Blog #11

Textbook

1. Is it appropriate to speak about a “New Woman” in the 1920s? If so, what was new?


Yes, it was appropriate to speak about a "New Woman" in the 1920s. The things that were new
was that now women, were giving up the Victorian way of life. As in they were dressing in new
clothes. They were wearing make up, the single women were exploring their sexuality. Some even were having premarital sexual relationships. There were dance halls, where the young would go dancing. Now for mothers, they were able to buy new appliances that would help them with their household chores. Now more women were joining into the work force. They would fill out all the jobs that were categorized as female jobs, for example being a secretary, stenographer. They were also wanting to use birth control, even though it was initially for the poor women, to help them not have a big family and that way they would not have a lot of money to spend on supporting a large family. This way a small family means a lot more money left for paying the bills, and buying good food and clothes for the family. But that did not work out instead birth control can only be prescribed by a physician, so that meant only middle and high class women had access to birth control.



2. Why did women active in politics encounter so much difficulty accomplishing their agenda in the 1920s?


Women active in politics encountered so much difficulty accomplishing their agenda in the 1920s, because of many reasons. The women's organizations were nonpartisan, as in they would not declare what party they belonged to. They were not Republicans or Democrats. Because of this none of the parties would support them. Other times when the parties would help them, and their wanted laws would get passed. The congress would under cut the funding for the laws that the women were going for and wanting. Also another problem was that most of these organizations were wanting the same thing but they would not work together, and they would go at getting what they wanted in different ways. But they would also not be wanting the same things. As in one group would be wanting something, and another group does not want that same thing but another thing.


3. How does the image on page 499 represent some of the experiences of women during the Great Depression?


The image on page 499 represents some of the experiences of women during the Great
Depression by showing a mother who looks older than her age. It also shows that she is sad and
worried about her family and how she is going to get food for her children, and a stable shelter.
This woman who is only thirty-two years old, looks like she is already in her fifties. This shows
how much stress she is in. This shows what kind of work she has to do to make a little bit of
money just to feed her three children. This image shows a women who has to support her three
children and herself. She most likely would give all the food she has to her kids and does not
really eat herself. This image shows that even though the economics suck, she is still trying
to survive.


4. To what extent did World War II challenge gender stereotypes for women? To what extent did it reinforce them?


World War II challenged gender stereotypes for women by letting women work in the army. It also let the women go to the countries where the American army was in order to work as nurses in the field. World War II also reinforced the gender stereotypes, by the choice of occupations women were allowed to have. They were basically doing jobs like being a clerk, telephone operators, etc.... They were also allowed to be nurses, but they were not allowed to be doctors. They were not allowed to be doctors even when there was a shortage of doctors available during the war. So these were the extents of how World War II both challenged and reinforced the gender stereotypes for women.