The Cultural Identity of Young Jews in Denmark and the Impact of Antisemitism on Identity Formation
Author
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-05-28
Pages
68
Abstract
This project examines how the cultural identity of young Jews is shaped by growing up in Denmark, and how the rise in antisemitism influences this identity. Through qualitative interviews with three young Danish Jews and a thematic analysis grounded in theories by Erikson, Hall, Giddens, and Bourdieu, the study shows that identity is not static but formed in the interplay between heritage and reflection, between minority culture and majority society. Identity is shaped both by family and community traditions and by encounters with the norms and expectations of Danish society. Several informants report that their Jewish identity is reinforced through experiences of cultural difference and external pressure, but at the same time challenged by experiences of antisemitism and symbolic exclusion. The project finds that young Jews increasingly engage with their cultural background in selective and reflective ways, and that the future of Jewish identity in Denmark is carried by a desire to preserve and renew traditions in meaningful forms often outside institutional frameworks and with an emphasis on cultural rather than religious affiliation.
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