1. Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart
Contemporary Scottish Theatre

2. Exam questions Men Should Weep should be used to answer questions on:
Social, political and religious dimensions or
Issues of gender

3. Scottish History
Glasgow took the brunt of the depression in the 1930s and acquired many negative stereotypes.
Unemployment, sub-standard housing and poor levels of health had a dramatic effect on the national character of Scotland.
Men returning from the war found that woman had taken on jobs due to the shortage of men and these therefore became labelled as female jobs.
After the war ended there wasn’t the need for weapons, which resulted in a significant loss of jobs, and unemployment for those who had fought in the war.

4. Religious sectarianism was rife in Glasgow
Religious sectarianism was rife in Glasgow. Although the country had been predominantly Protestant since the Reformation, an influx of Irish immigrants, drawn to the industry on Clydeside throughout the 19th and early 20th century, had established a large Catholic community.
Unemployed, skilled labourers from the Protestant community complained bitterly about Irish immigrants taking 'their jobs' and this brought ruthless discrimination in the labour market.
The Church of Scotland positively encouraged this anti-Catholic feeling at the time. Children generally went to either Catholic or Protestant schools, they lived in different streets and areas of the city, and the rivalry was played out on the football field between Rangers and Celtic.

5. Historical Timeline
David Lloyd George, a Liberal became Prime Minister in Lloyd George was acclaimed as the man who had won the war. He also set up a ‘welfare state.’
11 November 1918: The First World War comes to an end. During the war 140,000 Scots are killed.
22 January 1924: Ramsay MacDonald becomes Britain's first Labour Prime Minister, the first Prime Minister from a working-class background, and one of very few without a university education.
1928: The National Party for Scotland is founded.

6. 1928: All women over 21 are given the vote: married women over 30 got it in 1918.
1929 : the Wall Street Crash heralded the global Great Depression and Britain was particularly badly hit.
5 June 1929: Ramsay MacDonald becomes Prime Minister for the second time.
1930: Unemployment in Scotland reaches 25% during the depression years.
1931: Labour lost support so Ramsay led a coalition of two governments
April 1934: The Scottish National Party is founded.
9 November 1937: The death of Ramsay MacDonald, Prime Minister of Great Britain.
3 September 1939: The Second World War is declared.

7. Issues Poverty / Unemployment Gender Roles Stereotypes
Scottish History

8. Poverty Social conditions Setting / living environment Urban Scotland
Deprivation
Social divisions
Impact on characters / relationships
Economic decline / post war Depression
Characterisation / portrayal.

9. Find quotes for the following:
Poor quality housing
Unsanitary conditions
Lack of food and malnutrition
Lack of income
Extreme poverty
Granny’s living situation

10. Gender Setting / Period Community Identity Inequality The Work Place
Role of women / men
Domestic violence
Character background
Morals/values/ beliefs

11. Find quotes for the following:
Maggie’s role in the household
Jenny’s behaviour
Lily’s job
Isa’s attitude towards Alec
John’s lack of employment
Alec’s dishonesty.

12. Stereotypes Life in Scotland present and past Religion Power relations
The disintegration of family
Dysfunctional families
Cultural environment

13. Find quotes for the following
Expected role of children
Women’s jobs
Men’s jobs
The neighbours attitude to the Morrison family.

14. Past Questions Social, political and religious dimensions
Explain how any Scottish play you have studied has helped you to understand the social conditions of the time in which it was written. (1994)
Explain how Scottish playwrights use characters to convey social issues in their plays. You must refer to at least three characters. (2005)

15. Past Questions Issues of Gender
Discuss the extent to which Scottish playwrights explore inequality between men and women. (2005)
Contemporary Scottish plays are full of sexual stereotypes. Discuss this statement. (2007)