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Making Do
These real-life stories were taken from interviews in 1975 with real women survivors of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Today, in 2012, these women are deceased, but they leave behind their oral histories...courageous stories of life and survival in the worst of hard times. Market and job downturns seem to come upon us with generational regularity so we can learn from them in this new age. Some of these stories have been reprinted in numerous anthologies and women's histories.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2012
210 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Jeane Westin
26 books30 followersJeane Westin's professional writing career began with a humourous camping disaster article for her local newspaper. National newspaper and magazine articles followed until she moved on to non-fiction books and then to long hardback historical novels. Jeane's second novel, 'Swing Sisters' came out of her youthful love of jazz, the major record collections she carted about the country and from wondering what women's role was during the early years of that special American music.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 13, 2022
Interesting Personal Stories
This book, for me, added color and dimension to the history book lessons of long ago. Although repetitive in places, the stories kept me interested and reading!
The Depression happened some 30 years before I was born and though my family wasn't wealthy by any means, we never experienced anything even CLOSE to what folks did back then.
So many people today (myself included at times) are used to a much easier way of life. Our appliances are often remote and can be run by "smart phone" in many cases so that they almost run themselves. Our efforts to feed our families amount to running to the grocery store, or looking to a full freezer, making choices as to what we will serve among multiple options and then putting it in the oven, air fryer, crockpot, stovetop or microwave. We don't get "close" to taking in on a regular basis just how our food is grown, how it gets to the grocery stores, our refrigerator or pantry and finally our table! We don't have to kill a chicken and remove feathers and clean it before making our roast chicken or chicken cacciatore.
People who lived during and after the depression were very resourceful, had very strong work ethics and held themselves to higher standards than many do today. I find it sad that we have lost much of that in the world today. Where I live in Maine, there are many job openings due to fallout from the pandemic and a starting wage of 15.00 or more per hour isn't unheard of as well as signing bonuses and benefits in some positions. Back then folks would take ANY job -- and uproot themselves and their families or walk miles to do it. There are those today who will easily refuse a job if it isn't meeting every single one of their expectations or who will accept it, go through training and quit within a month or call in sick the first time they feel too tired or would rather have a beach day.
I think this book is a pretty solid read!
This book, for me, added color and dimension to the history book lessons of long ago. Although repetitive in places, the stories kept me interested and reading!
The Depression happened some 30 years before I was born and though my family wasn't wealthy by any means, we never experienced anything even CLOSE to what folks did back then.
So many people today (myself included at times) are used to a much easier way of life. Our appliances are often remote and can be run by "smart phone" in many cases so that they almost run themselves. Our efforts to feed our families amount to running to the grocery store, or looking to a full freezer, making choices as to what we will serve among multiple options and then putting it in the oven, air fryer, crockpot, stovetop or microwave. We don't get "close" to taking in on a regular basis just how our food is grown, how it gets to the grocery stores, our refrigerator or pantry and finally our table! We don't have to kill a chicken and remove feathers and clean it before making our roast chicken or chicken cacciatore.
People who lived during and after the depression were very resourceful, had very strong work ethics and held themselves to higher standards than many do today. I find it sad that we have lost much of that in the world today. Where I live in Maine, there are many job openings due to fallout from the pandemic and a starting wage of 15.00 or more per hour isn't unheard of as well as signing bonuses and benefits in some positions. Back then folks would take ANY job -- and uproot themselves and their families or walk miles to do it. There are those today who will easily refuse a job if it isn't meeting every single one of their expectations or who will accept it, go through training and quit within a month or call in sick the first time they feel too tired or would rather have a beach day.
I think this book is a pretty solid read!
December 25, 2022
- During the 30s, housewives spent most of their time doing chores
- As economy soars, recipes and money saving tips became all the rage
- Marriage rate dropped during the time frame, even without birth control, birth rate dropped as well (as many believe that it'd be too hard to raise children under the poor economic condition)
- Primal urge to mate, marry, and propagate had to take second place to eat, sleep and work
- For some, recover began around '35
- Landlord would move rent-delaying tenant off the street, and people (or organizations like the black panthers) would move people back in
- "There's always been a housing shortage in Pittsburgh" - the sentiment of housing shortage is eternal
- Government worker didn't suffer during the Great Depression. While their wage remains stagnant, they were paid on time and fairly compensated
- As economy soars, recipes and money saving tips became all the rage
- Marriage rate dropped during the time frame, even without birth control, birth rate dropped as well (as many believe that it'd be too hard to raise children under the poor economic condition)
- Primal urge to mate, marry, and propagate had to take second place to eat, sleep and work
- For some, recover began around '35
- Landlord would move rent-delaying tenant off the street, and people (or organizations like the black panthers) would move people back in
- "There's always been a housing shortage in Pittsburgh" - the sentiment of housing shortage is eternal
- Government worker didn't suffer during the Great Depression. While their wage remains stagnant, they were paid on time and fairly compensated
August 20, 2025
interesting read
A nice cross section of women’s experiences over the 1930s grouped together by related themes. Insightful and poignant given the current state of women’s rights in 2025 verses the initial reflection during the 1970s.
A nice cross section of women’s experiences over the 1930s grouped together by related themes. Insightful and poignant given the current state of women’s rights in 2025 verses the initial reflection during the 1970s.
August 4, 2022
Such strong women!
This book should be required reading in schools! I learned so much about the women of the 30's. Fascinating, trailblazing, tough as nails women.
This book should be required reading in schools! I learned so much about the women of the 30's. Fascinating, trailblazing, tough as nails women.
June 15, 2025
This is a priceless historical document. First hand stories of women’s lives through the Great Depression, covering a wide range of economic backgrounds. I’m giving it three stars because the book is very uneven in the way it’s formatted, and I find many of the accounts to be too brief, or that they’ve been cut off at a point where you’re left wondering what happened. The editor did a terrible job.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews