Women Beyond Borders
Author: Nadiya Ekhteraeetoussi, PhD(c) in Educational Leadership, University of Regina Editors: Tashi Stampp and Romina Garcia de leon (blog coordinators) Reviewer: Stephanie Awotwi-Pratt
Published: September 4th, 2026
Beyond Dreams
Imagine packing your suitcase, saying goodbye to your family and friends, and leaving behind the place you’ve always called home. You’re excited to strive for future success and a chance to build the life you’ve always dreamed of. Once you arrive, the reality you encounter looks very different.
Immigration is not just a concept you read about in textbooks or hear discussed in podcasts. For about 304 million people worldwide, it is a life-changing experience filled with uncertainty, sacrifice and resilience.
For women, that journey often entails more unexpected challenges beyond borders. Barriers such as adapting to a new educational system, dealing with family affairs, employment and childcare issues, and discussing their health are among the challenges they experience in their new life.
Doors Are Open, One Is Locked!
On the bright side, for most women, the world is improving, and new doors are opening. Around the world, attitudes towards women’s education continue to evolve as women are often interested in postsecondary institutions and pursuing higher education, regardless of where they are in the world.
In Canada for example, women now outnumber men in postsecondary education. According to Statista, around 1.2 million women were enrolled in postsecondary institutions in Canada, compared to roughly 931,000 men.
Earning a degree in a new country is not always as exciting as it sounds. While certain nations continue to ban or restrict women’s studies, such as those in Afghanistan, there are immigration opportunities that allow students to study in other countries with fewer restrictions. Still, there are challenges women may face beyond the academic ones they must deal with. Oftentimes they need to start over. What does starting over mean to you?
What “Starting Over” Really Means
For international women students in Canada, moving to a new country means so much more than learning a new campus layout; it also means learning a new language, culture, and way of life. Many researchers have examined the impact of immigration on the quality of life of immigrants and their families. Immigrants may face different challenges related to learning a new language, employment, communication and adapting to new cultural expectations.
For international women and students in the Canadian context, these challenges often act as barriers which may also affect the quality of their lives, especially when navigating the education system. Research highlighted that for international women students, the pressure to resolve conflict in their personal lives can have a significant impact on mental health, which may also contribute to poor academic performance. Adequate support for these women is paramount to reducing these extra tensions.
Wearing Every Hat at Once
Many immigrant women find themselves balancing multiple roles every single day. From the stress of keeping up with both family tasks and individual affairs. They may be students trying to meet deadlines, daughters supporting their families back home, mothers, caregivers, and may often be the emotional backbone of their households. Managing all of these tasks while adapting to life in a new country can affect the mental health and well-being of those who identify as women. In addition to all these challenges, being a student and dealing with academic issues may be a large barrier and source of stress.
Even the strongest women can struggle when they’re expected to do everything at once. Financial pressure may add an additional layer of stress. Finding a proper job that aligns perfectly with their experiences, education and credentials can be one of the most critical challenges that immigrant women may face in Canada. Research indicates that immigrant women in the US are involved in more labour force challenges and fewer job opportunities in comparison to native born women; these results may be different based on the context of different countries and the labour market outcome. The problems faced by immigrant women in their search for employment are expected to increase, potentially resulting in limited opportunities for securing high-earning positions.
Additionally, there may be specific obstacles arising from interactions among women of international and national backgrounds in the workplace. The lack of effective equity, diversity, and inclusion in the Canadian workplace may increase frustration and ultimately affect overall workplace productivity. Research supports that married women often have a greater sense of responsibility towards their families. As a result, the likelihood of employment opportunities may be lower than that of their single colleagues.
Invisible Challenges: Visible Impact
Despite the presence of international clinical guidelines for mental health, implementing these guidelines for immigrant women remains inadequate. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health support should align with the cultural, linguistic and social context of people to be practical and helpful resources. For immigrant women and mainly newcomers, these gaps and barriers may prevent them from having access to proper health care services. This warrants conversations that go beyond immigrant women navigating only the educational or workplace systems.
Navigating financial uncertainty, managing family expectations and adapting to an unfamiliar culture can all affect an immigrant woman’s mental well-being. Although many women are dealing with this stress and pressure, there are additional concerns during pregnancy, childbirth and maintaining household duties. Research demonstrates that many women were traumatized by the effects of immigration. Immigrant women and students may also face unexpected challenges such as navigating academic achievements, adapting to new cultures or learning a new language.
Recognizing these challenges isn’t about portraying immigrant women as vulnerable, weak, or sensitive. It is about acknowledging the realities they face and ensuring they have access to the support they deserve. For example, make clarifications about the challenges that immigrant women face, as well as ensuring accessibility to trauma-informed supports. Providing affordable mental health care, language support, and community programs can help women connect with others and find services that may help them overcome these barriers. In Canada, organizations such as Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health will facilitate access to services.
Strength Isn’t the Absence of Struggle
The impact of immigration contributes to various aspects of women’s lives, from financial pressures to mental well-being and workplace challenges. When access to employment services are limited, along with less financial support, stress, mental health challenges, and social and well-being pressures, this poses additional challenges for international students who are also facing issues with their temporary residency and international status.
Immigrant women are resilient, but resilience should not mean struggling alone. The more we recognize these challenges, the better equipped we will be to reduce the pressure and challenges that immigrant women in Canada face.
Organizations and resources that support immigrant women in Canada:
Canadian Council of Muslim Women
MOSAIC – Newcomer Family Resource
OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
