The Boy Crisis In Judaism

[hatam_soferet]

There is a stage during the making of Tefillin Barbies where they have both arms stuck out in front of them, so that I can glue stuff on easily. They creep me out a bit at this stage.

And now they can creep you out too! Imagine them all going "BRAAAAIIIIINNNSSSSS"



I actually think this picture expresses beautifully the feelings of those who are worried that boys' participation in Judaism is declining catastrophically since the introduction of egalitarianism. This is sometimes called "The Boy Crisis In Judaism," or "the feminization of liberal Judaism," a statistical imbalance massively distorted by the fear that hordes of women will descend on everyone and suck out their brains. Or something.

(Linked at Jewess.)

Comments

[kerrypolka]

I remember reading an article, although of course I can't remember where or who wrote it, about how many of the 20th-century American feminists were and are Jewish. The author thought that this was because 20th-century American Judaism is so thoroughly egalitarian.

[rymenhild]

I've seen your journal linked in several places, we have a number of friends in common including shirei_shibolim and taylweaver, and I'm very interested in your thoughts about gender and Judaism. May I subscribe to your journal?

(My primary journal remains rymenhild, and I haven't started cross-posting. If you're interested in reading what are mostly dissertation complaints, these days, you're welcome to friend me there.)

[kolraashgadol.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I love this. Never mind that even in liberal Judaism, most of the people who go and are ordained are men. Nevermind that most of the people in positions of power in shuls and organizations are men. Nevermind that, because obviously the solution is male minyans, and male only activities. Because men are clearly losing out unless they outnumber women and have all the power. Yup.

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[(Anonymous)]

Hi, cool post. I have been wondering about this topic,so thanks for writing.