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Russian-Speaking Immigrants in Canada: Belonging, Political Subjectivity, and Struggle for Recognition

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Russian-Speaking Immigrants in Canada: Belonging, Political Subjectivity, and Struggle for Recognition RUSSIAN-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS IN CANADA: BELONGING, POLITICAL SUBJECTIVITY, AND STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION by ANASTASIA ROGOVA A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (ANTHROPOLOGY) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) June 2020 © Anastasia Rogova, 2020 1 The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for acceptance, the dissertation entitled: Russian-speaking immigrants in Canada: Belonging, political subjectivity, and struggle for recognition submitted by Anastasia Rogova in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology Examining Committee: Alexia Bloch, Anthropology Supervisor Lisa Sundstrom, Political Science Supervisory Committee Member Patrick Moore, Anthropology Supervisory Committee Member Sinikka Elliott, Sociology University Examiner Merje Kuus, Geography University Examiner ii Abstract This dissertation explores various aspects of how Russian-speaking immigrants in Toronto negotiate their sense of belonging, social identities, forms of political participation, and citizenship. The particular topics that I address include: the dominant forms of historical imagination in the community and its preoccupation with contested historical topics, especially in regards to World War II; immigrants’ disagreement with liberal gender politics and sex education programs at public schools, which I interpret as a manifestation of their insecurity about their children’s identities and their parental rights; ideas about education among Russian-speaking immigrants, which reveal their concerns about social class and privilege and their striving to ascertain a sense of belonging to a higher social status in their new country; and, finally, the aspirations for inclusion and full participation in Canadian society that drive their political and cultural activism. I examine how class aspirations based on a high level of education conflate with cultural and moral values of the Russian-speaking community and form the basis for their political mobilization and struggle for their right to be included in the society as a group with their own distinct cultural and historical narratives. I study political participation of Russian-speaking immigrants as a diasporic group in Canada and show how their citizenship practices are simultaneously informed by their Soviet and post-Soviet experiences and by the Canadian political discourse, including the politics of multiculturalism. My research contributes to the understanding of Russian-speaking immigrants in Canada and their experiences of participation in Canadian society. My dissertation also addresses how Canadian multiculturalism policies impact various groups of Canadians who struggle for their right to be included in the society as a group with their own distinct cultural and historical narratives. Exploring the Russian-speaking immigrant community in Canada, I analyze how their allegiance to their new country and the ways in which they embrace its citizenship practices co-exist with a sense of belonging and allegiance to their homeland. Overall, my study of Russian-speaking immigrants contributes to understanding how diasporas negotiate their multiple ways of belonging in a world where multiple political allegiances are often seen as threatening and questionable. iii Lay Summary This dissertation studies the Russian-speaking immigrant community in Toronto. I address how the community members integrate in Canadian society and develop forms of political participation in their new country, while at the same time maintaining their sense of belonging and allegiance to their countries of origin. I discuss such topics as immigrants’ disavowal of liberal gender politics and sex education programs at public schools in Ontario; participation in celebrations of the Soviet victory in WWII; concerns about their parental rights; and ideas about education and social class aspirations. I study political participation of Russian-speaking immigrants in Canada in order to understand how diasporas negotiate their ways of belonging in a world where multiple political allegiances are often seen as threatening and questionable. iv Preface This dissertation is an original intellectual product of the author, Anastasia Rogova. The fieldwork reported in the dissertation was approved by UBC Behavioral Research Ethics Board (certificate number H16-03136) with Dr. Alexia Bloch as Principle Investigator. All photos used in this dissertation are by the author. v Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................... iii Lay Summary ........................................................................................................................... iv Preface .......................................................................................................................................v Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ viii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1: A Russian-Speaking Immigrant Community in Toronto .........................................1 A Global Russian-Speaking Diaspora .........................................................................11 Russian-speaking Immigrants in Toronto ....................................................................17 Russian Toronto ...........................................................................................................20 Digital Ethnography .....................................................................................................28 Russian-Speaking Immigrant Organizations ...............................................................33 Structure of the dissertation .........................................................................................43 Chapter 2: Protectors of the Great Victory: Commemoration of World War II in the Russian Community of Toronto .............................44 Concerns over History and Community Mobilization .................................................49 The Immortal Regiment ...............................................................................................53 A War Memorial .........................................................................................................74 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................77 Chapter 3: At the Frontier of the Family: Children’s Bodies and Moral Concerns in the Russian-speaking Community........................80 Festival of the Orthodox Christian Family ..................................................................89 Body .............................................................................................................................96 Morality......................................................................................................................102 Conclusion .................................................................................................................109 vi Chapter 4: The Labours of Literacy: Class and Education among Russian-Speaking Immigrants ..................................................111 Social Distinction in Socialist and Post-Socialist Societies .......................................117 Russian Schools, Hard Work, and Discipline ............................................................122 Social Agency as Class Privilege ...............................................................................126 Cultured Consumption and the Consumption of Culture ..........................................130 Learning and Performing Literacy .............................................................................136 Conclusion .................................................................................................................141 Chapter 5. To Be Russian in Canada: Understanding and Performing Citizenship among Russian Canadians................................143 Becoming Canadian Citizens .....................................................................................148 Political Mobilization ................................................................................................151 Canadian Multiculturalism and the Narrative of Recognition ...................................156 Political Discourse .....................................................................................................167 Conclusion .................................................................................................................174 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................176 Bibliography ..........................................................................................................................182 vii List of Figures Figure 1.1 A Russian grocery store in Toronto ........................................................................24 Figure 1.2 A Russian pharmacy
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