Discussion Questions
March 7, 2000
The readings this week should be considered in the context of
last week's discussion, and as well the readings this week will also have some
bearing on our discussion for next week.
- What were the expectations placed on women by society
during WWII?
- What do the posters tell us (considering both image and
language) about women, and about gender relations, during WWII?
- How did the traditional gender stereotypes clash with the
new expectations of war? Were those differences reconciled, and if so,
how?
- How can the events of 1943 be explained in terms of the
history of wartime America? Who attacked whom, and why? (in
answering, be certain to pay careful attention to language)
- From the media accounts of the zoot suit riots, how do the
accounts of the first few days differ from those a few days later? Are
there any differences between the various newspapers? (ie english vs.
spanish press; New York Times vs. Los Angeles Times, etc.)
- In what ways are the zoot suit riots a part of the larger
story of America in WWII? Of America in wartime generally?
- In light of the readings on PTSD, does these in any manner
alter your previous assessment (ie last week) on the impact of the war on
women, or on the definition of a veteran? If so, why? If not,
why not?
- Why is PTSD "discovered" with the Vietnam
war? How would these writings on PTSD compare with the earlier
writings of Dr. Rivers?
- Would it be accurate to say that in WWII the homefront was
a place, but with Vietnam it had become a state of mind?