Introduction: Thesis: The 1920s was an era of dramatic social and political change that brought along the greatest change for women. After World War I, the image of women completely transformed and the changing attitudes of America, allowed them to enroll in colleges, enter the workforce, participate in politics and play a greater role in society and public life. Paragraph I: Before 1920s Paragraph II:
In April of 1966, James Brown sang that “this is a man’s world”, however only four decades before women had been working to prove their value and social power, by challenging the social norms, and showing that it truly would be nothing with the women of the nation. Though, in reality, to what extent did they challenge the social norms of their time? There were limitations facing the women of the 1920s regardless they changed society for the better. Even before the 1920s, women were making a new name for themselves in society. The First World War was a pivotal moment for women’s social status.
The 1920s represented the post-suffrage era when women made drastic social and cultural changes that affected the American women way of life. Women began to seek more rightsand equal representation through changes in social values. However, women still observed their primary responsibility for caring for the household; and also depended on men for monetary support (Martin, 1926). The essay brings into perspective, various transformations that took place in the 1920s, resulting in the diversion of the traditional norms.
The period of time from 1890 to 1925 was a revolutionary time for women in America. From the beginning of the United States the role of women was always ambiguous. Women were seen as necessary for the survival of the colonies but not equal to men in any way. However, over time the role of women has evolved. The era of 1890 to 1925 included the Gilded Age, Progressive Movement, and the first World War and these events changed the role of women in American forever.
The Roaring Twenties, characterized as a progressive era toward changes and advances, it was a start for freedom and independence for women. Women gained political power by gaining the right to vote. They changed their traditional way to be, way to act and dress to gain respect, and the liberty of independence. Society had different ways of ideals and the ways women were willing to do were disapproved of, and it was wrong for lots of different people, including women from the older generation. In the 1920’s women went through a lot of changes that made them a free spirit, changes that made them what they are now and having the liberty of being independent.
Life for women changed drastically over time throughout the years of 1880 to 1920. Some of these changes included inequality in education and job rights, certain rights after marriage, the inability to vote. The women of the 19th and 20th century believed they could be more than just a housewife for men, but rather gain better rights as a women. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton worked as a team to promote equal women’s rights during 1880-1920. They both created and published a woman's newspaper called the “Revolution” from 1868-1870.
The fashion of the 1920 s is a reflection of peoples extravagant lifestyles and elevated thinking. It was an exciting time to be a woman because more freedoms and opportunities were available, not to mention woman gaining the right to vote . There were new patterns of clothing, bras,and smaller corsets not to mention that most of the clothing was made by the woman themselves. Through the years woman have stayed at home and not had much involvement in the society.
In the 1920s women succeeded well but not without some struggles. Along the way with 19th amendment being so hard for them gaining the right to vote, women’s roles seeing that there not good enough for other than housework and the fashion or style movement with being able not to express yourself the way you should. The 19th Amendment better known as the women’s suffrage era 1920 of the united states
Many Americans didn’t believe women should work outside the home and only men should make all the money for the household. In the 1920s, many women were needed to teach elementary school children, and about eight percent of the female population had enrolled in college,
• Prohibition and Woman’s suffrage really gave an American Women everything that they wanted in 1920’s. The “New woman” of 1920’s, cared little or none about the Woman Sphere. As they were independent, well-educated, and Modern. The actual first big technology was found in the roaring twenties and it was Radio. Many companies saw this an opportunity to reach out people (mainly broadcast news and advertisement), and on other hand people were getting more and more obsessed with Radio.
The year 1920 brought lot of changes to America. Living standard, liberation for women, industrial growth was part of the roaring 20’s. Social pressure towards women was slowly diminishing as women started to dress to their will. Skirt above the knee, short hair and revealing (to certain extent) were few changes that women took on themselves. More women and black people were employed; although the pay difference was still an ongoing issue.
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”.
“Roar!” went the 1920s, emerging with automobiles, city life, and flappers. With the close of World War I, America not only breathed a sigh of relief but experienced massive economic and social upheaval. The government withdrew its money from war funds and returned it to big businesses like Ford Motor Company, boosting the national economy. The “Flaming Youth” wildly partied in their desperation to forget wartime hardships and enjoy life to its fullest (Stein, 13). Women, embracing new freedoms such as voting rights and broader career, took it a step further with short dresses, bobbed hair, and openly flirtatious behavior.
From this excerpt, we get the idea that women before the 1920s often never fought for themselves and went along with what the men said. However, this idea did not last for long, as women began to change their roles in society, starting with their style of clothing. Before the 1920s, dresses were longer and covered everything including shoulders and ankles. Hairstyles consist of long hair pinned up elaborately with pins, bows, and headbands. However, during the 1920s, women’s dresses began to get shorter, and showed their legs up to the knee.
The 1900s was completely different from the previous centuries. It witnessed a tremendous change in the ideal female body image, which also changed from one decade to another. In The twentieth century, women started exposing more of their body, like
