Women New Deal Flashcards
Positive view
The New Deal created political opportunities for women and is therefore significant in advancing women’s rights
Focuses more on women’s role in policy making rather than the impact of New Deal policies on women
Roosevelt appointments
Frances Perkins became Secretary of Labour
Florence Allen was appointed the first female Appeal Court judge
Role of Molly Dewson
Molly Dewson, the head of the Democratic women’s organisation, spearheaded female political weight
Between 1932-34, she was Director of the Women’s division of the Democratic National Committee
FLSA
The Fair Labour Standards Act of 1938 established a minimum wage of 25c per hour without regard to sex
By 1940, there were 1.5 million working mothers
However this may have reflected a need for employers to keep costs down as female labour was cheaper
US v. One Package
United States vs One Package Supreme Court case of 1936 declared that doctors were allowed to distribute contraceptives across state lines
Mixed view
The New Deal did in many ways reinforce traditional gender roles, but this reflected not just the priorities of men but also the prevailing views and priorities of women at the time
Limits of advisors
Whilst much was made of the women advisers, they were often restricted to traditional women’s roles, advising on social policy and family matters
Organised labour progress
The number of women in organised labour went up by 300% from 1930 to 1940
Aid for dependant women
Aid to Dependent Children helped women who were head of the household
But the process to received the aid was humiliating for few white women who followed through with it
Negative view
The New Deal did not benefit women and in many areas actually represented regress as jobs and benefits for men were priorities
Gender discrimination was a fundamental assumption on which New Deal legislation was founded
Lack of political progress
By 1939, only 9 women had entered American politics
Lack of work progress
In 1940 the percentage of women at work was almost exactly what it had been in 1910 and therefore the New Deal can be viewed as a time of continuity in women’s economic rights
Small percentage of CWA jobs
Only 7% of the Civil Works Administration jobs went to women
NRA established lower pay
The National Recovery Administration established lower pay for women workers in 1933
In public service and federal employment there were lower pay rates
Lack of minority progress
Women from minority groups did not benefit from the New Deal
Throughout the 1930s, African American and Mexican-American women continued to suffer as a result of discrimination and prejudice
