How Did The Great Depression Affect Women

The Great Depression affected women in multiple ways. Many women had to change their lifestyles for their families sake. Men and women experienced the Great Depression differently. The Great Depression’s effect on women has changed their lives forever. Many women suffered during the Great Depression. Several women's husbands got laid off from their jobs or suffered from wage-cuts. This forced women to begin looking for jobs. Though, having a job did not confirm survival. It was easier for women to find work than men during the Great Depression, yet the unemployment rate for women still remained extremely high. The wages remained very low in the 1930s. Many jobs only paid $5 a week. I can not imagine trying to live off of only $5 a week. My whole life would have to change. I would only eat enough to keep me living, and I would only buy items that I absolutely needed to stay alive. Finding work was easier for women than men at this time. Women made up 25% of the work force. During the Stock Market Crash of 1929, heavy industries including steel, rubber, and chemicals …show more content…
Some women had gone through college of course, but just like men, they were having a hard time finding employment. The women’s role was still to make sure their was something to eat on the table every night. Although there was not much food available, they had to come up with something to eat. During this time it was mostly about survival, and trying to make do with what you already have. You might only receive a small portion of food to eat to hold you over so that you would not starve. I am used to going to the store and getting food if we did not have all the ingredients we need to make a meal. During the Great Depression this was not an option, you did not always have the option to go to the store, you could only deal with what you already had at your home. Creativity with the food you already had was necessary to make sure their families ate