List of Tables and Figures
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: Macedonian Context
Chapter 2: Mapping Urban Identity
Chapter 3: The Disintegration of Yugoslavia: Gender—Experienced by Three Generations
Chapter 4: Getting Along
Chapter 5: Shopping for the "New" Person
Chapter 6: Silhouette: The Sculpted Body
Chapter 7: Conclusion
Bibliography and Recommended Reading
Index
In the new cultural landscape of Skopje-the capital of the Republic of Macedonia-Thiessen crafts a fine ethnography of a changing society after the fall of socialism and independent nationhood. Ethnic conflict and violence in Macedonia has preoccupied outside observers and politicians, but the author follows the 'ordinary' lives of a vulnerable group of young female engineers, who are seeking employment in a world of masculine science. From the management of their body, to their ideology about sexuality and national identity, these young women try to distance themselves from the patriarchal nationalist past, only to come face-to-face with the 'masculinity effect' of the liberal democracy that is transforming their society... This ethnography is an excellent account of how locality responds to the stereotypes of backwardness in a period of liminality, while waiting for Macedonia to emerge worthy of its name. -- Anastasia Karakasidou, Wellesley College Thiessen is particularly good at bringing out the complexities and ambiguities that haunt the categories often used to make sense of contemporary Macedonian realities: 'Balkan' / 'European', rural / urban, backward / modern, Muslim / Orthodox, Macedonian / Yugoslav... This book should be read as part of a wider history of post-Yugoslavism, as well as an ethnographic evocation of a particular time and place. -- Wendy Bracewell, School of Eastern and Slavonic Studies, University College London
Ilka Thiessen is a Professor of Anthropology at Malaspina University-College (Nanaimo, BC). She has written extensively on Macedonian culture and identity.
In the new cultural landscape of Skopje-the capital of the Republic
of Macedonia-Thiessen crafts a fine ethnography of a changing
society after the fall of socialism and independent nationhood.
Ethnic conflict and violence in Macedonia has preoccupied outside
observers and politicians, but the author follows the 'ordinary'
lives of a vulnerable group of young female engineers, who are
seeking employment in a world of masculine science. From the
management of their body, to their ideology about sexuality and
national identity, these young women try to distance themselves
from the patriarchal nationalist past, only to come face-to-face
with the 'masculinity effect' of the liberal democracy that is
transforming their society.... This ethnography is an excellent
account of how locality responds to the stereotypes of backwardness
in a period of liminality, while waiting for Macedonia to emerge
worthy of its name.--Anastasia Karakasidou, Wellesley College
Thiessen is particularly good at bringing out the complexities and
ambiguities that haunt the categories often used to make sense of
contemporary Macedonian realities: 'Balkan' / 'European', rural /
urban, backward / modern, Muslim / Orthodox, Macedonian /
Yugoslav.... This book should be read as part of a wider history of
post-Yugoslavism, as well as an ethnographic evocation of a
particular time and place.--Wendy Bracewell, School of Eastern and
Slavonic Studies, University College London
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