Education in precarious times - a study of the third generation survivors and their experiences of antisemitism in the Swedish school system
The paper will focus on and explore two aspects, the first is to show how antisemitism has affected the group who identify themselves as third generation survivors of the Holocaust, the grandchildren of the survivors, while being students in the Swedish school system. The second aspect is to highlight the laws and regulations governing the work of discrimination and human rights for the public and private providers of education. The aim of the paper is to discuss the experiences of the third generation survivors in relation to the legislative obligations for the providers of education and what can be developed to safeguard the human rights.
Research has identified two different types of anti-Semitic expressions: "manifest anti-Semitism" and "latent anti-Semitism" (Benz 2004, p. 15). Antisemitism which is expressed through attacks on people, damage to property and malicious propaganda is something called manifest antisemitism. The latent form takes place in everyday life through subtle signals and opinions and can be measured in larger surveys. In Sweden, antisemitism has been present for a long time in both organized political form and by individuals (Tydén 1986, Berggren 1999, Andersson 2000, Bachner 2004, 2009, Lööw 2000, 2004, 2015, Åmark 2011).
During one year I conducted an ethnographic survey focusing on interviews with individuals who identify themselves as Third generation survivors. I also conducted observations in areas related to the Jewish community in Stockholm, Sweden. In addition, I have studied the legislation governing the Swedish schools.
The expected findings of the paper will be discussed focusing on what measures the Swedish school system, with its legislative obligations, should take and develop to safeguard its students.
The relevance of the paper is to show and discuss how individuals of the Jewish minority are affected by contemporary antisemitism while being students in the Swedish school system. The relevance of the paper is also to highlight the legislative obligations for the providers of education and what can be developed to safeguard the human rights.
2022.