Women's Roles in the Roaring Twenties

Flappers of the 1920s introduced new hair styles and fashion trends.

Women of the Roaring Twenties started the decade on a high note with the recent passage of the 19th Amendment, granting them suffrage, rights and a much freer lifestyle. Women soon escaped titles such as "broad," "dame" or "doll" to become significant contributors in the workplace.

Fashion

During the 1920s, women's fashion was revolutionized with changing music trends. Women adopted more casual modes of dress, including shorter dresses and skirts that were often frowned upon in public. Flappers epitomized the 1920s through their fashion, short-bob haircuts, dance moves, cosmetics and public smoking. By 1923, dance marathons featuring the Shimmy and the Charleston were all the rage.

Politics

Obviously, not all 1920s women were flappers. By the end of the twenties, 38 states featured nearly 150 elected female officials in Congress and state legislatures. Several backed gubernatorial candidates and influenced elections in favor of progressive candidates.

The Workplace

Between 1920 and 1930, women in the labor force rose from 23.6 percent to 27 percent. World War I had opened up new doors for women, with many rising to white-collar office and support-staff positions. Women worked in manufacturing and textiles, domestic services and agriculture. The 1920s saw the first generation of female college graduates and women earning careers in nursing, education and social work.

References

• Discovery Education: Women of the Century 1920s
• American Women Through Time: 1920s
• American Cultural History: 1920-1929