In Defense of the ‘Hot Jewish Women’ List
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
By Elissa Strauss December 28, 2011
In her post on Complex.com’s year-end list of the 50 hottest Jewish women, Naomi Zeveloff warns against the persistent lust-ridden fascination with Jewish women.
Me, on the other hand — well, I am still kind of digging it.
Are men’s magazines crude and often misogynistic? Yep. Are ethnic fetishes, as Zeveloff point out, incredibly reductive? Of course. But still, I see a silver lining here.
Instead of Jewish women, broadly speaking, adapting to notions of what is hot — blond, demure, coquettish — men, as represented by these mainstream publications, have adapted to us — brunette, opinionated, funny. And I am well-aware that I am speaking in stereotypes here, but considering how much we still trade in stereotypes I believe it is sometimes worthwhile to consider how they function and evolve instead of just outright rejecting them.
The Complex list contains the usual suspects like Scarlett Johansson, Rachel Weisz, and Mila Kunis along with funny ladies Kat Dennings, Sarah Silverman and Lizzy Caplan, and singers Regina Spektor and Jenny Lewis. When I see these big-mouthed ladies on a list of desirable women, it makes me think that the once much-detested “overbearing” Jewish woman has now become the much-desired “overbearing” Jewish woman. I view this as progress, albeit a warped one, by the world’s men who no longer seem to be scared — or worse, repulsed — by strong-willed women.
Would the world be better without these types of lists? Probably. But as long as they are around, I am glad that women of substance now make the cut.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
