Flappers Essay - 771 Words

Flappers War is often followed by change; World War I is no exception. World War I is often labeled the cause for the rise of a feminine revolution-â€Å"the flapper†. Before the term â€Å"flapper† began to describe the â€Å"young independently-minded woman of the early Twenties† (Mowry 173), the definition that is most prominent today, it had a 300-year long history. The young woman of the 1920’s was new and rebellious. In her appearance and demeanor, she broke the social constructs of her society. When the war started, women had to take over the jobs of men and they learned to be independent. These women exemplified the beginning of change. Coupled with enfranchisement and the increased popularity of birth control, women experienced a new†¦show more content†¦The car, a new invention, was another tool in their rebellion; it was fast and could be reckless. Flappers used cars for three purposes: to drive, to ride and for â€Å"petting†. Petting was the sexual activity practiced in the back seats of cars. People also had petting parties, which mortified the older generation. The carefree attitude of the younger generation was attributed to the psychological trauma caused by the unprecedented casualty level of the war. This generation had the theory that each day might be the last, therefore lived it to the fullest. This mental change was accompanied by a change in the physical styles of women. Fashion trends that were held in high regard by tradition were challenged to demonstrate the new risquà © way of life. The Gibson glamour girl preceding the flapper wore long tresses, a high-neck starched shirt, and a long skirt over restrictive undergarments. The flapper did not adhere to these types of restrictions. Pantaloons and corsets, the Gibson girl’s undergarments, were not conducive to the dancing of the flapper or the need for physical freedom. They were replaced by underwear called step-ins (Rosenberg 2). The flapper fashion showed much more skin than the Gibson girl’s outfit. She wore a loose fitting dress that came just to the knees, with a dropped waistline and often showed the arms. The look worn by the flapper was called the â€Å"garconne† meaning little boy. The hair was first cut very short into a â€Å"bob† then evenShow MoreRelatedThe Flappers Of The 1920s1294 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"The Flappers in the 1920s† How did flappers change the role of women? I will tell you what a flapper is. The lifestyle of a flapper. How they dresses and how did they wear their makeup.And how they change the role of women during the 1920s. The Gibson Girl’s fashionable clothing testified her profession; to be her husband’s ability to support her. â€Å" For the Gibson Girl, grooming itself was her profession; to be her husband’s prized possession was her career.† The Gibson Girl took her cues inRead MoreThe Book Flapper by Joshua Zeitz1169 Words   |  5 PagesFlapper 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. The story startsRead MoreEssay about Flappers: The Untraditional Women of the 1920s682 Words   |  3 Pagestraditional. 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By diving into a look at the fashion, music, and lifestyle of the flapper during the 1920s it willRead MoreFlappers: A Representation of Modern Independent Women733 Words   |  3 Pagesthe dancers called the Flappers. Flappers were developed to show a change in women in the 20th century. They represented a new woman that was more modern and independent. The Flappers created a new fashion for woman and a new image s howing that woman are more independent, more masculine, and can support themselves. Flappers demonstrated a new modern and independent woman who showed that they were capable of providing for themselves and having their own occupation. Flappers symbolized a â€Å"revolutionRead MoreGibson Girl versus Flapper Girl Essay562 Words   |  3 PagesGibson Girl versus Flapper Girl During the roaring twenty’s a new type of women arose, a women who rebelled against society’s standards for women, the Flapper Girl. The new Flapper Girl shocked society by setting a new type of women beauty that expressed their independence just like men. Meanwhile the Gibson Girl was the ideal figurehead for female beauty, they were often shown as fragile and vulnerable. Flapper Girls astonished the world by pushing the limits of the average Gibson Girl settingRead MoreHow Did Flappers Change The View Of Women During The 1920 S1003 Words   |  5 PagesHow did Flappers change the view of women in the 1920 s Before flappers came along women were very modest. They were brought up to be lady-like and did not even date men unless their parents came along. They would wear clothes that were long and fancy and would cover their bodies head-to-toe, because they were not allowed to even show their ankles. Flappers went against all theses customs. Their irresponsible actions included: around kissing men, dancing on men provocatively, and just not caringRead MoreGroundbreaking Piece in the New York Magazine of 1915 Called The Flapper2150 Words   |  9 Pagesfeatured a piece called, The Flapper. This was the first time a magazine had ever shown the rebellious young girl who wore short dresses and skirts in the 1920’s. The magazine described the flapper as â€Å"A charming creature!† (The Smart Set : A Magazine of Cleverness) and continued to boast the reputation of the flapper by portraying her as educated and mysterious. The magazine Vanity Fair soon followed in September of 1921, but this magazine demolished the reputation of the flapper girl. â€Å"Why aren’t theyRead More`` Flapper : A Story Of Sex, Style, Celebrity, And The Women Who Made America879 Words   |  4 Pagescomes to mind with the phrase, â€Å"modern America?† What are the relationships like? The style? They money-making business? How did it America get where it is today? Joshua Zeitz depicts how America’s society changed in the 1920s throughout his book, Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern. Zeitz uses historical actors, specifically women, such as Coco Chanel and Kathleen Morrison, also known as Colleen Moore, to help redefine such changes into modern AmericaRead MoreAnalysis of Josuha Zeita ´s Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern954 Words   |  4 PagesThe flapper was the harbinger of a radical change in American culture. She was a product of social and politica l forces that assembled after the First World War. Modernization adjusted the American life. Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern by Joshua Zeitz analyzes the people who created the image of the flapper. This work is an incorporation of narrative, statistics, and scholarly work that provide a distinct insight on the â€Å"New Woman.† Joshua Zeitz