The 1950s were a time wrought with anxiety about Communism and those who committed actions that were seen as “un-American.” The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated average citizens who were thought to have Communist affiliations, but they frequently went after those in the entertainment industry. In addition to those in the entertainment industry, Jewish people found themselves targeted by other Americans. At this time around 50 to 60 anti-Semitic groups existed and Jewish people were often associated with Communism due to the conviction of Ethel Rosenberg.
During the Great Depression, Jewish women were seen as “materialistic and pushy,” reflecting poorly on their image. Two decades later, the perception of Jewish families …show more content…
Ethel was seen as cold, political, unfeminine, and lacking maternal characteristics; it was this, in combination with her rejection of American values, that made her appear guilty of committing espionage. When Ethel refused to break down while being put on trial seemed to confirm to jurors “that she cared more about ideology than about her offspring, and was therefore guilty.” Ethel’s image as a cold, calculating, neglectful mother shed a bad light on the Jewish community, so while the National Council of Jewish Women led a “war on Senator McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee,” and joined forces with the Young Women’s Christian Association, they stayed silent when it came to the Rosenberg trial and to Ethel Rosenberg as a member of the Jewish …show more content…
In some aspects, it’s evident that Gertrude was accepted by the American public due to their strong affiliation of Molly with Gertrude. Because Gertrude so heavily identified with the Molly character and Molly was the example of the perfect Jewish mother during the 1950s, the public associated Gertrude with Molly in their minds. Ethel, on the other hand, did not have this opportunity, and while she tried her best to be a good mother, the public saw her as cold, calculating, and unfeminine, and therefore, un-American. This time period shows how politics and media worked together to create the idea of the perfect Jewish woman and the frigid, unfeminine un-American, even though these stereotypes did not accurately reflect the people they were based on and Jewish women in the 1950s as a
During the Great Depression, Jewish women were seen as “materialistic and pushy,” reflecting poorly on their image. Two decades later, the perception of Jewish families …show more content…
Ethel was seen as cold, political, unfeminine, and lacking maternal characteristics; it was this, in combination with her rejection of American values, that made her appear guilty of committing espionage. When Ethel refused to break down while being put on trial seemed to confirm to jurors “that she cared more about ideology than about her offspring, and was therefore guilty.” Ethel’s image as a cold, calculating, neglectful mother shed a bad light on the Jewish community, so while the National Council of Jewish Women led a “war on Senator McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee,” and joined forces with the Young Women’s Christian Association, they stayed silent when it came to the Rosenberg trial and to Ethel Rosenberg as a member of the Jewish …show more content…
In some aspects, it’s evident that Gertrude was accepted by the American public due to their strong affiliation of Molly with Gertrude. Because Gertrude so heavily identified with the Molly character and Molly was the example of the perfect Jewish mother during the 1950s, the public associated Gertrude with Molly in their minds. Ethel, on the other hand, did not have this opportunity, and while she tried her best to be a good mother, the public saw her as cold, calculating, and unfeminine, and therefore, un-American. This time period shows how politics and media worked together to create the idea of the perfect Jewish woman and the frigid, unfeminine un-American, even though these stereotypes did not accurately reflect the people they were based on and Jewish women in the 1950s as a