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The role of a woman was drastically changed in the
1920’s, due to the fact that women began performing hard
labor, such as working in factories during wars and their
utilization of the newly obtained rights of the 19th
amendment.
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This role would challenge all traditional views of women as being helpless
and unable to do the work of their male counterparts, giving rise to the
self-sufficient and liberated young woman with her own place in the work
force making her own money.
Within months of the war's outbreak, "all the major feminist groups of the
belligerents had given a new pledge - to support their respective
governments." Campaigners for women's suffrage quickly became avid
patriots and organizers of women in support of the war effort.
They Nursed the wounded, provide food and other supplies to the military,
serve as telephone operators (the “Hello Girls”), entertain troops, and
work as journalists.
Many of these “self-selected adventurous women … found their own
work, improvised their own tools … argued, persuaded, and scrounged for
supplies. They created new organizations where none had existed.”
Women sent out to “canteen” for the US Army – providing entertainment,
sewing on buttons, handing out cigarettes and sweets – were “virtuous
women” sent to “keep the boys straight. “Women kept ignoring orders to
leave the troops they were looking after, and bobbing up again after they
had been sent to the rear.”
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They Nursed the wounded, provide food and other supplies to the
military, serve as telephone operators (the “Hello Girls”), entertain
troops, and work as journalists.
Many of these “self-selected adventurous women … found their
own work, improvised their own tools … argued, persuaded, and
scrounged for supplies. They created new organizations where
none had existed.”
Women sent out to “canteen” for the US Army – providing
entertainment, sewing on buttons, handing out cigarettes and
sweets – were “virtuous women” sent to “keep the boys straight.
“Women kept ignoring orders to leave the troops they were looking
after, and bobbing up again after they had been sent to the rear.”
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Women started performing the jobs of men while they were off at war and
sometimes they even performed it better then a man. “Women were seen
as quick learners and that in some departments they are more efficient
than men, although those departments have been employing men
exclusively for years ”(“Women prefer not to wear overalls at work” Seattle
Post-Intelligencer. December 2, 1917).
“There has been a sudden influx of women into such unusual occupations
as bank clerks, ticket sellers, elevator operator, chauffeur, street car
conductor, railroad trackwalker, section hand, locomotive wiper and oiler,
locomotive dispatcher, block operator, draw bridge attendant, and
employment in machine shops, steel mills, powder and ammunition
factories, airplane works, boot blacking and farming” (“Protecting the
working mothers” Seattle Union Record. April 24, 1918).
Women were willing to take more responsible jobs and were becoming
not just a substitute labor force, but skillful workers.
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Women's experiences in World War I were one catalyst for
change. Prior to the war, in some communities women could be
arrested for swearing in public, driving a car without a man beside
them, smoking cigarettes openly, appearing on public beaches
without stockings, or for wearing pants or shorts.
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Just like during World War I (but to a lesser extent) women
stepped in to fill positions vacated by men heading off to war. All of
the moral rules and regulations were put on hold as society
focused on a single goal: winning the war.
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After enduring the hardships of war, it seemed silly to go back to
old fashioned conventions..
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All of these factors combined to create the perfect stage for the
Flapper to emerge.
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The 19th amendment was passed Aug 26 1920
Section 1: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on
account of sex”.
Section 2: “Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation”.
Winning the right to vote empowered women, as well as the
general relaxing of manners.
Ratification on June 10,
1919 (yellow);
ratification from June 16,
1919 to July 28, 1919
(chartreuse);
ratification from August
2, 1919 to December 15,
1919 (aqua);
ratification from January
6, 1920 to March 22, 1920
(gray-green);
ratification on August 18,
1920 (gray).
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The Flapper was young, independent, smoking cigarettes and
drinking illegal liquor. Indeed, the younger generation was
embracing a lifestyle that was completely foreign to their parents
and grandparents.
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In fact, the Flapper was often only a temporary lifestyle for young
women who still expected to settle down, get married, and have a
family. The Flapper represented youth and freedom, but most
women understood that their footloose and fancy free lifestyle was
only a phase of their lives.
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They drank, smoke, danced wildly and even kissed their boyfriends
in public.
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All of those were highly frowned upon for a women to do.
THE FLAPPER
by Dorothy Parker
The Playful flapper here we see,
The fairest of the fair.
She's not what Grandma used to be, -You might say, au contraire.
Her girlish ways may make a stir,
Her manners cause a scene,
But there is no more harm in her
Than in a submarine.
She nightly knocks for many a goal
The usual dancing men.
Her speed is great, but her control
Is something else again.
All spotlights focus on her pranks.
All tongues her prowess herald.
For which she well may render thanks
To God and Scott Fitzgerald.
Her golden rule is plain enough Just get them young and treat them
rough.
Before
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Hems covered their ankles
and knees.
Shoes were heavy and
covered the foot all the
way to the ankle.
Make up was improper.
Corsets.
Petticoats.
Long hair was coiled/piled
on top of the head.
Guardians of morality and
innocence.
Arms were hidden.
During
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Dresses stopped at knee
hiplines were lowered.
Looser and shapeless clothes.
The bust and waist disappeared.
Bare Arms.
Beige stockings for a more naked look.
Feet were shown.
Silk stockings in flesh or pastel colors.
Short bobbed hair.
More and more boyish looks.
Wore rouge, eyeliner and lipstick.
Long strings of beads and cloches.
Paving the Way
•This change in roles had paved the way for Women in today’s society.
•It has shown women that they can be who they want to be and do
whatever a man can do.
•Nothing should hold a person back from being or doing what they want
and this change supports that.
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http://americanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/t
he_flapper
http://www.janetmcnaughton.ca/TDfashion.html
http://www.sewallbelmont.org/mainpages/abou
tus_nwp-history.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/16816
/the_role_of_women_in_world_war_i.html
http://www.warandgender.com/wgwomwwi.ht
m
http://depts.washington.edu/labhist/strike/kim.
shtml#_ftnref1
http://www.fashionera.com/flapper_fashion_1920s.htm
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Sewall-Belmont House and Museum. "The History of the National Woman's Party."
Sewall-Belmont House and Museum. 2005. 21 May 2009
<http://www.sewallbelmont.org/mainpages/aboutus_nwp-history.html>.
Mercury, Freddy, Jr. "The Role of Women in World War I." Associated Content
News. Jan.-Feb. 2006. 21 May 2009 <http://www.associatedcontent.com/
article/16816/the_role_of_women_in_world_war_i.html>.
Mcnaughton, Jane. "Fashion in the 1920's." Jane Mcnaughton Websites. 21 May 2009
<http://www.janetmcnaughton.ca/TDfashion.html>.
Kenny, Kim. "The Flapper Changing Roles for Women in the Roaring Twenties."
suite101.com. Nov.-Dec. 2008. 17 Dec. 2008
<http://americanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_flapper >.
Goldstein, Joshua S. "War and Gender: How Gender Shapes the War System and Vice
Versa ." The Women of World War I . 2001. 21 May 2009
<http://www.warandgender.com/wgwomwwi.htm>.