Discourse analysis and oral history. Intersections of gender, locality, nation and religion in narratives from a Jewish refugee in Sweden

• In this article we elaborate on the possibility to combine a social constructivist perspective and oral history within one methodological framework in order to explore how identities are narrated and negotiated in relation to different situations, contexts and interviewers. In oral history, the purpose is often to “give voice” to marginalized or forgotten individuals or groups, to listen to their stories and give them the possibility to speak from their perspectives. We agree with these emancipatory aims of oral history. Simultaneously we deconstruct and analyze interviews in order to investigate identity constructions. We work with the concepts of intersectionality and narrated identity, which allow us to investigate how groups and individuals that are marginalized and discriminated negotiate their own and other identities. At the same time it is unclear if our interviewees understand these kinds of analysis of their narratives. In order to combine a social constructivist perspective and oral history in a fruitful way, we must be aware of this relation of power and explain to the interviewees what we are doing and why we are doing it. In a broader research perspective this deconstructive approach illustrates interesting assumptions about multidimensional identity constructions.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Annan humaniora -- Kulturstudier (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Other Humanities -- Cultural Studies (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Internationell migration och etniska relationer (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- International Migration and Ethnic Relations (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Genusstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Gender Studies (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)