CHINESE ENGINEERS IN CANADA: A 'MODEL MINORITY'? AND EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE GLASS CEILING

摘要

This paper answers the following three research questions: a) Are the Chinese in Canada a model minority? b) Does a glass ceiling exist for Chinese engineers in Canada? 3) What are Chinese engineers' perceptions and actual experiences of the glass ceiling? The data utilized to answer these questions come from the 2001 Census of Canada and a mail survey to Chinese engineers who graduated from the University of Calgary. The findings indicate that the model minority thesis has limited applicability to the Chinese in Canada. When Chinese scientists and engineers' incomes are examined, there is a much lower return to their education and their experience when compared to Whites, which points to their under-representation in higher paying management positions and the existence of a glass ceiling. The survey findings show that most of the respondents perceive a glass ceiling and that a sizable proportion have personally experienced hitting the glass ceiling and/or have known other Chinese engineers who have. The paper ends with a discussion of the obstacles identified by respondents that prevent them from being promoted into and within management level positions.