Gender and the Daily Lives of Jews in Hiding in Eastern Galicia

During the Nazi occupation of Eastern Galicia, Jewish men, women and children struggled to survive by hiding in groups that encompassed immediate and extended families, acquaintances and strangers. This article looks at their daily experiences, focusing especially on gender roles. I explore the ways in which gender influenced decisions to prepare hideouts, access to bunkers, how people passed the time together and cared for one another, and the division of resources and labor during their concealment. Jewish written and oral testimonies suggest that traditional roles persisted, shaping survival strategies and relations among Jews in hiding.