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Great Depression Longest and most severe economic downturn in American history. Unemployment in 1/3 of the population. Output falling by 10% a year (1929-1932) 1/2 of the banks in the US failed Crop prices fell by over 50% Too much supply not enough demand Jobs lost, less money spent, less demandTactics women used to survive Began to rely upon old-fashion, do-it-yourself ways of feeding families .Grew food and ate berries and other wild plants in the country Land owners planted "relief gardens" for food and to barter Canned own foods, made soap sold apples and pencils in the city Made clothes of flour sacks Some sought low wage jobs Others set up charities to collect food and clothing, opened flop houses and soup kitchen, or just helped someone destitute from their own back door. Impact on Women Divorce went down because couples could not afford separate households and others postponed wedding plans Women were blamed for taking the jobs of men and in 1931, the Federation of Labor even endorsed it . Married women discriminated against working by law usually were paid less than men if they had a jobWomen continued to work doing "women’s work" such as nursing, clerical jobs. African American women and men were ignored by government social programs Psychological and Health impact Homelessness, poverty and general despair Fear of losing jobs and unemployment caused anxiety Living conditions with multiple families crowded into small houses or apartments White men suffered the most Unemployed men felt like failures too ashamed to get relief or help from friends or wives Suicides, abandonment and abuse rose African American men were not embarrassed by their wives strength and ability to put food on the table. Thousands went hungry Children suffered long term effects from a poor diet and inadequate medical care |
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copyright Michelle Kehoe MMXI |
