Dr. Geraldina Polanco

Biography

Geraldina Polanco is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of British Columbia, alongside a Master's from Concordia University and an Honours Bachelor's from her alma mater, the University of British Columbia. Her research spans various critical areas including culture, migration, work and employment, globalization, transnationalism, class, gender, and race. Polanco's current work investigates the politics of international migration and the evolving regulations of labor markets through diversified temporary labor programs. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges sociology with industrial relations, migration studies, international development, and cultural studies. An ethnographic perspective guides her exploration of transnational recruitment practices affecting fast food workers in North America, drawing from extensive field research conducted across the Philippines and Western Canada. Central to her inquiry is the assessment of how discourses surrounding immigration policies and practices impact the socio-economic trajectories of migrants. Polanco is also developing a major project, previously funded by the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, focusing on Mexican labor migrants and the intricacies of labor migration strategies from sending states. Her selected publications reflect her commitment to these themes, contributing significantly to understanding the intersections of migration, labor, and social justice.

Research Interests