Impact of the New Deal on women (T3) Flashcards
Who was arguably the most influential woman of this time?
Eleanor Roosevelt
Who was secretary of Labour 1933-1945?
Frances Perkins
Who was the first female ambassador?
Ruth Bryan Owen
What expertise did many of the prominent women have?
They had expertise in social work, which was key to the New Deal.
Where did Frances Perkins work before govt. appointment?
She was the New York Commissioner for Labour, where she fought for factory investigations and shortened working hours for women.
What act did Frances Perkins help to make?
The 1935 Social Security act.
What event made government priorities change?
WW2
How was the 1933 economy act not good for women?
This forbade members of the same family working for the govt.
75% of people who lost their jobs through this were married women.
How much less were women paid than men during this time?
They were paid half of what men were paid. ($535 a year)
What is an example of an alphabet agency that forbade women from working entirely?
The CCC
What did the Trade Unions think about women working?
They thought that men should be the main breadwinners.
What jobs did women tend to work during this time?
Low paid, low status jobs.
What event meant that women returned to higher paid jobs?
WW2
- this was because the men left their jobs as they went to war, so women took these jobs.
How did Eleanor Roosevelt transform the role of the First Lady?
She was very independent and at time outspoken
- She held 348 press conferences by herself
- She wrote a daily newspaper column in 62 newspapers
How did women’s rights in the 1920s change?
Women’s suffrage (right to vote) was allowed in 1920 BUT after this there wasn’t a huge change
What did Eleanor Roosevelt do to empower women in politics?
- She created a network of influential women who were given the ear of the President
- “A cordial interlocking of minds”
- The network was a group of women born in the 1880s, who were college-educated and wanted to campaign for social and liberal reform
What were ‘domestic feminists’?
- Women who wanted to use their role in the home as an excuse to be in the public sphere - they were issue driven
- Many issues of the 1930s had involved their roles within the home (consumer affairs and social security) - it made sense for them advise
Who were some of the iconic female cultural icons of the 1920s and what impact did they have?
- Coco Channel, Clara Bow
- Very little impact: they created cultural and social change but not political or long-lasting change
What was the Women’s Trade Union Board?
A group who campaigned for women’s working rights:
- 8 hour workday
- Minimum wage
Give at least 2 examples of women who gained prominent political positions during the 1930s.
- Francis Perkins: ‘Secretary of Labour’, first woman in a political cabinet
- Ruth Bryan Own: ‘Female Ambassador to Denmark’
- Molly Dewson: Leader of the ‘Women’s Division of the Democratic Party’
- At the outbreak of WW2 many women lost their political positions
In 1940, what % of jobs were filled by men?
90%
How did the NRA discriminate against women?
- The NRA only covered half the female workforce
- They sanctioned pay differentiation ($525 per year, half of a man’s wage)
In the summer of 1933, relief spending helped how many women? However, how many were still in need?
Summer 1933: relief spending helped 15,000 women but 300,000 were in need
How did the New Deal have a positive impact on the lives of women?
- CWA: 300,000 women put to work in ‘she she she’ camps
- Sewing projects: 500 million items of bedding and clothing
- 80% of teachers were women
- WPA school lunch programme: 1.2 billion nutritional meals cooked
How many women were put to work in CWA ‘she she she’ camps?
300,000 women
What % of teachers were women?
80%
As a part of the WPA school lunch programme, how many nutritional meals were cooked?
1.2 billion
Give two examples of African American women who represented progress for women in society.
Ella Baker and Mary McLeod Bethune
What did Ella Baker do?
Ella Baker began her involvement in the NAACP, she went on to work with Martin Luther King
What did Mary McLeod Bethune do?
- In 1936 she was the highest ranking African American woman in government as the Director of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration
- She was the leaders of Roosevelt’s Black Cabinet
- 1940 she became the Vice President for the NAACP
Who was the leader of FDRs black cabinet?
Mary Mcleod Bethune
What happened to the role of women during WW2?
- The social welfare women had been calling for was no longer seen as a priority
- Women in politics became largely dismissed and ignored
- Many women moved and began working in industry
After WW2 how many women entered the workforce?
8.5 million women
After WW2, what % of women worked in shipyards + airframe manufacturing?
44% worked in shipyards and airframe manufacturing
What was not provided for working women after WW2?
Child care was not provided
