Perceptions of Autonomy and Life Satisfaction in Pakistani Married Immigrant Women in Toronto, Canada

Immigration can have powerful effects on gender roles and family relationships. In the present study, 102 Pakistani married
immigrant women in Canada completed questionnaires on recalled pre-migration, and perceptions of current post-migration, personal
autonomy in their family; life satisfaction; living arrangements (i.e., whether with in-laws) in both countries; income and
employment in Canada; and their expectations of, and willingness to, immigrate. The women reported significantly higher personal
autonomy and life satisfaction while living in Canada relative to Pakistan. Linear regression analyses indicated that living
with in-laws was associated with lower life satisfaction in Pakistan but this was fully mediated by autonomy. More autonomy
was also related to higher life satisfaction in Canada, but not to living arrangements or any other measured variable. The
results suggest that, for these women, immigration was associated with more personal autonomy and life satisfaction, but determinants
of women’s autonomy differed in Pakistan and Canada.