Write a one-page summary.
Joanne is in school studying to be a massage therapist. She was shocked when her grandmother revealed that a respected member of her family had been a masseuse working in a massage parlor in the 1930’s. Joanne was embarrassed to hear that but wanted to learn more. She found some things in a box of old photos and documents that cleared up the mystery. What she found made her proud of her relative and gave her a unique connection to her future career.
Question:
What might Joanne have found in that box, and what did it tell her about what her relative did for a living in the 1930’s?
1. Were the connotations of the terms masseuse and massage parlor the same in the 1930’s as they are today?
2. What might a graduate masseuse have had hanging on the wall to show her training?
3. What might be occasions for photos that showed something about her relative’s work?
4. How might her relative been dressed for her work?
5. What type of massage did she most likely do?
6. Finish the story of Joanne’s family history:
