Nice Jewish Girls? Jewishness, Femaleness, and Reproductive Justice in American Film Between Roe and Dobbs

Abstract: This paper explores the intersection of Jewish identity, feminism and reproductive justice in film, using four case studies of films from the past fifty years that feature Jewish characters/storylines and/or are the product of Jewish writers, directors or actors and that foreground abortion, choice, female reproductive rights and bodily autonomy as issues that "normal," relatable, successful women experience. Taken together, these films present an intersection of Jewish identity, American politics, gender and popular culture, ultimately challenging viewers to reframe their own understanding of abortion through a Jewish feminist lens and demonstrating the role that popular culture has in both shaping and reflecting social values.