Worlds apart: gender disparity in the immigration experience in Voltaire’s Candide, or Optimism

Abstract

The world we live in has become increasingly global in nature. As world citizens, the phenomenon of international migration affects us all. An individual may be forced to leave their homeland due to war, political persecution, a search for new economic opportunities or a need to reunite with family. Once in a new country, they are faced with the challenges of integrating into a new society. Integration into a new community may require human and social capital such as learning a new language and cultural acclimatization (Donato, Piya and Jacobs, S340). Often, an inability to communicate effectively, or adapt culturally, affects on one’s ability to create ties in the community. Some researchers have suggested that there may be a disparity in the successful integration of an immigrant based on gender (Donato, Piya and Jacobs, 1).