United States Asylum Law: Recognizing Persecution Based on Gender Using Canada as a Comparison

The author of this article advocates for a change in United States immigration and refugee policy which currently does not recognize gender-based forms of persecution. She analyzes changes in Canadian immigration policy where guidelines have been passed that recognize persecution based on gender as persecution based on a "social group" and thus falling under the relevant definition of a Convention refugee. The author concludes that United States policy must go further than the Canadian guidelines. The U.S. should amend its policy to include gender as a sixth category of recognized persecution, putting gender on par with race, ethnic origin, religion, political persecution and social group as officially recognized forms of persecution. [Descriptors: Migration - Refugees and Immigration, International - North America]