The Age of the Flapper - Essay Example

The Age of the Flapper/ the Flappers

Although there have been positive signs concerning gender equality, the anticipated target is yet to be attained. However, gender equality enforcers can be recommended for their good work because compared to the past years before the existence of the flappers, women situations were extremely worse (Terry, 2019). According to various researches concerning gender equality, the flappers' period should be considered as the strongest moment that enforced the commencement of gender equality. In the context, flappers were a name termed to a group of young women, who always wore shorts skirts and had had all cut their hair short. Besides, the preferred listening to jazz music, and exhibited their contempt, as it was taken to be a considerable behaviour at that moment (Terry, 2019). On the other hand, the flappers were all considered to be impetuous because they were known with behaviours such as drinking, applying excessive make-ups, smoking, spontaneously handling sex; hence, all these drifted sexual norms.

According to various researches, the flappers of the eras of the 1920s have been considered to be young women who were identified for their energetic freedom in whatever they did (Terry, 2019). Hence they were not frightened to minimize their behaviours irrespective of the fact that everyone saw their acts to be immoral. Therefore, the group has been considered to be the first generation concerning independent of women. They were noted pushing for the enforcement of political, economic, as well as sexual freedom regarding women (Terry, 2019). Therefore, the paper has been designed to discuss the age of the flapper/ the flappers, analyze everything related to this period, its causes, rising and effects showing how it has resulted to the current status of women (Terry, 2019).

Notably, the thriving twenties was a conspicuously transitional period concerning women in consideration of redefining womanhood and enabling them to portray themselves while voicing for their views and opinions. According to studies concerning the history of the flappers, this transitional change began recommendable when women demanded their right to vote in 1920. Furthermore, as this decade progressed, the flapper motivation rose as it played a significant role in the American culture as it helped in breaking the ties that that existed in the traditional womanhood. In the context, one of the most recommendable changes in the American culture that occurred at this moment concerned fashion and dressing of individuals. People changed their ways of dressing and physically portraying themselves. Therefore, as a result of the flappers' existence, women gained different types of dressing and other physical appearance activities such as applying make-ups on their faces.

Therefore, the existence of the flappers in the 1920s resulted in women having a new appeared. They now appeared to be more masculine, as they broke the restrictions that had earlier been enforced concerning dressing (Anindyaputeri, 2016). They would now be short skirts to minimize their hips as well as a ruin with close-fitting fabric. This was one of the things that enforced women to pursue equality regarding social status similar to that of men.

On the other hand, the restrictions concerning traditional womanhood brought about women attaining a more considerable social status, and magnificent their new standards. Nevertheless, when was considered herself to be a flapper, she would always move forward simple fashion selections and standards (Anindyaputeri, 2016). Therefore, the 'new woman' was considered to be fundamental because of breaking traditional ways of getting married at a younger age and decide to either j0oin colleges or involve herself in the workplace. Therefore, women started observing life being better when enjoyed when one is a youth instead of getting married and start controlling the family at this young age. They realized that it is significant when one creates herself first and be at least stable before being engaged in responsibilities involved with raising children, which can be done comfortably at a later age (Anindyaputeri, 2016).

In the context, the flapper remains one of the most significant moments, not only for presenting symbols concerning the roaring twenties and women movements but because they presented the high spirit of the youths (Anindyaputeri, 2016). Therefore, the flapper is the period that set the high spirit experienced with modern youths and mostly girls. After they changed the American culture in such a great manner, it was impossible for the youth girls and generally women to lower that target in the future. According to the recent researches done concerning gender and gender inequality, they have stated that modern women fighting for gender equality, they progressed from the point that the flapper had left. The flapper was the first group to fight against women restrictions and gender situations such as sexuality, fashion, and freedom (Anindyaputeri, 2016).

According to Barbara in her book, in the company of educated women, she has outlined the history of women in concern to education and mostly higher learning education. Therefore, the book has outlined how women came to be considered valuable to join colleges as well as universities similar to men who were the only ones who received this education (Bulick & Frey, 2017). After Barbara observed the history and trend of women acquiring equality rights, she predicted that more women would be joining higher learning institutions in the future. Hence, she stated that if the trend persevered the same growth rate, women would even equal men in these institutions and if men are not careful, women would exceed them (Bulick & Frey, 2017).

In her analysis, Solomon has considered doing the placement of women in the higher learning institution. Hence, she enforced considering women as students and college graduates as the core factor of her analysis. On the other hand, Solomon does not neglect the fact that college and university educators are inspiring the experience of more women in these institutions (Bulick & Frey, 2017). However, she has concentrated on insisting that more daughters should be included in the higher learning institutions. To emphasize this, Solomon has provided more facts about why the girl child should be included in colleges and universities. She has also provided various benefits associated with involving women in colleges. According to her, if the society needs real development, then more girls should be taken to school. Women are known as organizers, hence when more are educated; they will organize various strategies in the society which will effectively bear positive results (Bulick & Frey, 2017).

The Rise of the Flapper

Various factors occurred in the 1920s hence, leading to the emergence of what was later considered as the flappers. At this moment, there arose a group of young youths who decided to concentrate on their lives, have fun, and create their professions rather than having children in their early marriages. Therefore, women in this era created more time to fight for their rights in the initial years (Zeitz, 2017). It is one of the most significant moments concerning gender equality as it started at a higher point, and the consequences followed. Therefore, in these years, more women were able to join colleges. Before this time, education to women was not considered significant, and so they would be married at early marriages. When they were married in early marriages, they would not have chances to fight for their families as they had family responsibilities (Zeitz, 2017).

On the other hand, studies state that during World War 1, very many young men lost their lives. Besides, the Spanish flu pandemic that occurred in 1918 also left very many people dead. The pandemic created new knowledge to the young individuals noted that life was too short, and anything can happen in life. Therefore, after the two occasions, the war, and the pandemic, young individuals changed their earlier ideas of staying at home and search for someone to marry (Zeitz, 2017). The young women would not stay idle waiting for their men who were in the war, without even knowing whether they would come back. Therefore, young women decided to start concentrating on their lives and create their professions. Also, they had more time to fight for their rights that they were restricted before. They would now do things that were earlier known to be for men. Some of the actions were drinking and smoking. Also, they cried for their rights to join higher learning institutions so that they would fit in the same ranking as men in the workplaces (Zeitz, 2017).

Several movie productions presented how young women urged for fun, and their cry for free thinking. Many of the featured women in these movies were characterized to demand for equality concerning gender and had similar privileges with men. In the same department of movie production and involvement of women in acting, one of the most significant women is Clara Bow (Zeitz, 2017). Although she was not the first flapper to appear on the screen, her ways of acting made her be a role for numerous young women at the period. In her action of acting, she did not follow the rules, besides; her sexual adventures made her the greatest movie starlet of the period. Therefore, many of the women sexual behaviour in the era were copied from this star (Zeitz, 2017).

Furthermore, the great rise of automobiles led to an effective rise of flapper culture. With the invention of more vehicles, women would move from one place to another and spread their aim concerning gender equality. Besides, the rise of automobiles increased opportunities in which young women to move to different entertainment venues (Zeitz, 2017). Hence, in these places, they would influence other women and make them change their behaviours. Also, it was at these occasions that they showed that they could do activities that were earlier believed to be for men such as smoking and drinking. They also showed that sexual behaviours should be one's choice as on these occasions, they considered sexual activities in a different perception from the past (Zeitz, 2017).

According to the flappers, being one meant to rebellion and not fashion. Therefore, they considered fashion to follow their lifestyle. On this note, they dressed regarding on the occasion that they were to attend (Zeitz, 2017). If it is to be in a better and more comfortable zone of dancing Jazz music, they will wear short dresses. However, it did not mean that being a flapper made one a bad girl. In one of the articles concerning flapper in 1922, a girl is explaining to her parents why she decided to be a flapper. Hence, she is convincing them so that they can allow her to continue existing in the group because according to her, the group would help her achieve her dreams (Zeitz, 2017).

Upsetting Of Victorian Roles

In consideration of studies concerning the impacts of flappers on gender equality, after the flappers influencing in their home towns, they started moving to other areas (Simon, 2016). Hence, they got significant opportunities to influence other women and make them fight for their rights. Also, they cried for the breakage of traditional beliefs concerning women and wanted to increase the women roles in society. Hence, the flappers wanted to loosen the traditional societal beliefs that women are powerless and should always be submissive in social history (Simon, 2016). Therefore, the group has been considered to be an essential challenge towards Victorian gender roles, religion, and hard work. Hence they wanted to confirm that women should be allowed to make their choices without the engagement of the societal principles. Women stated that they should choose the religion of their choices, and can work hard and sustain themselves without necessarily depending on men (Simon, 2016).

Moreover, the flappers have been identified with resulting in several social changes. For instance, it was as a result of the flappers that women were allowed to take part in some social activities such as voting in the United States. Also, they led to the religious unlock in the country where they would from then choose the religion of their choice (Simon, 2016). According to Dorothy Dunbar, is a known substantial writer at that period, she described the flappers as “truly modern”. Besides, she stated that these people were the “new style” activist who admitted that for a full life, there was a need for marriage and maybe children. Also, they were driven by an inevitable deep pressure concerning individuals having their rights (Simon, 2016).

In conclusion, the age of the flapper can be considered as one of the most significant periods to women. As discussed in the context, much of the rights that women are enjoying today were established at that period. Besides, that changes that have been implemented concerning women freedom were amended from what was instigated at that period. On the other hand, women are now enjoying some aspects concerning gender equality resulted from that era. At the era, the flappers confirmed that women are capable of doing anything a man can do. Hence, they cried for a girl child joining the high school institutions and be educated similar to men. According to them, if societies necessitated for change and development, then they should behave considered educating the child. After education to women was implemented, they continued understanding the constitution. Also, they gained facts and information that they would use to call for amendments in the rules placed against women. Generally, the flapper is remembered for calling for women's rights and freedom, such as education and making their own choices.