Playing the Man in the Book of Ruth: Reshaping the Masculine Ideal
Many scholars have productively analyzed the book of Ruth to explore gender roles and norms. Few studies, though, have brought masculinity theory to bear on the book of Ruth, and those that have primarily focus on the character of Boaz. However, other characters ‘play the man’ in this narrative, not...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2022
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| In: |
Biblical interpretation
Year: 2022, Volume: 30, Issue: 4, Pages: 486-508 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Ruth
/ Gender studies
/ Masculinity
/ Research
/ Ideology
/ Rhetoric
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| IxTheo Classification: | FD Contextual theology HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Ruth
B ideology and rhetoric B Masculinity Studies B Gender Studies |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Many scholars have productively analyzed the book of Ruth to explore gender roles and norms. Few studies, though, have brought masculinity theory to bear on the book of Ruth, and those that have primarily focus on the character of Boaz. However, other characters ‘play the man’ in this narrative, notably Ruth herself. Though Boaz is labeled as an אישׁ גבור חיל, Ruth often better performs the masculine ideal represented by this label. She enters dangerous situations to protect and provide for Naomi. Moreover, Ruth initiates and manipulates sexual contact in order to produce progeny. The narrative presents the characters of Ruth, Boaz, and, at times, Yhwh performing masculine roles with varying levels of success. This essay contends that the book takes up previously assumed norms of masculinity and reshapes them in light of a changing socio-political context. |
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| ISSN: | 1568-5152 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Biblical interpretation
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685152-2020007 |