Flappers

In what instance can a woman break out of the given “mold” and turn the idea of femininity upside down? Back in the 1920s the image of the typical American woman was altered on a new extreme. Women in their early years of life were starting to find themselves changing within their society. They were seen as rebels in this time period. The long hair was chopped to a bob, the voluptuous body was now skinny and almost pole like, skirts were hiked up, arms, legs and chest were exposed to the public, and this new woman was not afraid to speak her mind on her wishes and desires. She smoked, drank, danced, wore make-up and wasn’t afraid to take risks. “Moreover, women had shortened their skirts, bobbed their hair, discarded their corsets, liberally used make-up, and had taken up smoking, drinking – and golf.” She was known as a flapper.
Before World War I, the typical woman was inspired by Charles Dana Gibson’s drawings. These women were known as the Gibson Girl. Her hair was loose on the top of her head, and she wore long straight skirts with a high collared shirt. Femininity was very apparent, but the Gibson Girl broke through many gender barriers because her outfits allowed her to partake in sports such as golf, roller skating, and bicycling. Although being included in the sports world, these women were very old fashioned, as we would call it today. They did not date and they also waited until a “proper” man paid her interest and was seen to have good intentions. Many men had died during the war and the woman began to think that they shouldn’t have to wait around for the perfect man. They wanted to live their lives on their own time and to see what could happen as time went on. Their skirts became short and their hair became shorter, the age of the flapper had arrived. http://students.umf.maine.edu/mccormka/public.www/history/index.htm

This article above tells us the start of the new fashion of a young woman and their daring new attempts to become something totally different and scandelous for the time. These young women were raised by a generation of conservative parents but with the rise of big cities and partys flappers arose and so did the fun! There hair was short and so were their dresses. They would be known to carry alchohol on them on there leggings to hide it from suspected police during prohibition.

Flappers were looked down upon by many of society with there radical new lifestyles. They allegedly acted this way to not let the beauty of youth slip through there grasp. They drank, smoked, and danced like there was no tommorow in the speakeasies of the 1920's. Prohibition most likely gave an even greater rise to the flapper.

Here is a short poem written by Vincent Youmens

Flappers are we

Flappers are we

Flappers and fly and free.

Never too slow

All on the go Petting parties with the smarties.

Dizzy with dangerous glee Puritans knock us

Because the way we're clad.

Preachers all mock us Because we're not bad.

Most flippant young flappers are we!

-- "Tea for Two" from "No, No, Nanette"

by Vincent Youmans