What Hygiene Was Like During The Great Depression
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Date: 2022-12-29
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Comments and reviews: 20
Nocturnal
There's one element that you didn't mention that I think was extremely important. The Great Depression beat down the pride of people in so many ways -- loss of jobs, loss of income, loss of homes. The one thing that people could control was their appearance. If you had soap, which was cheap, and access to water, you could at least stay clean. Not only did it make you more presentable, but it bolstered people's pride and self-respect and gave them the feeling that they could control something, even when the rest of the world was falling down around them. In a way, it was a kind of defiance, a way of showing that you hadn't given up. The phrase 'poor but proud' definitely comes to mind.
I know my great-grandmothers (I knew two of them) and both my grandmothers were close to fanatical about cleanliness for that reason. Both sides of the family had been prosperous; both were hit hard. However, soap, as mentioned, was cheap, and they did have access to water. so staying clean was a matter of determination and a willingness to work hard, both of which they all had in abundance. The family may not have had many clothes, but they were kept clean, mended and ironed at all times, and were kept in the best condition possible. That's a lot of work given their lack of equipment.
On a side note (since I did just watch the video about eating during the Dust Bowl, their other front of defiance was making certain their families were fed. Even if they didn't live on farms, they all knew how to can and to preserve food. Their kids may not have had a very varied diet, but they were all fed, healthy and clean. That was a big thing, then.
I actually really admire them for their attitudes. Maintaining their standards of cleanliness was basically a ladylike raised middle finger to circumstances that could have broken them (and did break many people) Total respect there.
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There's one element that you didn't mention that I think was extremely important. The Great Depression beat down the pride of people in so many ways -- loss of jobs, loss of income, loss of homes. The one thing that people could control was their appearance. If you had soap, which was cheap, and access to water, you could at least stay clean. Not only did it make you more presentable, but it bolstered people's pride and self-respect and gave them the feeling that they could control something, even when the rest of the world was falling down around them. In a way, it was a kind of defiance, a way of showing that you hadn't given up. The phrase 'poor but proud' definitely comes to mind.
I know my great-grandmothers (I knew two of them) and both my grandmothers were close to fanatical about cleanliness for that reason. Both sides of the family had been prosperous; both were hit hard. However, soap, as mentioned, was cheap, and they did have access to water. so staying clean was a matter of determination and a willingness to work hard, both of which they all had in abundance. The family may not have had many clothes, but they were kept clean, mended and ironed at all times, and were kept in the best condition possible. That's a lot of work given their lack of equipment.
On a side note (since I did just watch the video about eating during the Dust Bowl, their other front of defiance was making certain their families were fed. Even if they didn't live on farms, they all knew how to can and to preserve food. Their kids may not have had a very varied diet, but they were all fed, healthy and clean. That was a big thing, then.
I actually really admire them for their attitudes. Maintaining their standards of cleanliness was basically a ladylike raised middle finger to circumstances that could have broken them (and did break many people) Total respect there.
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Gillian
My Grandmother was born in 1895, she was just 5 ft tall and the most amazing lady I've ever known in my life; living through two world wars and spending most of her her life a widow, she had the most spotless home, baked all her own bread, and spent hours making jam and marmalade, and did so much for so many people. She used an old fashioned wringer and boiled her whites in a big copper machine. I remember putting the cleanest clothes through the mangle when I was about 10 years old through the mangle on her clothes line. I loved her so much and I'm now 73 but will never forget her.
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My Grandmother was born in 1895, she was just 5 ft tall and the most amazing lady I've ever known in my life; living through two world wars and spending most of her her life a widow, she had the most spotless home, baked all her own bread, and spent hours making jam and marmalade, and did so much for so many people. She used an old fashioned wringer and boiled her whites in a big copper machine. I remember putting the cleanest clothes through the mangle when I was about 10 years old through the mangle on her clothes line. I loved her so much and I'm now 73 but will never forget her.
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Eva
I had a patient who was incontinence she refused to buy adult briefs. She would use paper or cloth and sit on a washable chuck ( water proof sheets ). she was not poor she had money her kids were upset that she did not want them to buy the disposal brief. I told. Them dont get upset. She grew up poor and during the depression and she did not want to waste. They never thought about it. Later. I informed her doctor. And she said it was ok to use them. She listened and starting to use them. Her kids did not understand what it was to not have and make do w what u did have.
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I had a patient who was incontinence she refused to buy adult briefs. She would use paper or cloth and sit on a washable chuck ( water proof sheets ). she was not poor she had money her kids were upset that she did not want them to buy the disposal brief. I told. Them dont get upset. She grew up poor and during the depression and she did not want to waste. They never thought about it. Later. I informed her doctor. And she said it was ok to use them. She listened and starting to use them. Her kids did not understand what it was to not have and make do w what u did have.
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Tom
A lot of the old ways followed into the baby boomer generation. Even the food from the Depression -- it stuck on them despite modern conveniences, we never had the money. We recycled bath water (I was the youngest so I was last -- I remember sitting in milky white water with dried skin floating in it. My mother used Fels Naptha in the bath and to wash clothes (grating the bar. We were poor but my mother would never let us leave the house dirty or with torn clothes.
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A lot of the old ways followed into the baby boomer generation. Even the food from the Depression -- it stuck on them despite modern conveniences, we never had the money. We recycled bath water (I was the youngest so I was last -- I remember sitting in milky white water with dried skin floating in it. My mother used Fels Naptha in the bath and to wash clothes (grating the bar. We were poor but my mother would never let us leave the house dirty or with torn clothes.
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Lynn
Humiliation? Naw, that comes along with being a woman, just ask the girl at the PUBLIC pool that thought she was hot schitt and flirting with everyone's husbands/boyfriend's, I'm sure she wasn't humiliated, when she finally figured out why we was all giggling and pointing, I'm sure next time, she'll make sure her tampon string is inside her bikini bottoms and not hanging out, for ALL to see, lolol!
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Humiliation? Naw, that comes along with being a woman, just ask the girl at the PUBLIC pool that thought she was hot schitt and flirting with everyone's husbands/boyfriend's, I'm sure she wasn't humiliated, when she finally figured out why we was all giggling and pointing, I'm sure next time, she'll make sure her tampon string is inside her bikini bottoms and not hanging out, for ALL to see, lolol!
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Bea
My grandpa said that he realized the difference between being hungry and hunger when he sat down at the table and saw that they were having a possum for dinner. and he was happy to eat it. He ended up going to a CCC Camp so he could eat and have a place to sleep to help take the burden off of his dad who was raising four other sons by himself.
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My grandpa said that he realized the difference between being hungry and hunger when he sat down at the table and saw that they were having a possum for dinner. and he was happy to eat it. He ended up going to a CCC Camp so he could eat and have a place to sleep to help take the burden off of his dad who was raising four other sons by himself.
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denise
When America is full of trash they can't be dealt with and it smells so bad everywhere we won't worry about hygiene we'll have to become inventive to deal with the trash glass bottles were better because they could be washed and reused plastic is in everything and destroying the Earth
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When America is full of trash they can't be dealt with and it smells so bad everywhere we won't worry about hygiene we'll have to become inventive to deal with the trash glass bottles were better because they could be washed and reused plastic is in everything and destroying the Earth
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Matthew
Hasn't really changed that much since then even people in homes don't know what soap is people are poor all over the place some people still make there own soap and wash there clothes by hand I my self am poor and have had to was my clothes by hand
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Hasn't really changed that much since then even people in homes don't know what soap is people are poor all over the place some people still make there own soap and wash there clothes by hand I my self am poor and have had to was my clothes by hand
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kenziemay
I think my grandmother (born 1945) picked up on her mother's habits of saving everything, I don't know anyone else who refrigerates half a pot of coffee. That's smart too, coffee was expensive! And still is, or at least the kind I like is
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I think my grandmother (born 1945) picked up on her mother's habits of saving everything, I don't know anyone else who refrigerates half a pot of coffee. That's smart too, coffee was expensive! And still is, or at least the kind I like is
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education
Lysol still had the use after marital relations instructions on its label in the 1950s. I was only 8, so had the hardest time imaginable trying to figure out what that meant. Didn't help I first read it as martial.
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Lysol still had the use after marital relations instructions on its label in the 1950s. I was only 8, so had the hardest time imaginable trying to figure out what that meant. Didn't help I first read it as martial.
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cult
My former job had a clean shave rule and short hair. Not a single rule for womens appearance though. Had to get religious consideration to get around it until I got to meet the CEO and talked him into changing it.
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My former job had a clean shave rule and short hair. Not a single rule for womens appearance though. Had to get religious consideration to get around it until I got to meet the CEO and talked him into changing it.
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Amir
Well, it's better than Victorian era hygiene where you were lucky to get laid immediately after your partner washed their body and genitals in the stinky river water which was a once per month affair, at best.
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Well, it's better than Victorian era hygiene where you were lucky to get laid immediately after your partner washed their body and genitals in the stinky river water which was a once per month affair, at best.
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308
Not nearly as bad as I thought. I thought bathing was a weekly affair for the longest time. If soap, how water and clean laundry were so readily available then why wouldnt daily bathing have been the norm?
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Not nearly as bad as I thought. I thought bathing was a weekly affair for the longest time. If soap, how water and clean laundry were so readily available then why wouldnt daily bathing have been the norm?
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Gary
I make my own concoction of macaroni and cheese with hotdogs (without the tomatoes) I do use elbows but noodles and Alfredo sauce. yummy I sometimes make elbows and I use other pastas and Alfredo sauce
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I make my own concoction of macaroni and cheese with hotdogs (without the tomatoes) I do use elbows but noodles and Alfredo sauce. yummy I sometimes make elbows and I use other pastas and Alfredo sauce
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camerrill
We ate cornmeal mush pancakes. we saved bacon grease in a coffee can on the stove and never let it go to waste. We ate several of these meals, but no jackrabbits!
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We ate cornmeal mush pancakes. we saved bacon grease in a coffee can on the stove and never let it go to waste. We ate several of these meals, but no jackrabbits!
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Maenad
Had no idea the clean shaven = employable thing was just vintage body shaming in order to get American men to buy extra shit they previously decided they didnt need.
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Had no idea the clean shaven = employable thing was just vintage body shaming in order to get American men to buy extra shit they previously decided they didnt need.
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sasha
Even when I grew up in 1970s kids would have a bath once a week, many would share bath water. So I think this is all a bit of an idealistic fantasy
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Even when I grew up in 1970s kids would have a bath once a week, many would share bath water. So I think this is all a bit of an idealistic fantasy
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Beverly
These videos are not only very informative, but they're also enjoyable! I used to use OB tampons; I had no idea that they had been out that long.
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These videos are not only very informative, but they're also enjoyable! I used to use OB tampons; I had no idea that they had been out that long.
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bswihart1
Some families had a lot of kids, why is it that in the poorest state that one could be in you decide on having another kid, it still happens.
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Some families had a lot of kids, why is it that in the poorest state that one could be in you decide on having another kid, it still happens.
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Ogichidaawag
No need to watch this video. We're ALL fixxin to find out first hand in the very near future due to Biden incompetence and or malice.
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No need to watch this video. We're ALL fixxin to find out first hand in the very near future due to Biden incompetence and or malice.
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