Jewish women have had a long-standing, complex, often fraught relation to American television. They have had to battle a male-dominated production system and sexist stereotypes, but also have seen significant advances, in front of and behind the screen, resulting from the cable and streaming revolutions and third-wave feminist activism.  

Between 1929 and 1956, The Goldbergs was a familiar presence in radio, television, film, and other popular media. Created by and starring Gertrude Berg, the program documented the trials and tribulations of a Jewish family in the Bronx, with wife and mother Molly Goldberg entertaining millions with her malapropisms and meddling ways. In 1950, Berg came to the defense of her co-star, Philip Loeb; her decision not to fire him when he was blacklisted for alleged Communist activities cut short The Goldbergs’ tenure on television, and by extension, Berg’s career.