Women of the 1920's
- Essential Question: How does the Flapper represent the "new woman"? Were the 1920's successful for the women's movement?
Flappers
The flappers were the women that were breaking away from the old ways of women where young women would not date, and they were very proper. The flappers were the young women that started appearing after World War I. The flappers who abandoned the corsets and other clothing and went to trimmed down clothing that made it easier for them to move in especially for the Jazz dancing. They also started wearing makeup and cutting their hair shorter, which was very different from the previous women who took pride in their long hair. The attitudes of the flappers was also more reckless and they also smoked in public, which was something that only men had done before. Even worse to the older generation was that they also drank, which was very bad during the prohibition time period when alcohol was not allowed for anyone. Women also drove cars, which were seen as dangerous, but what hurt their image even more was that they would use the cars to engage in sexual activity. All of these things that were characterized by the new flappers hurt their image.
The flappers were the women that were breaking away from the old ways of women where young women would not date, and they were very proper. The flappers were the young women that started appearing after World War I. The flappers who abandoned the corsets and other clothing and went to trimmed down clothing that made it easier for them to move in especially for the Jazz dancing. They also started wearing makeup and cutting their hair shorter, which was very different from the previous women who took pride in their long hair. The attitudes of the flappers was also more reckless and they also smoked in public, which was something that only men had done before. Even worse to the older generation was that they also drank, which was very bad during the prohibition time period when alcohol was not allowed for anyone. Women also drove cars, which were seen as dangerous, but what hurt their image even more was that they would use the cars to engage in sexual activity. All of these things that were characterized by the new flappers hurt their image.
Women's Movement Gains
Women of the 1920's wanted to get more independence, which they tried to achieve through organizations like the National American Women Suffrage Association. Groups like these held protests and spoke out for more rights. Women were able to gain the right to vote in 1920 after the ratification of the 19th Amendment. However, the women did not want to stop there. Alice Paul, who was the leader of the National Women's Party, pushed for an additional equal rights amendment to the Constitution. Despite her efforts in getting an equal rights amendment added, the furthest it got was being introduced to Congress in 1923, but it never passed. Women also pushed for birth control, and were led by Margaret Sanger. Sanger was successful in starting the Clinical Research Bureau, which was the first legal birth control clinic in the United States. Women also had the minimum wage tried in court, and in Adkins v. Children's Hospital, and the Supreme Court ruled that having a minimum wage for women violated the right of women to make contracts. From their gains in their rights, women were allowed to get more jobs in service, and also had more education opportunities.
Women of the 1920's wanted to get more independence, which they tried to achieve through organizations like the National American Women Suffrage Association. Groups like these held protests and spoke out for more rights. Women were able to gain the right to vote in 1920 after the ratification of the 19th Amendment. However, the women did not want to stop there. Alice Paul, who was the leader of the National Women's Party, pushed for an additional equal rights amendment to the Constitution. Despite her efforts in getting an equal rights amendment added, the furthest it got was being introduced to Congress in 1923, but it never passed. Women also pushed for birth control, and were led by Margaret Sanger. Sanger was successful in starting the Clinical Research Bureau, which was the first legal birth control clinic in the United States. Women also had the minimum wage tried in court, and in Adkins v. Children's Hospital, and the Supreme Court ruled that having a minimum wage for women violated the right of women to make contracts. From their gains in their rights, women were allowed to get more jobs in service, and also had more education opportunities.
Women in the 1920's Compared to those During the Progressive Era
Life for women in the 1920's was different from their life during the Progressive era because during the 1920's there were many more women working in factories and in other jobs compared to the Progressive era where women still primarily worked at home. Women also had differences in their marriages. During the Progressive era women were looking for marriages based on equality, however in the 1920's women were more reckless and did not care as much about things including marriages. This was shown by how in the 1920's, the number of divorces increased greatly. Also, the flappers were doing things such as drinking alcohol, which is exactly the opposite of what was happening during the Progressive era. Women had been forming temperance groups that spoke out against the use of alcohol by any gender, and the "new" women of the 1920's were going directly against those ideas.
Life for women in the 1920's was different from their life during the Progressive era because during the 1920's there were many more women working in factories and in other jobs compared to the Progressive era where women still primarily worked at home. Women also had differences in their marriages. During the Progressive era women were looking for marriages based on equality, however in the 1920's women were more reckless and did not care as much about things including marriages. This was shown by how in the 1920's, the number of divorces increased greatly. Also, the flappers were doing things such as drinking alcohol, which is exactly the opposite of what was happening during the Progressive era. Women had been forming temperance groups that spoke out against the use of alcohol by any gender, and the "new" women of the 1920's were going directly against those ideas.
Thinking Like a Historian
Women of the 1920's saw their world changing because of the new styles established by women at the time. They were losing their ideas of being proper at all times, and moved to more reckless ways. Their views of not having to be proper caused many changes in their actions. Women started dressing in fashions that were not seen as acceptable before. They also started drinking alcohol, smoking, and driving, which were all seen as dangerous activities that women should not be participating in. They made worse choices because they did not feel obligation to be proper in their ways. Women at the time needed to have a strong work ethic and not give in to the ways of other women to succeed. The women who had strong work ethics and did not fall into the ways of the women who were drinking, smoking, and other reckless activities, had very good opportunities to succeed. This success was possible because of the change that happened in society, which allowed them to vote, and have many other good opportunities such as go to college and get better jobs.
Response to Essential Question
The flapper represents the "new women" because they were the younger generation in the 1920's and were around 20 years old at the time. They also brought many new ideas such as their ideas of what was acceptable for women to do. Although, these ideas were not accepted by the older generation, it did represent a new way for women. They had more independence with their new ways, and that is what they wanted. The 1920's women's movement was very successful, and brought much change for women. They gained the right to vote and also more women were able to go to college. These were important things for women to have, and they had been fighting for them for a long time. The persistence of women throughout the 1920's made their women's movement very successful.
The flapper represents the "new women" because they were the younger generation in the 1920's and were around 20 years old at the time. They also brought many new ideas such as their ideas of what was acceptable for women to do. Although, these ideas were not accepted by the older generation, it did represent a new way for women. They had more independence with their new ways, and that is what they wanted. The 1920's women's movement was very successful, and brought much change for women. They gained the right to vote and also more women were able to go to college. These were important things for women to have, and they had been fighting for them for a long time. The persistence of women throughout the 1920's made their women's movement very successful.