Women with a Russian Accent'in Israel: On the Gender Aspects of Immigration

Gender issues permeate every aspect of the resettlement experience of the women from the former Soviet Union in Israel. This article presents a background of gender roles in Russia and an analytical overview of feminine immigrant experiences in the realms of work, sexuality and family life. Drawing on recent studies among Russian immigrants of the 1990s, it centres on the problem of downward social-occupational mobility and its specific implications for women. One implication is excessive exposure to sexual harassment due to their dependent and marginalized state. The article also discusses the disparity in sexual and family norms between the mainstream Israeli and immigrant cultures as a source of negative stereotyping of Russian women. Finally, some tacit features of the Israeli culture highlighted by the encounter with the newcomers are analysed.