Narratives from the Former Soviet Union to the United States

Location

CSU 255

Start Date

22-4-2008 10:30 AM

End Date

22-4-2008 12:00 PM

Student's Major

Sociology and Corrections

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Emily Boyd

Mentor's Department

Sociology and Corrections

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

This paper examined the consequences of the Soviet Fall on the experiences of East European Immigrants and American Tourists. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals who were from the United States and had traveled to the former USSR or were natives of Eastern Europe. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed inductively with the goal of understanding (a) differences in life experiences across cultures, (b) how change in regime effects a person's life story and (c) the importance of social traditions. My findings focused on the transformation of economic conditions after the fall and on the social traditions surrounding alcohol consumption. Particularly, I showed that the fall of the Soviet Union opened a doorway for economic and technological expansion. It allowed an increase in availability and acceptance of foreign products such as cell phones and cars. I also detail the traditions and customs surrounding alcohol use both before and after the fall. My analysis focused on the social pressures to consume alcohol and also on how rates of consumption were impacted by economic and working conditions.

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Apr 22nd, 10:30 AM Apr 22nd, 12:00 PM

Narratives from the Former Soviet Union to the United States

CSU 255

This paper examined the consequences of the Soviet Fall on the experiences of East European Immigrants and American Tourists. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals who were from the United States and had traveled to the former USSR or were natives of Eastern Europe. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed inductively with the goal of understanding (a) differences in life experiences across cultures, (b) how change in regime effects a person's life story and (c) the importance of social traditions. My findings focused on the transformation of economic conditions after the fall and on the social traditions surrounding alcohol consumption. Particularly, I showed that the fall of the Soviet Union opened a doorway for economic and technological expansion. It allowed an increase in availability and acceptance of foreign products such as cell phones and cars. I also detail the traditions and customs surrounding alcohol use both before and after the fall. My analysis focused on the social pressures to consume alcohol and also on how rates of consumption were impacted by economic and working conditions.

Recommended Citation

Maas, Kimberly. "Narratives from the Former Soviet Union to the United States." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 22, 2008.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2008/oral-session-13/4