Great Depression Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Great Depression - Essay Example Among those most affected by the consequences of this catastrophe were white people especially us women. This is because we were tasked to look after families when men lost jobs and banks lacked sufficient amount of money for borrowing. It implies that marriages suffered several hiccups that often delayed courtship and eventually decreased divorce rates. According to government statistics, the expensive legal fees of supporting two families compelled many women to avoid cases of separation of divorce (Berton, 2001). Another consequence as white women involved a significant drop in birth rates thus causing an alarm in the replacement level in the country. A drop of 35 percent during Herbert Hoover’s regime resulted to a loss of income in a span of four years totaling to a drain of $15 million. Therefore, ordinary families experienced a strain in affording household items that could sustain them for a longer period. However, instances of falling apart in case of a decline in res ources and income became common, hence, changing roles of both men and women. Roles and responsibilities hugely affected women who had to fend for their suffering children and jobless husbands. As a result, men suffered a loss of self confidence and esteem forcing a majority to abandon completely the institutions of marriage. In a 1940 survey, close to 1.5 million married women faced divorce cases as a consequence of disagreements with their husbands. Additionally, women broke boundaries and started seeking for employment outside to sustain the welfare of their fledgling families (Freedman, 2005). It indicates the liberties and freedoms that expanded for women because the Great Depression under F.D. Roosevelt’s administration. The New Deal programs were equally a part of government relief initiative because they directly benefited women. For example, the program expanded lower pay scales and enacted