Answer:
Women had to compulsorily work for survival, were paid less, their unions were not strong. Black women suffered more of each issue.
Explanation:
Great Depression was the period of low economic activity, high unemployment, low income levels.
Austerity referred to withdrawal of social welfare expenditure plans by government.
Both these coupled up factors aggravated the situation.
Although women were initiating workforce participation by 1930s.
- Many women now had to urgently seek or join jobs, as men bread-earners had lost their jobs.
- Women were paid less, but were majorly in less volatile jobs (teaching, nursing etc)
- The battle for equal, decent wage got more difficult for women in this scenario
- Women labour unions were formed, but they were less effective & impactful in influencing rules.
- With white women entering labour force, struggle of black women in all the above aspects became even much worse.
