Jewish Girls Coming of Age in America, 1860-1920

Abstract

Melissa R. Klapper?s Jewish Girls Coming of Age in America, 1860?1920 explores the identity of middleclass Jewish girls through use of a wide range of sources, including letters and diaries. This important contribution to the history of American Jews builds on previous work that has emphasized immigrants and working class families, the east coast, and urban centres. Klapper opens a window beyond ?sweatshop girls? (p. 3) and explores the history of adolescence, formal, alternative, and religious education, and social life from 1860?1920. In each of these venues, she analyzes the nature of Jewish girls? participation in ?American girl culture? (p. 4) and her subjects? identities?as young women and as Jews. As she notes, Jewish adolescents ?both recognized and were recognized for the role they played in maintaining a particular ethnic identity and religious culture while still aiming for integration into American society at large? (p. 3).