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"AMERICAN JEWISH MUSCLE": FORGING A NEW MASCULINITY IN THE STREETS AND IN THE RING, 1890-1940.

The article focuses on the establishment of local self-defense organizations for the American Jewish muscular identity, specifically in sports. It notes that boxing symbolizes working- and lower-middle-class Jews' determination to challenge antisemitism and Nazism. It points out that the achievement...

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Published in:Modern Judaism: A Journal of Jewish Ideas & Experience Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 167 - 194
Main Author: Norwood, Stephen H.
Format: Article
Published: Oxford University Press / USA May2009
Subjects:
Masculinity
Masculine identity
Self-defense
Boxing
Jewish boxers
Antisemitism
National socialism
Athletics
American Jews
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The article focuses on the establishment of local self-defense organizations for the American Jewish muscular identity, specifically in sports. It notes that boxing symbolizes working- and lower-middle-class Jews' determination to challenge antisemitism and Nazism. It points out that the achievements Jewish boxers complemented the efforts of American Jewish veteran organizations. Sports tend to drew the Jews into larger American surroundings. History outlines that Jewish activists organizing against antisemitism recovered the overwhelmed heritage of military prowess and associate it with sports.