Re-embracing a Lost Identity: Second generation Russian American experience growing up in a cultural conflict.
Faculty Mentor
Kassahun Kebede
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB 321
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Sociology and Justice Studies
Abstract
This paper explores the complex experiences of second-generation Russian-American immigrants through the personal narrative of Anastasia, a young woman whose journey highlights the psychological and cultural tensions of growing up between two worlds. Delving into her story, the research illustrates how the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse and the challenges of American assimilation contribute to mental health struggles and identity fragmentation. The study incorporates both personal interviews and a review of literature on post-Soviet nostalgia, Americanization, and cultural stigmas surrounding mental illness among Russian immigrants. Anastasia’s upbringing was shaped by the conflicting values of her parents’ Soviet past and the expectations of American society. She experienced familial trauma, stigmatization of mental health, and a distancing from her cultural roots, common themes among second-generation immigrants. Over time, however, she began reconnecting with her Russian heritage through music, language, and cultural exploration, signaling a reclaiming of identity that had long been suppressed. The paper argues that assimilation can obscure cultural identity, but reconnection is possible and often vital for personal growth. It calls for further research on the unique mental health needs of second-generation immigrants, especially those from post-Soviet regions, and emphasizes the importance of culturally informed support systems. Anastasia’s narrative provides a powerful lens to understand the resilience and dual identity formation of second-generation immigrants and underscores the need for broader inclusion of these voices in academic and psychological discourse.
Recommended Citation
DeStout, Joanna Elise, "Re-embracing a Lost Identity: Second generation Russian American experience growing up in a cultural conflict." (2025). 2025 Symposium. 10.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/op_2025/o3_2025/10
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Re-embracing a Lost Identity: Second generation Russian American experience growing up in a cultural conflict.
PUB 321
This paper explores the complex experiences of second-generation Russian-American immigrants through the personal narrative of Anastasia, a young woman whose journey highlights the psychological and cultural tensions of growing up between two worlds. Delving into her story, the research illustrates how the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse and the challenges of American assimilation contribute to mental health struggles and identity fragmentation. The study incorporates both personal interviews and a review of literature on post-Soviet nostalgia, Americanization, and cultural stigmas surrounding mental illness among Russian immigrants. Anastasia’s upbringing was shaped by the conflicting values of her parents’ Soviet past and the expectations of American society. She experienced familial trauma, stigmatization of mental health, and a distancing from her cultural roots, common themes among second-generation immigrants. Over time, however, she began reconnecting with her Russian heritage through music, language, and cultural exploration, signaling a reclaiming of identity that had long been suppressed. The paper argues that assimilation can obscure cultural identity, but reconnection is possible and often vital for personal growth. It calls for further research on the unique mental health needs of second-generation immigrants, especially those from post-Soviet regions, and emphasizes the importance of culturally informed support systems. Anastasia’s narrative provides a powerful lens to understand the resilience and dual identity formation of second-generation immigrants and underscores the need for broader inclusion of these voices in academic and psychological discourse.
