Sierra Brown
Romero
Hist. 175
October 27, 2014
The New Deal
The New Deal effected Americans across the nation in many ways that were not always positive. Men and women, white and black Americans, and tenant farmers and industrial workers were all seeking better treatment and opportunities from the American government and hoped that the New Deal reform programs would address that.
The New Deal changed the role of men and women in the workplace forever. Men were no longer looked at as the sole breadwinners for there families, and women were beginning for more work opportunities outside the home. The New Deal brought more women into government positions then ever before, and also laid the groundwork for the success of women today. Women in this time looked up to Rosie the Riveter, which was a popular piece of primary propaganda at the time aimed at motivating the working females of America.
Eleanor Roosevelt is well known for transforming the role of first lady, and worked hard to help relieve working women who were suffering from the Great Depression. Eleanor Roosevelt pushed for the creation of the Civil Works Administration (CWA), and encouraged that a female, Ellen Woodward, be hired to run it. In a propaganda poster of that time put out by the CWA it asked women, "Girls, are you interested in a job? Find out what occupation has to offer you." This is a primary example of New Deal programs in favor of women workers. During the great depression there were 2 million women who were sole breadwinners for their families who were largely unrecognized by the American government. In fact, minimum wage for women was lower then it was for white males who were doing the same job. Problems like these led to...