I would categorise the 1920s as being an era of the expansion of possibilities that lead to a fight for the expansion of rights. The right to vote for women clearly confirms an expansion of rights for white, American women (though many opposed this). The War also enabled women to recognise their value within society and their ability to function independent of men, in many areas, such as the work force. The 'to bob or not', debate is not merely reduced to vanity, but rather the freedom to assert oneself, in accordance with personal taste, and not due to societal convention or repression. However, to evaluate the question which revolves around the 1920s as being a time of rights expansion for Americans, the question stating 'who is defined as an American', is inevitably raised. Black women in the south didn't experience the same rights expansion. Jim Crow and the KKK were still in force, segregating and abusing coloured people. Johnson-Reed immigration act 1924 prevented certain people from entering America, and many forces sought to repress and silence women such as Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt. By Rachel Mason (23363282)
The nineteenth amendment granting American women the right to vote catapulted the sex into a decade that will later be recognized by historians as the ‘roaring twenties.’ This newfound liberation, realised by the efforts of suffragettes like Alice Paul and Carrie Catt, manifested itself in fashion and attitude as women cut their hair and with it their ties to old traditions. It was an era defined by choice – to vote, to bob or not to bob, to join the workforce or (with the introduction of the pill) to enjoy sex without fear of falling pregnant. However it is hard to celebrate the flourish of rights of American women in 1920s when we know it did not extend to their black sisters. The era is marred by the unjust oppression of the black population and the retrogression of many of their rights by Jim Crow laws. By alex hodsman (24200999)
The 1920's was a period where American woman experienced a rapid expansion in both political rights and social freedoms. Primarily, in 1920 woman suffragists in the U.S finally achieved their goals, with a referendum succeeding by the slimmest of margins. This marked the end of extensive (but different) suffrage campaigns by Carrie Chapman Catt (NAWSA), and Alice Paul, and the American woman was finally allowed to vote. While this is perhaps the most obvious expansion of rights, the next decade was marked by a period of social change. The desired image of a woman shifted from from the maternal, beautiful, and dependent 'Gibson Girl' to the independent, empowered, outgoing 'flapper'. Women became more daring and outgoing, joining the workforce and embracing their sexuality within marriage. This was marked by the decision of many women to 'bob' their hair, which became a symbol of the new woman. However, while white woman were enjoying these new freedoms, it is important to note that not all American's gained these rights, and the Jim Crow laws in the south meant the African American population was still largely oppressed.
The decade of the 1920's was one in which there was a great illusion of rights and freedoms, as well as an actual extension of them as well. After much lobbying, women were finally granted suffrage, thanks to activists such as Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul, though their methods were somewhat different. The ‘New Woman’, the ‘Flapper’ gave women the illusion of freedom, and independence, if not actual freedom for at least some of the 20’s. The bobbed hair sparked a movement of women who felt liberated from the locks that had been previously kept long for the benefit of looking good, as opposed to practicality. She was more sexually liberated, however, I add illusionary because in the end, the majority of these women, by the 1930’s, had once again gone back to their previous way of life, since even though sex had to a degree become more socially accepted prior to marriage, you were still expected to be marrying the one you were having pre-marital sex with. So, perhaps, these liberating changes did not change as much as we initially thought!
The 1920's was an period that started off with a fast paced progression of rights and freedoms particularly for white women, but was eventually quashed to a great extent by elitist males who thought they were going a little too far in some areas. With the coming of age of the 'Flapper' or the 'New Woman' in the early in the first half of the 1920's also came suppression from men. While women were gaining employment and becoming independent, this independence was controlled to an extent. Women could be secretaries,clerks and the like but there was little if any opportunity for promotion to higher paid jobs because these typically belonged to men and it was believed that the jobs women were doing were the ones they were suited to. For a short time women and men were allowed to mingle in the workplace, but this was soon put to an end because of the risk of too much flirtation; women were put in at the front desks or put in separate offices from the men. Women were also given the were allowed to go to college but according to wide societal thinking this was with the aim of finding a husband. Female friendships were also stigmatised, when once homosexuality was under the radar,it came to the fore as an issue of 'deviance' because the ideas of love and marriage between heterosexual couples was being much more widely talked about; therefore any relationships that women had with other women were seen as suspicious. Though white women achieved the vote and gained employment,black women were still very much on the outside and they gained very few rights if any during this period and made worse by the fact that most white women refused to help them(racism was still a very bug issue). With the KKK and the Jim Crow laws in play many of the black community were unjustly treated.
The 1920’s undeniably witnessed a push for rights and after much struggle, under the guidance of female activists like Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul the women’s suffrage movement achieved what had previously seemed unachievable, the right to vote for women. For white women this was certainly an expansion of rights but for their black sisters no such expansion occurred. In fact the very same women who had fought for the right to vote for themselves would not help African-American women achieve the same aim. Furthermore, although women gained political freedoms and images of the “flapper” suggested a liberated lifestyle, one’s life still revolved around sex within the context of a marriage and doing ones best to find a husband. In reality the progression of these women was not as significant as it initially seemed, as the rate of women in employment and education saw no dramatic increase over the course of the decade. For African-Americans the 1920’s certainly did not involve an expansion of rights but rather greeted them with violence and a restriction of rights in the form of the Jim Crow Laws. So, although there were undeniably changes in rights during this time period, for many Americans the changes were superficial or enjoyed only by particular members of society. Rebecca Love (22525637)
The 1920’s was a decade which initiated the expansion of rights for many Americans. Women, who were a minority group, began to question their rights. Their ideologies were influenced by suffrage campaigns, such as the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA), led by Carrie Chapman Catt and radical feminist activists such as Alice Paul. Women were not only advancing politically in the aim to get the vote but also culturally and socially. The ‘Gibson Girl’ of the previous decade transformed into ‘The Flapper’, an independent, fashionable and free-thinking woman. Although women began to have more power in the work force and took part in feminist movements, such as bobbing their hair, they were still restricted. While the introduction of birth control gave women some sense of freedom, many used such revolutionary ideas within the context of marriage. Other Americans, especially African Americans, were still oppressed by the Jim Crow Laws, regardless of their gender, as African American women were not included in suffrage campaigns. The 1920’s, therefore, may have been a stepping stone for the evolvement of women’s roles but their freedom was still restricted.
The 1920's did see a significant win in terms of rights, the the granting of Suffrage to women. However as this was restricted, due to racism and Jim Crow to only white women it can only be seen as a limited win. Beyond the granting of suffrage rights were not greatly expanded if at all. There is an idea that the 'flapper' woman was a symbol of increased freedom of women. However while women were able to enter the work force in greater numbers and this gave greater independence financially. There were also great expectations placed on them, women could not advance beyond the bottom rung of the corporate ladder, they were also expected to find a husband and marry and in doing so leave the work force and return to the domestic sphere. So while it can be said rights were gained for certain groups the amount of real wide ranging progress seen in the 1920's is negligible.
The 1920’s were indeed an era which saw the expansion of rights for many Americans. The ratification of the 19th amendment in over 36 states, during 1920, meant that women could no longer be denied the right to vote on account of their sex. However, black women were still adversely denied the right to vote as a result of the oppressive Jim Crow Laws, which still tightly entrenched racist legislation throughout America. Enfranchisement was not the only indicator of an expansion of rights for women though. The First World War did much to expand women's rights, seeing many women engaging in employment for the first time, a twofold increase in NAWSA membership and arguably contributed to the rise of the 'Flapper'. Elliot Green
The 1920's saw an expansion for the rights for some but not all Americans. While the ratification of the 19th amendment brought a level of womens suffrage to the US, this expansion of rights was restricted by racist attitudes of the time, with only white women receiving these rights. The oppressive 'Jim Crow' laws were an obvious example of the racism found in this era. WWI also allowed women to gain greater roles in society, opening greater opportunities for them in the workplace. So while it is true to say their was an expansion of rights in this era, it was not universal expansion
The 1920s saw women within American society embrace a period of individualism and consumerism following the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. This was exemplified not only by the uptake of traditionally “male” hobbies such as drinking and smoking, but also in daring new fashion choices and new kinds of employment. However, women were also less unified towards a collective goal as they were forced to compete within a limited social space. This, along with an enshrinement of female inferiority in legislation, solidified economic and cultural barriers to women attaining equal rights for many more years into the future.
The 1920s witnessed an expansion of rights for some Americans. Women, who had previously not had the right to vote, gained suffrage following the passing of the 19th Amendment. Unfortunately this achievement did not extend to black women, who received little to no help from the successful white feminist movement of the time. This period also saw a change in the cultural expression and societal roles played by women. The introduction of the 'flapper' image saw a change in the fashions, ideals and public behaviour of women, and there were many more women entering the workforce. Despite these new freedoms, there were still limitations on the types of work white or black women could do, how far up the corporate ladder they were allowed to climb, and there was still an overarching expectation that women would eventually return to their domestic role of caring for a husband and children. The 1920's may have seen an improvement in the rights of women, but this improvement was still very restricted by societal expectations, and racial prejudice.
There was little expansion in the rights for many Americans in the 1920s. It was a decade that represented a continuation of earlier trends, especially for women and African-Americans. Although women had been experiencing a gradual increase in education and workforce participation throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and although the Nineteenth Amendment of 1920 allowed women the right to vote, gender roles remained largely unaltered. African-Americans also experienced little change. Segregation continued in the South, and white supremacy was as prevalent in the 1920s as it had been in the preceding decades.
ReplyDeleteI would categorise the 1920s as being an era of the expansion of possibilities that lead to a fight for the expansion of rights. The right to vote for women clearly confirms an expansion of rights for white, American women (though many opposed this). The War also enabled women to recognise their value within society and their ability to function independent of men, in many areas, such as the work force. The 'to bob or not', debate is not merely reduced to vanity, but rather the freedom to assert oneself, in accordance with personal taste, and not due to societal convention or repression.
However, to evaluate the question which revolves around the 1920s as being a time of rights expansion for Americans, the question stating 'who is defined as an American', is inevitably raised. Black women in the south didn't experience the same rights expansion. Jim Crow and the KKK were still in force, segregating and abusing coloured people. Johnson-Reed immigration act 1924 prevented certain people from entering America, and many forces sought to repress and silence women such as Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt.
By Rachel Mason (23363282)
The nineteenth amendment granting American women the right to vote catapulted the sex into a decade that will later be recognized by historians as the ‘roaring twenties.’ This newfound liberation, realised by the efforts of suffragettes like Alice Paul and Carrie Catt, manifested itself in fashion and attitude as women cut their hair and with it their ties to old traditions. It was an era defined by choice – to vote, to bob or not to bob, to join the workforce or (with the introduction of the pill) to enjoy sex without fear of falling pregnant. However it is hard to celebrate the flourish of rights of American women in 1920s when we know it did not extend to their black sisters. The era is marred by the unjust oppression of the black population and the retrogression of many of their rights by Jim Crow laws.
ReplyDeleteBy alex hodsman (24200999)
The 1920's was a period where American woman experienced a rapid expansion in both political rights and social freedoms. Primarily, in 1920 woman suffragists in the U.S finally achieved their goals, with a referendum succeeding by the slimmest of margins. This marked the end of extensive (but different) suffrage campaigns by Carrie Chapman Catt (NAWSA), and Alice Paul, and the American woman was finally allowed to vote. While this is perhaps the most obvious expansion of rights, the next decade was marked by a period of social change. The desired image of a woman shifted from from the maternal, beautiful, and dependent 'Gibson Girl' to the independent, empowered, outgoing 'flapper'. Women became more daring and outgoing, joining the workforce and embracing their sexuality within marriage. This was marked by the decision of many women to 'bob' their hair, which became a symbol of the new woman. However, while white woman were enjoying these new freedoms, it is important to note that not all American's gained these rights, and the Jim Crow laws in the south meant the African American population was still largely oppressed.
ReplyDeleteThe decade of the 1920's was one in which there was a great illusion of rights and freedoms, as well as an actual extension of them as well. After much lobbying, women were finally granted suffrage, thanks to activists such as Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul, though their methods were somewhat different. The ‘New Woman’, the ‘Flapper’ gave women the illusion of freedom, and independence, if not actual freedom for at least some of the 20’s. The bobbed hair sparked a movement of women who felt liberated from the locks that had been previously kept long for the benefit of looking good, as opposed to practicality. She was more sexually liberated, however, I add illusionary because in the end, the majority of these women, by the 1930’s, had once again gone back to their previous way of life, since even though sex had to a degree become more socially accepted prior to marriage, you were still expected to be marrying the one you were having pre-marital sex with. So, perhaps, these liberating changes did not change as much as we initially thought!
ReplyDeleteThe 1920's was an period that started off with a fast paced progression of rights and freedoms particularly for white women, but was eventually quashed to a great extent by elitist males who thought they were going a little too far in some areas. With the coming of age of the 'Flapper' or the 'New Woman' in the early in the first half of the 1920's also came suppression from men. While women were gaining employment and becoming independent, this independence was controlled to an extent. Women could be secretaries,clerks and the like but there was little if any opportunity for promotion to higher paid jobs because these typically belonged to men and it was believed that the jobs women were doing were the ones they were suited to. For a short time women and men were allowed to mingle in the workplace, but this was soon put to an end because of the risk of too much flirtation; women were put in at the front desks or put in separate offices from the men. Women were also given the were allowed to go to college but according to wide societal thinking this was with the aim of finding a husband. Female friendships were also stigmatised, when once homosexuality was under the radar,it came to the fore as an issue of 'deviance' because the ideas of love and marriage between heterosexual couples was being much more widely talked about; therefore any relationships that women had with other women were seen as suspicious. Though white women achieved the vote and gained employment,black women were still very much on the outside and they gained very few rights if any during this period and made worse by the fact that most white women refused to help them(racism was still a very bug issue). With the KKK and the Jim Crow laws in play many of the black community were unjustly treated.
ReplyDeleteThe 1920’s undeniably witnessed a push for rights and after much struggle, under the guidance of female activists like Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul the women’s suffrage movement achieved what had previously seemed unachievable, the right to vote for women. For white women this was certainly an expansion of rights but for their black sisters no such expansion occurred. In fact the very same women who had fought for the right to vote for themselves would not help African-American women achieve the same aim. Furthermore, although women gained political freedoms and images of the “flapper” suggested a liberated lifestyle, one’s life still revolved around sex within the context of a marriage and doing ones best to find a husband. In reality the progression of these women was not as significant as it initially seemed, as the rate of women in employment and education saw no dramatic increase over the course of the decade. For African-Americans the 1920’s certainly did not involve an expansion of rights but rather greeted them with violence and a restriction of rights in the form of the Jim Crow Laws. So, although there were undeniably changes in rights during this time period, for many Americans the changes were superficial or enjoyed only by particular members of society.
ReplyDeleteRebecca Love (22525637)
The 1920’s was a decade which initiated the expansion of rights for many Americans. Women, who were a minority group, began to question their rights. Their ideologies were influenced by suffrage campaigns, such as the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA), led by Carrie Chapman Catt and radical feminist activists such as Alice Paul. Women were not only advancing politically in the aim to get the vote but also culturally and socially. The ‘Gibson Girl’ of the previous decade transformed into ‘The Flapper’, an independent, fashionable and free-thinking woman. Although women began to have more power in the work force and took part in feminist movements, such as bobbing their hair, they were still restricted. While the introduction of birth control gave women some sense of freedom, many used such revolutionary ideas within the context of marriage. Other Americans, especially African Americans, were still oppressed by the Jim Crow Laws, regardless of their gender, as African American women were not included in suffrage campaigns. The 1920’s, therefore, may have been a stepping stone for the evolvement of women’s roles but their freedom was still restricted.
ReplyDeleteThe 1920's did see a significant win in terms of rights, the the granting of Suffrage to women. However as this was restricted, due to racism and Jim Crow to only white women it can only be seen as a limited win. Beyond the granting of suffrage rights were not greatly expanded if at all. There is an idea that the 'flapper' woman was a symbol of increased freedom of women. However while women were able to enter the work force in greater numbers and this gave greater independence financially. There were also great expectations placed on them, women could not advance beyond the bottom rung of the corporate ladder, they were also expected to find a husband and marry and in doing so leave the work force and return to the domestic sphere. So while it can be said rights were gained for certain groups the amount of real wide ranging progress seen in the 1920's is negligible.
ReplyDeleteThe 1920’s were indeed an era which saw the expansion of rights for many Americans. The ratification of the 19th amendment in over 36 states, during 1920, meant that women could no longer be denied the right to vote on account of their sex. However, black women were still adversely denied the right to vote as a result of the oppressive Jim Crow Laws, which still tightly entrenched racist legislation throughout America. Enfranchisement was not the only indicator of an expansion of rights for women though. The First World War did much to expand women's rights, seeing many women engaging in employment for the first time, a twofold increase in NAWSA membership and arguably contributed to the rise of the 'Flapper'.
ReplyDeleteElliot Green
The 1920's saw an expansion for the rights for some but not all Americans. While the ratification of the 19th amendment brought a level of womens suffrage to the US, this expansion of rights was restricted by racist attitudes of the time, with only white women receiving these rights. The oppressive 'Jim Crow' laws were an obvious example of the racism found in this era. WWI also allowed women to gain greater roles in society, opening greater opportunities for them in the workplace. So while it is true to say their was an expansion of rights in this era, it was not universal expansion
ReplyDeleteThe 1920s saw women within American society embrace a period of individualism and consumerism following the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. This was exemplified not only by the uptake of traditionally “male” hobbies such as drinking and smoking, but also in daring new fashion choices and new kinds of employment. However, women were also less unified towards a collective goal as they were forced to compete within a limited social space. This, along with an enshrinement of female inferiority in legislation, solidified economic and cultural barriers to women attaining equal rights for many more years into the future.
ReplyDeleteThe 1920s witnessed an expansion of rights for some Americans. Women, who had previously not had the right to vote, gained suffrage following the passing of the 19th Amendment. Unfortunately this achievement did not extend to black women, who received little to no help from the successful white feminist movement of the time. This period also saw a change in the cultural expression and societal roles played by women. The introduction of the 'flapper' image saw a change in the fashions, ideals and public behaviour of women, and there were many more women entering the workforce. Despite these new freedoms, there were still limitations on the types of work white or black women could do, how far up the corporate ladder they were allowed to climb, and there was still an overarching expectation that women would eventually return to their domestic role of caring for a husband and children. The 1920's may have seen an improvement in the rights of women, but this improvement was still very restricted by societal expectations, and racial prejudice.
ReplyDeleteThere was little expansion in the rights for many Americans in the 1920s. It was a decade that represented a continuation of earlier trends, especially for women and African-Americans. Although women had been experiencing a gradual increase in education and workforce participation throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and although the Nineteenth Amendment of 1920 allowed women the right to vote, gender roles remained largely unaltered. African-Americans also experienced little change. Segregation continued in the South, and white supremacy was as prevalent in the 1920s as it had been in the preceding decades.
ReplyDelete