Women in the USA in the 1920s

Question 1

1918 women

Answer 1

WW1 allowed Jobs)

• WW1 women = 20% of workforce (factories)
• Most still traditional or really low paid
• once married must leave career

Lifestyle)

• Household jobs
• listen to husband + chaperone when out
• no smoking or drinking when out
• traditional (cook + clean + children = happiness)

Right)

• Most couldn’t vote
• 1917 (New York) could vote
• Still unequal pay + employment

Question 2

Improvements for women 1920s

Answer 2

Jobs)

• 2 million joined workforce
• variety of jobs (over 500 jobs)
• more that were married could work (1.9 mill->3.1 mill)

Lifestyle)

• Freedom increased
• divorce (10%->17%)
• Vacuums = easier household job
• more leisure time
• flapper = rebels

Right)

• 1920 19th amendment
• right to vote
• 1928 145 women in government = voice in decisions

Question 3

Challenges

Answer 3

Jobs)

• Most still in traditional jobs (secretaries + bookkeepers)
• Only 12% married had jobs
• Minorities remained the lowest paid

Lifestyle)

• Women still expected to stay at home + look after kids
• higher education decreased

Right)

• followed husbands vote
• only 2 women in house of representatives (1928)
• 1927 average women earn $12 less than man each week

Question 4

Flappers

Answer 4

Challenged traditional image of women

• cut hair short
• make up
• short revealing cloths (skirts+stocking down to knee)
• dance clubs+dance halls
• danced + smoke + drink
• rejected values of parents

Clara Bow (it girl)

• was a role model
• women become more independent
• more going on dates without chaperones
• inc of sex before marriage

but. ..
- Some felt flappers didn’t advance cause of women 1920
- disregarded the law publicly = arrests
- seen as pleasure seeking
- only for those who could afford
- didn’t include racial minorities
- flappers grew old = gave up freedoms
- –>became traditional