"Orthodox Feminism = Religious Egoism"?! Theological Rabbinic Rhetoric as Illiberal Backlash To Religious Zionist Feminism In Israel

Abstract

Abstract: This paper is the first to identify and conceptualize theological notions in contemporary rabbinic discourse which serve to undermine the advancement of women's rights and curtail the integration of feminist notions and norms into religious Zionist society in Israel. Our analysis identifies five discursive moves that serve as broad theological obstacles, providing religious grounding for the current illiberal hostility to feminism in Israel. The primary axes of backlash in rabbinic discourse are: "sacrifice," "the slippery slope," "gender essentialism," "normalcy" or "family values," and "nationalism". We argue that the emergence of these specific critiques at this time is tied to their role as oppositional narratives that counter the rising prominence of religious Zionist feminism. We examine this case in light of local and global trends such as "anti-gender ideologies," thereby contributing to the burgeoning literature on the rise of illiberal cultural and political forces in Western countries and emphasizing the roles played by religious ideologies, leaders and discourses in shaping and legitimizing an anti-feminist backlash.