The daily struggle of raising children in a society that devalues child-rearing, and the constant battle to understand and face racism, classism and sexism, is triple jeopardy for the Black immigrant woman. The process of immigration and resettling complicates the process of adapting to pregnancy and other changes of motherhood. Adjusting to a different climate, clothing and food creates more challenges. For some, the greatest isolation occurs when they face their daily activities in snow and bitter cold. The experience of pregnancy is complicated by a change in clothing style and the multiple layers that provide necessary protection are restrictive and uncomfortable.
Food is more than a simple matter of nutrition.
It symbolizes love, security, moral and religious values, attitudes to health and our beliefs about ourselves. Most newcomers have trouble adjusting to an unfamiliar diet, but it is especially difficult during pregnancy and after childbirth. Immigrant women may prefer to eat traditional foods brought by friends and spouses instead of the menu provided by the hospital. Canadian children are encouraged to achieve, to be independent and competitive while many ethnic minorities emphasize interdependence, cooperation and contributing to the collective. While intimate interaction between mother and child is encouraged in Canadian culture, it is unusual in a cultural context where children are not considered partners with their mothers, but rather members of their community.