Parental logic among Russian-speaking two-step migrants

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study focuses on a selected group of two step migrants – the ‘1.5 generation’ of migrants born as a Jewish minority in former Soviet Union countries, who migrated firstly to Israel as children and were raised there as a Russian-speaking minority, and later migrated a second time to a Global North country as adults with their own children. This cohort experienced major shifts in their socio-economic status during their first migration yet were subsequently able to retain their social standing during their second migration despite the upheaval. Interviews with 18 families were conducted to explore their experiences of integration retrospectively: both as minority children in an Israeli host society and their later adult perceptions of the ways their children (have continued to) assimilate into the society of Global North host countries. We identify specific parental logics applied by this adult cohort, which may nuance the Lareau model of concerted cultivation vs. natural growth parenting. We discuss the possible implications of our study and propose future research directions.