Jewish feminist, queer and trans legacies and Palestine solidarity in the US context
Brooke Lober, Lecturer
Gender and Women's Studies
Applications for Spring 2026 are closed for this project.
This is a new, critical study of the past 50 years of Jewish feminist, queer and trans social movement history in the US. Its focus is on understanding Zionism and anti-Zionism in the context of the US and Israel’s entwined racial-sexual politics, through analyses of relationships between state practices, transnational social justice movements, and grassroots actors.
To produce this study, I research the cultural production of late 20th and early 21st century Jewish anti-Zionist feminist, queer and trans formations against a backdrop of transnational Zionist normalization, especially as it transpired in the social and political networks of these same activists. This includes the study of archival documents such as meeting notes, letters, flyers and pamphlets; recording oral history interviews; closely reading published writings including critical analyses, memoir, poetry, political tracts, and news from activist, academic, and popular presses; and engaging the creative arts and activist practices of grassroots social movement actors. I have published several essays from this work, and continue to develop a book project on its basis.
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 published writing, archival 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., as well as the Jewish activism in and broader relationship with this movement. 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