Describes a retrospective examination of the family dynamics of Soviet Jewish teenagers who arrived in the United States in the late 1970s, with special attention to how families affected teenagers’ developing sense of self and identity. Previous ethnographic research with Jewish teenagers from what is now the former Soviet Union had revealed contrasting characterizations: children strongly influenced by their parents or troublemakers. The present study involved in-depth, life-history interviews with 5 women between the ages of 22 and 27 living in Chicago. As girls, the study subjects had lived in relatively stable and secure middle-class surroundings; most of the girls had not been consulted about the decision to emigrate and consequently experienced family disruption; many took on an unprecedented amount of responsibility after migration; and their choice of colleges and fields of study reflected their parents’ preferences. Study results suggested that the enmeshed family life of Russian-Jewish immigrants does not necessarily retard the normal process of adolescent development, creating either depressed individuals or rebels. Instead, the interdependent family that has high expectations of its children, and rewards their accomplishments, may be a source of support to teenagers negotiating the twin challenges of acculturation and maturation.
