Growing Up in the USSR
About Ieva Daubaraite
When you find Ieva you will hear the stories of her past and the memories she has from growing up in the USSR. She will tell you how the past still lives within her. Her past has shaped her to be who she is today, and has an impact on her other identities and how she experiences the world. Her culture and the restrictive lifestyle she had to have, still continues to shape her life to this day.
What does identity mean to you?
“For me identity is related to the way a human being or person understands him or herself and identity also is related to values, so in my case I have a very strong identity, which was built through all those years [when] I lived in my country and [when] I left my country this identity still stayed with me.”
When you lived in the Soviet Union what do you think you would describe yourself as and how did it change when the USSR ended?
“So [when] I was born in the USSR my identity was totally different than today's identity, because I lived in a very restricted environment. We were forced to describe our identity as one of those countries which were in the USSR, they had more or less the same identity, which was related to very strict rules, very much forced values. I couldn't understand [the] world in general, because I was brought [up] in [a] closed society and we were not thinking about our identity, we were taught what our identity is. After we gained our independence, everything changed so what I was thinking I am, as a part of the USSR, and all those values that were forced in USSR, they changed completely, because we understood that you can think freely, you can make your own decisions, you can talk freely, and with that came [a] totally different identification.”
What do you think is the most important identity you have and why?
“I think my most important identity is related to my tribe, that means Lithuanians, as a fighters for freedom, as a fighters for other countries, because we are helping others, Ukraine, Belarus, now when they are fighting for their own independence. It's an enormous amount of… bravery… and proudness… of your culture and of your language. Of your status, as a small country, but you still made a big influence, and also resilience is important…”
“Of course, everyone has [a] different identity, and maybe even understanding about identity, so it's very personal.”
-Ieve Daubaraite
Do you think if you didn't live in the Soviet Union you would be different and your identities would be as well? And how so?
“Of course it would be different, totally different… identity is also related to self-esteem and if I would not have lived in the USSR I think I would definitely have more self-esteem, higher self-esteem. I would be more free in what I say and what I do, I would [be more fair], I would not identify myself as an eastern European, I would definitely not identify as a part of those Communist values… it would be different than it is today.”
“Identity is this resilience”
- Ieva Daubaraite
