Women's Role Defined By Economy

     Chapters 15 through 17, of Gail Collins’ America’s Women, cover the “evolution” of women from the 1920s to the 1940s.  Women experienced social and cultural changes over this 30 year period that altered their lives and the ever-changing attitudes towards them. The 1920s was an exciting and liberating time for women. “American women were transformed after World War I.”[1]  Having just earned the right to vote, the New Woman who emerged experienced a greater freedom and wanted to test her newfound independence.  The Great Depression, which dominated the 1930s, reversed any forward movement women may have gained in social status.  The average family experienced great difficulties and hardships during this time as a result of a 40 percent drop in income.[2]  With the decrease in jobs across America, women were forced to resign to open up positions for men.  Jobs were reserved for men and the women were expected to stay at home or take on subordinate roles in the workplace.  The 1940s was full of propaganda and mixed messages for women.  The first half of this decade was focused on promoting woman to volunteer for defense jobs to support World War II efforts, and the second half was focused on forcing them to give up their jobs after the war was over.[3]  While the country wanted to get back to normal, that would prove to be impossible.  Women had gone through great change during this period and experienced much more than ever before.[4] They were so affected by these experiences, they could no longer settle for less.  “They realized that they were capable of doing something more than cook a meal.”[5]

     I believe the evolution of women over this 30 year period was primarily influenced by the economy.  During this time, there were many opportunities in America and the American dream was driven by an economic system which promoted individual ownership and success.  The rapid growth and industrialization in the 1920s led to the stock market crash and the Great Depression in the 1930s.  World War II brought America out of the Depression by creating jobs which once again boosted a market for capital goods.  The social and cultural changes experienced by women over these three decades were defined by the economy.

     The 1920s was a time of empowerment and freedom for women.  They finally won the right to vote and more women had joined the workforce.  The economy was booming where “everything that had anything to do with consumption was in style.”[6]  The increase in consumer goods and technology contributed to the rapid economic growth in America.  From automobiles and radios, to electricity and running water in homes, the 1920s were liberating for women.  With the invention of consumer products such as the refrigerator, washer, ranges, and irons, women started to have leisure time.  The 1920’s woman was free from the restraints of the past.  These “New Woman” were different and they wanted to exhibit this difference with a flare for fashion.  The flapper symbolizes the 1920’s woman.  She smoked, drank, cut her hair into a short bob, wore cosmetics, wore short skirts, and didn’t wear corsets.  With a semi-boyish look, she made a strong statement for wanting equality to men in every way.  These women were fun, strong, and free to enjoy themselves because “today’s woman gets what she wants.”[7]  While the New Woman may appear to be influenced by a cultural shift in America, it would never have happened without the influence of a booming economy.

  

   The stock market crash in 1929 led to the Great Depression that spanned the entire decade of the 1930s.  This economic downturn significantly influenced women as many were forced to resign to give up their jobs to men.  Men were supposed to work and women (once again) stayed home to deal with “endless little economies and constant anxieties.”[8]  As a result of the Depression, the marriage rate dropped and suddenly it was socially acceptable to be a spinster.[9]  The divorce rate declined due to the expense, but many wives were abandoned as an alternative.[10] Birth rates declined and birth control in the form of contraceptives also became socially acceptable.[11]

     The women of America had a strong advocate in Eleanor Roosevelt.  Eleanor lobbied hard for women’s rights.  One big issue was the banning of married women from working.  There was a federal law that “prohibited the employment of married persons whose spouses also worked for the government.”[12]  Eleanor was against this as many families required two incomes to survive (just as today).  Regardless of this law and other state laws introduced to prevent married women from working, “the number of married women who worked continued to increase.”[13]  While this may be considered an important cultural shift, I believe this was primarily driven by economic factors.[14]  Many women needed to work to survive.

   World War II was instrumental in pulling America out of the Depression and boosting the economy.  With our men at war, the women were called upon to assist in a very aggressive way.  Propaganda films targeted women, specifically the middle-class and married, to volunteer for defense jobs.[15] The army needed woman for clerical and other non-combat jobs, but “most of the top brass was adamant that the women should only be there temporarily and should not receive full military status.” [16]  So while the need was there from an economic standpoint, the culture hadn’t quite shifted to equality for women.

      While government, economy, and culture are inextricably intertwined, economic conditions seem to be the driving factor in the social and cultural changes of women during this 30 year period.  Society gradually accepted, kicking and fighting all the way, that women’s roles were changing and new norms were being established.      

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[1] Gail Collins, America’s Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines (New York: HarperCollins, 2003), 327.

[2] Collins, America’s Women, 353.

[3] Collins, America’s Women, 394.

[4] Collins, America’s Women, 396.

[5] Collins, America’s Women, 396.

[6] Collins, America’s Women, 327.

[7] Collins, America’s Women, 335.

[8] Collins, America’s Women, 353.

[9] Collins, America’s Women, 353.

[10] Collins, America’s Women, 354.

[11] Collins, America’s Women, 354.

[12] Collins, America’s Women, 363.

[13] Collins, America’s Women, 363.

[14] Collins, America’s Women, 363.

[15] Collins, America’s Women, 372.

[16] Collins, America’s Women, 373.