What Makes Women Sick: Maternity, Modesty and Militarism in Israeli Society

Drawing on the fields of anthropology, medicine, and gender studies, Sered tackles the question of why Israeli women are weaker and sicker as compared to women in other countries. She links the health problems of Israeli women to the low degree of authority they are granted over their own lives and their own bodies in particular. Among the stresses Israeli women face are exclusion from the political and religious establishments, objectification by the media, lack of control over reproductive decisions, and idealization of the male soldier’s body. These factors lead women to view themselves as weak and powerless. Sered’s cogent and original analysis, combined with her engaging writing style make this book required reading for anyone interested in Judaism and feminism.