Differences in Attitudes Towards Higher Education Among High School Students: The Case of Sabras (Israeli-Born) and Fsu Immigrants in Israel

Abstract

Between the years 1990 and 2007 about one million immigrants entered Israel from the FSU (former Soviet Union). They constitute roughly 20% of the Jewish households in the country. Israel benefitted greatly from the high human capital of this mass migration: 38.8% of the immigrants had higher education, in contrast to 27.8% of the indigenous Jewish population. Taking into consideration the cultural background of FSU immigrants, this study explores whether the elite-traditional influences their offspring who graduate from high schools in Israel. This study is based on a survey of a sample of 80 high school students – 40 FSU immigrants and 40 Sabras (Israeli born). Contrary to the hypothesis, findings indicate no significant difference in attitudes towards higher education between the two groups Key words: Israel as migration country, FSU migration, higher education expansion in Israel, habitus and educational inspirations, socially constructed roles.

“Within five seconds, I can already see the contradictions and the conflict with society”: Applying the normative conflict model to a collectivist society

“…Arab society in Israel is undergoing a process of transformation (Ayalon, 2018), which is attributed to its exposure to a more Western lifestyle as a minority in a predominantly Jewish Western state, and to the influence of worldwide globalization processes (Arar et al, 2013; Jaraisy, 2013). However, in the literature it is still regarded as traditionally conservative and collectivist (Cohen & Abdallah, 2021; Magadley & Amara, 2018; Soen & Hanan, 2013). Arab society in Israel still tends to emphasize commitment to the extended family and its reputation, prioritization of family and social needs at the expense of individual ones (Al‐Krenawi & Graham, 2011), and to highlight conformity to group norms rather than individual expression (De Piano, 2020).…”