The Roaring Twenties were a time of prosperity and luxury for almost all Canadian citizens, it was a time where Canada changed saw the birth of many new technologies and the birth of a new culture. Roaring in the sense of the Roaring Twenties means that things were fun, new, exciting, and that people were having fun. The Roaring Twenties were truly a roaring decade in Canadian history, this was due to the post war economic boom in Canada which lead to people having more freedoms, and money to do what they wished with. People were also starting to invest more in luxuries helping businesses and keeping the economy running smoothly. The Roaring Twenties also gave rise to flappers. Flappers were normal girls that decided to dress in a new style …show more content…
The flapper was a women that did what she wanted, and had lots of fun. The flapper could be recognised by her signature look of bobbed hair and easy to move in clothing which resembled that of a boys clothing. Flappers wore this so that they could easily dance and move about freely instead of being restricted to what they normally could do. Flappers were able to take charge of their lives and do what they wanted and do it when they wanted to, which really made the lives of women during the 1920’s exciting and fun. A great example of this was smoking, flappers started to smoke in the 1920’s which up until this point in time had only been done by man. The image of a women smoking would have shocked anyone during the start of the Roaring Twenties, but by the end of the decade women smoking was just a normal occurrence. Women smoking showed how they now had freedom to do what they wanted and that they did have the right to do what men do, if men are smoking cigarettes why should women not smoke. The flapper girls started to smoke as a way to both rebel and to live a little, it was fun for them and it almost made them more powerful as it pushed the boundaries of what women could do. Smoking for the flapper girls as a result of pushing these boundaries became a fun activity that made their lives much more exciting. Next another new thing flappers started to do was driving cars. Cars were new and were very exciting and fast which was perfect for the fun flapper lifestyle. Flappers loved cars as they were fast and very risky which was a great activity for the flappers as they could now push the boundaries even more because they were doing the same thing that the men were doing. Driving cars truly was able to show off a flapper’s wild side as they just wanted to have the excitement and the fun that comes along with driving a car. Finally flappers drank alcohol during a time when it was prohibited.
Flappers were not in fact only concerned with standing out and being noticed. They were not simply fashion and image-driven, selfish women, but were strong, self-willed, independent young feminist citizens who were fighting passionately for their right to stable equality amidst a prominently male-driven world. These women pushed aggressively for their social, professional, and sexual freedom which they felt were hard-earned and well overdue. Many flappers wished to pursue positions in careers which would otherwise be deemed unacceptable for the average women of the time. They hoped that by breaking away from social normality's that they could eventually obtain equality in all important aspects of life while hopefully also allowing them entry into many professional fields which would normally be unaccessible to women.
Thanks to Coco Chanel, the iconic flapper image most closely associated with the roaring twenties came about. The flapper and flapper image didn’t actually come to be until around 1926 and even then was only in style for about three years. Typical flappers were women who appeared to have a bold attitude and were independent women who didn’t adhere to the previously innocent housewife image. A flapper usually had a bob haircut, a shorter than average dress, a flat chest, wore tons of make-up, drank illegal alcohol, smoked with a long cigarette holder, exposed her limbs and danced the Charleston. This was a drastic change from the typical American housewife to the reckless rebel. The flapper dresses stressed above the knee hemlines and construed straight, sleek shapes. This was the first time in centuries women’s legs were being seen in a garment. (1920s Fashion 1) Flappers loved to jazz up their costume and even their image. Many flappers’ dresses were adorned with jewels and intricate beading. The main object of the flapper image was to appear almost boyish rather than looking feminine. (1920s clothing 1)
Flappers were a new revolutionary type of woman that came about in the early 1920s. Daughters of women that fought for suffrage and equal rights, they had no interest in politics, and even less in the issue of ´social norms´. Girls from well of families drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and took part in ´petting parties´. They cut their hair in bobs and wore short skirts that went up above the knee, Which at the time was socially unacceptable. Many people were appalled by the ways of the flapper, some even taking the case of immodesty to court. But the flapper movement would not be stopped, and would pave the way for the modern woman.
The 1920s, or better known as the roaring twenties changed the lives of women in America politically, physically and mentally. Women were granted more freedom, the right to vote, changed their physical appearance, and focused on materialistic goals instead of moral values. Before World War I, women would wear a high collar, long straight skirts below the knee and long hair that was tied loosely. The roaring twenties brought along swing dancing and jazz which changed the way women dressed and danced. Not only did the roaring twenties bring along flourishing taste in music, but flappers came into play. Flappers were women who wore short sparkly dresses, cut their hair into a bob, wore heavy make-up, drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes and partied all night.
A flapper was a fashionable young women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, and listened to jazz. During the 1920s the social norms for women fashion was to wear long modest dresses and long hair. Women also got the right to vote when the 19th amendment was ratified. This was a time of newfound independence for women. many women had taken on new jobs during World War I and weren't ready to give up their independence.
The Roaring Twenties were a dramatic change for the United States. The country had seen a rise in its economic status by doubling its wealth between 1920 – 1929 but also the American culture changed (Roaring Twenties). Because of reparations being paid to the United States from World War I, the country was seeing a rise in consumerism. With the economic growth there was also an exponential rise in the stock market (The Great Depression). People finally had money to move from suburban areas and live in big cities (Roaring Twenties). The turn of the twentieth century saw a rise in mass production, which allowed luxury items like automobiles to become a readily available good for consumers. The Roaring Twenties saw people adopt new practices
The reputation and culture of women changed substantially with the emergence of the Roaring Twenties. Gone was the traditional, and sheltered All-American girl who aspired to a housewife. It was seen as inappropriate for these women to even show their ankles out in public. The new “Flapper” girl was a young woman who wore short and relaxed dresses, used makeup, smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol, and attended glamorous parties (Document 2a). Flappers were liberated and bold, and were the complete opposite of the traditional American housewife. The Flapper girl
In the 1920’s, there were many controversial issues going on such as prohibition, the war ending and the view of woman in society. Although, many other issues were prevalent at this time, one that gained a wide variety of attention was the more risqué women of the 1920’s, flappers. Many at this time still believed that woman should only be in the background and not be seen as a public figure, but many woman began to disagree and were ready for their on way, leading to the beginning of flappers. The flapper woman were not afraid of change and with the rise of prohibition and jazz, they were introduced into a whole new set of circumstances (2 4). They embraced change, such as changing the way they looked, how they acted, and basically began to individualize themselves. Some saw what the flappers were stepping out of line and were not being respectable woman, but others thought it was time to be questioning the school norm.
Flapper by Joshua Zeitz is a book that tells an epic story about the American women during the time of the 1920’s. For a better understanding, a flapper would typically be a young girl who blurred the gender roles by taking on a more masculine lifestyle. They wore their hair short, drank and smoked frequently, and explored their sexuality. With this behavior, it didn’t destroy their femininity; it just simply provided the society’s perception of what a woman should and should not be.
Partying, drinking, and dancing; these are the adjectives most commonly associated with the life of a flapper. While these descriptions are accurate, they do not inform people of the advantages and gains flappers made for the female gender. The flapper embodied the idea of freedom from the usual duties of a young female in the 1920s. These women were no longer tied down with the expectation that they immediately become a wife and mother, as well as being conservative and modest. By diving into a look at the fashion, music, and lifestyle of the flapper during the 1920s it will become obvious that they were not only independent, liberated, and enjoying many more freedoms than they had previously throughout history, but that they also
The 1920s was a period of revolution and liberation for women with the rise of “the new woman”, who experienced changes in both appearance and attitude, and the reconsideration of the purpose of sex. The 1920s gave birth to the flapper, the type of woman who rejected the traditional prudish values of the Victorian Era. Merriam-Webster defines a flapper as “a young woman; specifically: a young woman of the period of World War I and the following decade who showed freedom from conventions (as in conduct).” Flappers started to emerge because of the shift in the role of women in society. Women held more political power because of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment and more and more women were entering the labor force. Women had more
Certainly, the 1920’s were liberally revolutionary in their culture in relation to women. The 20’s saw women develop in society and politically; starting with the Nineteenth Amendment which gave women the right to vote. Afterward, a lifestyle called “the new woman” was created that changed women 's appearance and attitude. These new women were labeled flappers by the upper-class women, and rejected traditional values of women by exposing their legs, arms, cutting their hair in short bobs, wearing makeup,smoking and drinking publically. An article published by New York Times states that, “You will have noticed that they (flappers) had forgotten to buckle their overshoes and you will have noticed that they had taken to wearing
For many decades, there were numerous arguments stating whether the “Roaring 20s” were good times or bad times in Canadian history. Although there were many clear reasons that supported both sides of the argument, I believe that the 1920s were good times. The “Roaring 20s” were times of economic and social boom. New inventions which are still effective part of our lives in 21st century, growing power of multimedia and entertainment, and modern form of industrial revolution with mass production all originated from 1920s. Moreover, the entrepreneurs and industrializing businesses especially in the central Canada or in the cities were successful. Lastly, stock market was rising gradually until
-The day the stock market crashed, October 29, 1929 became known as “Black Tuesday.” During the 1920's many people dreamed of getting rich, so they invested heavily in
Flappers brought a dramatic change to society that made women realize how they should be treated. In the past, women had to be submissive all the time and not voice their opinions. Back in the early centuries, women were involved in domestic violence and their husbands and boyfriends would control how they looked and acted. After World War I, many young men who fought did not return home. This left women to explore the world and try new things. They realized that life was too short to do anything but have fun. (The Rise of the Flapper). The 1920s was finally the breakthrough of change women had been waiting for for centuries.