Being called a “nice Jewish boy” is often meant as a compliment. However, amid rising anti-Semitism and ever-present gender norms constricting male expression, we need to consider why a restrictive trope about Jewish men eludes criticism.
The modern Jewish man is often portrayed as gentle, timid, studious and delicate. These traits are generally positive, positioning Jewish men as a welcome alternative to more hyper-masculinized, intense men.
Unfortunately, like most stereotypes, you don’t have to look far to find problems with this reductive characterization of Jewish men.
While the “nice Jewish boy” image has biblical roots, it also stems from negative historical portrayals emphasizing weakness. Seventeenth-century Yiddish term “edelkayt” defines Jewish men as lacking bravery; in 13th-century Italy, rumours about male Jews menstruating associated them with femininity and frailty.
These historical associations remain troubling. We continue to value male strength over femininity, leading to low self-worth among men who don’t identify with a stereotypically masculine persona.
The modern stereotype’s meaning poses its own issues with the trope’s romantic connotations. There’s nothing wrong with considering Jewish men nice, but the label implies they’re nothing more. Titling male Jews timid or studious implies they don’t possess the opposite qualities commonly associated with romance, like spontaneity or confidence.
“Nice Jewish boys” may impress parents with their brains, but they’ll bore their partners with an absence of excitement and idealism. The implication that Jewish men are undeserving of romantic attention establishes them as inferior to the classic womanizing man.
These problems have remained as long as the trope has, though they’re seldom examined. This makes it all the more noteworthy and shocking that these issues are being brought into mainstream pop culture courtesy of comedic Jewish rapper Lil Dicky.
Lil Dicky’s persona is based on shedding his “nice Jewish boy” image. He proves a docile Jewish man can find a place within hardened rap. His biggest hit, “Freaky Friday,” is built on diminishing faulty perceptions of Jewish and Black men, drawing attention to how society finds humour in seeing either group with qualities uncharacteristic to their stereotypes.
Through rapping about Jewish identity, Lil Dicky introduces the issue of Jewish men’s public perception. But his controversial songs are easy to laugh at—which also makes them easy to ignore.
Lil Dicky’s work is a constructive first step toward greater cultural consideration of the “nice Jewish boy.” Increased evaluation of the harm this term connotes shows Jewish men don’t have to conform to an outdated ideal because it aligns with their gender and cultural identity.
If we want young Jewish boys to grow up unburdened by societal expectations of their dominant traits, the issues of the “nice Jewish boy” need to be more broadly discussed on a larger platform. It’s time to seriously explore the limiting stereotypes applied to Jewish men and the biases that created them in the first place.
Josh is The Journal’s Lifestyle Editor. He’s a third-year Film and Media student.
Tags
Judaism, masculinity, Stereotypes
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