Yijia (Jessica) Li

Topic

Solidarity from immigrants to Indigenous peoples in Canada: A Person-Centered Analysis

Department of Psychology

Date & location

• Thursday, August 29, 2024

• 1:00 P.M.

• Cornett Building

• Room A228

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Catherine Costigan, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria (Supervisor)

• Dr. Nigel Mantou Lou, Department of Psychology, UVic (Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Stacey Fitzsimmons, Gustavson School of Business, UVic 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Brandon Haworth, Department of Computer Science, UVic

Abstract

Background: Experiences of victimization (e.g., discrimination) have been shown to relate to greater feelings of connectedness (i.e., solidarity) and supportive actions from one structurally marginalized group to another. Experiences of marginalization have been found to coexist with different degrees to which systems are believed to be fair (i.e., system justification beliefs), with high system justification being negatively related to intergroup solidarity. Last, knowledge has been found to influence intergroup solidarity. Community-engagements have shown similarities in race/ethnicity-based victimhood experiences between Canada’s Indigenous and immigrant groups. Canada’s growing immigrant population is increasingly diverse, especially in their victimhood experiences and views towards society and solidarity. Thus, a person-centered analysis will be conducted to investigate if unique combinations of knowledge, victimization identities, and system justifying beliefs may impact solidarity and political action towards Indigenous peoples.

Methods: 285 adults, identifying as having an immigrant background, were recruited across Canada via an online survey from January to May, 2024. Measures collected demographic information, different types of race/ethnicity-based victimhood identification (e.g., collective, inclusive, exclusive), system justification beliefs (i.e., meritocracy, zero-sum game, social dominance orientation), Indigenous knowledge, political solidarity, and support for policies benefitting Indigenous peoples.

Results: Latent profile analysis results identified four profiles with varying levels of victimhood, system justification beliefs, and Indigenous knowledge: 1) Inclusive victim, aware system criticizers (own-group victimization similar to others); 2) Non-victim, very unaware hierarchical-meritocrats (believe in social hierarchy and meritocracy); 3) Non-victim, aware anti-hierarchical anti-meritocracy; 4) Exclusive victim, unaware system supporters (own-group suffering is unique). Profiles 1 and 2 showed high solidarity and policy support for Indigenous peoples, while Group 3 had the lowest. Results for Profile 1 are supported by previous literature, while those for 2 and 3 are not and provide novel conceptualizations of factors affecting intergroup solidarity. Profiles differed in age, gender, racial/ethnic background, visible minority status, and sexual orientation but not socioeconomic status or immigrant generation.

Conclusion: This research demonstrates the utility of person-centered analyses to highlight individual differences previously unrecognized in the literature. Results may inform relationship building and continued reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and immigrants.