Intersectional Exposures: Exploring the Health Effect of Employment with KAAJAL Immigrant/Refugee Women in Grand Erie through Photovoice

The purpose of this community-based participatory research was to understand the employment-health association for immigrant/refugee women from Korea, Asia, Africa, Japan, Arab world and Latin America (KAAJAL) in Grand Erie –a mid-sized urban/rural region in Ontario, Canada. The study utilized photovoice –a visual qualitative research methodology in which participants were given cameras to record their experiences. Intersectionality analysis of 525 participant-generated photographs, diaries, and in-depth interviews of twenty women revealed that various markers of difference such as nationality (i.e. native or foreign-born), immigrant status (i.e. family class sponsorship), geography (i.e. rural or urban residence), socio-economic status, sexuality, age, ability and race intersected to influence women’s health and employment experiences. The results have several policy and practice implications including highlighting individual, organizational, and family factors that lead to health related absenteeism, stress and health problems such as backaches, muscular problems and depression. The study builds on scant literature on work stress and women’s health for this population in Canada’s rural and mid-sized cities