An Intersectional Analysis of the Social Determinants of Health among Male Migrant Workers: Masculinity, Migration and Work in the context of a Pandemic

Abstract

Emerging data from the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a preponderance of male susceptibility to being infected and experiencing poorer health outcomes, this was particularly notable for certain groups of men. In this paper, I examine the effect of COVID 19 pandemic on male migrant workers employed in farms and meat packing plants in Canada. I draw upon the intersection of migration, social determinant of health and masculinity theory. Using an extended literature review method, I reviewed how these theories explain the reason for the breakdown of migrant’s health post migration. The study reveal that male migrants were worse hit by the effects of the pandemic compared to non-immigrants and female migrants. I demonstrate how the pandemic enables a specific lens on issues of healthcare access and utilization, systemic racialization treatment of migrants in Canada. Indeed, there are multiple layers embedded in migrant’s health deterioration that made them vulnerable to COVID 19 pandemic. Additionally, the paper shows how the health deterioration, migration status and systemic racism contributed to migrants’ vulnerability to the pandemic.