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“Are They Like Their Grandmothers?” A Paradox of Literacy in the Life of Ultraorthodox Jewish Women
Author(s) -
ELOR TAMAR
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
anthropology and education quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1548-1492
pISSN - 0161-7761
DOI - 10.1525/aeq.1993.24.1.05x1738v
Subject(s) - meaning (existential) , judaism , literacy , sociology , gender studies , literacy education , psychology , pedagogy , history , archaeology , psychotherapist
An attempt to withhold social change through education is described in anthropological fieldwork with ultraorthodox Jewish women, members of a Hassidic sect in Israel. After attending at least 12 years of formal schooling, they continue to study as adults in their limited free time. The meaning and social usage of their literacy are controlled by the men of the community. This article examines whether educated women can behave ignorantly and be treated as ignorant. A model of the social meaning of literacy is presented.