During the 1920s the lives of women changed drastically. Many women felt more free to experiment with bolder styles and manners, married women had the opportunities to balance out careers and their family life, and some women began to dominate the work force by taking leadership positions. W.A. Harris LL.D witnessed during the 20's, how the young women of the time loved the image of the flappers, but due to their actions many people look at flappers in horror.
What is a Flapper?
Flapper is defined as "a young woman, especially one who, during the 1920s, behaved and dressed in a boldly unconventional manner" by dictionary.com Flappers were northern, urban, single, young, middle-class women. Many flappers held stable jobs, and changed the American Economy. Women were needed on the sales floor to relate to the most precious customers which more usually, other women. But being a flapper, was not all fun and games.
Lifestyle of a Flapper
By night, flappers interacted in the lively city life. These women went to frequented jazz clubs and vaudeville shows. Flappers eventually adopted a carefree attitude toward prohibition as did the male counterpart. But i ironically, many more young women began to consume alcohol in the decade it was illegal than ever have they before. Flappers began to have smoking play a huge part of their lives. With the views of the Nineteenth Amendment, women hoped and wished to eliminate social double standards. But the flappers were less hesitant to experiment sexually than previous generations.
Flappers became prominent in society due to their ferocious actions. They did not care about others ideas or thoughts on their image. Many of these women entered college or the workforce and felt entitled to make their own decisions about how to live their lives. Being a flapper was not all about fashion for them. It was about rebellion. In an article from 1922, a would-be flapper (but still a "nice girl"), the author explains her lifestyle choices to her parents and why she wanted to become a flapper. Flappers did what society did not expect from young women, they danced to Jazz Age music, they smoked, they wore makeup, they spoke their own language, and they lived for the moment. Flapper fashion followed the lifestyle of what parents did not want their children to be an outcome of .
19th Amendement
The sprout of flappers played the result of success in attaining women’s suffrage through the 19th Amendment. Granted with political rights, women now would have more say and power in their decisions and what they did. Flappers were a representation of change. Flappers in the 20's most likely would be seen with bob haircuts, short skirts, and smoking and drinking in public venues. Women were radically different in terms of fashion and behavior. Women drew massive criticism and disapproval to society and the public. This comes to show how now times have changed, and the definition of a “woman” is evolving.
Works Cited "46d. Flappers." ushistory.org. Web.08 May 2016. "The Rise of The Flapper." mental_floss. Web. 08 May 2016. "Flapper." dictionary.com. Web. 08 May 2016.