Evita: The Woman Behind the Myth

This Biography chronicles the meteoric rise of Eva Duarte Peron, First Lady of Argentina. Born in poverty, Eva Peron rose to become the most powerful woman in Latin America and one of the most powerful women in the world. Her early death at the age of 33 ensured her place in cultural history. It is useful for classes on European history, womens history, popular culture and political theory. It is appropriate for high school students.

• descamisados
• exile
• extortion
• fascism
• illegitimate
• indicted
• law
• legitimize
• machismo
• martial
• pariah
• seduce
• totalitarian

1. Evita Peron was one of the most powerful women in the world. Discuss how she was different than most women of her time period.

2. If Evita Peron was a man, would she have been subjected to the negative terms applied to her?

3. Evita Peron has been viewed as both a sinner and a saint. In your opinion which is she? Can she be both at the same time?

4. Discuss what is meant by fascism. What other kinds of political systems have been used in the 20th century?

5. Because of the stage play and the motion picture, most people are familiar with Evita Peron. How did her early death contribute to her popularity? If Evita Peron had lived, would her popularity have died?

6. What did Evita Peron contribute to the women of Argentina, and to women across the globe? Can Evita Peron be seen as a role model for young women today?

1. Create a timeline of the 20th century that shows the achievements of famous women around the world.

2. Write an essay in which you compare fascism, socialism and democracy. What are the characteristics of each? How do they differ? How are they alike? What are some examples of each?

3. Imagine you are a journalist interviewing the mourners at Evita Peron's funeral. What do you think they would list as her accomplishments? Why was she so loved by the people? How would they respond to Evita's critics?

4. When Evita Peron died she was preserved by a modern day form of mummification. Discuss how others in history have used this process and why? What was the significance of Evita's body that led Peron to have her preserved? Do you think that Evita's body became a political hot potato?

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Air Dates

• October 15, 2004