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Goldman, May (audio interview #1 of 1)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This single interview with May Goldman focuses on her suffrage involvement while at Barnard, and a brief discussion of her career after 1928, when she began a social work career. 1/18/1973
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- 2020-01-30
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- *** File: sufmgoldman1.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-2:48)... Tape introduction (2:48-4:31)... The tape begins abruptly with a discussion of her family background. Born in New York to Russian Jewish parents, she was raised in an atmosphere that supported unionization and human rights. Her mother sympathized with the Russian revolutionists. Her father fled the Russian Army and moved to the United States where her parents met and married. Unionization was a very salient idea for her and she idolized Eugene V. Debs and anyone who participated in the Russian revolution. (4:31-6:16)... She believed that women could be autonomous and did not require male assistance. She met her husband when she was 15 and did not allow him to take her arm when they walked because she believed a woman could stand alone. In 1917, her sophomore year at Barnard, she married. She became pregnant during her last semester at college and dropped out only to return when her son was 15 months old. She received her degree in 1921. (6:16-9:33)... While at Barnard College, she became involved in the 1915 suffrage parade. She recalls Inez Mulholland leading the parade on a white horse. (Break in tape) In the parade, each college, group, and organization marched with its own banner. After the suffrage parade, she did not participate in any other suffrage activities, but later became involved with organizations that fought for human rights. Because she was married and had a child, her freedom to pursue movements was limited. She supports women's liberation and has fought for women's rights her entire life. Movements for change are slow and there was a belief that when women got the vote things would change. However, it took women many years to fight for their rights, which has culminated with the women's liberation movement. (9:33-13:48)... Her attitudes towards marriage were negative. Her parents, who also did not believe in marriage, were married through peculiar circumstances. Goldman was married so that her husband could avoid the World War I draft. She also purposely became pregnant for the same reason. Her opinion of marriage changed when she decided to get married because of the War. In 1928, she became a social worker and discusses one of her cases dealing with common law marriage in New York. She did not support World War I. Rather than verbally oppose the War, she chose to disassociate herself with wartime assistance activities, such as knitting campaigns at her college. (13:48-16:28)... Her thoughts on marriage coincide with her religious beliefs; she is an atheist. Marriage is a personal affair and no one should be required to obtain permission to marry. She was very humiliated and offended during her wedding ceremony because she thought it was absurd someone was granting her the right to marry. At the time of her marriage, she was not aware how few women's rights were as wives. <break in tape> It makes no sense to her that people who are married have to get a divorce, while people living together simply break up and the relationship is over with no strings attached. (16:28-20:46)... Her parents were both Russian Jews; her mother from Minsk and her father from the countryside near Minsk. Both came from religious backgrounds; although neither were orthodox Jews. When she arrived in the United States, Goldman's mother adopted socialism and became interested in the welfare of the human race and supported unionization; she also worked in sweatshops. Goldman grew up in a very liberal atmosphere. As an only child, she was encouraged to attend college; her family believed that boys and girls should attend college and that the only reason a child would not go to college was for economic reasons. (20:46-23:52)... When she attended Barnard College, the student body was approximately 800. Many of the outstanding students at the college were Jewish girls, some of whom who went on to successful careers. (Break in tape.) Her father had a difficult time making a living. He had a small business, but her family was always struggling. College tuition at the time was $200 per year and although her family had to sacrifice a lot, it never occurred to anyone that she would not attend college. (23:52-25:24)... The first time she worked was after her son turned eight years old. Her family owned a small stationary store and ran a boarding house in the summer. During the summer, she would work at the store while her parents tended to the boarding house; she was not paid for this work. (25:24-27:06)... While attending Barnard College she lived at home, which was not the best thing for her personal growth. Her family was the only Jewish family living in her home town and she often felt discriminated against. Had she lived in the dormitories at college, it would have been more of an educational and positive experience for her. When she went to college she was amazed by what women were doing, such as working and marching for suffrage. She recalls the Pankhurst sisters tying themselves to posts and getting arrested. Women were very active and working for change. However, she was not able to experience these movements or become conscious of them while she was living with her parents. (27:06-28:31)... Prior to attending college, she was conscious of her rights. She did not need a man to do things and believed that women could pay their own way in life. When she went to college she was excited that women were active. Marching in the 1915 suffrage parade was a milestone for her. (28:31-33:16)... During the suffrage movement, many women believed that women were more empathetic than men. She believed, however, that women were no different than men; women simply got the right to vote. Mothers were concerned about certain issues, but when women got the vote changes did not occur in these areas. Initially, the ideology was that it was unfair that women did not have the vote. The suffrage movement questioned political inequality and fought for the right to vote. The belief that change would occur if suffrage was won was common, but many women saw that this did not happen. Men did not necessarily keep women down. Women had more opportunities, but they did not pursue the careers or education available to them. In her own life, Goldman believes that she is just as capable as a man. (33:16-39:08)... She believes that a woman who is intellectually and physically capable should be able to be independent and do whatever she pleases. Her college education did not prepare her for a career. At the time, women were encouraged to pursue a career in teaching. She returned to college and received her teaching credential in 1927. After teaching for a short time, she left the field because it did not suit her. Around 1928, she accidentally got into a career in social work and felt like this was her calling. (39:08-40:50)... Her career as a social worker lasted for 13 years and she retired in 1941. Her work was very difficult and mentally trying. In the 1930s, case work was very large because welfare cases and unemployment cases were lumped together. The highest case volume she had was 160, and the highest pay at the time was $160. Social work was monopolized by women at this time. (40:50-43:46)... In the 1930s, she attempted to organize social workers, nurses, and maintenance workers into a CIO Union. At the time, the county did not have a union for these occupations. As organizers, they were not experienced enough to form a union and there were problems with social workers feeling superior to maintenance workers. Several meetings were held to discuss the formation of the union; however, this movement fell apart. She believes that these organizational efforts were the first spark that gave the larger unions interest in organizing these sectors. (43:46-44:41)... In 1941, she retired from social work and became active in other organizations. She volunteered for the American Red Cross during World War II. end of tape *** File: sufmgoldman2.mp3 (0:00-3:21)... As a social worker, she enjoyed taking psychiatric histories, and believes that she did well convincing people to talk about themselves. There was no sex or wage discrimination in social work because the field was dominated by women. The men who did work in the field received the same pay as women. In her own life, she did not experience unequal treatment. She became cognizant of social inequities from stories other women told her. Goldman was more aware of discrimination against Jews than against women. (3:21-5:55)... She believes that general attitudes towards women are the same today as they were in the past. She discusses a friend whose husband will not complete household duties even though he stays home and she works. Even some men who believe in women's rights do not think that it is their responsibility to do "women's work." (5:55-7:21)... Because of medical problems, she only had one child. By the time her medical situation changed, it was too late to have another child. When she went back to work she could not afford to have anyone watch her son. Their financial situation was very tight as their business had failed and her husband was pursuing a career in teaching. (7:21-9:28)... The women's liberation movement proves that progress has been made by women. It took 70 years to gain suffrage and it another 50 years for the women's liberation movement to arrive. Although change is slow, progress continues to be made. (9:28-13:23)... The women's liberation movement reached many more people than the suffrage movement because of the media. It also took women a long time to realize that they should have rights. Many women married to be financially supported, only to realize that they were bored at home. Women wanted to get out of the house and join the work force. Improvements in household cleaning devices made women free to pursue an active life outside the home. Women liked the attention they received in the labor force and the feeling that they were doing something for themselves. The process of evolution is the reason society and women have seen progress, not the the vote. She describes a visit she made to Switzerland, explaining that many women in other countries still are not conscious of their rights. (13:23-15:19)... (After a break in tape, there is a discussion of the evolutionary process of change.) As a member of Women for Legislative Action, she helped sponsor the drive to open child care centers so that women would have more time to pursue interests outside the home. There is an attitude circulating that women do not have to be home all of the time to impact their children. (15:19-17:19)... Suffrage made a difference in women's lives because it gave them an opportunity to learn about politics and discuss how they would vote. The vote opened more channels for women to communicate with the world outside of their home life. Although some women believe that men subjugate them, women have not done things for themselves, such as pursue career opportunities now available to them. (17:19-24:07)... Her professional career was not hindered because of her gender. Had she gone into a field dominated by men, she may have noticed a wage inequity. The attitude she had when she was pursuing her professional career determined her path; however, her present assertiveness probably would have resulted in different personal and professional choices. Her college education at Barnard College was not a satisfying experience. At the time, Barnard did not prepare women for careers or advise them on how to manage both work and household responsibilities. She discusses the pitfalls inherent in the current educational system, stating that people are forced to take classes in which they have no interest. Children are also encouraged to go to college early when they have not had the opportunity to explore what their interests are. (24:07-26:03)... After retiring in 1941, she lent her efforts to various causes, such as organizations for legislative changes in women's lives. <break in tape> Although progress in society is gaining momentum, she believes that women have not moved forward in many respects. end of tape
- SUBJECT BIO - May Goldman, an ardent feminist, was involved in a suffrage group while she was at student at Barnard College. Her participation was quite limited, however, except for joining the Barnard contingent in the 1915 suffrage parade. Goldman was referred to the Feminist History Research Project by women in Women FOR Legislative Action, a group with which she was involved. Only one interview was conducted with her because of her very limited involvement in the suffrage movement. However, despite her limited participation, the interview is interesting for the insights it provides into the thinking of ardent feminist of the period. For instance, she did not believe in marriage. Nevertheless, she married during her sophomore year at Barnard so that her husband could be exempt from the World War I draft. She had a child for the same reason. TOPICS - Topics covered on this side of the tape include: family background; feminist and social consciousness; participation in 1915 suffrage parade; work and career;Topics covered on this side of the tape include: career in social work; attitudes towards suffrage and women's liberation; post-retirement volunteer activities;
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