[After reading through the article linked below, and the short story "The Women's Baths" answer the following question below using the RACE method in a well written 3 paragraph essay.
Why is it important for the grandmother to pass on the tradition of going to the bathhouse to her granddaughter? Use evidence from both the article and the story to support your response.
Article: Excerpt from The Baths The Soul of Syria ]
The following in an excerpt from the article “The Baths the Soul of Syria” written by Nora Boustany and published in The Washington Post.
In the steamy chambers of glistening marble and alabaster, Arab conquerors came to bathe after battle, spies spread rumors, plotters hatched coups and mothers checked out the legs of their future daughters-in-law.
One thousand and one tales of intrigue, baby snatching, matchmaking, leisurely encounters, celebrations and violence are told of the hammams, or Turkish baths of the souks, or marketplaces, of Damascus and Aleppo.
A meeting place for relaxation and ablution -- the latter a must for Moslems before prayer -- the hammam, in addition to the bazaar and the mosque, had become a distinctive trait of city life and a mirror of Damascene society until it started going out of style in the 1940s and '50s.
Old Syrian homes were not designed to include bathrooms. So men and women, on separate days, would troop to the baths in their neighborhoods.
It is important for the grandmother to pass on the tradition of going to the bathhouse to her granddaughter because it is a significant cultural practice that has been a part of Syrian society for centuries. As described in the article “The Baths the Soul of Syria”, the hammams were not just places for relaxation and ablution, but also served as meeting places for social interactions and community bonding. In the short story "The Women's Baths", the bathhouse is portrayed as a space where women share gossip, advice, and support each other through life’s challenges. By passing on the tradition of going to the bathhouse, the grandmother is not just teaching her granddaughter about personal hygiene practices, but also instilling in her the importance of community, tradition, and cultural heritage.
Furthermore, the bathhouse tradition carries with it a sense of continuity and connection to the past. In the article, it mentions how the hammams were frequented by Arab conquerors, spies, mothers, and others throughout history, each leaving their mark on the traditions and customs associated with these baths. By passing on this tradition to her granddaughter, the grandmother is ensuring that the cultural legacy of the bathhouse is preserved and celebrated for future generations to come. In the short story, the granddaughter’s initial resistance to going to the bathhouse gradually transforms into a deep appreciation for the stories, memories, and connections that are shared within its walls.
In addition, the bathhouse serves as a symbol of empowerment and agency for women in Syrian society. As depicted in the short story, the bathhouse is a rare space where women can freely express themselves, share their experiences, and support each other without the presence of men. By taking her granddaughter to the bathhouse, the grandmother is not only passing on a cultural tradition, but also empowering her granddaughter to embrace her identity, heritage, and relationships with other women in the community. The bathhouse becomes a place where the granddaughter can learn from the wisdom of her elders, build bonds with other women, and celebrate their shared experiences and histories.