Date of Award

2009

Degree Type

Major Research Paper

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Immigration and Settlement Studies

First Advisor

Sutama Ghosh

Second Advisor

Harold Bauder

Abstract

"South Asian" is a term commonly used in Canada to refer to individuals with ancestry in the Indian subcontinent and surrounding countries. The label has been created through Canada's means of statistical data collection on visible minority populations. Drawing from sociological, cultural studies, and geographic literature, this exploratory study seeks to determine the reciprocal relationship between South Asian identities as they are considered in Canada and urbans space in Toronto. The research has been conducted through a critical review of literature regarding ethnic identity, hybridity, the production of urban space, and two key informant interviews. The key findings of the research suggest that South Asian identites are often multiple/situational, and that certian aesthetic aspects of South Asian identity are displayed in urban spaces in Toronto which may be labelled South Asian. These spaces may be considered hybrid spaces.


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