Attitudes of New Immigrant and Veteran-Resident Israeli Divorced Mothers Toward Single Motherhood (original) (raw)

Migration, Motherhood, Marriage: Cross-Cultural Adaptation of North American Immigrant Mothers in Israel

International Migration, 2009

This 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 dual modus vivendi.

Immigration, Gender, and Psychosocial Adjustment: A Study of 150 Immigrant Couples in Israel

Sex Roles, 2005

Research on gender differences in the process of psychosocial adjustment of recent immigrants is scant. This study was designed to assess occupational, social, and personal/psychological aspects of adjustment to life in Israel among 150 heterosexual couples that immigrated together from the former Soviet Union after 1990. The mean age of participants was 46, over 60% had postsecondary education, and have lived in Israel for the average of 9 years. The study included a structured survey and in-depth interviews with 15 couples. The results suggest that overall levels of adjustment and well-being reported by men and women are rather similar, although they take somewhat different paths toward social integration. Men were doing better in the economic/occupational domain, whereas women were more active in the social domain (e.g., building their personal networks, exploring new lifestyles). Both men and women had experienced occupational downgrading in Israel, but more women worked in physically-demanding jobs such as geriatric nursing and cleaning. Women suffered a more dramatic occupational downgrading than men, as well as lower job security and under/unemployment. Yet, they showed more flexibility and tolerance of their new work roles. No tangible gender differences have been found in the general indicators of psychosocial well-being and overall satisfaction with life in Israel. Processes of social adjustment among immigrants from the former Soviet Union may be less gendered than in other immigrant communities, reflecting more egalitarian gender relations in the Russian/Soviet culture.

Gender and Integration: The Study among 150 Immigrant Couples in Israel

Sex Roles, 2005

Research on gender differences in the process of psychosocial adjustment of recent immigrants is scant. This study was designed to assess occupational, social, and personal/psychological aspects of adjustment to life in Israel among 150 heterosexual couples that immigrated together from the former Soviet Union after 1990. The mean age of participants was 46, over 60% had postsecondary education, and have lived in Israel for the average of 9 years. The study included a structured survey and in-depth interviews with 15 couples. The results suggest that overall levels of adjustment and well-being reported by men and women are rather similar, although they take somewhat different paths toward social integration. Men were doing better in the economic/occupational domain, whereas women were more active in the social domain (e.g., building their personal networks, exploring new lifestyles). Both men and women had experienced occupational downgrading in Israel, but more women worked in physically-demanding jobs such as geriatric nursing and cleaning. Women suffered a more dramatic occupational downgrading than men, as well as lower job security and under/unemployment. Yet, they showed more flexibility and tolerance of their new work roles. No tangible gender differences have been found in the general indicators of psychosocial well-being and overall satisfaction with life in Israel. Processes of social adjustment among immigrants from the former Soviet Union may be less gendered than in other immigrant communities, reflecting more egalitarian gender relations in the Russian/Soviet culture.

The Fatherhood Experience of Divorced Custodial Fathers in Israel

Family Relations, 2014

This qualitative study examines the fatherhood experience of 20 divorced men who are raising children on their own. The findings were gathered from semistructured in-depth interviews. The interviewees' depictions revealed a process of making place for oneself in a multiparticipant arena facing social systems, the mother of the children, and the children themselves. The main findings concern the circumstances of single fatherhood: a constraint and a choice stemming from the mother's incapacity, the nature of the relationships created between mother and children and between father and mother, and the burden and pleasure contained within single parenthood. The discussion looks at the findings through the prism of Baxter and dialectic theory. It sheds light on the ongoing, contrast-filled process of establishing a perception of fatherhood, and the experiences of divorced fathers raising their children on their own.

SINGLE-PARENT WOMEN

The phenomenon of single parent families in Israel is expanding. In recent decades, following a significant increase in the number of single-parent families. The cultural category of "single parenting" is prominent in many discussions around the world, as well as in Israel. Among families in Israel living below the poverty line, families headed by a single parent are among the poorest. This phenomenon is not unique to Israel alone. (Stier, 2011) In 2014 there were approximately 120,000 single-parent families in Israel. The number of children was 212 thousand. The emotional and social difficulties and difficulties of adapting parents in Israel combine with the difficulty of supporting the family during childcare. All these raised the issue of economic and political support. The Single Parent Law 5752-1992 deals with the definition of who is a single parent, the purpose of the law is to regulate the issue of benefits to these families, and the various government offices provide unique benefits and financial support to single-parent families in order to help them. For this purpose, it is the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, the National Insurance Institute and others. The purpose of this aid is actually to rescue single-parent families in Israel from the poverty class. The present study reviews the constitutional basis and the activities of government ministries responsible for this issue. The aim of this study is to present the general picture of the situation of single-parent families in Israel from economic, social and cultural aspects, and a change in their employment status as a result of the introduction of the Arrangements Law. Special attention will be given to various benefits and programs initiated during this period relevant to the research.

'We Do not Own our Children': Evolving parenting Practices among Russian Immigrants in Israel

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To Explore Unpacked Social Adjustment Issues of Divorced Women

Divorce defines as “the dissolution of a marriage, normally permitting each party to remarry” (Christopher, 1999). Social adjustment after divorce refers to resettlement of an individual in the society after being divorced and resettlement is in terms of economic empowerment and decision making by her. The current study was investigating the problems faced by divorced women and to figure out the social adjustment issues of divorced women. Social adjustment issues of divorced women were studied with the sample of 15 case studies of Muslim divorced women who were resided in different areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Case study technique was used based on grounded theory. It is concluded from over all findings of this study that divorce effects on women in every spheres of their lives. It impacts on them negatively. Society sees them as stigmatized personality and criticizes them without knowing that whether they are guilty for their marriage termination or not. She feels herself alien and these thoughts put her under grave of psychological stress and social alienation. In this phase, when she goes through from this disturbance, she needs support. Society needs to understand the problems of divorcees rather than to criticizes her and blaming her on her marriage termination. So there is need for awareness and change in the minds of people to do not stress her, understand her condition and must encourage her to begin her life again. The increased awareness of society in this regard will ensure the health of the victimized individuals and the society at large.

Attitudes of Kuwaiti Young Adults toward Marriage and Divorce

Advances in Social Work, 2010

This study investigates whether parental marital status affects young adults’ attitudes toward marriage and divorce. There exists a vast amount of literature on the impact of divorce on young adults in Western cultures; however, no previous empirical studies have been conducted on the attitudes of young adults from intact and divorced families in the Gulf region or in Arab countries in the Middle East. The sample of the study consisted of 661 young adults from Kuwait University (from divorced and intact families). The findings reveal that adults whose parents divorced show fewer positive attitudes toward marriage than do those individuals from intact marriages. The study also suggests that adults whose parents were divorced carry more positive attitudes toward divorce compared with individuals from intact marriages. Furthermore, gender was found to be an important factor in shaping attitudes toward marriage and divorce. A longitudinal study is recommended to look at the changes in y...

Gender-related Needs, Challenges, and Dangers in the Immigration Experience in Israel of Emerging Adults from the Former Soviet Union

Sex Roles, 2006

In-depth interviews were conducted to examine gender-related patterns of adaptation and maladaptation, and the relationship between adaptation and relationships (parents, friends, and romantic partners) for 34 emerging adult immigrants from the Former Soviet Union in Israel. Qualitative analysis highlighted gender-related needs, difficulties, and challenges following the immigration experience. Women’s adaptation was connected to mutually supportive and empathic relationships with parents, friends, and romantic partners. Maladaption for women was connected to overly close, nonmutual, and enmeshed relationships with parents, which led to feelings of guilt or to distant relationships that lacked support and intimacy. Adaptation for men was connected to inner strengths that enabled achievement and success in acculturative tasks, which led to feelings of mastery, competence, and self-definition combined with respect and valuing the relationship they have with their family. In contrast, maladaption among men was not connected to relationships but to a lack of inner strengths needed to succeed in developmental and immigration-related tasks. Despite the gender-related distinction found among less adaptive individuals, adaptive young immigrants, women and men alike, were more characterized by an ability to balance between needs of self and needs of others in their family relationships. As such, narratives of adaptive emerging adult immigrants emphasized gender similarities, whereas those of less adaptive immigrants emphasized gender differences.