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Dorthea Lange, a renowned photographer during the 1930’s Great Depression, captured the iconic image pictured to the left. This photograph, entitled “The Migrant Mother” came to serve as a representation of the deprivations caused by the failing economy. This photograph also served as a strong symbol of the encumbrance children placed upon their families. “The Migrant Mother” is much more than a mere picture of a mother and her three children, it displays an image of the turmoil that a generation of people were facing.
The incorporation of the children in this photograph is not unintentional. The children leave a lasting message that even during these hard times, there is still mother and child, and there is still a very strong sense of unity in family. The fact that the mother physically has to hold her children up correlates with the feelings many children felt in that they were burdens to their family rather than blessings. This photograph truly encapsulates the societal problems faced by the lower and middle classes and how they were affected by the fall of the American economy. This rapid transition from “Boom to Bust” caused children growing up during this era to lose their sense of childhood carefreeness. At this time, children were virtually helpless, as their entire future was determined by the sacrifices their parents were willing to make. Many children suffered from malnutrition and homelessness, and chose to run away rather than further hinder their family. During the 1930’s, almost 25% of the nation’s children did not get enough to eat and a quarter of a million American children became homeless tramps.1 Dorthea Lange’s photographs allowed people to visualize what was happening to the lower and middle classes at this time, and the effects that the Great Depression was having on children in particular. As Dorthea Lange was partnered with the FSA (The Farm Security Administration), her photographs allowed issues such as poverty and poor working conditions to become more evident, and awareness swept through the nation.2 Undeniably, this image remains a strong symbol of strength during destitution.3
1Allen, Amy R. 2003. Growing Up in the Great Depression 1929 to 1941. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications. http://books.google.com/books?id=iHSbcPRW4n8C&pg=PP2&lpg=PP2&dq=growing+up+in+the+great+depression+amy+ruth+allen&source=bl&ots=U0UPoUx10-&sig=Nms1puCam1HbICUzDv1XTUERpAE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NyIhVJC4FIi1ggTZ-4DgAQ&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=growing%20up%20in%20the%20great%20depression%20amy%20ruth%20allen&f=false.
2Phelan, Ben. 2014. “The Story of the ‘Migrant Mother’.” Accessed September 22. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/fts/kansascity_201307F03.html.
3Gutierrez, Thelma, and Wayne Drash. 2008. “Girl from Iconic Great Depression Photo: ‘We Were Ashamed’.” Accessed September 22. http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/02/dustbowl.photo/.
The incorporation of the children in this photograph is not unintentional. The children leave a lasting message that even during these hard times, there is still mother and child, and there is still a very strong sense of unity in family. The fact that the mother physically has to hold her children up correlates with the feelings many children felt in that they were burdens to their family rather than blessings. This photograph truly encapsulates the societal problems faced by the lower and middle classes and how they were affected by the fall of the American economy. This rapid transition from “Boom to Bust” caused children growing up during this era to lose their sense of childhood carefreeness. At this time, children were virtually helpless, as their entire future was determined by the sacrifices their parents were willing to make. Many children suffered from malnutrition and homelessness, and chose to run away rather than further hinder their family. During the 1930’s, almost 25% of the nation’s children did not get enough to eat and a quarter of a million American children became homeless tramps.1 Dorthea Lange’s photographs allowed people to visualize what was happening to the lower and middle classes at this time, and the effects that the Great Depression was having on children in particular. As Dorthea Lange was partnered with the FSA (The Farm Security Administration), her photographs allowed issues such as poverty and poor working conditions to become more evident, and awareness swept through the nation.2 Undeniably, this image remains a strong symbol of strength during destitution.3
1Allen, Amy R. 2003. Growing Up in the Great Depression 1929 to 1941. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications. http://books.google.com/books?id=iHSbcPRW4n8C&pg=PP2&lpg=PP2&dq=growing+up+in+the+great+depression+amy+ruth+allen&source=bl&ots=U0UPoUx10-&sig=Nms1puCam1HbICUzDv1XTUERpAE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NyIhVJC4FIi1ggTZ-4DgAQ&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=growing%20up%20in%20the%20great%20depression%20amy%20ruth%20allen&f=false.
2Phelan, Ben. 2014. “The Story of the ‘Migrant Mother’.” Accessed September 22. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/fts/kansascity_201307F03.html.
3Gutierrez, Thelma, and Wayne Drash. 2008. “Girl from Iconic Great Depression Photo: ‘We Were Ashamed’.” Accessed September 22. http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/02/dustbowl.photo/.