The Plight of the Immigrant Woman
A Journey to Understanding Relationships and Acts of Resilience
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When I got married, at twenty-two years old, I moved away from home. This move was not to the next town or city, this move was across the Indian Ocean. I was suddenly thrust into a life, that I was completely unprepared for. I was forced to adapt and adjust to the norms and lifestyle of my new family (my partner and my in-laws) and new cultural environment. I did not have a social network to support me, as this was long before we had access to long distance telephone calls, emails or social media. I felt alone, and scared. This experience led me to my career as a social worker. The story I am writing about is a familiar one, especially for immigrant women. The struggles that women face when it comes to the relationships between couples, extended family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and children are complex. Much like myself, many of these women are thrown into a new unfamiliar world. As a therapist and in my personal life, I have found that many immigrant women struggle with navigating their relationships, while adjusting to their new life. This book is for those women, who are struggling with their relationships, conflicting value systems, and are trying to adapt to their new families and extended families. Above all, this book is for the women who want to learn about the importance of resilience and overcoming their adversities. This book is divided into ten chapters and within each chapter I have woven my life story and that of my clients to illustrate a given concept. Throughout my years as a therapist, I have found the practical life stories that we share help us to understand our own life better and to see that we are not as different as we may think. That is why I have chosen this method to discuss the concepts of familial relationships and conflicts, resilience, socialization, values and beliefs.
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About the Book
After marrying at age twenty-two, Simran Walia moved across the Indian Ocean where she was suddenly thrust into a new life far from family and friends. Without a support group, emails, or access to social media, Walia felt alone and afraid as she attempted to adapt to the norms and lifestyle of her new family and cultural environment. Walia intertwines her personal stories as an immigrant woman, mother, and therapist with the stories of those she has had the privilege to work beside. She has made it her mission to guide other immigrant women on a journey to finding their authentic selves and the resilience to experience harmonious lives and relationships, despite their struggles. While addressing the obstacles immigrant women often face, Walia discusses the impact of blending cultures on relationships; how values and feelings can impact our behaviors; the importance of a social network; the ideas that surround ego and the ego trap; and the ways gratitude, prayer, and meditation can help immigrant women to overcome personal struggles. Included are in-depth exercises and Walia’s reflections. The Plight of the Immigrant Woman brings to light the importance of finding our authentic selves, understanding the roots of our values and beliefs, and living a harmonious life with our loved ones.
About the Author
Simran Walia immigrated from India to Africa and then to Canada. She holds a master’s degree in social work and has experience as a counselor, college lecturer, and probation officer. Now semi-retired, Simran provides short term counseling for trauma victims, and enjoys spending time with her three children and four exceptionally special grandchildren.