The Changing Role of Women in the 1920's

"New Woman" in the 1920's 

Women's role changed a lot in the 1920's and it would not have been possible if they didn't keep trying for equal rights like the men had. Before the 1920's women were expected to stay home and cook and take of the children, and wait for their husbands to get home. Women weren't allowed to do whatever they desired, they had to listen and obey their husband's decision and they couldn't be independent, even if they wanted to because the society that the women lived in was created so that women would need the help of a man in order to live well and not starve. Jobs were all dominated by men, since women were not allowed to work as well. 

When the First World War began, this was the ticket for women to prove what they were capable of doing. Since the war required a lot of man strength many of the jobs were left vacant, so the women who stayed home would take these jobs until their husbands would come back home. Not only that, but there were women who would organize food and resources that the men needed while they were in the battlefield. This first world war allowed women to prove that they were capable of working well just like the men could. 

By 1920, women were granted the right to vote; the surprising outcome was that many women decided not vote because they felt that the spheres between men and women should not be broken and mixed with. Many of the women remained housewives but 25% of the employees were women.  Not only that, but women known as the "Flappers" would smoke in public, would dance to the new dances and were basically free to do what they wanted for the most part. Women's rights kept improving since the 1920's allowing them to be able to reach their dream and be successful without the aid of a man. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/usa/1920srev2.shtml

http://ncpedia.org/history/20th-Century/1920s-women