The Femininity Puzzle: Gender, Orientalism and the Jewish Other

In the Hobsbawmian long 19th century, gender and sexualization played a significant role in constructing the Jewish Other. Ulrike Brunotte explores how literature, psychoanalysis, and the performing arts responded to racialized stereotypes, highlighting the femininity puzzle in antisemitic discourse and the transgressive forms of femininity associated with Jewish women.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 236 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Transcript Verlag

In the sweeping span of the 19th century, the interplay of gender and the processes of sexualization and feminization played a pivotal role in shaping the perception of the Jewish Other. Ulrike Brunotte delves into the origins of these processes by exploring imaginative, aesthetic, and epistemological dimensions. Through her analysis, she uncovers how literature, psychoanalysis, and the performing arts navigate and respond to the complex ambivalence of racialized stereotypes. The femininity puzzle manifests itself in two distinct yet interconnected ways: firstly, in the effeminization of the male Jew in antisemitic discourse, and secondly, in the transgressive forms of femininity associated with Jewish women, particularly the allosemitic Orientalization embodied in the figure of the Beautiful Jewess.

The construction of the Jewish Other in the long 19th century was significantly shaped by gender and processes of sexualization and feminization. Ulrike Brunotte, in her insightful exploration, delves into the origins of these processes by addressing imaginative, aesthetic, and epistemological questions. She examines how literature, psychoanalysis, and the performing arts navigate and respond to the complex ambivalence of racialized stereotypes.

The femininity puzzle presents itself in two interconnected ways. Firstly, it manifests in the effeminization of the male Jew in antisemitic discourse. This portrayal often portrays Jews as weak, effeminate, and inferior to non-Jewish men. Such representations contribute to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and reinforce the notion of Jewish inferiority.

Secondly, the femininity puzzle extends to the transgressive forms of femininity associated with Jewish women. This includes the allosemitic Orientalization, where Jewish women are depicted as exotic, sensual, and desirable. These representations often perpetuate orientalist tropes and reinforce the notion that Jewish women are exotic and otherized.

Brunotte's analysis highlights the ways in which literature, psychoanalysis, and the performing arts intersect to challenge and subvert these stereotypes. She explores how writers, artists, and psychoanalysts have used their works to challenge the binary of femininity and masculinity, deconstruct the notion of Jewish inferiority, and explore the complexities of Jewish identity.

Through her work, Brunotte sheds light on the ongoing struggle against antisemitism and the importance of challenging harmful stereotypes. She emphasizes the need for empathy, understanding, and respect for diverse identities, including Jewishness, and encourages individuals to engage in critical dialogue and introspection to promote a more inclusive and equitable society.

Weight: 380g
Dimension: 147 x 224 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783837658217