How did Society React to the Change in Women?
The 1920s was a decade, which changed the status of women, legally and socially. The roaring 20s brought about a shift in the social paradigm role that women partook in, in American society. Women were soon widely recognized as “new women”. The “new woman” of the 1910s and 1920s rejected the pieties (and often the politics) of the older generation, smoked and drank in public, celebrated the sexual revolution, and embraced consumer culture” (1). Before this revolution, girls were expected to be a housewife and do things that didn’t make them happy, “but was I more happy when I was drudging? I was not. I was just bedraggled and unhappy. It’s work- but not my work. I could run an office or library, or nurse and teach children. But solitary dishwashing isn’t enough to satisfy me- or many other women” (2). Women were expected to be housewives or stay at home moms but eventually women started taking advantage of self- enrichment opportunities such as entering the workforce, getting an education, and with this they embraced the notion they deserved equality such as having the same rights as men.
One of the most controversial and influential elements that helped shape “new women” during this time period was the coming of the Flappers, “socially liberated, hedonistic, and reckless, often acting in ways that shocked their elders. Young women began to engage in activities previously limited to men, such as smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol” (3). Flappers influenced young girls to rebel against social norms and due to that mentality this new generation of young girls began to explore new opportunities within different realms of society. In addition to this they refused to return to traditional female roles and resubmit to strict Victorian mortality (4). Females were taking a bold stand and showing society that becoming a “new woman” was a product of the Flapper influence. In correlation to the Flapper trend women engaged in acts of protest in an attempt to gain equality by changing their labeled roles and society’s expectations of them. For most females, Flappers were “perhaps the most iconic figure of the 1920s, the flapper became the symbol of a youth movement that championed new ideas about womanhood and appropriate female behavior” (5). Flappers were greatly idolized by young females who began to believe there was more to life than being a housewife or stay at home mom. Young females showed society that they were capable of becoming independently strong by individually approaching situations and making decisions on their own. Adolescent females knew that when they changed their lifestyle, they would be portrayed and perceived differently. They knew changing their lifestyle and ideology was the only way to gain equality even if society did not readily accept the change. It is worthy to note society did not seem too fond that flappers depicted the lives of young females who were independent, rebellious, and unfazed about how they were perceived.
It was hard for women to gain equality because society would respond negatively towards the way a female went about changing her life. Society began to notice that new women transformed their demeanor by wearing outfits that were more revealing “he noticed it because it was unusual, and kept an eye on the girl for a moment or two, especially as he saw that she attracted not only his attention but that of other people” (6). Most of society through an ideology of the social norm or antiquated traditional beliefs did not display affection towards the revealing way women were dressing but this was part of the statement women were permeating and that statement encompassed challenging the social norms that dictated a woman’s role in society. Females were strongly judged by the clothing they wore and were being construed as “the flapper—with her short skirts, short hair, noticeable makeup, and fun loving attitude- represented a new freedom for women” (7). This rebellious feminist image was one society did not want females to portray because of the negative connotation for flappers being “college girls, unmarried girls living at home, and independent office workers most frequently presented themselves as flappers” (8). Becoming a flapper girl seemed unconventional and was frightening to society at that time. Most of society did not acknowledge the idea that females wanted new reform, which would grant them the equal rights men had. Society’s reaction to the radical changes a new woman made was not affectionate and left society with a lot of concern about the younger women. Parents of the “Roaring Twenties” era were concerned for their adolescent daughters; they were fearful that their children would become or do something that they, and the generation before them, would disagree with. A mother of a 16 year-old daughter named Bessie T. Fortson said “I think it is time to call a halt when the pastor a church, addressing a gathering of college boys, terms all modern young girls “hell cats and muddy minds” (9). Parents were displeased to hear that their daughters were termed “hell cats and muddy minds”. Parents did not welcome the idea their daughters were breaking away from the social norms. They believed that their daughters were going to disobey them and act out sexually. Therefore, parents took an authoritative approach and took manners into their own hands by finding a medium to resolve their concerns.
One of the most controversial and influential elements that helped shape “new women” during this time period was the coming of the Flappers, “socially liberated, hedonistic, and reckless, often acting in ways that shocked their elders. Young women began to engage in activities previously limited to men, such as smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol” (3). Flappers influenced young girls to rebel against social norms and due to that mentality this new generation of young girls began to explore new opportunities within different realms of society. In addition to this they refused to return to traditional female roles and resubmit to strict Victorian mortality (4). Females were taking a bold stand and showing society that becoming a “new woman” was a product of the Flapper influence. In correlation to the Flapper trend women engaged in acts of protest in an attempt to gain equality by changing their labeled roles and society’s expectations of them. For most females, Flappers were “perhaps the most iconic figure of the 1920s, the flapper became the symbol of a youth movement that championed new ideas about womanhood and appropriate female behavior” (5). Flappers were greatly idolized by young females who began to believe there was more to life than being a housewife or stay at home mom. Young females showed society that they were capable of becoming independently strong by individually approaching situations and making decisions on their own. Adolescent females knew that when they changed their lifestyle, they would be portrayed and perceived differently. They knew changing their lifestyle and ideology was the only way to gain equality even if society did not readily accept the change. It is worthy to note society did not seem too fond that flappers depicted the lives of young females who were independent, rebellious, and unfazed about how they were perceived.
It was hard for women to gain equality because society would respond negatively towards the way a female went about changing her life. Society began to notice that new women transformed their demeanor by wearing outfits that were more revealing “he noticed it because it was unusual, and kept an eye on the girl for a moment or two, especially as he saw that she attracted not only his attention but that of other people” (6). Most of society through an ideology of the social norm or antiquated traditional beliefs did not display affection towards the revealing way women were dressing but this was part of the statement women were permeating and that statement encompassed challenging the social norms that dictated a woman’s role in society. Females were strongly judged by the clothing they wore and were being construed as “the flapper—with her short skirts, short hair, noticeable makeup, and fun loving attitude- represented a new freedom for women” (7). This rebellious feminist image was one society did not want females to portray because of the negative connotation for flappers being “college girls, unmarried girls living at home, and independent office workers most frequently presented themselves as flappers” (8). Becoming a flapper girl seemed unconventional and was frightening to society at that time. Most of society did not acknowledge the idea that females wanted new reform, which would grant them the equal rights men had. Society’s reaction to the radical changes a new woman made was not affectionate and left society with a lot of concern about the younger women. Parents of the “Roaring Twenties” era were concerned for their adolescent daughters; they were fearful that their children would become or do something that they, and the generation before them, would disagree with. A mother of a 16 year-old daughter named Bessie T. Fortson said “I think it is time to call a halt when the pastor a church, addressing a gathering of college boys, terms all modern young girls “hell cats and muddy minds” (9). Parents were displeased to hear that their daughters were termed “hell cats and muddy minds”. Parents did not welcome the idea their daughters were breaking away from the social norms. They believed that their daughters were going to disobey them and act out sexually. Therefore, parents took an authoritative approach and took manners into their own hands by finding a medium to resolve their concerns.
The REFORMATORYThe reformatory is referred to as youth detention center or adult correctional facility. Between 1900 and 1930’s women’s reformatories were servicing parents who believed their daughters were in danger of being corrupted and soon enough parents had their daughters institutionalized as inmates. Society was still wrapped up on the fact that young females should grow up and become house-wives and do household work. Parents put their daughters in the reformatory because they wanted their daughters to be reminded women should not emulate a man’s role in society. Reformatories were one of the biggest antagonist responses from society against females in their journey to reform and gain equal rights. Parents believed conservative reformation of their daughters would help them “young as these girls are, they are extremely hard to deal with, for most of them, even at this age, have become hardened to life of crime or vice. For such a girl institutional experience is apt to be the only thing which will save her” (10). Reformatories served as hope to parents and they believed that if their daughters were institutionalized they would regress to their traditional lifestyles, obey, be confined to a woman’s role, and dress accordingly.
During this era of time, women fought for equality because they believed they deserved to be granted every right and be treated equally like their counterpart. Though society experienced turmoil through this reform and transformation it slowly but surely accepted change as a majority. It was no surprise people in society demonstrated a strong sense of opposition towards women engaging in unconventional activities, but because a cohort of females disobeyed societal norms and rules with radical protest change was made and a goal was reached. |
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. “The New Woman of the 1920s: Debating Bobbed-Hair” historymatters.gmu. Accessed on Saturday May 4, 2013. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5117/.
2. Lewis, Sinclair. “Main Street: The story of Carol Kennicott” (New York, 1920), 398.
3. “Sophisticated Ladies: Women in the 1920s” arenastage.org. Accessed on Sunday 5, 2013. http://www.arenastage.org/shows-tickets/sub-text/2009-10-season/sophisticated-ladies/sophisticated-ladies.shtml
4. IBID
5. IBID
6. Martin, Edward S. “New Freedom and the Girls.”ehistory.edu. Accessed on Saturday May 4, 2013. http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/mmh/clash/NewWoman/Documents/newfreedom.htm.
7. Benner, Louise. “Women in the 1920s NCpedia.” Ncpedia.org. Accessed on Monday 25, 2013. http://ncpedia.org/history/20th-Century/1920s-women
8. IBID.
9. “The Twenties in Contemporary Commentary”: Collected commentary.americainclass.org. Accessed on Saturday May 4, 2013.
http://americainclass.org/sources/becomingmodern/modernity/text1/text1.htm.
10. Wiley, Mabel A. “A Study of the Problem of Girl Delinquency in New Haven.” 1915.
1. “The New Woman of the 1920s: Debating Bobbed-Hair” historymatters.gmu. Accessed on Saturday May 4, 2013. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5117/.
2. Lewis, Sinclair. “Main Street: The story of Carol Kennicott” (New York, 1920), 398.
3. “Sophisticated Ladies: Women in the 1920s” arenastage.org. Accessed on Sunday 5, 2013. http://www.arenastage.org/shows-tickets/sub-text/2009-10-season/sophisticated-ladies/sophisticated-ladies.shtml
4. IBID
5. IBID
6. Martin, Edward S. “New Freedom and the Girls.”ehistory.edu. Accessed on Saturday May 4, 2013. http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/mmh/clash/NewWoman/Documents/newfreedom.htm.
7. Benner, Louise. “Women in the 1920s NCpedia.” Ncpedia.org. Accessed on Monday 25, 2013. http://ncpedia.org/history/20th-Century/1920s-women
8. IBID.
9. “The Twenties in Contemporary Commentary”: Collected commentary.americainclass.org. Accessed on Saturday May 4, 2013.
http://americainclass.org/sources/becomingmodern/modernity/text1/text1.htm.
10. Wiley, Mabel A. “A Study of the Problem of Girl Delinquency in New Haven.” 1915.