Flappers

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Recommended: Social effects of World War II

Flappers

War is often followed by change; World War I is no exception. World War I is often labeled the cause for the rise of a feminine revolution-“the flapper”. Before the term “flapper” began to describe the “young independently-minded woman of the early Twenties” (Mowry 173), the definition that is most prominent today, it had a 300-year long history. The young woman of the 1920’s was new and rebellious. In her appearance and demeanor, she broke the social constructs of her society.

When the war started, women had to take over the jobs of men and they learned to be independent. These women exemplified the beginning of change. Coupled with enfranchisement and the increased popularity of birth control, women experienced a new liberation. When the men returned from the war they found competition from the newly liberated woman who did not want to settle for making a home (Melman 17). This new class of women exercised a freedom that shocked society.

The flapper life moved at a faster pace. Before this era of change, there was no dating scene where common interaction between men and women heading for spousal relationship could occur. The proper method to finding a spouse was controlled by the male. A young lady was expected to wait for a man to address her with intentions of marriage to begin courting (Rosenberg 1). The war left “nearly a whole generation of young women without suitors” (Rosenberg 1). This situation encouraged the flapper lifestyle because women did not want or have time to wait for a suitor.

The way women lived portrayed their high-spirited rebellion against older generations. Many women began to smoke cigarettes, which was a male habit. In the time of Prohibition, flappers frequently attended nig...

... middle of paper ...

...es additional information on flappers. Another beneficial addition is the way it addresses the artistic perspective talking of entertainment of the time, it has cartoons of the time and a poem entitled “The Flapper.”

http://www.rambova.com/fashion/fash4.html This website outlines women fashions from the early twenties through the late twenties. The site also has pictures accompanies the descriptions.

http://silentladies.com/zFlappers.html This site has pictures of the stars from the silent movies called “Silent Flappers.”

Works Cited

Melman, Billie. Women and the Popular Imagination. London: Macmillan Press, 1988.

Mowry, George. The Twenties Fords, Flappers, and Fanatics. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1963.

Rosenberg, Jennifer. Flappers in the Roaring Twenties. http://history1900s.about.com/library/weekly/aa022201a.htm. November 16, 2002 2:30 a.m.

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