Between 1933 and 1945, the role of American women changed rapidly because of the sudden turn of events. The Great Depression and World War II pushed more women than ever before into the workforce. The New Deal improved working conditions for women, encouraged women’s participation in organized labor, and overcame some racial prejudices against women workers. However, sexism and racism still seemed to remain in the labor force and unions. National and international events significantly shaped the roles played by American women during the Great Depression and World War II. Undoubtedly, experiences from American women varied because of race, socioeconomic position, and marital status. The experiences of American women varied tremendously in regards to race. Although The New Deal overcame some prejudice against non-white, women workers, racism continued. Unemployment rates were especially severe for African American women. During the Great Depression, when white women entered the market as domestic servants African American women lost their regular positions. After the event of Pearl …show more content…
Society discriminated against married, women workers. Some work forces even refused to hire married women, but many married women were forced to find jobs when their husband’s were laid off, this was especially the case for older married women. The single women worked mostly because their families could no longer provide for them. Peggy Terry, A married, pregnant teenager recalls, “ I was pregnant when first started hitchhiking, and people were really very nice to us. Sometimes they would feed us.” Terry obviously had it different than the lost marriage rates during the Depression. In some circumstances, single women would complain about losing thier jobs to married women. (Doc.A) This gave rise to regulations that required teachers and other groups of women employees to quit their jobs once they were