معرفی
Aida Geraldina Polanco Sorto is an Associate Professor in the Department of Labour Studies at McMaster University's Faculty of Social Sciences. Her academic work critically examines the intersection of migration, labor, and globalization, with particular focus on temporary foreign worker programs and their implications for workers' rights and social citizenship in contemporary labor markets.
Dr. Polanco Sorto's educational background reflects strong foundations in sociological theory and research:
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology (First Class) from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver
- Master of Arts in Sociology from Concordia University, Montreal
- PhD in Sociology from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Her research program spans multiple interconnected fields including Migration Studies, Temporary Foreign Worker Programs, Labour Relations, Sociology of Work, Cultural Studies, Gender and Sexuality, and Globalization. Dr. Polanco Sorto's scholarship reveals how national governments actively produce 'culturally tailored' migrant workers for specific labor markets, creating systems of labor unfreedom that challenge traditional notions of citizenship. Her work particularly examines service sectors like fast food where temporary foreign workers are increasingly prevalent, analyzing the mechanisms of labor control and the production of precarious work conditions within immigration regimes.
Dr. Polanco Sorto's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with pressing issues in migration and labor studies over the past two decades. Her publications reveal an evolving trajectory from early work on religious institutions and worker rights to sophisticated analyses of contemporary migration regimes. A clear pattern emerges across her research showing how states actively brand national workforces, how language policies regulate migrant mobility, and how citizenship aspirations are leveraged to maintain labor control within precarious immigration schemes.
Dr. Polanco Sorto maintains an active teaching schedule with courses spanning both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her course offerings include Methods (LABRST 715), Sociology of Immigration (SOCIOL 728), Labour and Globalization (WORKLABR 2G03), On the Move: Workers in a Global World (WORKLABR 3K03), and Work in Flux: The Gig Economy, the Corporate Ladder, and Changing Labour Markets (SOCIOL 4V03), with teaching activities documented through 2025. Her curriculum reflects direct connections between her research expertise and pedagogical approach, preparing students to critically analyze the complex dynamics of contemporary labor markets in an increasingly globalized world.
