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How Did Flappers Impact The Behavior Of The 1920's

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It was quite the time to be alive in the U.S. during the 1920s. Several people went against Prohibition, gave into new styles of dressing and dancing, and rejected moral standards passed down from older generations. To many, the 1920s were also known as the “Roaring Twenties”. A large impact on the 1920s was caused by a fashionable young female with the intention of enjoying herself and breaking normal moral standards of behavior, who were classified as flappers to many. There are several different ways flappers impacted the 1920s such as the behavior of the younger generation, how the older generation view them, and the economy increasing. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word flapper? For many, maybe a young …show more content…

The elder generation would wear dress that touched the floor and would either wear no makeup or a very limited amount. They were well behaved and followed all the rules. It was very different from the behavior of the flappers, their behavior was considered outlashed, reckless and at times redefined women's roles. Flappers were careless, all they wanted to do was enjoy life. They did not care what others thought and nothing could stop them. One flapper once said, “after all this was liberation, we felt free to do anything we wanted. Nobody could tell us what to do.” (52). Flappers felt they did not have to follow the rules, they could be rebellious and desant of convention. They were slowly evolving into a young independent …show more content…

The way the flappers styled their hair, the way they dressed and the slang language they created amongst themselves. They created their own slang language that was confusing to their parents but made sense to them. Some things the young flapper would say when they thought something was really exciting is, “ 'Oh you, kid' and 'the cat's pajamas' [...] ‘Our parents couldn't figure out what we were talking about.’ [...] ‘The Best Things in Life Are Free,’ claimed one tune. ‘Yes, We Have No Bananas’ was another silly ditty repeated over and over, much to the dismay of adults who had to listen” (3). Their language sometimes reflected their feelings about dating, marriage and drinking habits. “I have to see a man about a dog” at this period of time meant going to buy whiskey; and a “handcuff” was considered an engagement or wedding ring (2). When parents heard their daughter talking in this new slang language they created, they did not understand what their daughters were saying, it drove them crazy. To the older women, these girls were destroying everything they had worked

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The 1920s were a time of great change in the United States. World War I had just ended and everyone was joyous that it was over. New jobs were created and styles changed to fit these new times. It was during this period that the flapper came about. The flapper’s unfamiliar style shocked those of the older generation.

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Addison Schwarz 3/22/2016 Per: 5 World History Chapter 13 Study Guide Vocab Flapper Flappers were rebellious young women in the United States and Europe during the 1920s who went outside of society’s norms and showed off more of their body than what was previously acceptable. Prohibition The ban on manufacturing and selling of alcoholic beverages in the United States from 1920 to 1933.

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Some of the American citizens were very quick to judge flappers, but in reality they were only indulging in fun activities that American men had been involved with for ages (DiPaolo). Even though the flapper was a very popular icon for the women in the 20s, most of the time the average woman couldn’t afford to dress and act in the ways that flappers did. The lifestyle was far too expensive and took up most of one’s free time. However, the fashion didn’t go unnoticed and was eventually integrated into clothing that could be purchased at all income levels (“Women in the 1920s”). The rise of the flapper blew up and made quite the

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While a majority of the “old-fashioned” people disagreed with the ways of flappers in this time, others saw it as a declaration of independance. “(…) the New Woman of the 1920s boldly asserted her right to dance, drink, smoke, and date—to work her own property, to live free of the strictures that governed her mother’s generation. (…) She flouted Victorian-era conventions and scandalized her parents. In many ways, she controlled her own destiny.”

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These new women were more rebellious and their values were no longer conventional but focused on getting a better job while the vote made them more influential members of society. The flappers were more independent, adventurous but most of all, they were modern (“Routledge”). The flappers attended more parties and they had more risque dances which they performed to the jazz music of the era. The prohibition created speakeasies, which were underground clubs that people could go to to drink illegal alcohol and listen to controversial jazz music. In these places, flappers would have “petting parties” where they would kiss men in public, which was not commonplace (“The USA: A Nation of Contrasts.”).

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Flappers were free-spirited, independent, fun, outgoing women who would smoke, drink dance, and not have care in the world in what others thought of them.

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Despite the fact that it was clear life in the 1920s was changing, not everyone agreed with the actions of the flappers. The largest divide was seen between the older generation and the younger generation, especially between men and women. In a literary digest produced in 1924, the writer analyzed that the cause of the divide could be characterized as a misunderstanding, stating that the younger generation was “a conflict between the conservative point of view of a past generation and the eager, liberal outlook of a modern age.” Many believed that flapping was all about rebellion.

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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”.

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The roaring twenties was a time of great growth and prosperity. Full of fun times, great music, and amazing dancers. People came up with new terms such as “green door” which meant “having a good time”. Young women who wore skirts, had short hair, and listened to jazz music were nicknamed “flappers.

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Flappers were young women in the 1920s who were intent on pleasuring themselves while disregarding conventional standards of behavior. "The message from Hollywood appeared to be that it was permissible for young women to imitate flappers to a certain extent, but it was unwise for them to carry the imitation too far." ("Flappers in Film") As a result, movies tended to advertise flappers more conservatively and did not mirror the true nature of their lives. One example of how movies depicted progressivism was "The Flapper," in 1920.

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