Changes to Women During the 1920s (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
How Much did Women’s Lives Change in the USA in the 1920s? - Summary
In the 1920s, women achieved suffrage. This meant that they gained the right to vote when the government passed the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution. It was a significant victory for the women's suffrage movement. With the right to vote, women gained more political power. They could now influence decisions on issues like women's rights and social change.
During the 1920s, society's view of women's roles changed. Some women became what was known as Flappers. These women challenged traditional ideas about how women should behave. They wanted more freedom and independence. Women showed this through shorter hairstyles and more revealing clothes. Women also started doing new things for fun and socialising. They went to bars and danced to jazz music
Economically, more women began working in office and service jobs during the 1920s. They still faced discrimination and were often paid less than men. Not all women had the same opportunities. Black women, immigrants and women from poorer backgrounds still faced many challenges in getting an education, finding work and having a say in politics.
Life of Women Before the First World War
Before the First World War, society expected women to be:
Modest
Women had to wear long dresses
Women would not be able to flirt with a man in public
Respectable
An older or married woman would accompany a single woman in public
Behaviours like smoking and drinking would be regarded as unacceptable for a woman
A housewife
Most women did not work outside of the household
If women did work, they had stereotypical jobs such as being a seamstress or a maid
Regardless of employment status, women were expected to look after children and the men of the household
The First World War changed the lives of women
From 1917, conscription meant that US men left the USA to fight in the conflict
In their absence, women had to take on male-dominated jobs such as:
Working in munition factories
Working in heavy industry
Bus and tram conductors
Police officers and firefighters
This work proved vital in keeping the USA functioning during the First World War
It convinced some men that women were valuable US citizens
Positive Changes to Women During the 1920s
Employment
During the 1920s, the number of women in employment increased by 25%
In 1929, around 10.9 million women worked outside of the home
Many of these jobs were as telephonists, secretaries and typists
Many factors led to this increase in female employment including:
Women's work during the First World War
The economic boom created more jobs
There was a desire for two-income households to buy more consumer goods
Appliances such as vacuum cleaners meant that household chores took less time. This enabled women to work and look after the home
Politics
Women achieved more political rights during the 1920s
In 1920, women gained suffrage through the 19th Amendment
This was a victory for the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) which had campaigned for this for many years
After this, political parties also needed to appeal to women voters
Women formed political groups
The Woman's Joint Congressional Committee achieved:
The Maternity and Infancy Protection Act (1921)
The Cable Act which guaranteed equal nationality rights for married women (1922)
The Child Labor Amendment (1925)
Some women pursued political careers
By 1928, 145 women worked in state governments, with two being State Governors
Flappers
Flappers were young women who embraced their political and social freedom
Flappers rebelled against the traditional expectations of women by:
Cutting their hair short
Wearing short skirts, men’s clothing or making themselves look flat-chested
Using bold makeup
Smoking cigarettes
Drinking alcohol
Dancing suggestively to jazz
Being sexually active with men
Having openly same-sex relationships
Why Did Some Women Not Experience Change?
Reasons Why Some Women did not Experience Change in the 1920s
Change | Why did some women not experience this change? |
|---|---|
Employment | Women were mostly in low-skilled jobs |
Women were paid less than men doing the same job | |
Only a quarter of women aged 15 and above had employment | |
Many women were unable to reach management positions | |
Politics | Apart from Florence Kelley and Alice Paul, few suffrage campaigners went into politics |
Most politicians were men | |
The National Woman’s Party, led by Alice Paul and Rose Winslow, failed to gain approval for an Equal Rights Act in 1920 | |
Flappers | Many people hated Flappers. A group called the Anti-Flirt Association promoted ‘decent’ behaviour for women |
The Flapper movement mainly affected urban places. Rural women continued to marry and have children at a young age |
Worked Example
How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about women in the 1920s? Explain your answer based on what it says in Interpretations A and B
[4 marks]
Interpretation A: From a book written by Doris E Fleischman, published in 1955. Doris was writing about what life was like for women in the 1920s. She was a famous campaigner for the rights of women. “For many of us, outside work is a pleasant escape from the overwhelming muddle of running a home. I find my work as public relations counsel quiet and easy in comparison. Only in my office have I been a professional—trained for the job. In all my other lives—a beginner, a bewildered dolt who has bluffed and tried hard to do an average job as wife, mother and housekeeper” |
Interpretation B: An opinion piece in the Casper Daily Tribune on 26th January 1925. It is titled Is Today’s Girl Becoming A Savage? The Casper Daily Tribune was a newspaper from Wyoming, USA. The below extract is the opinion of a ‘well-known educator” but does not include a name. “Something should be done to curb her. The ruin of a nation rests in the palm of her flippant hand. The future of the world swings on the pivot of her half-bare legs” |
Answer:
Interpretation B differs from Interpretation A in their opinion of women in the 1920s. Interpretation A has a positive opinion of 1920s women (1). Fleischman states that she was a “professional—trained for the job.” This shows that women in the 1920s were able to have important, respected roles in the workplace (1).
Interpretation B has a very negative opinion about women in the 1920s (1). The unknown educator in the Casper Daily Tribune states that women are ruining the nation and that “something should be done to curb her.” This makes women seem dangerous to the safety of the 1920s USA (1).
Exam Tip
This style of question will always provide two interpretations to read and assess how they are opposing. Remember to state the difference between the interpretations and use evidence in the form of quotes to back up your observations.
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