The Changing Roles Of Women In The 1920s
The Changing Roles of Women in the 1920s In the 1920s, women were becoming more independent. This could be seen in all walks of life. Changes could be seen in their home lives, as well as in the choices available to them in fashion, employment and politics. Women went from being second class citizens – and almost being the property of men
– to having the right to vote ("Winning the Vote: A History of Voting
Rights." Winning the Vote: A History of Voting Rights. N.p., n.d. Web. 31
Mar. 2015.).
There were many influences behind these changes including shifts that resulted from the role women played during World War I. Before the war, women held nursing and secretarial jobs and were servants and seamstresses as well. During the war, many men went off to fight. As a result, women went to work in the factories, supporting the war effort. Many of these women never left the work force though the nature of their jobs changed.
The list of jobs available to women also began to expand. Some women went to work in the fashion and garment industries, held jobs as typists and teachers while some continued to work as secretaries and nurses as they had before the war. Once the men returned, women decided they enjoyed having the freedoms a job brought. The benefits of employment included having their own money without relying on their husbands. They were more independent and their self esteem was higher ("Gender and Consumerism."
Gender Forum: Flapper Girls: Feminism and Consumer Society in the 1920s.
Nap. nod Web. 31 Mar. 2015.). By 1929, 10.6 million women were employed. This was a 25% increase over prewar figures (Onion, Rebecca.
"Vintage Infographics: Where Women Worked in 1920." N.p., n.d. Web. 31
Mar. 2015.).
Another effect the war had on women was on their lives at home. Even though the employment rate had increased, it was still typical for a woman to stop working when she was married. It was not considered desirable to have to work and
– to having the right to vote ("Winning the Vote: A History of Voting
Rights." Winning the Vote: A History of Voting Rights. N.p., n.d. Web. 31
Mar. 2015.).
There were many influences behind these changes including shifts that resulted from the role women played during World War I. Before the war, women held nursing and secretarial jobs and were servants and seamstresses as well. During the war, many men went off to fight. As a result, women went to work in the factories, supporting the war effort. Many of these women never left the work force though the nature of their jobs changed.
The list of jobs available to women also began to expand. Some women went to work in the fashion and garment industries, held jobs as typists and teachers while some continued to work as secretaries and nurses as they had before the war. Once the men returned, women decided they enjoyed having the freedoms a job brought. The benefits of employment included having their own money without relying on their husbands. They were more independent and their self esteem was higher ("Gender and Consumerism."
Gender Forum: Flapper Girls: Feminism and Consumer Society in the 1920s.
Nap. nod Web. 31 Mar. 2015.). By 1929, 10.6 million women were employed. This was a 25% increase over prewar figures (Onion, Rebecca.
"Vintage Infographics: Where Women Worked in 1920." N.p., n.d. Web. 31
Mar. 2015.).
Another effect the war had on women was on their lives at home. Even though the employment rate had increased, it was still typical for a woman to stop working when she was married. It was not considered desirable to have to work and
Bibliography: Great Gatsby . New York, NY: Scribner, 1996. Pg. 43. Print. Mar. 2015. ERA: . N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015. 6. Onion, Rebecca. "Vintage Infographics: Where Women Worked in 1920." N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015. . N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015. 8. . N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.