1. Chapter 21 Section 2
The Twenties Woman

2. The Twenties Woman
Chapter 21
Section 2

3. The Flapper Represented the idea of rebellious youth
Reflected the image of a new sophisticated woman

4. Pre – war clothes disappeared
Replaced with bright, shorter dresses, silk stockings, pumps, beads and bracelets
Flappers clipped their
hair into “bobs” and
dyed it black
Wore dark lipstick

5. The New Attitude
The Twenties woman was more assertive - she did things that would have ruined her
reputation in the past
Smoking, drinking
in public, playing golf

6. Attitudes toward marriage changed
The New Attitude cont. . .
Attitudes toward marriage changed
Marriage was viewed as an equal partnership although women did have certain roles

7. The Double Standard The media promoted the image of the flapper
Traditionalists in churches and schools protested the “new woman”
Casual dating became accepted

8. The Double Standard
Despite casual dating, women were held to stricter standards of behavior

9. New Work Opportunities
Work opportunities changed for women as men returned from the war and growing mechanization
1 million female college graduates moved into “women’s professions”

10. The number of women as police officers, bankers, lawyers and probation officers increased as well

11. Big business also created a need for clerical workers
By 1930, 10 million women were earning wages
Medical schools imposed a 5% quota on female admissions

12. Men argued that a woman’s real place was in the home
Patterns of discrimination and inequality for women in the business world were established

13. The Changing Family
The birthrate was continually dropping in the 1920s – women were having fewer children
Agencies and institutions handled more and more family tasks
Schools, nursing homes, ready made clothes, etc.

14. Attitudes toward Marriage
Marriage was based on personal choice instead of family choices
Couples began to get divorced if they weren’t happy in their marriage

15. Working Women Most women stayed home as housewives If a woman worked:
it was thought that her husband failed as the breadwinner
her family really needed the income
she had a college degree

16. Women who worked had to balance both work and family
Working Women
Women who worked had to balance both work and family
Led to rebellious teens
Teens spent more time at school than at work (child labor laws)
Extra socializing led to rebellion

17. Quick Check