New Funded Research: Understanding vulnerabilities of Indian female migrants during COVID-19

Prof. Belinda Leach of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Guelph and Prof. Urmi Nanda Biswas of the Department of Psychology at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda will lead a study on the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on Indian female migrants.

The study, funded by a Shastri Institutional Collaborative Research Grant (SICRG) from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, is titled "Understanding the vulnerabilities of Indian female migrants during COVID-19 pandemic: Rethinking policies for better integration of immigrant women's work lives."

Description of the Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on vulnerable groups such as women, migrants and people employed in undervalued jobs.

There is little information on how the pandemic is changing immigrants' lives, especially concerning the insecurities faced by female migrants. Despite Canada's supportive multicultural policy and positive perspectives towards immigrants, the pandemic has created a context for conflict, with implications for immigrants' work lives and well-being.

This two year (2021-2022) study will identify challenges associated with COVID-19 encountered by Indian migrant women working in Canada. The study will help Canada and India in developing more proactive and supportive strategies and policies to support the livelihoods and well-being of actual or aspiring female immigrants.