The vital roles that women play in keeping households afloat in
economic crises have been largely ignored. This study of 152 women
in a region that experienced catastrophic unemployment found that
women are the pillars of family support. Beyond maintaining their
households and supplementing their families' income whenever pos
sible, the women helped to mend their demoralized families and find
necessary resources for comfort and aid. When unemployment strikes
families, it affects all family members. The strength of the women in
this study in dealing with the needs of their husbands and children
had demonstrable effects.
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