Working title: Capturing Moments in Time:
Hungarian Women’s Life Course Transitions, Parallel Histories, Perception and Autonomy.
Abstract:
Ordinary people’s stories when put together create collective memories parallel if not sometimes counter to official histories. This book follows senior Hungarian women’s stories about living through World War II, the socialist, and post-socialist era to show adaptation to change, insights into economic strain, generational divisions, issues related to the aging process, and understandings of nation and identity. Told through the lens of present day society these women reshape understandings of the past. This qualitative ethnographic study uses person-centered life history interviews. The interplay between individual complexity within particular moments in time reveal patterns in which to tease out understandings of the past and the present. One person’s story overlaps with another’s to show multifaceted perspectives of everyday practices and the lived experience. This book looks at shared pivotal moments in history, particularly responses to societal unrest, much like neo-revitalization movements, that can give insight into present day Goulash populism.
Key Words: Gender, Life History, Aging, Hungary, Post Socialism, Populism, Memory, Identity.
