Changing Gender Roles In Bread Givers By Anzia Anzierska

Throughout the 1920s the United States underwent a massive reinvigoration. America was experiencing a change in social manner: World War I had ended and industries were flourishing, people were dancing along to jazz music and new art forms like Art Deco were on the rise. The “Roaring Twenties” was a period of time that stressed artistic, social and cultural dynamism. The 1920s was also time of immense change of gender roles. Women were now being recognized as a part of society and a contributing factor to our booming economy. Set in the 1920s, the book Bread Givers written by Anzia Yezierska fully supports and displays the change of women in society. Yezierska’s Bread Givers accurately demonstrates the drastic change of gender roles in the

Defined as fashionable young women intent on enjoying themselves and flouting conventional standards of behavior, flappers are more known for their promiscuity and iconoclastic nature. They often had short hair and wore modern clothing, and showed changing views of women. In the book Bread Givers, the main protagonist, Sara Smolinsky tries to transform from her traditional conservative upbringing to a more licentious woman. In chapter 10, Sara thinks to herself, “Red lips, red cheeks, even red roses under the brim of my hat. Blackened lashes, darkened eyebrows. Soft, white lace at my neck… A young girl in the height of her bloom!” (Yezierska 187), as she prepares for the following day. Sara contributes to the uprising of more confident women in the 1920s. Also, like many flappers, Sara has alternate views of women. Sara believes that women should have equal rights as men and deserve the same luxuries, although her father, Reb Smolinsky has different philosophies. He contested that Sara could be an independent woman and stated, “Woe to America where women are let free like men” (205). Reb later followed with, “No girl can live without a father or a husband to look out for her” (205), not even acknowledging the fact that Sara is a fully-grown woman, let alone a girl. In the 1920s, not only did women begin to modernize and become more independent, but also the era sparked a new movement called women’s

On August 18th, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote. Prior to this day, women were not allowed to cast ballots for public candidates. At the time, President Woodrow Wilson ratified the amendment, however he was once opposed to women’s right to vote. Reb would also be antagonistic to the cause. Throughout Bread Givers, Reb demoralizes women by referring to his own wife as “woman.” He constantly puts his importance on a pedestal and destroys women’s significance. On the other hand, Sara takes pride in her new identity and would be pro-women’s suffrage. In chapter 8, Sara