During the course Jewish-American History and Life from the 1840ies to World War I at the University of Potsdam we only touched the field of Jewish women, especially those who immigrated to the United States of America. As far as we have come it is clear that Judaism is in its tenor patriarchal; that is the role of male persons is particularly strong. Women seem to play only a minor role. But is it really that easy to determine the role of Jewish men and women? And, in how far do Jewish women in Germany and East Europe differ from each other? Did the image of Jewish women change at all after immigrating to the United States of America? A lot of questions remained unanswered. So, this paper is an attempt to deal with some of them. The focus lies on the description of the image of Jewish mothers in East Europe, in Germany and after immigrating to the States. First of all overall features of Jewish women are explained. Afterwards, the situation in the new country is examined. One main point is the closer look at the life of Rebecca Gratz. She is introduced to show one life story of a Jewish woman in detail and to deal with the question if there is such a thing like a typical Jewish woman life...
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Traditional Role of Jewish Women
- Jewish Women in Contrast to Jewish Men
- Jewish Mothers in East European shtetls
- Jewish Mothers in Germany
- Changed Jewish Life in America
- Jewish Mothers
- The Relationship between Jewish Men and Jewish Women
- Charity Ladies
- Rebecca Gratz - A typical Jewish Woman in the USA?
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the evolving role of Jewish immigrant women in the USA from 1840 to World War I, particularly focusing on how their image differed between their old countries and their new home. It delves into the traditional roles of Jewish women in Eastern Europe and Germany, comparing them to their counterparts in America.
- The traditional roles of Jewish women in Eastern Europe and Germany
- The changing image of Jewish women after immigrating to the United States
- The influence of Jewish women in shaping family life and Jewish tradition
- The economic and social realities faced by Jewish immigrant women in America
- The life of Rebecca Gratz as an example of a typical Jewish woman in the USA
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This section introduces the topic of Jewish immigrant women in the USA, highlighting the limited exploration of their role in the broader context of Jewish-American History. It emphasizes the patriarchal nature of Judaism and raises questions about the differing roles of Jewish men and women in different contexts. The focus of the paper is then established as the description of the image of Jewish mothers in Eastern Europe, Germany, and after their immigration to the United States.
- Traditional Role of Jewish Women: This chapter explores the traditional roles of Jewish women in contrast to those of Jewish men. It describes the strict separation of roles within Jewish religious services and the perception of women as the "stronger sex" within the domestic sphere. The role of Jewish women in transmitting Jewish traditions and influencing halachic decision-making is highlighted. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the respect and adoration that Jewish men traditionally held for their women.
- Jewish Mothers in East European shtetls: This section examines the roles of Jewish mothers in East European shtetls, emphasizing their responsibility for both the religious and economic well-being of their families. The changing economic situation in the mid-19th century is explored, showing the increasing hardship faced by Jewish mothers and the potential consequences for their relationships with their children.
- Jewish Mothers in Germany: This chapter focuses on Jewish middle-class mothers in Germany after 1830, highlighting the shift from economic independence to dependence on male family members. The traditional roles of Jewish housewives and the influence of mothers in shaping the lives of their children are discussed.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Jewish immigrant women, Jewish-American history, patriarchal Judaism, traditional roles, Jewish mothers, East European shtetls, German Jewish middle class, economic survival, religious observance, halacha, family life, Rebecca Gratz, social and communal networks, 1840-1914.
- Quote paper
- Antje Kurzmann (Author), 2006, The changed role of Jewish immigrant women in the USA from 1840 to World War I - Different images of Jewish women in their old countries and their new country, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/66313
