Uprising

Uprising describes New York as a city filled with different immigrants, cultures, and languages. The novel follows the stories of Bella—who immigrates to escape famine, disease, and send money to her Italian family—and Yetta—who immigrates for refuge from a violent genocide in Russia. Today, immigrants still move to the United States for similar reasons and face many of the tensions, prejudices, and struggles described by Haddix. How have conditions in the United States changed for immigrants since 1911? How have they remained the same?

Class stratification is a major theme in Uprising, and Haddix illustrates dramatic lifestyle differences between Jane’s wealthy family and the immigrant shirtwaist workers. Nevertheless, Jane comes to realize that women face many similar struggles across class boundaries, that both she and Yetta feel “caged” (120). How is the experience of gender roles influenced by class in Uprising? Are there any aspects of gendered oppression that seem to transcend class?

In Uprising, Haddix describes numerous spaces that are either expressly or suggestively prohibited to females, such as the bars that Pietro frequents and Mr. Wellington’s study. What are some of the gendered spaces Bella, Yetta, and Jane encounter? How and why are these spaces forbidden to women?