Women in the new deal USA Flashcards
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- 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
How did the New Deal have a limited impact on the lives of women during the 1930s?
Gender discrimination was the norm
CCC was just for men, like other public works agencies
Summer 1933: relief spending helped 15,000 women but 300,000 were in need
The NRA only covered half the female workforce, sanctioned pay differentiation ($525 per year, half of a man’s wage)
1940: 90% of jobs were filled by men
How did the New Deal have a positive impact on the lives of women during the 1930s?
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
Give two examples of African American women who represented progress for women in society.
Ella Baker: began her involvement in the NAACP, she went on to work with Martin Luther King
Mary McLeod Bethune:
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
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
8.5 million entered the workforce
44% worked in shipyards and airframe manufacturing
No child care or nursery provision for working women
