2. Historical Contexts Women’s movements in the 1920s The Great Gatsby

3. Background Throughout history women; were considered intellectually inferior to men. were considered intellectually inferior to men. were seen as major sources of temptation and evil. were seen as major sources of temptation and evil. were considered naturally weaker than men were considered naturally weaker than men “Woman is the gate of the devil, the path of wickedness, the sting of the serpent, in a word a perilous object.” St. Jerome, C4th

4. 19 th Amendment “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” August 18 th, 1920. In 1920 after years of political agitation for women’s suffrage women in the USA were given the vote through the 19 th Amendment to the constitution.

5. A cartoon showing a woman between the two political parties

6. Flappers Following the First World War, in a more liberal society, some women challenged traditional American values. They became known as Flappers. They typically had:  Short, bobbed hair  Short hems on their skirts  Listened to Jazz music  Wore makeup  Drank hard liquor  Smoked cigarettes  Treated sex in a more casual manner  Were opposed to the conventional social and sexual norms

7. Flappers

8. Alice Paul Alice Paul was the head of the National Women’s Party. Alice Paul was the head of the National Women’s Party. She felt that the 19 th Amendment wasn’t sufficient and so she pushed for an Equal Rights Amendment to be added to the constitution. She felt that the 19 th Amendment wasn’t sufficient and so she pushed for an Equal Rights Amendment to be added to the constitution.

9. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) “Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction.” –the ERA was first introduced to Congress in 1923. –It would have made all forms of discrimination based on sex illegal. –It never passed in Congress.

10. Margaret Sanger In 1921, Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League (ABCL) In 1921, Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League (ABCL) –Today known as Planned Parenthood In 1923, she established the Clinical Research Bureau. In 1923, she established the Clinical Research Bureau. –The first legal birth control clinic in the U.S. Women were then able to control their own bodies. Women were then able to control their own bodies. This movement educated women about existing birth control methods. This movement educated women about existing birth control methods. A 1936, a Supreme Court decision declassified birth control information as obscene. A 1936, a Supreme Court decision declassified birth control information as obscene.

11. Adkins v. Children’s Hospital 1923 The Supreme Court decided that a minimum wage for women violated the right to freedom of contract. This meant that employers were free to pay women as little, or as much, as they wanted. This of course meant that there was the possibility of great inequality in the workplace. The Supreme Court decided that a minimum wage for women violated the right to freedom of contract. This meant that employers were free to pay women as little, or as much, as they wanted. This of course meant that there was the possibility of great inequality in the workplace. William Howard Taft was the Chief Justice

12. Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labor In 1920, the Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor was established to gather information about the situation of women at work, and to advocate for changes it found were needed. In 1920, the Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor was established to gather information about the situation of women at work, and to advocate for changes it found were needed. Many suffragists became actively involved with lobbying for legislation to protect women workers from abuse and unsafe conditions. Many suffragists became actively involved with lobbying for legislation to protect women workers from abuse and unsafe conditions.

13. “Pink Collared” Jobs Pink collar jobs are jobs that are specifically aimed at women and gave women a taste of the work world. gave women a taste of the work world. Were low paying service occupations. Were low paying service occupations. Were paid less money than men who did doing the same jobs. Were paid less money than men who did doing the same jobs. –Examples of jobs:  Secretaries  Teachers  Telephone operators  Nurses

14. “Pink Collared” Jobs cont. Women were confined to traditional “feminine” fields in the work force. Women were confined to traditional “feminine” fields in the work force. The “new professional women” was the most vivid and widely publicized image in the 1920s. The “new professional women” was the most vivid and widely publicized image in the 1920s. But in reality, most middle-class married women remained at home to care for their children.

15. 1928 Olympics The 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam was the first Olympiad that women were allowed to compete in. The 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam was the first Olympiad that women were allowed to compete in. Many were opposed to the women’s participation arguing that; Many were opposed to the women’s participation arguing that; –it was historically inappropriate since women did not compete in ancient Greek Olympics. –physical competition was “injurious” to women. Elizabeth Robinson won the 100 metres in 12.2 seconds

16. Education Women had greater access to education as the C20th progressed At the start of the C20th 19% of college degrees were earned by women. At the start of the C20th 19% of college degrees were earned by women. By 1928, women were earning 39% of the college degrees given in the United States. By 1928, women were earning 39% of the college degrees given in the United States.