Are you Jew-ish?

By ethnicity, ancestry, and/or culture, rather than by religion? And have you been treated with hostility because of it? I'm looking for 10+ people to talk about that experience.

A note on language. I use the phrase Jew-hatred to encompass anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, anti-Judaism, and any other form of Jewish-based hostility or discrimination. You should use whatever words feel right to you.

Who this is for

You might be a good fit if you:

  • Were born in the United States and live here now

  • Are 18 or older

  • Self-identify as Jewish

  • Relate to being Jewish culturally or ethnically rather than religiously

  • Have experienced hostility, prejudice, or discrimination because you're Jewish

You don't need to have had a dramatic or public experience. You don't need to be sure it "counts." You decide what counts.

What's involved

  • A screening questionnaire.

  • A 60-90-minute video conversation, at a time you choose, from wherever you're comfortable.

  • Review of your interview. You'll have an opportunity to proof my work to ensure your position comes across correctly.

There's no preparation. You can skip any question, take a break, or stop entirely — and you don't have to explain why.

Participants receive no compensation for their time.

Why I'm doing this

Secular Jews are nearly absent from psychological research on discrimination and trauma. The frameworks clinicians and institutions use to understand what happens to targeted groups were built by studying other populations, and Jewish identity — which doesn't fit neatly into religious, ethnic, or racial categories — tends to fall through the gaps.

The practical consequence is that when a secular Jew brings this experience to a therapist, an HR department, or a university, there's often no framework there to meet it. Sometimes the response is the second injury.

This study is an attempt to put those experiences on the record, in the words of the people who lived them.

Who I am

I'm Stephanie High, a doctoral candidate in psychology at National University, specializing in trauma and disaster relief (community resilience). This is my dissertation research, supervised by Dr. Nancy Lees.

Your privacy

Your name will never appear anywhere. I'll change identifying details — where you work, where you live, who was involved — before anything is written down. Nothing you say will be attributed to you.

I know this subject is contested, and that some people worry about how their words might be used. After the interview, you can tell me anything you'd rather I leave out, and I'll leave it out. Also, I am Jewish too, and I'll be compassionate in all our conversations. Part of my job is understanding the cultural context.

What happens next

  • Step one. A short questionnaire — about five minutes — that tells me whether you're eligible.

  • Step two. I'll be in touch within a week either way.

  • Step three. If you're eligible, you'll get the full consent document to read and a link to pick an interview time. Nothing is committed until you say so.

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