Flapper by Joshua Zeitz is so far a great book that shows us a new era for Women. The book helps us understand the term Flapper and also goes deep into the time period of the 1920s. In the 1920s, we begin to see women gain more independence and freedom.There were a few things that help create the term flapper and also helped women gain more freedom. Things like The spread of technology , women joining the workforce, and lifesytle helped create both the term flapper and woman's independence. With the additions of new short cut hairstyles, the smoking and drinking by women we learn what it meant to be a flapper in the 1920s.
During the beginning of the 1900's we start the rise in technology in the U.S. The spread of technology, mainly the automobile, was the main reason why women gain their freedom in the 1920s. With the introduction of the automobile, women were able to go out and do more things and also be more social. Just like most new things that are fairly new, the automobile still had a few bugs that needed to be worked out. Most people felt cars were unsafe and unreliable which made parents of most young women uneasy about letting their daughters traveling in automobiles. At the dawn of the twentieth century, cars were still viewed as impractical and unsafe.[1] Even with the concerns of others, young women were still going out to clubs, social events and work by using automobile as their main source of transportation.
Another reason for the growing independence and freedom for women was the increase of women joining the workforce. Women were taking jobs as factory workers and clerks during this time period. Women were making their own money so they were making their own decisions, which make them feel more free and independent. Despite deep and abiding discrimination in wages and employment, working women often found that real money could buy real freedom.[2] As women began to make a living for themselves, their lifestyles started to change. Woman started to wear different hairstyles, going to clubs and also drinking and smoking which started the term Flapper.
When I think of the term flapper, I think more of a lifestyle or culture than a actual young women in her teens or early 20's. The lifestyle of a flapper consisted of a short boyish hairstyle, clubbing, drinking, smoking and more sexual activities for women. In my opinion, any women of any age that took part of these activities was a flapper. This lifestyle was a very important part of American history and it played a huge role in the independence and progression of women in our society.
As we continue to read Flapper by Joshua Zeitz, I learn more and more about an important part of American history. Flappers were some the first women to express themselves freely out to the public. This era is a very important part of women's history. So far I have really enjoyed the book and I have learned a lot as well.
2. Joshua Zeitz. Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern. New York: Crown Publishers, 2006. Kindle edition. Location 520
No comments:
Post a Comment