The Story of Women Immigrants from FSU and Their Integration into Israeli Academia

Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals

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22

Immigrants; Females; Foreign Countries; Women Faculty; Research Universities; Tenure; Physical Sciences; Humanities; Social Sciences; Personnel Integration; Cultural Capital; Social Capital; Disproportionate Representation; Minority Groups; Ethnic Groups; Employment Level; Higher Education; Educational Environment; Gender Bias; Teacher Attitudes; Role Models; Jews

Israel; Russia; Ukraine; Estonia; Moldova; Georgia Republic

10.1080/01425692.2023.2270169

0142-5692
1465-3346

The under-representation of minorities at senior levels in academia has received some research attention in recent years. However, the experience of immigrant women from the former Soviet Union (FSU) in Israeli academia has not been examined. These women are mostly from a generation known as the '1.5 generation' who immigrated to Israel as children. This study focuses on the intersection of immigration and gender that shape the lives and careers of the 1.5 generation women currently employed as senior academics in Israel. Using the theoretical framework of capital, Bourdieu's concepts of cultural and social capital, as well as Borjas' ethnic capital, we analyzed twenty in-depth interviews to examine the perception of these women, their life story, and their professional integration into Israeli academia. We identified two focal points that fostered their success -- (1) the Soviet heritage- selective adoption of ethnic capital, encompassing cultural and social capital of an ethnic group and (2) role models within and outside the family often based on ethnicity. We discuss the obstacles faced by minorities in attempting integration into selective professional guilds.

As Provided

2024

EJ1423805