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Were Flappers Essential to the Women’s Rights Movement of the 1920s?

Wynn Tashman

Candidate Number: #0140-054

Valley High School ID Number: #0140

Table of Contents
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Page 1: Title Page

Page 2: Table of Contents

Page 3: Plan of Investigation

Page 3-5: Summary of Evidence

Page 5: Evaluation of Sources

Page 5-7: Analysis

Page 7: Conclusion

Page 8-9: Bibliography

Plan of Investigation
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This investigation seeks to ascertain whether or not the flappers were essential to the

Women’s Rights Movement of the 1920’s. This is accomplished by first debating the definition

of the term ‘flapper,’ from differing sources, alongside my combination of these definitions.

Then, I will compile records and observations from varying viewpoints pertaining to the

flappers. Lastly, I will proceed to analyze the accomplishments made in the 1920’s, juxtaposed

to the causes of aforementioned achievements. Upon completion of this lengthy process, I will

allow a reader to determine if the flappers’ influence on the Women’s Rights Movement of the

1920’s was insignificant or essential.

Summary of Evidence

The precise definition of the term ‘flapper’ is widely disputed, as it varies from

perspective to perspective. F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Held Jr. held flappers to the standard of

“lovely, expensive, and about nineteen.” Also, they made a “flapping” sound whenever they

would walk. In the Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, written by William and Mary

Morris defined flappers as, “In America, a flapper has always been a giddy, attractive, and

slightly unconventional young thing who, in H.L. Mencken’s words, ‘was a somewhat foolish

girl, full of wild surmises and inclined to revolt against the precepts and admonitions of her

elders’” G. Stanley Hall stated that after looking in the dictionary, he was able to define

flappers. “The dictionary set me right by defining the word as a fledgling, yet in the nest, and

vainly attempting to fly while its wings have only pinfeathers; and I recognized that the genius of

'slanguage' had made the squab the symbol of budding girlhood.”

In the 1920’s, women were considered inferior, as they were not yet deemed as ‘persons,’

under the constitution. Thus, they had little to no rights. The popular sentiment amongst the
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flappers as well as other liberal suffragists at the time was the necessity for women to obtain the

right to vote. They believed that this would better ensure future successes and achievements won

for women. Women also desired the right to own property, better jobs and job wages, and

representation in the legislation passed by the legislative body. According to Elizabeth Cady

Stanton,

“Married women were legally dead in the eyes of the law. Women were not allowed to

vote. Women had to submit to laws when they had no voice in their formation. Married

women had no property rights. Husbands had legal power over and responsibility for

their wives to the extent that they could imprison or beat them with impunity. Divorce

and child custody laws favored men, giving no rights to women. Women had to pay

property taxes although they had no representation in the levying of these taxes. Most

occupations were closed to women and when women did work they were paid only a

fraction of what men earned. Women were not allowed to enter professions such as

medicine or law. Women had no means to gain an education since no college or

university would accept women students. With only a few exceptions, women were not

allowed to participate in the affairs of the church. Women were robbed of their self-

confidence and self-respect, and were made totally dependent on men.”

On August 26, 1920, the nineteenth amendment was passed, which stated that, “The right

of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by

any States on Account of sex. The Congress shall have the power by appropriate legislation to

enforce the provisions of this article.” This was the ultimate goal to be achieved by ‘The

Younger Generation.’ This paved the way for future advancements in women’s rights, such as

the Equal Rights Amendment, females being elected to positions of political power, and many

more amazing achievements.

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Evaluation of Sources

The sources used in this investigation are all inspirational people who either led the

forefront of the Women’s Rights Movement of their time, or those who sought to publicize these

efforts. Thus, each of the sources used are all highly relevant to the subject at hand. They

provided several useful quotes, which I use for my analysis of the flappers of the 1920’s. These

sources are all highly credible and I take them all as candid statements.

Analysis

The true identity of the flappers, otherwise identified with as “The Younger Generation,”

were liberal women who obtained their own collective identity, in order to push for women’s

rights in the 1920’s. They wore shocking apparel and haircuts, as well as behaved outside the

norm for females of their time period. Flappers were considered to be sexually liberated,

rebellious youth. The flappers enjoyed living life, without taking the proper precautions as were

expected of women post WWI. The flappers were fashionable women who knew no boundaries.

They went to jazz clubs where they would partake in shocking dance styles, such as the

Charleston. They entered bars by themselves without remorse or regret. They drank and

smoked openly, and drove cars or rode bikes. The flappers even went so far as to develop their

own vernacular, or slang terms in the English language and chose their own unique,

distinguished lifestyle choices. Thus, there is no doubt that the flappers had succeeded in

creating their own distinct image, and even attitude.

It is crucial to consider that there is some scholarly doubt in the role which flappers

played in obtaining women’s rights during the Women’s Rights Movement of the 1920’s. Many

critiques state that the flappers were the third wave of suffragists, and thus, they simply were

enjoying the liberation gained from previous generations, as opposed to actually struggling to
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obtain their rights. Many critics discredit the flappers for reaching these ‘milestones in politics

for America women,’ stating that the flappers did not spring up until after many of these rights

were gained.

Others believe that the flappers as a whole generally looked down upon prior women’s

rights activists, denouncing them as conformists. One popular belief is that rather than the

flappers being essential to the Women’s Rights Movement of the 1920’s, it was their future

children who were crucial to later movements in the 60’s and the 70’s. This notion is bolstered

by the fact that after many new rights were obtained for women, the suffragists simply stopped

standing up for themselves. The rights which they had worked so hard to gain, were now being

taken for granted, and the Women’s Rights Movement came to a screeching halt.

In defense of the flappers of the 1920’s, simply because they did not seek to participate in

their newly gained civil liberties, does not imply that they had given up on their ambitions and

aspirations. Without the flappers, there would not have been as significant advances in the

Women’s Rights Movement of the 1920’s. They brought impeccable courage to all women.

They had gained a sense of empowerment, and everyone was aware of this. The flappers, along

with other suffragists, now felt entitled to their rights, and that was sufficient for the time being.

Upon summation, there has now been enough evidence and analysis presented in order to

determine whether or not the flappers were indeed essential to the Women’s Rights Movement of

the 1920’s, or if they were instead insignificant according to the role they played.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is my belief that the flappers were in fact essential to the Women’s

Rights Movement of the 1920’s. Without them, there would not have been numerous civil rights
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and liberties achieved for women in the 1920’s. They set the state for the Equal Rights

Amendment to be passed, as well as more suffrage for women in general. Now, to present day,

there have been many pieces of legislation passed in favor of women’s rights. Many women

have obtained official legal elected positions. Others have run for Presidency or have been

appointed to cabinet positions, including Supreme Court Justice. The flappers boldly raised

awareness, whereas, other women were not nearly as willing to do so. Their cosmetics, as in

makeup, dress, and social status drew in attention to them, as they did things that were at prior

times unthinkable. They set a precedent for female behavior in public, which was essential in

order for society to transform in the positive productive way it did. They were the many, the

distinct, the essentials, the flappers.

Bibliography

Coben, Stanley. Rebellion Against Victorianism: The Impetus for Cultural Change in 1920s

America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.

Eisenberg, Bonnie; Ruthsdotter, Mary. “Legacy ’98: A Short History of the Movement” 1998.

<http://www.legacy98.org/move-hist.html>
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Gill, Kathy. “Milestones in Politics for American Women” 13 February, 2008.

<http://uspolitics.about.com/od/usgovernment/a/women_milestone.htm?

terms=political+milestones+for+women>

Lewis, Jone J. “August 26, 1920 – Nineteenth Amendment Becomes Law” 2010.

<http://womenshistory.about.com/od/suffrage1900/a/august_26_wed.htm>

Mowry, George, Ed. The Twenties, Fords, Flappers and Fanatics. (1963)

Rosenberg, Jennifer. "Flappers in the Roaring Twenties." The Flapper 1. 21 Jan 2009

http://history1900s.about.com/od/1920s/a/flappers.htm>

Yellis, Kevin. "Prosperity's Child: Some Thoughts on the Flapper" American Quarterly 21

(1969) 44

Independence Hall Association. “Flappers [ushistory.org]” 2008

http://www.ushistory.org/us/46d.asp

Word Count: 1,500

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