Indo-Canadian Families Historical Constraints and Contemporary Contradictions

Abstract

Immigrants from India arrived in Canada circa 1900. About 95 percent of early immigrants came from the Punjab State of India and were of the Sikh religion. Their entry into Canada, as well as their stay in Canada, were controlled by various immigration policies and social, economic, and political constraints. This paper examines historical conditions, structural constraints, and the Canadian immigration policies which shaped the Indo-Canadian families in Canada. The main role of the family is to produce and reproduce labour for the capitalist system. The family is also the place where individuals are socialized, protected, and supported as they adapt to external constraints. The main focus of the paper is to understand the structure, function, and contradictions in the institution of the family in regard to historical conditions and contemporary social, political, and economic forces.