Jewish feminist legacies and Palestine solidarity in the US
Brooke Lober, Lecturer
Gender and Women's Studies
Applications for Fall 2024 are closed for this project.
This project seeks to offer both a critique of feminist historiography and an alternate genealogy for Jewish feminisms in the late 20th century U.S., revealing both the presence and the historical marginalization of Jewish feminist anti-Zionists. To do this, the work offers a “history of the present” by exploring three interlocking themes. First, I trace the development of Jewish feminisms, with focus on both the uptake and the refusal of identity politics in the 1970s-90s, assessing a range of Jewish feminist perspectives on Israeli nationalism and colonialism. Next, I consider the relationship between Jewish feminists, an internationalist left, liberal and radical feminisms, queer cultures, and related social movements of the late 20th century. Finally, I theorize the meaning of these historical currents for contemporary social movements and critical thought. I ask: how would an expanded understanding of Jewish anti-Zionist feminist and queer histories affect social movements today, especially the movement of Jewish people in solidarity with Palestine? In approaching this question, I investigate subjectivities, identities, cultural practices, and organized grassroots politics in Jewish and antiracist feminist/queer movements from 1967 to the present, as represented in leftist and feminist writing, literature, arts, and activism. I study archival documents including meeting notes, letters, flyers and pamphlets; conduct oral history interviews; closely read published writings including memoir, poetry, political tracts, and news from activist and mainstream presses; and engage the creative arts and activist practices of grassroots social movement actors.
Role: The student who works on this project might investigate the work of a historical figure by reading archival documents and published texts. They might transcribe or edit an interview. They may also organize and catalogue documents or interviews.
Qualifications: This student should be interested in feminist/queer/transgender thought and social movements. The student should be interested in the international Palestine solidarity movement, and have curiosity about its history in the Bay Area and in the U.S. Experience with research skills is helpful but not required to begin this work.
Hours: 3-5 hrs
Related website: https://www.womenagainstimperialism.com/
Social Sciences