4. the 'flapper' era Flashcards
the ‘flappers’
seemingly more independent and emancipated younger women of the 1920s
going against ‘Victorian norms’ wearing skirts short and cutting hair short
Post-war social change associated with
younger generation
‘Roaring twenties’
often associated with relaxing traditional attitudes during war
popularity of elements of US culture such as jazz gives the impression of a freer society in search of pleasure, despite prohibition.
Glamorisation of gangsters, short skirts, fast cars, jazz musicians and the cinema as a major source of entertainment points to a new dangerous and exciting urban culture
Women wore less restricting clothes, smoked, more ostentatious about their sexuality with shorter skirts and ‘daring’ behaviour
Had freedom to celebrate own sexuality and independence but faced massive social disapproval if there were
promiscuous or gave birth to illegitimate children whilst men who fathered children did not
Big Objections to seeing this as a turning point
Conservative rural USA limited acceptance of this-
women would have found it difficult to behave this way
Areas of US suffering from fall in farm prices- little available money for makeup, fashion or nightclubs
Big Objections to seeing this as a turning point
Urban centres - greater overt sexuality =
women becoming sex objects to attract men and increased double standards rather than achieving greater independence and emancipation
Big Objections to seeing this as a turning point
Problem with sexualisation - birth control was limited and abortion was main means of preventing birth
Suggested there were _____ illegal abortions before 1973
1 million
Big Objections to seeing this as a turning point
Alternatives such as diaphragm made available when?
where?
1917
clinic in NY run by birth control pioneer Margaret Sanger
Key figure
Margaret Sanger
faced disapproval and prosecutions but persisted in her belief that every child should be wanted
Arrested for obscenity and there was limited acceptance of birth control advice
Birth control pill not available until
later 1950s
Not until ____ was import of birth control devices made legal
1936
Most doctors saw ____ as only way of preventing unwanted children
abstinence
Men unwilling to use
condoms
poorer women diaphragms were
difficult and unhygienic to use without running water
No reliable/ widespread control over their bodies until after ____ and even then faced problems
1945
