Emotions and Habitus-Narratives from Jewish Youth in Sweden on the relationship to Israel

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between Jewishness and the state of Israel and looks at the emotional impact on the Jewish youth and diaspora in Sweden, as expressed in eight interviews with young Jews. Emotions are examined through narrative analysis, guided by Arlie Hochschild’s understanding of feeling rules and emotion management together with Pierre Bourdieu’s theory on Habitus. This study seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of emotions managed in the everyday life of marginalized groups. The findings suggest that emotion management is influenced not only by the social context but also rooted in habituated practices through past knowledge, memories, and collective trauma. When situated in contexts perceived as hostile, respondents became aware of their habitus and used multiple strategies in the interplay between maintaining Jewish identity in Sweden while challenged by the criticism against Israel. Strategies included humor, distancing themselves emotionally or evoking emotions according to feeling rules. When unsuccessful, this created a position of uncertainty, a “cleft habitus”. This could allow a positive and empowering resource, while also causing emotional pain.