Deconstructing Human Capital Theory: The Silenced Narratives of Immigrant Women of Colour

This study critically examines the limitations and inadequacies of Human Capital Theory (HCT) in addressing the employment realities of immigrant women of colour in Canada. Rooted in neoliberal ideology and neoclassical economics, HCT assumes that individual investments in education and skills directly lead to economic success. However, this framework fails to account for systemic barriers, structural racism, and gendered discrimination that disproportionately disadvantage equity-deserving communities. Applying Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of social capital and habitus alongside critical race theory (CRT), this research interrogates HCT to examine how race- and gender-based exclusions, social networks, cultural norms, and institutionalized biases shape career trajectories. While intersectionality is not the central focus, the study integrates an intersectional analysis to highlight the compounded disadvantages faced by immigrant women of colour in the labour market. Employing Indigenous storytelling methodologies and narrative inquiry, this research foregrounds the lived experiences of immigrant women of colour to challenge the assumptions of HCT. By conducting a comprehensive literature review and examining CRT, the study further interrogates how race, power, and systemic exclusion intersect with economic mobility. Despite its widespread acceptance, HCT remains insufficient in explaining the persistent employment gaps and labour market marginalization of immigrant women of colour. This study argues that access to social capital is a critical determinant of career success, often privileging dominant groups while excluding racialized immigrants. The interplay between HCT and social capital theory creates compounded barriers, reinforcing systemic inequalities and limiting career advancement for marginalized populations. As Bourdieu’s work does not explicitly address racial disparities, this study integrates CRT to demonstrate how race fundamentally influences labour market outcomes. By bridging these theoretical perspectives, the research challenges dominant economic narratives and calls for policy reforms that recognize and dismantle structural barriers to economic equity for immigrant women of colour.