The Twenties Woman Chapter 13-1
Young Women Change the Rules After WWI the pull of the cities & the changing attitudes of Americans opened up a new world for many young Americans This would be seen in the new attitude expressed by the “new” woman
The Flapper During the ‘20’s a new ideal emerged for some women: the flapper The flapper was an emancipated young woman who embraced the new fashions & attitudes of the day Close-fitting felt hats, bright waistless dresses an inch above the knees, skin-toned silk stockings, sleek pumps, & strings of beads became the style of the day Hair styles changed to a short dark bobed style The attitude was a new assertive style that pressed for equal status with men Women began smoking, drinking, driving, etc….
The Double Standard The media promoted the new ideals of the flapper This new look was more of an image rather than the widespread reality It was a style & attitude of a rebellious youth Traditionalists would protest this new attitude of dress & decorum Prior to WWI men courted women they were interested in marrying, after WWI dating became casual The period also saw a double standard develop as men were given much more freedom where as women were required to adhere to a stricter set of standards
Women Shed Old Roles at Home & at Work The booming economy opened up new opportunities for women in the work place At the same time the new industrial economy would turn out new appliances & gadgets that would modernize & change the life of those women who were housewives
New Work Opportunities After WWI employers began to replace women workers a they believed that men had the responsibility to support the family Women continued to enter the workforce but their opportunities were limited as they would enter “women's professions” Professions such as teachers, nurses, librarians, clerical workers, & clerks became stereotypical By million women were in the workplace, however very few would rise to management positions Wages were considerably less for women as compared to men It would be between 1900 & 1930 that the patterns of discrimination & inequality for the women in the workplace would be established
The Changing Family Social & economic changes of the century began the change in the family structure The population levels had been dropping for the past decade but was now dropping faster with the availability of birth control Margaret Sanger would open the first birth control center in 1916 At the same time social & technological advances simplified family life Stores overflowed with ready made clothes, processed foods, & new machines that would simplify daily life Marriage also changed as people were not put together based on convince or arrangement Children were no longer working in factories with adults as they were in school or apprentice's programs