Date of Award

1-1-2010

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Organizational Unit

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences

First Advisor

Bonnie Clark, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Dean J. Saitta

Third Advisor

Susan Sterett

Keywords

Amache, Archaeology, Identity, Japanese internment, Women, World War II

Abstract

In 1942, approximately 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were evacuated from the West Coast to ten different internment camps in the interior of the United States. One of these camps was the Granada Relocation Center, otherwise known as Amache, located in southeastern Colorado. Through the analysis of archaeological material, archival documents, and oral histories, this thesis explores the experiences of Japanese American women interned at Amache. Feminine identity was greatly changed and redefined during confinement. These changes in feminine identity are examined in the public and private arenas of daily life within confinement. The construction of new and altered individual and community identities are also explored. By examining how feminine identity was both changed as well as maintained during confinement, many differences between generations of Japanese women are exposed. Commonalities and similarities are also revealed that ultimately highlight the great adaptability, resilience, and perseverance of Japanese women in confinement.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Dana Ogo Shew

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

en

File Size

241 p.

Discipline

Archaeology

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