Research Assignment: Analyzing Job Ads
I. New York Times, 5 January 1930. Section: "Household Help Wanted: Female"
1. Date: Early in the Depression. How easy was it to find jobs then?
2. "Help Wanted: Female": Employers want specifically a female cook. Why?
3. "colored": Demonstrates that household labor was open to African-Americans during this period. Why would this ad specifically ask for a black cook? Was it because black household workers could be paid less?
4. "sleep out": Employer cannot afford to provide live-in accomodations. What does it say about the social position of the employer and the expectations for household work in this period?
II. New York Times, 16 January 1937. Section: "Help Wanted--Female"
1. Date: Late in the Depression. Was it easier to find jobs then before, or were people more desperate for a job because the Depression had lasted for so long?
2. "very attractive": this stenographer ad concentrates on appearance and lists no qualifications for stenography
3. "charming personality": what does this character/temperament requirement mean in this context?
3. "good teeth": aspects of appearance relevant to the dentists office
4. "American": does this mean citizenship or ethnicity and race as well?
5. "state religion": religion is also a requirement for this job. What religion do you think would this employer prefer?