Self-Respect in the Life Course Narratives of the Soviet Silent Generation: An Analytical Scheme

This article examines how self-respect is constructed in biographical narratives of elderly individuals in post-Soviet Russia, specifically among the Soviet silent generation. Employing a constructivist life course perspective, the study emphasizes interpretative practices, minimizing reliance on external institutional or structural frameworks. Through thematic analysis of biographical interviews, research uncovers the dynamic interplay between evaluations of self-respect and the justificatory arguments articulated by informants. The article proposes an analytical scheme for examining self-respect. It demonstrates its applicability to life course narratives within the socio-cultural context of the late-Soviet and post-Soviet eras. It highlights the enduring influence of Soviet-era values and the complex ways individuals construct self-respect through narrative practices.