Gender Differences in Language Acquisition and Employment Consequences among Southeast Asian Refugees in Canada

Abstract

When they arrived in Canada, female Southeast Asian refugees were far less likely than males to speak English. The male linguistic advantage was still in evidence a decade later. Women had fewer opportunities than men to learn English during the post-migration period. Ironically, however, women benefited even more than their male counterparts from opportunities such as English as a second language (ESL) classes. English-language ability improved the likelihood of staying in the labour market. This effect was even stronger for women than for men. Resettlement policies must ensure unbiased opportunity to acquire the language of the receiving society.