DIRECTIONS: Discuss the following assigned question in your group and post a response (include the members' names). Then respond to another group's post about their question. Again, include names. Please be sure to edit your response before posting.
6. Finances: Walls states, “neither Mom nor Dad ever mastered the art of budgeting. But Mom’s salary created a whole new set of problems. While Dad liked it that Mom was bringing home a paycheck, he saw himself as the head of the household, and he maintained that the money should be turned over to him. It was his responsibility, he’d say, to handle the family finances” (76). What does this suggest about the connections between traditional gender roles and money management? How prevalent are these roles in today’s society? What are your current attitudes and beliefs about gender roles and money? Where do they come from?
- Money and Values: On one hand, Jeannette Walls describes
the squalor she and her family lived in: hunger, poverty, garbage, lack of basic necessities. On the other hand, she describes the rich
intellectual world her parents imparted: discussions of geology, math,
literature, art. In light of the fact that three out of the four Walls
children became successful, productive members of society, what do you think is more important to children’s development: comfortable living conditions or an enriching intellectual environment? - Advisement/counseling/parental roles: Rose Mary tells Jeannette, “Life is full of tragedy and comedy…You should learn to enjoy the comic episodes a little more” (129). What other good pieces of
advice do Rose Mary and Rex give their children? In what ways are Rose Mary and Rex good advisors/counselors to their children?
- Personal relationships/health: The children seem to learn something important about their father’s alcoholism and dysfunctional behavior after her learns about Brian’s episode with Erma (145-148). What is that insight? How can this understanding of Rex make us more sympathetic to him? Does it, however, justify some of his adult choices?
4. Health: While they are still in Arizona, Rex
attempts to stop drinking (116-121). Why does he try to do this? What insights do we, as readers, gain from his battle with alcoholism?
5. Ethics/Purpose: Throughout the book we hear Rose Mary’s
complaint: “I’m a grown woman now, why can’t I do what I want to do? (74). At what point in their lives can adults do whatever they want?
6. Finances: Walls states, “neither Mom nor Dad ever mastered the art of budgeting. But Mom’s salary created a whole new set of problems. While Dad liked it that Mom was bringing home a paycheck, he saw himself as the head of the household, and he maintained that the money should be turned over to him. It was his responsibility, he’d say, to handle the family finances” (76). What does this suggest about the connections between traditional gender roles and money management? How prevalent are these roles in today’s society? What are your current attitudes and beliefs about gender roles and money? Where do they come from?