Jewish Mothers In The 1950's

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In “Imagining Jewish Mothers in the 1950’s” by Joyce Antler, Antler explores three popular stereotypes of Jewish mothers depicted during the 1950s. Molly Goldberg played by Gertrude Berg, from the famous The Goldberg Show, is characterized as the ideal Jewish mother that’s able to successfully assimilate into American culture and embrace America’s traditional values. Molly expertly leads her family through conflict with wise-wisdom, all the while by continuing to instill the importance of family values and community. Shirley is described as the rebellious youth that is later able to successfully assimilate into American culture and become a mature and respectable suburban woman. Lastly, Ethel Rosenberg is portrayed as a cold, unmotherly, and …show more content…
Antler writes, “In contrast to The Goldbergs with their seamless adjustment to American society, the Rosenberg’s appeared as an alien couple linked to a foreign power; their rejection of mainstream American values, such as espoused by the Goldberg’s and other TV sitcom families, spoke to the dark underside of the American dream and enhanced the presumption of guilt.” Ethel shows the results of Jewish mothers unable to live up to the new standard set by the image of Molly Goldberg. For Ethel, while she engaged in radical ideology, Ethel still represented some traditional values in the 1950s like the breadwinning responsibilities being given to the husband, and the role of True Motherhood given to the wife. However, motherhood always came hard for Ethel, and because of her chronic scoliosis, it was nearly impossible for Ethel to be active with young children. But, the importance of family and parenting constantly surrounded Ethel in her day to day life from articles written by Gertrude Berg to the page of Parents Magazine, motherhood was always emphasized. As a result, Ethel became obsessed with the idea of parenting and did everything in her power to live up to this new standard. Also, the result of a child’s personality and development was a reflection of the mother’s parenting to skill, which increased anxieties on the mother’s role in parenting the children. Antler writes, “Rosenberg’s concern about her own family, and her employment of therapy for herself and counseling for the children, suggests how deeply a part of her generation that she was.” Ethel’s obsession with parenting shows how the influences in the 50s placed a new standard on motherhood. However, when Ethel was accused of espionage, none of her family values were shown in court and her inability to channel the idea of a Jewish mother shown The Goldbergs signed her death wish. On trial, Ethel
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