How The Roaring 20s Changed American Culture
Chelsea Ellisor
History 122 A
Dr. Epting
April 8, 2013
The "Roaring '20s"
The "Roaring '20s" changed American culture and society forever. Women were greatly affected by this change. These changes not only showed independence for women, but changed the role of women. The public was aroused with suspicion. Women 's clothing changed drastically beginning in the 1920s. The public saw women shortening the length of their skirts, cultivate a boyish figure, rouged their cheeks, cut their hair into a bob, and they no longer wore flesh-colored stockings. They also smoked cigarettes and wore red lipstick. These women were referred to as flappers. Flirting was seen openly in public with more than one male. These "new" women danced "the shimmy" in jazz clubs. This behavior was seen as scandalous by their mother 's standards (American Horizons 859). This behavior was seen as a scandalous act, because women in the eras before, had never acted this way. Clara Bow symbolized the flapper or "new woman". …show more content…
She was known as the "It Girl". Women all over the United States looked up to her and idealized her. She was put on a pedestal because women wanted to be just like her. They wanted to dress like her, act like her, and become famous like her. She was known for her boyishly tousled bobbed hair, big brown eyes, and heart-shaped mouth, she was the biggest Hollywood star of the era (American Horizons 860). The "New Woman" or Flapper made a new understanding of female sexuality. As many more young men and women attended high school and coed colleges and universities, Americans developed new ways of dating and interacting. Premarital sex became more prevalent in this time era. Doctor 's were prescribing birth controls pills, and women were finding out that they were enjoying sex with their partners. Young men and women engaged in "petting parties", along with enjoying the privacy of the backseats of cars (American Horizons 860). Even though many things were changing in the 1920 's with women, they still all wanted marriage to be their end goal. With women searching for "Mr. Right", advertisements stressed female competition. Advertisements tried to convince women that they needed to purchase beauty products to compete for a husband and to make him theirs. With these advertisements being showed all over, cosmetic purchases skyrocketed. In 1921, the first "Miss America" pageant was held. This also made the competitiveness in the new womanhood spike. Marriage also changed drastically in this time period. Romance and sexual pleasure were viewed as necessary ingredients for a successful marriage (American Horizons 861). Women today still face this kind of pressure. Commercials and advertisements still dictate a woman 's image. The flapper was not the only American image in the 1920s.
Movies and magazines began to show the modern "working girl". Women started being hired as secretaries, which was seen as the perfect job for young, middle-class, white women. This job for women was viewed as a temporary phase before marriage and returning to the home (American Horizons 861). The 1920s changed the role of women forever. The things that these women did affected America significantly and still have an impact on the way America is today. Women Without the women of the 1920s, women today still might not have a voice in politics, have jobs outside of the home, or be successful in their jobs. Women may also not have changed the way they dress either. I am glad that these women stood up for themselves and made many changes in America. I am glad that I can get an education, have a job, and vote. I am also glad that I do not have to wear Victorian style dresses and can show a little
knee.
Works Cited
Schulzinger, Robert D., John Bezis-Selfa, Janette T. Greenwood, Andrew Kirk, Sarah J. Purcell, and Aaron Sheehan-Dean. "Chapter 22." American Horizons. By Michael Schaller. Vol. 2. New York: Oxford UP, 2013. 859-61. Print.
History 122 A
Dr. Epting
April 8, 2013
The "Roaring '20s"
The "Roaring '20s" changed American culture and society forever. Women were greatly affected by this change. These changes not only showed independence for women, but changed the role of women. The public was aroused with suspicion. Women 's clothing changed drastically beginning in the 1920s. The public saw women shortening the length of their skirts, cultivate a boyish figure, rouged their cheeks, cut their hair into a bob, and they no longer wore flesh-colored stockings. They also smoked cigarettes and wore red lipstick. These women were referred to as flappers. Flirting was seen openly in public with more than one male. These "new" women danced "the shimmy" in jazz clubs. This behavior was seen as scandalous by their mother 's standards (American Horizons 859). This behavior was seen as a scandalous act, because women in the eras before, had never acted this way. Clara Bow symbolized the flapper or "new woman". …show more content…
She was known as the "It Girl". Women all over the United States looked up to her and idealized her. She was put on a pedestal because women wanted to be just like her. They wanted to dress like her, act like her, and become famous like her. She was known for her boyishly tousled bobbed hair, big brown eyes, and heart-shaped mouth, she was the biggest Hollywood star of the era (American Horizons 860). The "New Woman" or Flapper made a new understanding of female sexuality. As many more young men and women attended high school and coed colleges and universities, Americans developed new ways of dating and interacting. Premarital sex became more prevalent in this time era. Doctor 's were prescribing birth controls pills, and women were finding out that they were enjoying sex with their partners. Young men and women engaged in "petting parties", along with enjoying the privacy of the backseats of cars (American Horizons 860). Even though many things were changing in the 1920 's with women, they still all wanted marriage to be their end goal. With women searching for "Mr. Right", advertisements stressed female competition. Advertisements tried to convince women that they needed to purchase beauty products to compete for a husband and to make him theirs. With these advertisements being showed all over, cosmetic purchases skyrocketed. In 1921, the first "Miss America" pageant was held. This also made the competitiveness in the new womanhood spike. Marriage also changed drastically in this time period. Romance and sexual pleasure were viewed as necessary ingredients for a successful marriage (American Horizons 861). Women today still face this kind of pressure. Commercials and advertisements still dictate a woman 's image. The flapper was not the only American image in the 1920s.
Movies and magazines began to show the modern "working girl". Women started being hired as secretaries, which was seen as the perfect job for young, middle-class, white women. This job for women was viewed as a temporary phase before marriage and returning to the home (American Horizons 861). The 1920s changed the role of women forever. The things that these women did affected America significantly and still have an impact on the way America is today. Women Without the women of the 1920s, women today still might not have a voice in politics, have jobs outside of the home, or be successful in their jobs. Women may also not have changed the way they dress either. I am glad that these women stood up for themselves and made many changes in America. I am glad that I can get an education, have a job, and vote. I am also glad that I do not have to wear Victorian style dresses and can show a little
knee.
Works Cited
Schulzinger, Robert D., John Bezis-Selfa, Janette T. Greenwood, Andrew Kirk, Sarah J. Purcell, and Aaron Sheehan-Dean. "Chapter 22." American Horizons. By Michael Schaller. Vol. 2. New York: Oxford UP, 2013. 859-61. Print.