How did notions of the traditional woman develop in the 20th century and what purposes did this serve - Essay Example

Pulling against traditions was a sense of urgency, progress and movement so evident in the industrial, geographical, technological and political changes distressing the society. Women’s roles were intended to stabilize all this uncertainty; however, women could not help except see a breakthrough for themselves in this growth. Opportunities opened up in the factories, retail establishments as well as offices, offering single “modern girl” new options. Education was now mandatory for both men and women in most states (Kipgen, 2010, p. 218). Women sought after higher education, first in all female institutes, then in co-ed environments.

Advocacy for rights of women, with suffrage in the lead, also gathered momentum. In spite of these changes, throughout the 19th century, 95 percent of married women stayed "at home." While the 20th century witnessed a distinctive change in ideas respecting sex relations at a level of social philosophy, far from a traditional notion of “traditional woman”, supremacy towards a modern girl idea of gender equity was robustly contested and by all means achieved. Important legal, professional, educational, and personal changes did take place, however, by 1901 full, indisputable gender equality stayed almost as the utopian as in the 1800.

Research collaboration explores how the “modern girl” came out as a worldwide phenomenon in the beginning of the 20th century. By pursuing romantic love and wearing provocative fashions, “modern girls” universally appeared to disregard the responsibilities of loyal daughter, wife and mother. The “modern girl” developed as a heuristic category which allows new insights into the forces of globalization as well as manifestations of gendered modernity. According to a case study of a cosmetic advertising in India, China, Germany, South Africa, and the United States, it was evident the “modern girl” in every locale was