'making ends meet' and emigration from Wales Flashcards
What are the potential consequences of unemployment?
Poverty, failure to meet basic living costs, sense of hopelessness
Unemployment affects individuals physically and mentally.
What challenges did families face while surviving on the dole?
Stress of the Means Test, difficulty making ends meet
The Means Test added pressure to already strained family finances.
Who was typically the sole provider of income in families during unemployment?
The male
The loss of his job impacted the entire family.
What sacrifices did women often make during times of unemployment?
Eat less and put the health of the children before thier own
Women prioritized their family’s needs over their own.
What types of food did unemployed families commonly consume?
Cheaper food like potatoes and bread with margarine
They had limited access to nourishing foods such as meat, vegetables, fresh fruit, and milk.
On average, how much did a poor family spend on food per week in Stockton-on-Tees?
3 shillings (15 p) per head
Wealthier families spent at least 6 shillings (30 p) per head.
What percentage of the British population had an inadequate diet in 1936?
4.5 million British people
which was at least 10%
This indicates a significant portion faced dietary insufficiency.
What health issues did women face during this period?
Neglecting their own health, higher figures for deaths in childbirth and women’s illnesses
Reports indicated that Wales had higher rates than the rest of Britain.
What challenges did women face when having a child during these years?
Increased death rate, difficulty providing basics like milk and nappies
Many resorted to substitutes like sugar water and old newspapers.
What type of employment did women often seek to support their families?
Domestic service or working as shop assistants
These jobs typically paid lower wages than those for men.
What impact did women’s employment have on family benefits?
Could jeopardize any dole the husband might receive due to means testing
This created a conflict between earning income and receiving support.
What was a significant challenge for households regarding clothing and goods?
It became more difficult to repair items, leading to increased need for replacement
Many household goods and clothes were worn out.
How many people left Wales during the 1920s and 1930s?
Approximately 430,000
This migration was in search of better opportunities.
What was the population loss in Merthyr Tydfil during the 1930s?
10,000 people
This reflects the severe impact of unemployment on local communities.
Was there a census taken in 1941 due to the war?
No
The war disrupted regular census activities.
Fill in the blank: Families of the unemployed often ate a lot of _______ food.
cheaper
This included staples like potatoes and bread.
