Jewish Feminism and Women's Identity

Intersections of Feminist Identification and Hostile Sexism

“…There is an existing body of work that discusses navigating both Islam and Judaism as feminist. This literature is theological, theoretical, and sociological in nature, establishing a history of feminist consideration within these faith traditions (Bourne 1987; Fishman 1998; González 2016; Hashim 1999; Heschel 1990, 1995; Manning 1999; Martin Cohen 1980; Saadallah 2004; Seedat 2013). In the United States, the majority religion is Christianity, although there is significant variation by religious tradition and denomination (Cooperman, Smith, and Ritchey 2015).…”

Masculinity and Self‐Esteem in Israeli Jewish Professional Women 1

“…Women's otherness, as defined in Jewish law, discusses women only as a part of a man's life (e.g., in marriage or divorce; Heschel, 1991). Women also have been excluded from certain categories of ritual commandments, with those pertaining exclusively to women reinforcing woman as other, since some rituals are performed not for the woman but for the sake of a man (e.g., the traditionally required special ritual immersion following menstruation to protect men from contracting impurity from contact with an impure woman; Heschel, 1991). Women also have been excluded from certain categories of ritual commandments, with those pertaining exclusively to women reinforcing woman as other, since some rituals are performed not for the woman but for the sake of a man (e.g., the traditionally required special ritual immersion following menstruation to protect men from contracting impurity from contact with an impure woman; Heschel, 1991).…”

“…using the terms subject for a man and other for a woman (de Beauvoir, 1953). Women's otherness, as defined in Jewish law, discusses women only as a part of a man's life (e.g., in marriage or divorce; Heschel, 1991). Further, prior to recent reforms accepted by most congregations of Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism (especially in the Diaspora, more especially in the United States), women have been excluded from the quorum of 10 required for communal prayer; and have been excluded from ordination, from serving as witnesses in Jewish courts of law, and from the study of the Talmud.…”

“…Further, prior to recent reforms accepted by most congregations of Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism (especially in the Diaspora, more especially in the United States), women have been excluded from the quorum of 10 required for communal prayer; and have been excluded from ordination, from serving as witnesses in Jewish courts of law, and from the study of the Talmud. Women also have been excluded from certain categories of ritual commandments, with those pertaining exclusively to women reinforcing woman as other, since some rituals are performed not for the woman but for the sake of a man (e.g., the traditionally required special ritual immersion following menstruation to protect men from contracting impurity from contact with an impure woman; Heschel, 1991). According to Tress (1 994), "Religion became the privilege and responsibility of men, facilitated by the women who confined their activities to the private realm of home and family" (p. 93).…”

Review

“…Women within these groups are all in early stages of the development of a psychology addressing their needs and concerns using a feminist perspective. Several authors, including Fulani, Chan (1988), Falco, andHeschel(1991), suggest that as psychologists, we need to recognize when culture-bound behavior for women becomes cultural baggage and, by doing so, challenge counterproductive behavior for the enhancement of self. However, to do so may be threatening for many women: In developing a womanist or "nontraditional" perspective, they risk being abandoned by their primary group.…”