Selected Primary Source and Its Connection to the Event
The Great Depression affected everyone in the United States, with some groups being impacted more than others. For women, this period became a turning point for becoming a vital part of the workforce while still struggling with their household, workplace, and government positions. The selected primary source for this discussion is the article written by Pearl S. Buck in 1938.
The Great Depression: Contextualizing the Primary Source and Event
The author describes her experience living in China and America and compares these countries’ views of women (Buck, 1938). While talking about the general female careers and aspirations, this article can be connected to the historical event of the Second New Deal and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) establishment in 1935 (Barnes & Bowles, 2014). In the 1930s, women’s lives changed significantly as they gained new employment opportunities.
Significance of the Event to the Chosen Group
The Great Depression affected all workplaces, resulting in many people losing jobs or drastically reducing their income. This financial issue meant that many families where men were previously employed and women stayed at home could no longer support themselves and their children (Barnes & Bowles, 2014). This period aligned with the rising desire of women to become workers and gain independence socially and financially (Barnes & Bowles, 2014). Nevertheless, many female employees faced significant inequalities, could not find a job, or could only secure positions with low pay and simple tasks.
The Second New Deal was critical to this group because it increased their presence in the job market. However, it also created a new conflict as men started believing that women threatened their employment prospects (Barnes & Bowles, 2014). The article by Buck (1938) exposes this fear and demonstrates that, although American women could potentially be workers equal to men, their position was much more vulnerable.
Insights and Limitations of the Primary Source
The writer does not explicitly discuss the recently established WPA, but she shows how female professionals struggled to gain respect. The event of WPA creation and women’s participation in the workforce can be central to my final paper, where I plan to discuss the female segment of the job market in the 1930s and the problems women faced while trying to support their families and themselves.
References
Barnes, L. & Bowles, M. (2014). The American story: Perspectives and encounters from 1877. Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Buck, P. S. (1938). American women. Harper’s Magazine. Web.