1904 image of children exercising in Seward Park. Courtesy of Irving Howe's World of Our Fathers

As Jewish families immigrated to the United States between the 1880s and the 1920s, the role of men as the religious authorities of their families was altered. In the crowded and impoverished lifestyles of New York’s tenement neighborhoods, money became essential for families that wanted to improve their new lives. Many men thus began working in order to provide additional income for their families. Religious study became a less important factor in determining success, since it offered no advantages in securing work or wealth. Boys who were able to attend school were sent to American schools rather then kheyders, since it became necessary for them to learn English and secular subjects such as mathematics in order to gain jobs. Over time, men were expected to provide most of their families’ incomes, though this did not always occur. Men also usually were given better treatment in the workplace than female workers.

Click here to read quotes on male gender roles from the perspectives of immigrants.

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