Flappers In Roaring Twenties
The roaring twenties describes a period in American history after World War 1 that experienced dramatic social and political change. The Roaring Twenties was a transitional time period for women in terms of redefining womanhood, expressing themselves, and voicing their opinions. No cultural symbol of the 1920s is more recognizable than the flapper. The term “Flapper” was given to young, progressive women in the 1920s who were primarily known for their modern sense of style and new attitudes toward gender roles, womanhood, and sexuality.
During World War 1 (1914-1918), men who worked in factories and industries went to war, causing women to replace them in the workforce. They began working new, high-paying jobs that had previously been not available to them. When the men returned from war, women were not willing to give up this economic freedom that went beyond homemaking and caregiving. In addition to this, political changes happening at this time gave women more confidence in their freedoms. In August of 1920, women’s independence took a step forward with the passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. That same year witnessed the ratification of the 18th Amendment, which banned the production and sale of alcohol. This time came to be known as Prohibition. Although, the consumption of alcohol did not diminish. Due to the explosion of popularity for jazz music and jazz clubs, many men and women would gather at these places to drink, listen to music, and socialize. Other social changes in favor of women’s rights- such as an increase in opportunities for women to attend college, and easier access to birth control, led to a new “modern” ideal for women to imitate. Lastly, technological advances such as Henry Ford’s mass production of cars allowed women to gain a sense of independence, away from the confines of a home. These social, political, cultural, and technological changes all led to the rise of the flapper.
As the 1920s progressed, the “flapper” persona became increasingly popular in American culture and represented breaking the social norms of womanhood. One of the most noticeable changes that took place in this regard involved fashion. Hemlines rose to above knee length, necklines became lower, the bob became the haircut of choice, and makeup became more acceptable for women to wear. The flapper’s new look seemed to revolve around women attempting to appear more masculine. Their dresses were designed to minimize the hips and some flappers minimized the bust with tight fabric. This seems to be the result of women seeking equal social status with men. It wasn’t just their fashion that made flappers, it was also their behavior and attitude. Flappers were young, fast-moving, fast-talking, reckless and unfazed by previous social norms. Women took on more “manly” habits, which included smoking, drinking, and cussing. Also, since birth control was becoming more widely available, women had the freedom to explore their sexuality without facing the consequences of unwanted pregnancies. In addition to this, flappers broke tradition by entering college or the workforce instead of getting married at a young age. Colleen Moore, Clara Bow and Louise Brooks were the three most famous flappers in Hollywood in the roaring twenties. They inspired change for generations of young women.
The flapper remains one of the key symbols of the Roaring Twenties. Flappers changed society’s view on women by breaking social norms and not restricting themselves to gender roles in terms of fashion, sexuality, and freedom.
