Image Of Women In The 1920s

During the 1920s, the image of the American woman evolved from one of submission, to one of independence. The laws were changing in the United States; women’s groups, such as the National Women’s Party, were working to gain equal rights for women and they began achieving these rights piece by piece in this era. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified thereby allowing women the right to vote. During this decade, there were astronomical changes to laws, education, and the job market for women that would essentially create a “new” American woman. The beginning of the 1920’s sparked a huge change in the law in favor of women. Women had finally been granted the right of suffrage. Although women’s groups were elated with their success, this accomplishment also brought hardship upon the unity of the groups. There was no longer one large issue that was bringing all women together. African American women still faced discrimination while voting in the South and they felt that this was an issue …show more content…
Independence became a sign of strength among women that they sought to keep. The style of the “flapper,” a young woman who lived outside of the socials norms, became a common conception of the young American women. The typical flapper would wear clothing that minimized the female form. She would also take part in activities that were once characterized as unladylike, such as smoking, drinking, and wearing heavy makeup. Although the majority of women didn’t live like the traditional flapper, many were inspired by her independence. Many women explored their independence during their college years, but they ultimately went back to the traditional lifestyle once they became married. However, the concept of divorce was becoming more common as well, nearly doubling during this era. Women no longer accepted undesirable arrangements with their husbands. Overall, the female image became more assertive during the