Flax, Maya (2026) Gendered dimensions of antisemitism: experiences of Jewish women in historical and contemporary contexts. In: The Palgrave handbook of violence against women and girls. Palgrave Macmillan Cham, Springer Nature, pp. 1-16. ISBN 978-3-031-84546-8

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Abstract

While antisemitism affects both men and women, its manifestations and consequences can vary significantly due to entrenched gender norms and power dynamics. This chapter examines how gender influences the perpetration, perception, and outcomes of such acts. Specifically, it delves into the distinct challenges faced by Jewish women during events like the Holocaust and the October 7 attacks. In the Holocaust, women endured gender-specific abuses such as humiliation, sexual assault, and the dire consequences of pregnancy or motherhood. They were subjected to invasive body searches and examinations. Similarly, during the recent Hamas-led October 7 attacks, Jewish women were victims of sexual violence in multiple locations, as documented by the United Nations Report of 2024. These instances underscore the disadvantages faced by Jewish women due to the intersectionality of the religion with gender, shaping their experiences profoundly.

This chapter will begin with an exploration of the historical targeting of Jewish women who faced antisemitism, focusing on their distinct experiences during the Holocaust. It will cover their lives before they were deported to the camps, their shared experiences within the camps, and the severe mistreatment they endured as prisoners due to their gender. The discussion will then shift to the atrocities committed on October 7, drawing parallels between these events to reveal the deeply ingrained, gendered aspects of antisemitism and violence. The chapter will conclude by examining how the collective memory and interpretation of the October 7 events are influenced by the events of the Holocaust.

Item Type:	Book Chapter or Section
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript version of the following work: Maya Flax "Gendered dimensions of antisemitism", The Palgrave Handbook of Violence Against Women and Girls, 2026, Springer Nature. This version of the manuscript has been accepted for publication, after final editorial and peer review (where applicable) is complete, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements (such as copyediting or typesetting), or any corrections. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-84546-8. Use of this Accepted Manuscript version is subject to the publisher’s Accepted Manuscript terms of use: https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research/policies/accepted-manuscript-terms
Related URLs:	https://link.springer.com/referencework/... https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/97...
Date Deposited:	26 Aug 2026
Dates:	Date Publication status 19 August 2026 Published Online
School, department or research centre:	School of Human and Social Sciences
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/15284

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