Suffering, stereotypes, and psychosis: the representation of Jewish femininity in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Abstract

ABSTRACTDespite its progressive discussion of mental health, gender, and politics, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has a complicated relationship with Jewishness. Through Naomi Bunch and Audra Levine, the series endorses the Jewish Mother and Jewish-American Princess stereotypes, depicting both women as one-dimensional caricatures of Jewishness that embody the mid-twentieth century understanding of Jewish femininity perfected and disseminated by Jewish male authors like Philip Roth and Herman Wouk. While the protagonist, Rebecca Bunch, does embody many characteristics of what Nathan Abrams defines as the “New Jewess with Attitude,” the series’ overt implication that her mental health struggles result from her genetic “Jewish suffering” suggests that her professional and personal successes occur in spite of her Jewishness. Analyzing pertinent scenes and musical numbers, this paper argues that Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is ultimately myopic in its portrayal of Jewish femininity, simultaneously embracing the stereotypes that have come to define the mainstream cultural representation of Jewish women and introducing a new paradigm that connects Jewish femininity with psychosis.