Abstract
This short excerpt from my new book #UsToo outlines my thinking after #MeToo first went viral and I navigated coming forward about my personal experience with sexual misconduct and abuse of power in Jewish Studies. In addition to hearing from many Jewish women, I met Muslim and Christian women whose stories made me realize that no community is immune. While Jewish and Muslim women told of apprehensiveness around reporting coreligionists due to antisemitism and Islamophobia, lack of normalized reporting impacts Christian women too. I found that Jewish and Muslim women of color especially are “triple minorities”: female in a society where women are still “the second sex;” a religious minority in a predominantly Christian country; and are often judged by the color of their skin.
Speaking out about bad behavior is in keeping with Jewish values and must be normalized. Finding and using one’s voice is a personal journey; I hope sharing mine will help readers do the same. I dedicate this piece with abundant love to my mother, who introduced me to Lilith many moons ago for which I am eternally grateful.