The Great Recession in Sweat

   

    Sweat reveals that when there is decline in manufacturing and industrial activity in an economy, workers become financially unstable and their living conditions become worse.

    Between 2007 and 2009 was The Great Recession, this was a sharp decline in economic activity that impacted the US employment rate and it also is considered the most significant downturns since the Great Depression. In fact, during The Great Recession, the unemployment rate more than doubled while the US employment rate dropped by 6%. By 2009 more than 15 million people were unemployed. 

    In Act 2 Scene 1, it forwards to 2008 which is during The Great Recession. During this scene, it is evident that the recession is greatly impacting Tracey, she says, “I’m not running a money farm,” (66). Tracey is struggling during this recession because it doesn’t seem like she is making a good amount of money, she argues desperately with Jason over the five dollars and she is struggling with drugs. 

    On the other hand, the recession has also impacted Cynthia financially and through her living conditions. Cynthia’s apartment is described as sparse and she says, “it’s what I could manage for now,” hinting that she is having trouble making money to live a stable life. In addition, Cynthia has been working at a university, maintenance, and a nursing home as she is “piecing things together.” The recession has affected her because now she is working long hours at 3 different jobs just to make a decent amount of money. Cynthia is slowing getting things together as she works though this recession. Lastly, she admits that she couldn’t visit Chris in prison because, “it got too expensive.” (69). This also shows that the recession is impacting Cynthia because she isn’t making enough money to afford certain things.