==American Women Ask Eleanor Roosevelt for Help==

==American Women Ask Eleanor Roosevelt for Help==

Let me just say that almost all of the primary sources for this week broke my heart. '''Pain and sadness and such a thick sense of hope lost just oozing off of the paper. But the letters written to Eleanor Roosevelt struck me especially. That these women honestly believed Eleanor would try and help them says a lot about the way she related to Americans and how she tried to present herself as someone who understood how hard the Depression had become for American families.''' I couldn't believe that one of the women sent her rings to the White House in exchange for baby clothes. She is a perfect example of why birth control should have been made widely available to women, as these families will do anything for their children and it terrifies them to bring babies into the world that they can't afford. And her resistance to the idea of charity, as well as her desire for Eleanor Roosevelt to keep her request a secret, reflect the same attitudes of women Meridel LeSueur's writings about how women do not seek assistance in nearly the same numbers as men do. They are supposed to be the infallible mothers who always provide for their children, and when they cannot they don't want to admit that they haven't achieved the ideal. On a side note, the letters made me wonder what sort of things the Obamas read these days, as the current economic situation isn't the Depression, but I imagine they get some painful letters as well. -Mary Ann

Let me just say that almost all of the primary sources for this week broke my heart. '''Pain and sadness and such a thick sense of hope lost just oozing off of the paper. But the letters written to Eleanor Roosevelt struck me especially. That these women honestly believed Eleanor would try and help them says a lot about the way she related to Americans and how she tried to present herself as someone who understood how hard the Depression had become for American families.''' I couldn't believe that one of the women sent her rings to the White House in exchange for baby clothes. She is a perfect example of why birth control should have been made widely available to women, as these families will do anything for their children and it terrifies them to bring babies into the world that they can't afford. And her resistance to the idea of charity, as well as her desire for Eleanor Roosevelt to keep her request a secret, reflect the same attitudes of women Meridel LeSueur's writings about how women do not seek assistance in nearly the same numbers as men do. They are supposed to be the infallible mothers who always provide for their children, and when they cannot they don't want to admit that they haven't achieved the ideal. On a side note, the letters made me wonder what sort of things the Obamas read these days, as the current economic situation isn't the Depression, but I imagine they get some painful letters as well. -Mary Ann

The letters to Mrs. Roosevelt were indeed upsetting, although I was most impressed with the woman seeking assistance for a new baby and offering to provide collateral.  My question is why didn’t she take Mrs. Roosevelt’s advice and seek assistance from the Welfare Association?  '''I understand pride and it’s commendable that she didn’t want to be seen as a charity case, but I think that the welfare of your children is always paramount.'''  I think that she should have sucked it up, gone to the Welfare Association and asked for assistance.  Social programs are put in place to help those in need for a specific period of time, I know I would have done anything and gone anywhere to help my kids.  In addition, I found it kind of amusing that in all of this tragic poverty, one child writes and asks for roller skates of all things.  I wonder if the Roosevelt’s or the White House had asked the citizens to send them letters of concern or if these are just individuals just too overburdened and looking for hope. EFritz

The letters to Mrs. Roosevelt were indeed upsetting, although I was most impressed with the woman seeking assistance for a new baby and offering to provide collateral.  My question is why didn’t she take Mrs. Roosevelt’s advice and seek assistance from the Welfare Association?  '''I understand pride and it’s commendable that she didn’t want to be seen as a charity case, but I think that the welfare of your children is always paramount.'''  I think that she should have sucked it up, gone to the Welfare Association and asked for assistance.  Social programs are put in place to help those in need for a specific period of time, I know I would have done anything and gone anywhere to help my kids.  In addition, I found it kind of amusing that in all of this tragic poverty, one child writes and asks for roller skates of all things.  I wonder if the Roosevelt’s or the White House had asked the citizens to send them letters of concern or if these are just individuals just too overburdened and looking for hope. EFritz

In response to the above about the woman not wanting help from the Welfare Association, I think it's just really a matter of pride, but completely understandable.  Welfare was a VERY new cause then, and before the only people who got charity were those of the low low working class.  These women writing Mrs. Roosevelt were obviously very educated, probably newly impoverished and couldn't possibly imagine being indebted to someone. It is interesting to the note change in American views toward the presidency. I feel that today you would not see these huge amounts of letters to the President and First Lady in time of need. - Christine

In response to the above about the woman not wanting help from the Welfare Association, I think it's just really a matter of pride, but completely understandable.  '''Welfare was a VERY new cause then, and before the only people who got charity were those of the low low working class.''' These women writing Mrs. Roosevelt were obviously very educated, probably newly impoverished and couldn't possibly imagine being indebted to someone. It is interesting to the note change in American views toward the presidency. I feel that today you would not see these huge amounts of letters to the President and First Lady in time of need. - Christine

I agree with Christine about women not wanting welfare was a matter of pride. But I feel that if the situation were bad enough, someone might be willing to accept any help they are offered. However, I do understand that times were so tough, and I'm sure no one, men or women, wanted to admit that they were practically destitute and there was no end in sight, even with the New Deal's initial emergence. I found the introduction to this article quite interesting. President and Mrs. Roosevelt encouraged people to write letters expressing their concerns and problems. I think it was important for the American people to know that someone was listening to them, and that their pleas were not futile or unheard. The Roosevelts showed concern for the American people, and I think that was extremely important to people, especially in such harsh times. -- Alex M.  

I agree with Christine about women not wanting welfare was a matter of pride. But I feel that if the situation were bad enough, someone might be willing to accept any help they are offered. However, I do understand that times were so tough, and I'm sure no one, men or women, wanted to admit that they were practically destitute and there was no end in sight, even with the New Deal's initial emergence. I found the introduction to this article quite interesting. President and Mrs. Roosevelt encouraged people to write letters expressing their concerns and problems. '''I think it was important for the American people to know that someone was listening to them, and that their pleas were not futile or unheard.''' The Roosevelts showed concern for the American people, and I think that was extremely important to people, especially in such harsh times. -- Alex M.  

My first response to each of these letters is "Wow." I literally am struggling to find something to say. I agree with ABRATCHI about feeling the pride reflected in the letters. These women were all very strong-willed, though they were in hopeless situations. They were able to place aside their fears and insecurities in order to ask the most powerful woman in America to help them. That alone is respectable. It is also interesting to see how the way American's react to dire situation has changed in the past few decades. I sense that Americans, women in particular, have evolved to possess a more "go-getter" attitude.--MDvorak

My first response to each of these letters is "Wow." I literally am struggling to find something to say. I agree with ABRATCHI about feeling the pride reflected in the letters. These women were all very strong-willed, though they were in hopeless situations. They were able to place aside their fears and insecurities in order to ask the most powerful woman in America to help them. That alone is respectable. It is also interesting to see how the way American's react to dire situation has changed in the past few decades. I sense that Americans, women in particular, have evolved to possess a more "go-getter" attitude.--MDvorak

Like everyone has already expressed these letters were heartbreaking to read and its impossible not to feel these womens despair. '''They reminded me of a previous reading we did of the letters that African Americans in the south sent to a Chicago newspaper in their desperation to find a job. These women echoed the same amount of faith and trust that those women did in their letters. While these letters are extremely difficult to read it was amazing to see the kind of faith that the American people had in the government.''' Eleanor Roosevelt really made her self available to the people and whether or not she was able to help these women I think it must have helped them to know that there was someone out there who was listening. --Emma Peck

Like everyone has already expressed these letters were heartbreaking to read and its impossible not to feel these womens despair. '''They reminded me of a previous reading we did of the letters that African Americans in the south sent to a Chicago newspaper in their desperation to find a job. These women echoed the same amount of faith and trust that those women did in their letters. While these letters are extremely difficult to read it was amazing to see the kind of faith that the American people had in the government.''' Eleanor Roosevelt really made her self available to the people and whether or not she was able to help these women I think it must have helped them to know that there was someone out there who was listening. --Emma Peck