Book cover of ‘Keeping Women in Their Digital Place: The Maintenance of Jewish Gender
Norms Online.’
In a world where digital interactions have become a cornerstone of daily life, the
new book Keeping Women in Their Digital Place: The Maintenance of Jewish Gender Norms Online (2024, Penn State University Press) by Ruth Tsuria, Ph.D., explores how Orthodox Jewish communities navigate the complexities of the internet.
The book delves into the unique phenomenon of “digital enclaves,” online spaces where
religious norms and gender identities are constantly renegotiated. Tsuria’s inspiration
for the book stems from her own experiences growing up with the internet. “This book
is inspired by my personal experiences, thinking about how the internet shaped my
religious identity as well as the society around me,” she shares. “I open the book
with memories of preparing for my bat-Mitzvah, weaving my personal story into the
broader narrative.”
The research for Tsuria’s book spans nearly eight years, involving extensive immersion
in various online forums, social media sites and blogs. “I used in-depth discursive
analysis to make sense of the data,” she explains. Her journey was filled with surprises.
“I was struck by the number of taboo issues discussed in these religious spaces. Topics
like sexuality, motherhood and religious disappointments were openly talked about,
revealing a clear need for more ‘open’ spaces within religious communities.”
Another unexpected discovery was the extent of peer-regulation online. “Instead of
relying on rabbis for guidance, people were constantly correcting, shaming and advising
each other. This peer-regulation underscores the power of digital communication to
normalize behavior,” Tsuria notes.
Tsuria’s insights extend to broader discussions about digital literacy and the management
of online spaces. “In the book, I discuss the relationship between media platforms
and offline concepts, the power of online peer-regulation, and how digital media is
used to negotiate and resist traditional norms. I hope these insights inspire others
to engage critically with digital media as a communicative social space.”
Ruth Tsuria, Ph.D.
As an associate professor and director of graduate studies in the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media, Tsuria describes her role as being both a mentor and a teacher, and loves seeing
students overcome challenges to achieve things they never imagined they could do.
She also enjoys observing them as they discover their passions and find new ways of
thinking through the course study. “I share my research processes, struggles and successes
with my students. This real-life experience helps them see the significant impact
research can have on society,” she says.
Since the way people communicate is changing all the time thanks to the advent of
social media and other technologies, Tsuria constantly updates her courses using the
latest research and what she learns at academic conferences.
Her work has also fostered global scholarly connections, such as hosting Lina Rodenhausen,
a doctoral candidate at the Center for Religious Studies at Ruhr-Universität Bochum
who was inspired by Tsuria’s research. “She shared her own research, “Exploring the Nexus of Polarization, Religion, and Social
Media,” and conducted a workshop for our graduate students, which received very positive
feedback.” The event was co-hosted by the College’s Institute for Communication and Religion, which Tsuria partners with frequently based on her research area.
Tsuria has been interested in and working with this area of research since she noted
the deep-rooted impact of religion on society and how this impact is often downplayed
in research. She was able to explore this topic in her B.A. program at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem and more deeply in her M.A. program at Copenhagen University.
She was then able to further work with leading researchers in Digital Religion during
her Ph.D. program at Texas A&M University.
She was named the recipient of the 2019 Digital Religion Research Award by the Network for New Media, Religion and Digital Culture Studies at Texas A&M,
and received the Emerging Scholar Award from the Religion in Society Research Network
in 2018. She served as co-editor of Digital Religion: Understanding Religious Practice in Digital Media and Media and Power in International Contexts: Perspectives on Agency and Identity.
Looking ahead, Tsuria is shifting her focus to the intersection of AI and religion.
“I’ve just published on this topic and am now working on an edited book,” she revealed.
For scholars and students interested in the interplay of religion, gender, and digital
media, her advice is simple: “Follow your passion. There are many important elements
to uncover, so don’t be afraid to explore less-charted areas.”
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