How The Flappers Changed In The 1920's

Change within a society is extremely difficult to achieve, however, in the 1920s, Flappers altered societal norms by becoming the face of change and progress. Due to the flappers attempt at diminishing the suffocation and expectations that existed for women, society was slowly beginning to veer away from a patriarchal lifestyle where women were portrayed as inferior. As a result of flapper’s rebellious behavior and actions, more women became comfortable creating lives for themselves and becoming independent. Flappers were the first step to a soon to be skyrocketing development known as the feminist movement. Women began working, wearing less confined clothing, and started going out at night to drink and smoke like men did but, “these young

They were asserting their rights to make personal choices” (Zeits, 69). Women who lived in the United States, especially flappers, often faced misogyny and condescension, however, they managed to successfully construct a vigorous, independent women, who was soon to become the future of America. For centuries, women in America had been expected to wear long dresses that covered their knees, and tight corsets that extenuates one's waist, which provided an “inviting” hourglass figure. The constraining clothing that women wore depicted the way they were treated before the flappers. The corset can be seen as a comparison to the way women felt before the 1920s, because not only were women's clothing tight and suffocating, but so were their lives as a whole. Women were confined to living life at home in the kitchen or satisfying the needs of their husband and children. In addition, women had legal restrictions when it came to working and having a say in the way our country is governed. Around the same time that women began renovating and modernizing their style, they began to repair and take control over their lives and decisions. Skirts that were once worn at floor length, were soon shrunk down in size and ended at the calf, which was a big change in the 1920s. The extravagant dresses

The flapper’s party life consisted of late night at jazz clubs, parties, and most significantly the acclaimed and glamourous Broadway. While at these events, the flappers were perceived as, “The notorious character type who bobbed her hair, smoked cigarettes, drank gin, sported short skirts, and passed her evenings in steamy jazz clubs, where she danced in a shockingly immodest fashion with a revolving cast of male suitors (Zeits, 6).” Many people were distraught by these provocative actions and late nights considering that only men were the people who were out late having fun. Women were often reprimanded and looked down upon similar to the character Eugenia in Joshua Weitz Flapper: “Eugenia is not innately bad. She is a good girl, but she was blinded to a true perception of life by the white lights of Broadway (Zeitz, 4).” Women who began drinking and smoking a social setting made a huge impact on how society was changing. It revealed that women were no longer controlled by men, and they can do what they want; they were finding their identity and having fun while doing it. Going to jazz clubs and Broadway shows was a sign of leisure and pleasure. By attending these events, women were going against the gender restrictions that applied to people living in the 20s. Not only was attending these shows and parties a