-
Women's Roles In The Past
Women in the HouseFrom the beginning of time, women have had very specific expectations set in place for them. They had one job, and one job only; to take care of the house and their husband. Women were expected to cook, clean, care for the children, and attend to their husband’s every need. Very strict standards about how one should present themselves in public were set in place, and any woman who dared to step out of line was looked down upon. -
The "Bob"
The Bob hairstyle was an influential and revolutionary hairstyle that became popular in the USA in the 1920s. Before this time, women were expected to have long, beautiful hair as a symbol of femininity. But the 20’s offered women a chance to break free of the social norms of the past, and women everywhere opted for the new, trendy bob. For the women, it symbolized their independence. By 1921, the bob is sported by celebrities of the time, such as Coco Chanel. -
Flappers
Flapper Video: Flappers are commonly referred to as “The New Woman”. They smoked, they drank, they gambled, they wore makeup (which was previously only worn by prostitutes), and they flaunted their sexuality (something that was highly looked down upon by the older generation). Flappers were defined as “scandalous” and “promiscuous”, and gained attention through their bold actions. Flappers paved the way for new values about women’s actions, ideas, and attitudes. -
Fashion in the 1920s
When people think of 1920s fashion, they automatically think of the Flapper. However, there were a number of other changing fashions throughout the decade. Previously worn corsets were tossed aside and a more boyish figure was very popular. The hem on skirts and dresses rose to the knee, back down to the ankle, and back to the knees, then were long again by 1930. Waistlines were completely forgotten. Straight skirts were extremely popular and often paired with sweaters. -
The Roaring Twenties
122By the end of the 1910’s, dramatic changes were coming about, and America entered “The Roaring Twenties”. The twenties were a time of change and reform. For the first time in our history, more Americans lived in big cities than on farms. Jazz music grew increasingly popular, and people threw away the old traditions to party the nights away in elaborate party dresses. Slang replaced words that were deemed “old-fashioned”. But perhaps the most prominent change was the role of women. -
The 19th Amendment
In addition to many social changes, political changes were also taking place for women in the 1920s. On August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote. The amendment marked the end of a long and difficult struggle; women had been petitioning and picketing for their right to vote more than 100 years earlier. This amendment empowered the women of the 1920s even more, further ensuring their independence. -
The First Miss America Pageant is Held
Margaret Gorman was crowned the first Miss America. In summer, she entered into a popularity contest held by the Washington Herald. Six finalists came to the city, Gorman included, and she won “Miss Washington D.C”, and won a trip to the Atlantic City Pageant, which she won as well. The following year, she returned to Atlantic City, and the officials didn’t know what new title to give to her. Since she had won two titles in 1921, she was crowned "Miss America". She was a junior in high school. -
The Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Right Amendment was first proposed to congress in 1923. It stated that “Equality of rights under the law shall not be abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” That means that women would be equal to their spouse in marriage, a view that turned out to be quite unpopular to many. People who were opposed believed that protective laws like sexual assault and alimony would cease to exist if women wanted the same rights as man. The amendment was ratified in 1960-70s -
More and More Women Enter the Workforce
When men had to go off and fight in WW1, women began getting jobs outside of the home, such as conductors of trams or buses and farming. After the war, many women continued to stay in the workforce instead of returning home. Women were allowed to get a better education in the 20s than they had in previous years, and positions like surgeons and physicians opened up to women. Teaching was the most popular choice, requiring a high school diploma.Those without a dipoma worked as seamstresses. -
Nellie Tayloe Ross Becomes the First Woman Governor
Nellie VideoNellie Tayloe Ross’s husband, the governor of Wyoming, had died. They had three children, and she needed money to support them. When her husband died, she began to get job offers to be a state librarian, but she was too proud to accept them. She began campaigning for governor. She wanted the job and was interested in politics, a view that was shocking for a woman in 1924. Nellie won by 8,000 votes and was inaugurated January 5, 1925. -
Bertha K. Landes is Elected Mayor of Seattle
Nellie Tayloe Ross paved the way for Bertha K. Landes. Landes was president of the Seattle Federation of Women’s Clubs, and the president of the Chamber of Commerce recognized her for her leadership. She was always in leadership positions, and made the decision to run for city council in 1922, with her husband’s support. On March 9, 1926, Landes won the race to be governor of Seattle by 6,000 votes. People were much more accepting of Landes than they had been of Ross. -
Women in the 1928 Olympics
Olympic VideoAt the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, women were allowed to compete in track and field events for the very first time. Prior to 1928, track and field events were only for men; gymnastics and figure skating were the sports designed for women. Many people believed that women wouldn’t be able to do well in track and field events, but the women who participated in the 1928 Olympics proved the skeptics wrong. -
Political Changes for Women; A Recap
The biggest political change for women in the 1920s was the passing of the 19th amendment that ensured women the right to vote. This opened the door for Nellie Tayloe Ross and Bertha K. Landes, allowing them the chance to run for government positions previously only available to men. More women entered and stayed in the workforce, breaking free of the expectations set in place since the begninning of time. If it weren't for the women of the 1920s, women today wouldn't have as many rights. -
Social Changes for Women; A Recap
Breaking free of the conservative views of their mothers and grandmothers, all young women of the 1920s wanted was to have fun. They chopped their long locks and opted for the boyish "bob", a style that is still seen today. They hiked their dresses up to their knees, ditched the corset, and spent the night dancing away. They smoked, drank, used makeup, and will forever be remembered as "The New Woman". -
Women of the 1930s
Women of the 1930s owed everything to the women of the 1920s. Women were able to hold and get jobs easily, and were no longer expected to be completely submissive to their husbands. Influential women of this time period include Jane Addams, Amelia Earhart, Hattie Wyatt, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
