The Effect of Flappers on American Society and the Perception of Women
It is no question that the women of modern American society differ greatly from the women of preceding generations. Until the passage of the 19th amendment, women were not considered equals by the standards of the United States government, and social controversy continued long after. A large contributor to the progression in the area of women’s equality was a group of liberated and notorious women known as Flappers. These women drifted from social norms regarding women in American Society. In the 1920’s United States, the controversial conduct and morality of flappers led to a new generation of independent women, who made significant advancements in women’s social and
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(1) This inspired an era of social and political progression regarding women and their role in society. According to an encyclopedia.com article, titled “Flappers”, “No decade in recent history has seen as much change in the status and style of women as the 1920s” The 1920’s, sometimes termed the Roaring Twenties, was an era of progression, specifically in the area of women’s rights (1). Women now had the opportunity to hold political office, be financially self sufficient, and live independently of men. These women, however, did not achieve this equality with ease. With suffrage attained, women now faced new obstacles. The most prevalent issue facing women during this time was the existing social discrimination. Women were still expected to live in conformity with their traditional roles in society, despite the new legal progression. Though women legally had the same freedoms and opportunities as men, the reality of the situation was very different. Discrimination towards women continued long after their suffrage was achieved. In response to this social unfairness, a new group of women developed, termed the Flapper …show more content…
Flappers wore controversial attire that correlated with their equally controversial ideology. In “Women’s Fashion”, another section of “American Decades”, Tompkins references the styles of Flappers in the 1920s, specifically how their clothing was a result of changing values. Tompkins states “Women's fashions in the 1920s reflected radical changes affecting many areas of post-World War I American society.” Flapper attire included knee length dresses that were very loosely hung, short “Bobbed” haircuts, and heavy cosmetics, something that was traditionally strictly for prostitutes. A famous role model and reference to these styles is Clara Bow. During the age of flappers, Bow was envied for having “it.” Flappers rejected tradition styles, and swapped their corsets for more revealing, breathable, and evocative clothing. Though some critics of this type of attire accused flappers of being scandalous and immoral, others saw the practicality and liberation of flapper apparel. Their clothing was a staple of the broad-minded decade, and the development of women’s social
Flappers, known for their short hair, short dresses, and rebellious attitudes towards traditional gender roles, showed a new generation of women who were unafraid to challenge societal norms and expectations, paving the way for greater gender equality in the decades to come. The rise of flappers is considered a "cultural revolution" as it challenged traditional gender roles and norms, inspiring a new generation of women to break free from societal constraints. Working in the men's world during the war gave women a taste of financial independence and a desire for social change. This proves that the emergence of flappers was progressive because women were able to break away from traditional gender roles and prove that they were just as capable as men in the workforce. Their choices of fashion, such as bobbed hair and short dresses, were considered very outrageous by people who held onto traditional values.
Despite this, women were able to make a huge impact on America through social reforms. Many young women went against the beliefs of their parents. Prior to the Roaring Twenties, America was in a Victorian era. Women wore dresses that were floor-length, their hair was long and premarital sex was almost non-existent. During the 1920’s however, some women became what are known as “flappers”.
Women were now being called Flappers because of their short clothing, stylish black bobs, wearing heavy make-up, dancing, drinking, and smoking. “In 1890’s Britain, in fact,“flapper” described a very young prostitute, and after the turn of the century, it was used on both sides of the Atlantic for cheeky, prepubescent girls whose long braids, the New York Time reported, “flapped in the wind” (“The original “It Girl”, Web.b.ebscohost.com). This quote proves “Flappers” had a bad connotation, but then the word evolved across the world into showing freedom from a restricted lifestyle. “It was a form of youth rebellion, a project of liberation, and it didn’t go unnoticed.” (“How Flappers Rebelled Through Feminism And Consumerism”, bi.edu).
The view on motherhood changes during these times. Women didn't want as many children now, some didn't want any children at all. Flappers were looked down upon, but in reality they changed the way women are seen today. Who knows, maybe if the flappers would have never occurred, we would have maintained the Victorian image for a much longer time. Although flappers had a fun time during the roaring twenties, their party was cut short when the Stock Market Crashed and the Great Depression rolled
Flappers changed the life´s of women forever through their influence, style, and role models. Many people defined the term flappers as various ideals. Most people define flappers as “young women with bobbed hair and short skirts who drank, smoked and said what might be termed “unladylike” things” ( Even though “in reality, most young women in the 1920s did none of these things”, however, many did wear fashionable flapper wardrobe. The term “first appeared in
Women at this time had many advantages, they were becoming free. Now they were able to vote which was a good turning point for them. Birth control was becoming more available for them as well, which meant fewer children. Although women had many rights in the 1920s many were identified as a sexual icon, the “flapper”. Flappers were described as outspoken, unladylike, free spirited, females.
The flapper dresses helped you show to everyone that you had the right to dress how you want, act how you want, and achieve whatever you want to achieve.
Before the roaring 20s women had the jobs such as staying home and taking care of children,making food for the family,cleaning etc. The changing role of women really changed because the work they did during the war. In the 1920s the number of working women increased by 25%, that’s crazy how the number of working women increased by a big 25%. Another big change that happened during the 1920s was that women were given something that they worked very hard to get….VOTING. In the 1920s there was a new type of women known as the Flappers.
1920s Advertising During the 1920s, advertisement started to increase and expand. Many ideas and tactics were used to lure the attention of the consumers. After World War I, America started to grow with a stable and growing economy. This flourishment made many American's live out the 1920s in prosperity.
According to "American-Historama.org", "The 'New Women' of the 1920s had been given the right to vote.... could attend college, get a job or career..... clamoring to learn how to drive" This shows how the introduction of the "New Women" were influential because before the 1920s, women were housewives and had little education. However, on August 18, 1920, women were finally given the right to vote. This means that their issues such as alcohol, child labor would now be addressed. In addition, many of the "New Women" fought for equal education and job opportunities. Although women did not get exactly what they want, they would lead the way for many other women of different eras to help get equal opportunities for both genders.
With the carefree disregards for authority, many of the flappers broke traditions passed down by their
In the 1920s there were bold, venturesome, dauntless young women who broke society's idea of women standards to change the whole American culture. The book, Flapper, by Joshua Zeitz discusses the effects that books, movies, and celebrities of this time, had on the average women, which caused this era of flappers. These young women known as flappers weren’t the only change that the post World War One era brought. Throughout the book, these changes are brought up from religion to morals, to other changes, and these changes are what would completely develop new social norms in America.
Joshua show us that the flapper was more or less a victim of circumstance. With all the new advances in technology and the reforms of the world, it was only a matter of time before women decided that they needed some independence as well. Immigrants coming in the country left and right, people of color fighting for their human rights, and men fighting for their country. They began to smoke, drink and have sex because it was their life, they wanted to vote, own property and obtain any job they wanted because it was their right, they did not want to dress in their mother’s attire and not all of them wanted to have children because it was their body. The 1920’s were revolutionary for the woman and Mr. Zeitz puts it all into perspective with his
After the 19th amendment was passed, giving women the right to vote, woman began leaving behind their traditional roles and taking on new responsibilities, fashion trends and claiming their independence.(Doc 5.The New Woman). The younger generation of ladies in the 1920s surfaced into what is know as a flapper. Flappers listened to jazz music, embraced risqué fashion trends, and took part in bold behavior, which challenged their stereotype and led to more tension. The need breed of woman wanted to be accepted by the older generation, who often judged and disagreed with their new lifestyle. (doc 6.
In the 1920s fashion was a movement of freedom with flappers, bobbed hairstyles and using art as a fashion statement. “Fashion should be stylish and fun,” (Twiggy). In any decade fashion was a way of saying something. One of the women’s careers was being in the fashion industry.