Flappers represented the new incoming ideals of women. These girls broke the porcelain mold of Victorian prudery and seized their own life. Smoking, Drinking, Wearing makeup and being sexually liberated was what these girls were all about. They lived for their own and cared less about what the traditional folk thought of them. The 1920's were successful for women in that jobs such as educators, nurses, and telephone operators became options. Women broke loose of domestic control and made their own choices.
Flappers
The "new woman" came into being in this time of change. Flapper women (known for the "flapping" noise their unbuckled golashes would make as they walked) seized their social freedom and pushed it to the absolute limit with drinking, smoking, driving, sexual liberation, and dressing in short skirts with short hair and loads of makeup. Traditional Victorian women ideologies clashed with this outrageous behavior, but this would have only pushed the flapper women further. Days of long dresses, little makeup and long flowing hair long dissapeared. What was once a man's territory was now a woman's. The flapper movement was a revolution in itself, encouraging women to break chains that had long kept their freedom and self-discovery locked away. Flappers, though seen as flighty, were truly pioneers as they threw themselves into a crusade against unfair gender roles and double standards. Wit rebelling against social normalcy, flappers resisted the idea that they were "less than" and took life for themselves.
Women's Rights Movements
The right to vote was realized for all peoples on August 18, 1920. As the decade went on, women progressively gained political power, still less than their male counterparts, but a great improvement nontheless. Similar to their feat in politics, women gained the right to attend a university that was not exclusively for women and the right to get a degree in anything they could fully finish the requirements for. Before the 20's, women's sole professions other than homemaker were to be teacher or nurse. So for a woman to choose her profession broke the conforming mold. In 1921, Margaret Sanger, an advocate of contraception, founded the American Birth Control League. This eventually became the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Changes in Life
Women of the 1920's had little to do in terms of practicality, which is why the carefree flapper's lifestyle worked in the first place. Yet, this era marked the beginnings of women being allowed to get a good job and equal schooling. Most married women did not hold jobs but many young, single women did, and these jobs became more diverse and important as time went on. Women finally got to make many of their own choices.
AP Parts
Author: Nickolas Muray
Place and Time: This was taken in later 1921.
Prior Knowledge: Clara Bow was a famous flapper who paved the way for this feminine movement. She was the "It" girl.
Audience: The Audience for this picture were those who were heavily influence by magazines and pop culture. Most likely those inhabiting urban realms of the U.S.
Reason: To show readers an up and coming star in the 20's decades.
Main Idea: Clara Bows up and coming debut as a flapper actress in the 1920's.
Summary: To show the public Clara Bow.
Place and Time: This was taken in later 1921.
Prior Knowledge: Clara Bow was a famous flapper who paved the way for this feminine movement. She was the "It" girl.
Audience: The Audience for this picture were those who were heavily influence by magazines and pop culture. Most likely those inhabiting urban realms of the U.S.
Reason: To show readers an up and coming star in the 20's decades.
Main Idea: Clara Bows up and coming debut as a flapper actress in the 1920's.
Summary: To show the public Clara Bow.
Thinking Like a Historian
Turning Points:
The 1920's were a turning point in history for women. Instead of letting the domestic relationship carry on, women took on their own agenda and made their own conclusions. With that came the flapper, the girl whose steadfast point of view let her do anything. Women turned their position around and got their voting, their life, and their humanity back.
Change and Continuity:
Women of the Decades Previous of the 20's were restricted in clothing and public presentation. The flappers changed this with their abrasive manner and ambitious minds. Women since then have been given more job opportunity and more freedom in general. However, sexism still exists in the public and in the workplace which has remained the same throughout time.
The 1920's were a turning point in history for women. Instead of letting the domestic relationship carry on, women took on their own agenda and made their own conclusions. With that came the flapper, the girl whose steadfast point of view let her do anything. Women turned their position around and got their voting, their life, and their humanity back.
Change and Continuity:
Women of the Decades Previous of the 20's were restricted in clothing and public presentation. The flappers changed this with their abrasive manner and ambitious minds. Women since then have been given more job opportunity and more freedom in general. However, sexism still exists in the public and in the workplace which has remained the same throughout time.