Interview (MGP4)

In this project, I will interview a man and a single mother about the struggles during the "Great Recession" in 2001.

Tom (Man) - 39 years old

 Susie: Hello Tom.

Tom: Hello.

Susie: I sent you a letter to inform you about this interview I wanted to have with you. Did you thoroughly understand why you were coming here?

Tom: Yes, I came to the understanding that you wanted to interview different people who survived during the great recession in 2001.

Susie: Yes, that is exactly why you are here. I have invited a couple of more people, but you are the first I will interview. Are you ready to begin now?

Tom: I am ready if you are.

Susie: Okay. So, are you married?

Tom: No, well my wife died just a few years before the Great Recession. I had to suffer alone.

Susie: I'm sorry to hear that. Do you think that maybe it was easier for you to survive because it was just you.

Tom: I'm not quite sure. I know it was hard being by myself. Especially, when I lost my job. Maybe if my wife was here she could have contributed some. Maybe not.

Susie: Did you know that in 2001 the women to men ratio of job loss was 17:100? Many men that lost their jobs were immediately hired somewhere else. Women, however, were just unemployed .

That leaves single mothers with no source of income to provide for their children. Single mothers would agree that they suffered drastically more than anyone else during the recession. Do you agree?

 Tom: No, I didn't know the ratio, but I did know that women were suffering as much as men. Yes, I can't disagree at all. I know it was hard for me to provide for myself. I know it was even harder for a person with kids.

Susie: Oh. So how are you living now compared to during the recession ?

Tom: It's way better now. I have a better job. I was unemployed then.

Susie: Thank you for coming today. I have one other person I want to interview. After I interview her alone, I will invite you back together. Okay?

Tom: You're welcome. & okay.

 

 Tanya - 36 years old , 2 children

 

 Susie: Hey Tanya.

Tanya: Hey.

Susie: I just wanted to talk to you about the recession  in 2001 and how you managed with two kids to survive.

Tanya: Okay, That's fine. I will start by saying it was not easy. It was hard. It got harder and harder each day. I worked a part-time job, so I wasn't making much money. My kids always needed new shoes and clothes. I wasn't able to buy them nice things like the other kids had. It was just me. I had no support. The little help I got was from government assistance. That was food stamps. I do thank the government for that. Before I was able to receive any assistance, I didn't know how we were going to survive without food. All the money I made was going towards bills. Food prices rose and I couldn't afford much of anything.

Susie: That's very interesting. You've answered most of my questions without me even asking them. Now I will bring Tom back.

 Tom: Hey Tanya. Hey Susie.

Susie & Tanya: Hi Tom.

Susie: Tom, do you think Tanya experienced more struggles than you ? She has two kids and she's a single mom. She had a part time job during the recession. She had to pay for child care too. The cost for part time child care and full time is pretty much the same.

Tom: Most Definitely. As I said earlier, it was hard for me to provide for myself alone working a part time job. I know it was extremely hard trying to feed not 2 but 3 mouths.

Tanya: You're right. Some moments I almost gave up. I thought about sending my kids to live with relatives. I didn't want them to experience such hard times. We went to stores they always wanted a toy or some candy. I didn't know how to explain to them that we couldn't afford toys or candy.

Susie: Part-time workers were extremely suffering. They only made about 60 percent of what full-time works made. Part-time workers also don’t receive the same health benefits or even get a paid vacation. From the looks of statistics, full-time workers weren’t really suffering.

Tom:  You’re right. My boss came to me and told me that I would be working less hours, so I would be a part-time worker. I already knew the deal. I lose all my benefits. I started stressing. That’s why I have a head full of gray hair at the age of 39.

Tanya: Well, I never even had a full-time job until now. Now, I know part-time workers get treated horribly. Especially, since we all basically do the same job.

Susie: I agree. Well, thank you both for speaking with me.

Tanya and Tom: you welcome.

 

 

WORKS CITED PAGE

 

United States Congress Joint Economic Committee. "Women Face Unique Challenges in the Poor Economy." Work and Family. Ed. Mitchell Young. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Working Mothers in the Great Recession." 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.