Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Where is the Dominican Republic? List any facts you know about the history or culture of this country.

Teaching Suggestion: Although most of the action in Dominicana takes place in New York City, Ana’s background as a Dominican woman is central to both her identity and the plot of the novel. This question is intended to help students identify what they currently know about the Dominican Republic and allows you to assess gaps in their knowledge. The resources listed below may be helpful in providing additional information so that students are better prepared to understand the novel’s characters and action.

• This 9-minute video offers a modern overview of the geography and history of the Dominican Republic from Geography Now!
• This essay describes the author’s personal experience with gender norms in her native Dominican Republic.
• This report from OXFAM International describes research into attitudes about violence against women in several Latin American countries, including the Dominican Republic.

2. What is “child marriage”? Where do you think this happens? What reasons might families have for permitting their children to marry before 18? What are likely consequences for people married as children?