The Charleston was a favourite dance in the 1920s. Women in the 1920s In the 1920s and 1930s, less than 25% of university students were women - and they usually were steered into courses such as domestic science and the arts. The Charleston was a favourite dance in the 1920s. http://sydneyswingkatz.com.au/blog/2010/11/charleston-historical/

Question of the day: How successfully did women challenge ideas about how they should act? Challenge (verb): To make people question how they feel or think about something Example: Nelson Mandela challenged the racist ideas of many white South Africans. Can you think of any ideas that adults have about teenagers today? Do teenagers ever challenge those ideas?

Ideas about how women should act Recall: Women’s suffrage Common arguments given for withholding suffrage from women: Argument Meaning Politics is too corrupt for women Honest, innocent, pure, simple, naïve Allowing women to vote will cause arguments in the home Women should always follow their husband; women should not make decisions Women will vote the same way as their husbands Women can’t have their own thoughts/opinions It is not “womanly” to express political opinions Women are weak, emotional, not serious, docile, timid Women are too emotional to vote Naïve, not reasonable

Ideas about how women should act Rules for Women Teachers, 1923 – page 114 Not to get married or keep company with men To be at home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless she is at a school function Not to loiter downtown in ice cream parlours Not to smoke cigarettes or drink beer, wine, or whisky Not to ride in a carriage or automobile with any man except her brothers or father Not to dress in bright colours or wear dresses more than two inches [5 cm] above the ankle

How did women challenge ideas about how they should act? Group Task: Summarize your reading using 5Ws + H Write your summary on the blackboard Group 1: Textbook p. 100 – “Women Continue to Gain Rights” Group 2: Textbook p. 114 – “Changing Fashions” AND “FYI” (Flappers) Group 3: Textbook p. 114-115 – “The Famous Five” AND “A Landmark Decision” Group 4: Textbook p. 86 – “The Golden Age of Canadian Sport” AND Figure 2.3 Group 5: Canadian Sources Investigated p. 30-33 – “Women in Politics”

How did women challenge ideas about how they should act? Ideas about how women should act Challenges Women are innocent and pure. a. Women in politics (e.g. divorce laws) Women should not argue with their husbands b. Flappers Women don’t have minds of their own; they are not responsible “persons” c. The Famous Five Women should be docile and timid d. The Persons Case Women are not reasonable e. Women in Sports

How successfully did women challenge ideas about how they should act? Very successful (very progressive – very few people think like this today) Not at all (we still think like this today) Somewhat Successful (progress for the time, but some people still think like this today)

How successfully did women challenge ideas about how they should act? Ideas about how women should act Challenges How Successful? Explain your answer Women are innocent and pure |___________________________________________| Not at all Somewhat Very Successful Successful Women should not argue with their husbands Women don’t have minds of their own; they are not responsible “persons” Women should be docile and timid Women are not reasonable/can’t think rationally