Suchergebnisse

In Israel, where over one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) arrived during the past decade, compulsory military service provides young immigrants with an opportunity for acculturation. These youth are regarded as a population at risk, as they both face the trials of adjustment to a newsociety and are in the midst of their identity formation, at decision-making crossroads regarding future life goals. The purpose of this phenomenological studywas to examine howa group of young immigrants from the FSU use their military conscription in the context of their acculturation, investigating its actual effect on their coping in the host society.

ABSTRACTMigration from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) included a unique group of young women who immigrated alone to Israel in search of opportunities for higher education. Individual migration is a rare phenomenon in the Jewish‐Russian family context, which is characterized by close family ties among members. The content analysis of in‐depth interviews with a group of female immigrant undergraduates revealed two profiles based on their mode of migration: Independent Decision Makers (Profile A) who were determined to integrate rapidly into Israeli society, with far‐reaching concessions in respect of their original culture and of friends from their country of migration; Family Emissaries (Profile B) who wished to preserve their original culture and friends. Their pace of familiarization with Israeli customs was slow and did not constitute a major focus of interest. Profile A respondents used their time at the university for self reflection, celebrating their newly gained insights into their personhood and their independence. Migration "through" the university came to symbolize individuation from their enmeshed family. Profile B informants concentrated on career development at the expense of preoccupation with social adjustment. This group of informants, though more passive observers than active participants in the social aspects of campus life, were also exposed to a new model of university, which served them as a precursor to the diversity of choices awaiting outside the university. The university experience, though more inclusive for Profile A and more limited for Profile B, was positive according to all informants. Regardless of differences in reasons for migration, family attitudes or personality, the desire for quality higher education was the most powerful driving force behind the migration of these single young women from the FSU and its fulfilment helped them cope in the receiving society. Although a neglected area of research, and contrary to the tradition of strong family cohesion, the migration of independent young women from the FSU to Western countries, in search of opportunities for quality higher education, is gaining salience. The lessons learned from the idiosyncratic experiences of participants in this phenomenological study provide valuable insights into issues arising in the course of the intercultural transition of this understudied migrant population and suggest directions for further research.

Patterns of gender role division and child rearing are determined by the belief system, values and conditions that characterize a given culture (Harkness, Super & van Tijen, 2000). In traditional societies it is one of the main intergenerationally transmitted patterns of culture (Harkness & Super, 2000). As parenting is one of the major sources of personal identity, there is greater opposition to changes in it (Harris, 1968; Pitman, Eisikovits & Dobbert, 1989) than other areas of life perceived as less essential to the identity of the individual and his/her future. The family is a "culture bearing unit" (Eisikovits, 1997a) and, as such, patterns of preservation and change in gender roles and parental behavior can throw light on broader transformations occurring during cultural transition.

Looking at three generations of women of Moroccan descent - mothers who immigrated to Israel in the 1950s and continued to give birth after their arrival; their daughters who came to Israel as children and married there; and their granddaughters who were born in Israel and became mothers in the 1990s - this study examines expressions of intercultural transition in respect to parenting and child rearing. This in order to identify models of motherhood and parental performance in each generation, as well as the intercultural "mix" used in constructing them.$$intercultural transmission of patterns of motherhood; immigrant mothers; Moroccan Jews; changes in role division in immigrant families

AbstractThis study probes the cross‐cultural adaptation patterns of North American women who immigrated to Israel with their Israeli‐born husbands (or married there) and are mothers in their new country. In order to undertake a cultural analysis of the interplay between immigration, motherhood and bicultural marriage, we examine: the effects of motherhood and North American culture of origin on cross‐cultural adaptation; the effects of immigration to Israel on motherhood and childrearing; the influence of family of origin on the immigrant motherhood experience; and the role of Israeli husbands and their families in the women's cross‐cultural adaptation process. We study patterns for the entire group as well as bringing out individual differences. Our main finding is that motherhood serves as the principal social link to the Israeli host society. The high status of North American culture and English proficiency facilitate cross‐cultural adaptation in Israel. Our findings reveal transnationalist tendencies co‐existing with various adaptation strategies. We propose an expansion of previous acculturation models to accommodate this dualmodus vivendi.