Angela Williams emigrated from Jamaica to Canada seeking opportunities for herself and for the young daughter who she hopes will join her. In Canada, she is required to do long hours of low-paid domestic work for at least two years. She sees a future for herself as a nurse, nonetheless. Organizations of immigrant and minority women can lend support.

What difficulties do immigrant women in general, and foreign domestic workers in particular, face in the workplace when they want to move ahead?

Kwai Fong Lai is from Hong Kong, Alberta Onyejekwe from Ghana, and Angela Williams from Jamaica. They are immigrants to Canada, visible minorities, and women, a combination designed to make their lives difficult. While Canadian society has yet to accustom itself to its immigrant reality, these strong and resilient women manage to adapt and survive. At home and at work, they speak candidly about the conditions that shape their lives.