III. Men

Gender in the Twenties

Guiding Question Were the Twenties an era of progress for white women?

I. Progress Women experienced a large degree of social and political liberation during the twenties.

I. Progress Political Liberation –Suffrage granted in 1920 via the Nineteenth Amendment. –Despite fears it would radically alter American politics, it did not have a significant impact.

I. Progress Flappers –Characteristics of Flappers: Shunned some traditional gender roles Sexually liberated –Represented Flapper Slang: "I have to go see a man about a dog" "handcuff" “Speakeasy”

II. Reaction For most women, it was NOT a time of progress, and even middle class women were still largely dominated by male expectations.

II. Reaction Organized feminism was divided. League of Women Voters –Women had a “special” role as women, should focus on humanitarian reform. National Women’s Party –Men still oppress women, demanded passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

II. Reaction Failure of the ERA –The ERA was opposed by many, especially by groups representing women laborers (think Muller v. Oregon). –Though, the ERA vanished until the 1970s.

II. Reaction Flappers were only a small portion of society (middle, upper middle, upper class). Immigrant laborers, not to mention African American laborers, were still doubly burdened.

II. Reaction Flappers, while perhaps more liberated, were NOT politically oriented. Some even rejected old style feminism. Body image?

III. Men During the Twenties, both heterosexuals and homosexuals patronized gay clubs, known as “Panzy Clubs.” While never officially and widely accepted, homosexuals were more tolerated than ever before.

Review Did the roles of women really change in the 1920s?