Introduction: When Feminism and Antisemitism Collide

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-17-2023

Department 1

German

Department 2

Judaic Studies

Abstract

Antisemitism and misogyny often go hand in hand. Conservative defenders of the status quo who target Jews frequently oppose feminism as well. Jewish women cannot escape from the negative stereotypes also aimed at their male counterparts, and they contend with additional gendered stereotypes. Negotiation of these issues becomes even more complex when one considers how both Jewishness and gender identity are often perceived or assigned by the beholder, perhaps particularly in the context of antisemitism and misogyny. Karl Lueger, the influential mayor of Vienna from 1897 to 1910 who "legitimized antisemitism in Austrian politics," famously declared, "I decide who is a Jew" (Geehr 436), underscoring the extent to which prejudices and opportunities can shift depending on political context and the whims of those in positions of power. Contemporary scholarship, literature, and popular culture address the intersection of these two forms of prejudice by interrogating the perniciousness of antisemitism and the pervasive nuances of misogyny. [excerpt]

DOI

10.1353/fgs.2023.a899990

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This article is available from the publisher's website.

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