The Outcomes of the Cause

Summary:

The following reading will be about the results of war and discrimination. It will mainly focus on the perspective of Tatjana Wassiljewa who lived through the war between Russia and Germany in 1941, it will also focus on the discrimination of Asian American women faced. The overall topics inform on how the different situations affect the outcomes.

The Starting Cause:

The war between Russia and Germany started on June 22,1941 and ended on May 9,1945. The start of the war was when the Germany Nazi launched a surprise attack against the Soviet Union. Most nearby townspeople fled although some were not able to. The ones that did flee were able to get away from German soldiers although Tatjana and her family were not of those people. Tatjana’s family had stayed since when trying to flee they did not reach in time due to her father having a weak body and her sister being unable to walk. In the end, German troops reached the town and took Tatjana’s family place as shelter for their own

Confinement:

Tatjana’s family were allowed to stay in one room although they were not given food, clothes. They were able to survive for a longer amount of time since one of the German soldiers secretly gave them food but it did not last long since he was called to go to the front line. Later on Tatjana and her family began to suffer from starvation. Tatjana made a decision and  traveled in the winter in search of food, she was indeed successful. Later on in time Tatjana’s father was called for a meeting and due to his weak body when coming home back from the meeting died. 

The End Effect:

After the death of her father, Tatjana was sent to Germany as a captive laborer; she spent 3 years of her life working in factories hoping to meet her family again. After the war, Tatjana reunited with her mother. Many others were not as fortunate. There were many casualties in the war, peoples homes were destroyed, and family members died. Tatjana wanted to continue her studies but due to the situation they were in it was difficult to be accepted to schools due to her age even so she later on continued her studies and became a teacher.

The Discriminations:

In the past women were not equal to men, race also held the same view. During the mid-19th century Asian immigrants started arriving in America. Asian descendants were denied their voting right and basic citizenship since then, the treatment they received only became worse when Japan launched an attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.  

In previous times they always had the mindset that women are not equal to women. Women were expected to do the household chores and take care of the children. Women also had a hard time finding jobs and if they did the pay was lower than men. Smart women also missed special opportunities in education and work.

The Women’s Roles in WWII:

Asian-American women held a critical role  in America’s effort in war during World War II. They served different jobs like pilots, translators, factories, etc. The women also came from different backgrounds like Korean,Filipino,Japanese, and Chinese. 

The U.S military officers had often hired Japanese American  women to translate Japanese documents. Officials assumed they knew of the Japanese language although most of them did not speak Japanese or only spoke it at home. Despite that 48 Japanese American women enrolled at Military Intelligence Service Language School and they became translators and office workers.

The Outcome:

After WWII it had a huge impact on the American workforce. In the end, the Chinese Americans were able to earn a significant salary. The Chinese American women welcomed the opportunity to work out of their secluded Chinatown communities. Due to the discrimination they got they were only to create businesses like restaurants and grocery stores. Although that changed during the war.

Vocabulary:

Discrimation:The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different 

categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of

race, age, or sex.

Starvation: Suffering or death caused by hunger

Reunited:Come together or cause to come together again

after a period of separation or disunity.

Casualties:A person or thing badly affected by an event

or situation.

Immigrants:A person who comes to live permanently

in a foreign country.

Mindset: The established set of attitudes held by someone.

Critical: A critical time, factor, or situation is extremely

important.

Assumed:Supposed to be the case, without proof.

Impact:The action of one object coming forcibly into 

contact with another.

Secluded:(of a place) not seen or visited by many 

people; sheltered and private.

Sources: Hostage to War by Tatjna Wassiljewa, and

The Asian American women who fought to make their mark in World War II Article.