Communicating one's way to employment: a case study of African settlers in Brisbane, Australia

Hebbani, Aparna and Colic-Peisker, Val (2012) Communicating one's way to employment: a case study of African settlers in Brisbane, Australia. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 33 5: 529-547.


Author Hebbani, Aparna
Colic-Peisker, Val
Title Communicating one's way to employment: a case study of African settlers in Brisbane, Australia
Journal name Journal of Intercultural Studies  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-10
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1080/07256868.2012.701609
Volume number 33
Issue number 5
ISSN 0725-6868; 1469-9540
Start page 529
End page 547
Total pages 19
Place of publication Melbourne, Australia
Publisher Routledge
Collection year 2013
Language eng
Abstract This paper reports findings of an Australian study on cross-cultural communication and employment of several African birthplace groups of former refugees. The study was conducted in the greater Brisbane area in 2009–10 and collected both quantitative (based on a short questionnaire) and qualitative (based on 12 focus groups) data. Drawing on the uncertainty reduction theory (URT), the segmented labour market theory (SLMT) and Bourdieu's concepts of linguistic and cultural capital, the paper focuses on cross-cultural communication aspects of job search (particularly the job interview situation), the workplace (communication with supervisors and co-workers) and overcoming linguistic and cultural obstacles in building bridging social networks. Existing power relations that structure the communication process, especially the ‘symbolic power’ aspect of Australian ethnic relations, are the context of our analysis. We also report on gender differences that additionally structure these processes in the job search and workplace contexts.
Keyword African refugees
Australia
Gender
Intercultural communication
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2013 Collection
School of Journalism and Communication Publications
 
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Created: Tue, 18 Oct 2011, 13:51:21 EST by Dr Aparna Hebbani on behalf of School of Journalism and Communication