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Daughters' stories: family memory and generational amnesia
1Univ. of Sofia
The Oral History Review
|December 17, 2009
Summary
Bulgarian Jewish women are reviving their ethnic identity after decades of forced assimilation. This study examines how three generations reclaim their heritage through personal narratives, exploring memory and identity.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- History
- Jewish Studies
Background:
- Post-WWII Bulgarian Jews faced pressure to assimilate into a socialist nation, suppressing ethnic identity.
- The state actively encouraged the abandonment of Jewish identity, promoting a monolithic national culture.
- Since 1990, a resurgence of Jewish identity has been observed in Bulgaria.
Observation:
- This research analyzes the life stories of women from three generations within a single Bulgarian Jewish family.
- The study focuses on how these women actively reinvent and express their Jewish identity.
- Family and generational dynamics are examined as key influences on individual memory and self-realization.
Findings:
- Generational narratives reveal distinct patterns of identity negotiation and revival.
- Individual memories are shaped by both personal experiences and collective historical contexts.
- The concept of "Homo politicus" versus "Homo ethnicus" is explored through lived experiences.
Implications:
- Understanding the interplay between individual and collective memory offers insights into identity formation.
- The findings contribute to the study of cultural revival and the persistence of ethnic identity under political pressure.
- This case study provides a framework for analyzing how family structures influence the transmission and transformation of identity across generations.
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