Waiting for Macedonia gives insight into one of the most moving moments in post-war European history: the hope for a new Europe in the years following the collapse of communism. In this ethnography, Thiessen explores the different ways in which identity has been negotiated in Macedonia since the disintegration of Yugoslavia. In contrast to more familiar approaches to the Balkansâ??which emphasize tradition, rural life, and women in the contexts of kinship and marriageâ??Thiessen here investigates the everyday habits of a group of young professional women in Skopje. Using research data spanning eight years (1988-96), she traces key aspects of their life, including family relationships, television and shopping habits, cafe life, and attitudes to work. At the same time, she also raises larger questions about Macedonian, Balkan, and Eastern European notions of identity, suggesting that western discourses about former socialist countries may in turn be influencing the way young urban Macedonians see themselves.
Authors
- Bibliography, etc. Note
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-198) and index
- Control Number Identifier
- CaOOCEL
- Dewey Decimal Classification Number
- 305.43/620094976
- General Note
- Issued as part of the desLibris books collection
- Geographic Area Code
- e-xn---
- ISBN
- 1551117193 9781442603219
- LCCN
- HN640.S54
- LCCN Item number
- T48 2006eb
- Modifying agency
- CaBNVSL
- Original cataloging agency
- CaOONL
- Physical Description | Extent
- 1 electronic text (206 p.)
- Published in
- Canada
- Publisher or Distributor Number
- CaOOCEL
- Rights
- Access restricted to authorized users and institutions
- System Control Number
- (CaBNVSL)thg00600061 (OCoLC)752421925 (CaOOCEL)419086
- System Details Note
- Mode of access: World Wide Web
- Transcribing agency
- CaOONL
Table of Contents
- Contents 5
- List of Tables and Figures 7
- TABLES 7
- FIGURES 7
- Acknowledgements 9
- Introduction 11
- DEFINING THE SETTING 13
- ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE BALKANS 15
- WHY FEMALE ENGINEERS 17
- A NOTE ABOUT METHODOLOGY 18
- A NOTE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MACEDONIA 19
- NOTES 20
- Chapter One 23
- Macedonian Context 23
- YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA 24
- MACEDONIA AND OTHERS 25
- INDEPENDENCE 27
- WHO ARE THE MACEDONIANS 27
- GEOGRAPHICAL MACEDONIA 28
- MACEDONIA CONNECTS TO THE PAST 29
- WITHIN MACEDONIAN IDENTITY 31
- CONCLUSION 39
- NOTES 45
- Chapter Two 47
- Mapping Urban Identity 47
- THE DISCOURSE OF IDENTITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA THE EFFECTS OF THE DISINTEGRATION OF YUGOSLAVIA 47
- YOUTH IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT OF SKOPJE 49
- PEASANTRY 52
- THE LANDSCAPE OF THE CITY OF SKOPJE 53
- THE PAST 57
- RELIGION 59
- CONCLUSION 60
- NOTES 61
- Chapter Three 65
- The Disintegration of Yugoslavia GenderExperienced by Three Generations 65
- GENDER 65
- GENDER ROLES AND RELATIONS 67
- SEXUALITY 72
- SEXUAL DIVISION OF BODY USE 75
- NOTES 76
- Chapter Four 77
- Getting Along 77
- THE CHANGE 79
- ENTERING THE WORKFORCE AND THE LIBERAL MARKET PHILOSOPHY 80
- SURVEY 81
- POLITICS IN A POST-COMMUNIST SOCIETY 82
- INSECURITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT 85
- LIVING ARRANGEMENTS 86
- MONEY 88
- CONNECTIONS 90
- THE CASE OF NELA 92
- THE CASE OF BETI 95
- THE CASE OF ANE 98
- CONCLUSION 101
- NOTES 102
- Chapter Five 105
- Shopping for the New Person 105
- EUROPE AND AMERICA AS IDEALS 112
- REACTION TO MACEDONIAN INDEPENDENCE AND THE FALL OF YUGOSLAVIA 113
- SHOPPING IN SKOPJE 116
- POLITICS AND CONSUMERISM 121
- THE OLD AND THE NEW VALUES 123
- THE NOUVEAU RICHE 125
- CONSUMPTION AND TELEVISION 125
- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONSUMERISM IN SKOPJE TODAY 128
- NOTES 131
- Chapter Six 133
- Silhouette The Sculpted Body 133
- 1988 IN SOCIALIST MACEDONIA 134
- 1990 IN SOCIALIST MACEDONIA 135
- 1995 136
- 1996 IN INDEPENDENT MACEDONIA 137
- THE WORLD THEY LIVED INYESTERDAY AND TODAY 138
- CAFÉ LIFE BEAUTY AND MEANING 143
- THE BODY 144
- BODY CONSUMED 146
- INTERVIEWEES 149
- WOMEN BEFORE AND UNDER SOCIALISM 158
- NOTES 163
- Chapter Seven 165
- Conclusion 165
- Bibliography and Recommended Reading 173
- Index 199
