RisiaSkye
Artistic
- Joined
- May 1, 2000
- Posts
- 4,387
I haven't started yet, other than an outline and some research. However, as I'm near the end of the research phase, and as my story comes near the final stretch, I think I'm on track.
What I know so far:
Patricia Ruiz is a young (early 20s) cannery worker in (central California city--exact location not yet chosen), living at home with her extended Mexican-immigrant family, all of whom also work for the plant, as was common for the era.
Taught by her traditional Catholic family to maintain her dignity and modesty, she's emotionally torn about how to respond to her Anglo crew leader's sexual advances. If she takes any public action against him, she risks not only her own job, but those of her family members--something all can ill afford. If she doesn't both resist and put a stop to the situation, she faces not only humiliation, but the possibility of physical attack; and if she gives in to him, she risks dishonoring her family and her faith.
Unsure what to do, she shares the situation with a coworker who has also been targetted by this man, and learns that the other woman has been secretly working with union representatives to organize the factory and put a stop to this abuse of power, as well as the many other exploitive relations within the cannery. Eager for a solution which protects her family, her coworkers, and herself, she decides to join the union team, even though when the situation becomes public (as it must if the cannery's to be organized) she faces the possibility of significant further threat.
Through the confrontations and struggles of organizing, she meets (name?), another worker with whom she develops a romantic relationship--with the full knowledge and consent of both families. Because he can't yet afford an engagement ring, he gives her the talisman...the backstory on how he got it will be contingent on the story before mine.
When he's killed during a union-busting attack on the striking workers, Patricia's left with the talisman, her loss, and a great deal of bitterness. Through the talisman, she comes to know her own power as a woman and a sexual being, and gets the opportunity to wield this power (choosing, ultimately, to go against her religious upbringing) on behalf of the workers through a series of temporary sexual alliances with members of management.
I do not know how she will ultimately lose or cede the talisman, as this too will depend upon the story of another--whomever comes after me.
I hope that gives everyone enough information to go on for now. If there's anything else I can do to share info, please let me know.
Best of luck to all,
RS
What I know so far:
Patricia Ruiz is a young (early 20s) cannery worker in (central California city--exact location not yet chosen), living at home with her extended Mexican-immigrant family, all of whom also work for the plant, as was common for the era.
Taught by her traditional Catholic family to maintain her dignity and modesty, she's emotionally torn about how to respond to her Anglo crew leader's sexual advances. If she takes any public action against him, she risks not only her own job, but those of her family members--something all can ill afford. If she doesn't both resist and put a stop to the situation, she faces not only humiliation, but the possibility of physical attack; and if she gives in to him, she risks dishonoring her family and her faith.
Unsure what to do, she shares the situation with a coworker who has also been targetted by this man, and learns that the other woman has been secretly working with union representatives to organize the factory and put a stop to this abuse of power, as well as the many other exploitive relations within the cannery. Eager for a solution which protects her family, her coworkers, and herself, she decides to join the union team, even though when the situation becomes public (as it must if the cannery's to be organized) she faces the possibility of significant further threat.
Through the confrontations and struggles of organizing, she meets (name?), another worker with whom she develops a romantic relationship--with the full knowledge and consent of both families. Because he can't yet afford an engagement ring, he gives her the talisman...the backstory on how he got it will be contingent on the story before mine.
When he's killed during a union-busting attack on the striking workers, Patricia's left with the talisman, her loss, and a great deal of bitterness. Through the talisman, she comes to know her own power as a woman and a sexual being, and gets the opportunity to wield this power (choosing, ultimately, to go against her religious upbringing) on behalf of the workers through a series of temporary sexual alliances with members of management.
I do not know how she will ultimately lose or cede the talisman, as this too will depend upon the story of another--whomever comes after me.
I hope that gives everyone enough information to go on for now. If there's anything else I can do to share info, please let me know.
Best of luck to all,
RS
