lot of energy or do you often feel tired?
Do you get headaches or body pains? Many colds or flus? One after another?
Do you sometimes feel 'down' or wish to talk to someone who really understands?
If so, how often (i.e., on a regular basis, once in a while?
Do you find someone else to talk to? Does it help to make you feel better?
[Tell me about that person]
In general, do you feel good about who you are and what you are doing? If you could change something what would it be? What would you like to be different in you life today? Next year? When you are older?
Do you get angry or frustrated with other people or situations?
Do you find it easy to talk to other people?
Are you Shy or withdrawn? Is it hard to talk to other people? Do you feel alone?
[If Yes, explore the meaning of these]
On a scale from 1 to 10 how stressed did you feel:
1) first came to Canada
2) most stressed out time since coming to Canada
3) currently
Religion
Do you have any particular religious affiliation or preference?
How about your parents, do they have any religious preference?
What religion were each of your parents raised in?
How important is religion to your parents?
(If important) Can you give any examples?
Tell me about your religious beliefs as they stand now. (If P cannot articulate these, then ask more specific questions; e.g.:) How do you feel about personal vs. organised religion? Do you think that there's a God? What is the basis for your standards in resolving moral issues?
Was there ever a time when you came to question or doubt your religious beliefs? (If so) Tell me about that time; what was it like for you? What types of things did you question? What started you thinking about these questions?
How serious wee these questions for you?
How did you resolve your questions?
Are there still undecided areas for you? (If so) How important are they?
What do you think will happen in terms of your beliefs?
Did you used to be active in religious activities, e.g., youth groups, attending services, observing holidays? Were you in (catechistic classes, confirmed, Bar Mitzvah)?
How about now, are you active in any of these?
Do you get involved in discussions about religious issues?
(If so) Tell me about them.
How do you think you'll raise your children about religious issues?
Gender Role Attitudes
Now, I'd like to change the topic area a bit. I'd like to talk to you about your ideas of men's and women's roles in society today.
What characteristics do you associate with femininity? With masculinity?
Do you think that there are psychological differences between men and women? (If so) Tell me what you think about them? What are they? Where do they come from?
Do you think that men and women behave differently?
(If so) How do you account for these differences?
How do you think things should be in terms of what women are supposed to be like, and what men are supposed to be like?
How do your beliefs apply to you in your own life? Do they make a difference in what you do? (If so) Can you give some examples?
[Action, praxis and ritual]
Have you always thought pretty much the way you do now, or have your ideas changed substantially from when you were younger? (If changed) Tell me how that came about.
What are your parents' beliefs in this area?
Do you discuss these things with them?
What do they think about your ideas?
What would you do with your own children around the issue of sex roles?
How would you raise them?
Are there any areas of concern remaining for you?
(If so) How do you think they'll be resolved?
Can you see your ideas changing much in the future, or are they pretty stable?