Final answer:
The Social Security Act of 1935 did not follow the family wage system's division of labor; it provided support to individuals such as elderly, widows, and single mothers, acknowledging the economic needs beyond the traditional family wage system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Social Security Act of 1935 did not follow the division of labor implicit in the family wage system. What the family wage system suggests is that wages should be sufficient for a male worker to support his family, with a clear expectation that men were the breadwinners and women were homemakers. The Social Security Act, however, was a response to the realities of the Great Depression, where many individuals, including elderly, widows, and single mothers, were in need of support regardless of the traditional family wage system. The act provided funds for elderly pensions, support for widows and children, and encouraged job growth for younger workers unrelated to their family wage status.
Moreover, the idea of the family wage became less relevant in a society where single-income households were increasingly uncommon. With the growth of industrial jobs and urbanization, many households found that a single wage was not sufficient, pushing both men and women into the workforce. Furthermore, the economic hardships of the Great Depression made dual-income households a necessity for many.
The New Deal, through programs like Social Security, reinforced existing gender assumptions to a certain degree, with the expectation that men would be the primary wage earners and women would be homemakers. However, it acknowledged the economic realities that required support for single-income households that did not fit this model, like those headed by widows. Additionally, the New Deal encouraged labor union organizing, which benefited both male and female workers.
Thus, the assertion that the Social Security Act of 1935 followed the family wage system's division of labor is False.