Studying effects of social change Immigration is usually considered to be a "one way street" - a permanent move made with the intent of starting a new life in a new land and never returning, except, perhaps, as a visitor. But, as Dr. Alena Heitlinger is finding through her current research on Czech Jewish emigrants from the former Czechoslovakia (her own former homeland), people who make transnational moves do go back and forth several times during their lives. And this fact, she says, often significantly affects the choices and decisions they make regarding their future. "They are continually re-negotiating their identities," she notes. While many don't expect to ever go back to the communities where they were born, when changes in the political, economic and/or social structure occur, some decide to return. Studying the effects of social change on peoples' lives, particularly as they relate to women, has been the focus of Heitlinger's research for most of the 25 years she has been at Trent. One recent project, for which she has been awarded a three year grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (sshrc), is a detailed qualitative study on the impact of transnational and émigré feminism on local Czech women's groups. Heitlinger organized a conference at Trent in October 1996 on émigré feminism, featuring 13 first-generation feminist emigrants from all over the world. This later became the basis for a book she edited in 1999 entitled, Émigré Feminism: A Transnational Perspective, published by the University of Toronto Press. Another work, entitled Young Women of Prague, was co-authored with her Czech American research assistant, Susanna Trnka, and published in 1998. It was based on interviews with 14 Czech nursing graduates she and Trnka conducted during 1995-96. Being able to talk to these women at that particular time, says Heitlinger, (it was just after the communist system dissolved and the country was split into two), gave them the opportunity to "capture a historical moment." The transition from communism to a market democracy affected many of the personal decisions young women make at that time in their lives, she adds. "Most people don't know what it means to live through the total collapse of one social system to another." The publishing of this work not only sheds real-life insight on the issue, but provides data for future generation historians. A Czech edition has also been published. Despite the significance of the work, it involved very little cost. And the feedback both nationally and internationally, from this as well as her other work, has been substantial. In recognition of her long-term contributions to the university - and global - communities, Heitlinger was presented with Trent's Distinguished Research Award at the June 2000 convocation. But she's certainly not resting on her laurels. A project focusing on the life course of a generation of Czech Jews, many of whom emigrated after the Soviet invasion of that country in 1968, is another long-term study she is planning to start working on as soon as she receives confirmation of funding. "I'm going to continue doing this. I love research," she says. Both of Heitlinger's books, Young Women of Prague and Émigré Feminsm, are available at the Trent University bookstore. Those who would like further information on these and other projects she is involved in can contact her at aheitlinger@trentu.ca. Back to the Trent Report main page