Over time, the moral standards of American society have undergone dramatic renovations, additions, and fluctuations. As generations pass, old “taboos” progress along with them and new social taboos take their place. Perhaps the most dynamic change that has taken place is women and their role in society. In the past two centuries, women have evolved from an uneducated, frail and dependent gender to an empowered, independent and strong counterpart to men.
In pre-WWI America, women were living in domestic slavery; they were expected to cook, clean, and raise the kids. The percentage of women in the workforce was extremely low, and the percentage of women in universities was even lower. Created by a man named Charles Gibson, the sketch of the “ideal” woman, nicknamed “The Gibson Girl,” graced the covers of magazines, brochures, movies, and books. Charles Gibson’s creation of the perfect woman was characterized by her windswept hair, her dramatic hourglass figure, and her tight clothing that showed off her voluptuous shape. She was as delicate as porcelain and just as fair. The Gibson Girl’s pastimes were tennis, golf, and leisurely trips to the beach. She was effortlessly beautiful; her classic femininity was idolized and many American women modeled their clothing and hair styles after her. The Gibson Girl was every man’s dream and every woman’s envy. Born in an era of leisure and wealth, this creation is a historic representation of the early nineteenth century, a time when women were meant to stay at home and clean while looking dazzling and feminine. However, the Gibson Girl’s reign over America was short-lived; she was swept away by the more vivacious, free spirited women of the 1920’s.
Scandalous, disgraceful, outrageous: these harsh words were just a few of the many comments regarding young women in the Jazz Age. Commonly known as “flappers,” these young dashing ladies were drastically different than their Gibson Girl predecessors. Flappers ditched the restrictive corsets worn so faithfully by women before them and opted for loose fitting clothing. They chopped off the luscious locks (Alliteration) that previous women idolized and styled their hair in a simple boy cut. Their skirts were raised to a level considered shameful by most; their bare legs were visible when they danced or walked swiftly. Instead of marrying and tending to their offspring, flappers went out and partied with men. Times were changing, and quickly. Women were now smoking, drinking alcohol, and wearing clothing that showed off their bare skin. To older women, this behavior was immoral. However, the flappers clothing symbolized the beginning of a new era, an era of women’s liberation. Women began thinking about their lives and deciding against the beaten path of cooking and cleaning. The World War had created a workforce that was slowly gaining more women as men went off to fight, and by the time the flappers reigned the previous standards for women had been thrown aside.
Even the seemingly invincible flappers couldn’t survive the Great Depression. The carefree lifestyle of the twenties simply could not withstand the economic hardships that came with the Wall Street Crash. Both women and men were forced to work whatever jobs were available, and clothing styles returned to somewhat “normal.” Throughout the following decades, styles of clothing, hair and behaviors went through more changes as American family dynamics changed from one working parent to two. Fast forward to 2011, and we see an era of material wealth and technology. What was previously considered scandalous is now considered conservative. Skirts have been cut shorter and shorter with each passing year, with most skirts now falling above the knee. The modern American era is one that places more importance on appearance and possessions than that of any previous era. Some things have changed for the better, however. Colleges and universities now consist of men and women in equal proportions, and women make up almost half of the workforce. Women are no longer tied down to the household; they pursue their own goals and aspirations before settling down. If one perused the streets of a modern American city, they would see both men and women wearing pants. Dresses are now reserved for formal occasions, and jeans and trousers are now more commonly worn. Our society is now more equal and educated than before, and both men and women are free to dress and act as they choose. Although the Gibson Girls and the flappers are now simply dusty memories, they define their eras perfectly. What represents our era? A strong, intelligent woman who pursues her dreams alongside men while retaining all the feminine beauty and fierce spirit that her predecessors had.
In pre-WWI America, women were living in domestic slavery; they were expected to cook, clean, and raise the kids. The percentage of women in the workforce was extremely low, and the percentage of women in universities was even lower. Created by a man named Charles Gibson, the sketch of the “ideal” woman, nicknamed “The Gibson Girl,” graced the covers of magazines, brochures, movies, and books. Charles Gibson’s creation of the perfect woman was characterized by her windswept hair, her dramatic hourglass figure, and her tight clothing that showed off her voluptuous shape. She was as delicate as porcelain and just as fair. The Gibson Girl’s pastimes were tennis, golf, and leisurely trips to the beach. She was effortlessly beautiful; her classic femininity was idolized and many American women modeled their clothing and hair styles after her. The Gibson Girl was every man’s dream and every woman’s envy. Born in an era of leisure and wealth, this creation is a historic representation of the early nineteenth century, a time when women were meant to stay at home and clean while looking dazzling and feminine. However, the Gibson Girl’s reign over America was short-lived; she was swept away by the more vivacious, free spirited women of the 1920’s.
Scandalous, disgraceful, outrageous: these harsh words were just a few of the many comments regarding young women in the Jazz Age. Commonly known as “flappers,” these young dashing ladies were drastically different than their Gibson Girl predecessors. Flappers ditched the restrictive corsets worn so faithfully by women before them and opted for loose fitting clothing. They chopped off the luscious locks (Alliteration) that previous women idolized and styled their hair in a simple boy cut. Their skirts were raised to a level considered shameful by most; their bare legs were visible when they danced or walked swiftly. Instead of marrying and tending to their offspring, flappers went out and partied with men. Times were changing, and quickly. Women were now smoking, drinking alcohol, and wearing clothing that showed off their bare skin. To older women, this behavior was immoral. However, the flappers clothing symbolized the beginning of a new era, an era of women’s liberation. Women began thinking about their lives and deciding against the beaten path of cooking and cleaning. The World War had created a workforce that was slowly gaining more women as men went off to fight, and by the time the flappers reigned the previous standards for women had been thrown aside.
Even the seemingly invincible flappers couldn’t survive the Great Depression. The carefree lifestyle of the twenties simply could not withstand the economic hardships that came with the Wall Street Crash. Both women and men were forced to work whatever jobs were available, and clothing styles returned to somewhat “normal.” Throughout the following decades, styles of clothing, hair and behaviors went through more changes as American family dynamics changed from one working parent to two. Fast forward to 2011, and we see an era of material wealth and technology. What was previously considered scandalous is now considered conservative. Skirts have been cut shorter and shorter with each passing year, with most skirts now falling above the knee. The modern American era is one that places more importance on appearance and possessions than that of any previous era. Some things have changed for the better, however. Colleges and universities now consist of men and women in equal proportions, and women make up almost half of the workforce. Women are no longer tied down to the household; they pursue their own goals and aspirations before settling down. If one perused the streets of a modern American city, they would see both men and women wearing pants. Dresses are now reserved for formal occasions, and jeans and trousers are now more commonly worn. Our society is now more equal and educated than before, and both men and women are free to dress and act as they choose. Although the Gibson Girls and the flappers are now simply dusty memories, they define their eras perfectly. What represents our era? A strong, intelligent woman who pursues her dreams alongside men while retaining all the feminine beauty and fierce spirit that her predecessors had.
Post a Comment
Be the first to comment on this article!