Multiculturalism Policies: Identifying the Dialectic of the "Ideal Type" within the Practices of Canadian Nursing

Since Canada's first multiculturalism policy in 1971, there has been an influx of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) of colour to Canada. Studies show IENs occupying low-paid menial positions, while being excluded from policy-making leadership positions. Colonial values currently function through the notion of the "ideal type", a term defined as a nurse who is white, middle class and occupying policy-making leadership roles. Within Canadian nursing, there appears to be a dialectic relationship between multiculturalism policies and the ideal type that become camouflaged by the term I have identified as the "hybrid space." The hybrid space consists of public health nurses, clinicians, clinical case coordinators, and unit leaders who are registered nurses that work on the front-line with minimal leadership responsibilities. Although these nurses have comparable qualifications as their Canadian-born counterpart, they are not groomed into policy making leadership roles, but rather remain fixed in the hybrid-space. Through the experiences of IENs, this study shows how the dialectic relationship helps in maintaining Canada's favourable position within the global market. Post colonial theory, antiracist feminism and Black Canadian feminist thought were used as theoretical frameworks to expose issues of racism and inequalities within the hybrid space. In-depth interviews, a qualitative methodology, explored the experiences of these IENs in the hybrid space. Ten IENs of colour who were from the United Kingdom and the ex-British colonies (India and the Caribbean) were recruited using the snowball method. The research uncovered several major themes such as, Non-Recognition, No Leaders of Colour at the Top, Faith and Spirituality and Valuing Their Heritage. The themes were divided into two further categories: 1) Challenges and 2) Resistance. Although the hybrid space was challenging, the IENs used these barriers as spaces of resistance in order to survive.Ph.D