Jewish Radical Feminism

Jewish Radical Feminism examines the significant role Jewish women played in the American feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The book reveals that Jewish women comprised up to three-quarters of feminist groups in major cities, yet their Jewish identity remained largely unexplored in historical accounts. Through interviews with over forty activists, Antler documents the experiences of two distinct groups: those who did not explicitly identify as Jewish in their feminist work, and those who incorporated their Jewish identity into their activism. Her research spans multiple cities and feminist organizations, tracking how religious and cultural backgrounds influenced their approaches to women's liberation. The book traces the evolution of Jewish feminist consciousness from the early years of the movement through to modern intersectional feminism. Antler explores these women's backgrounds in Jewish communities, their paths to activism, and their varying relationships with religious and cultural heritage. This historical analysis provides insights into questions of identity, assimilation, and the complex relationship between religious/cultural background and political movements. The work contributes to broader discussions about the role of ethnicity and religion in American social movements.

Readers describe this as a detailed chronicle of Jewish women's contributions to American feminism from the 1960s-1990s. Multiple reviewers note the extensive research and oral histories that document activists' personal experiences. Readers appreciated: - Thorough coverage of lesser-known feminist activists - Analysis of how Jewish identity shaped feminist perspectives - Clear organization by different feminist movements/waves Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style that can be challenging to follow - Some repetition between chapters - Focus primarily on white, middle-class Jewish feminists Ratings: Goodreads: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (8 ratings) One academic reviewer on H-Net noted it "fills an important historiographical gap" but "at times tries to cover too much ground." A Lilith Magazine review praised the "careful attention to intersectionality" while suggesting it could have explored class differences more deeply.

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🔹 Up to 75% of feminist activists in major U.S. cities during the 1960s-70s were Jewish women, despite Jewish people making up only about 3% of the American population at that time. 🔹 The author conducted in-depth interviews with more than 40 Jewish feminist activists, many of whom were founding members of influential organizations like the Chicago Women's Liberation Union and Boston's Bread and Roses. 🔹 Joyce Antler is Professor Emerita of American Jewish History and Culture at Brandeis University, where she taught for over 35 years and helped establish one of the first Women's Studies programs in the United States. 🔹 Many Jewish feminist activists initially distanced themselves from their religious identity in the movement, fearing it might detract from their broader feminist message or reinforce stereotypes about Jewish women. 🔹 The book reveals how the daughters of Eastern European Jewish immigrants often drew inspiration from their mothers' and grandmothers' traditions of activism and social justice, even when they weren't explicitly acknowledging their Jewish heritage.