Question

Who was a "flapper"? How did they represent important social changes taking place during the 1920s?

Book: Born of Liberty by Sara M. Evans

Answer 1

After World War I, there were major notable changes in American society, politics, and the economy. In the 1920s, in the American metro cities, a group of free women was identified, who was contrary to the concept of traditional ladies. These women were very energetic, fun-loving, and having independent and different thinking. They wanted to do everything that was contrary to the dignity of women in the society of that time. We can also consider Flappers as the first generation of women in American society who broke political, economic, and sexual myths in those days. At that time, the lifestyle of these women was considered to be immoral, vile, degrading, as well as a threat to the rest of society.

Flappers liked to smoke, listen to jazz, and talk about sex. None of this was considered "ladylike" at the time: it was new and shocking. Flappers had their own hairstyles and ways of dressing, especially bobbed hair and short skirts. Flappers were a sign of changing times and more freedom for women to express themselves. There's no doubt the flappers had a lot of styles.

Flappers inspired women in the society to become free who were imprisoned in the shackles of society, motivating them to be financially self-reliant and to live their own way. This was the same period in America when women also gained political and economic freedom. Things like fashion, cosmetics, were encouraged in society. The emergence of flappers encourages the status of equal status in society to women, such as if a man can smoke and drink, then why should not women, although it is a negative thing, the idea of ​​equality is positive in many other areas was accepted. The classic image of a flapper is that of a stylish young party girl. Flappers smoked in public, drank alcohol, danced in jazz clubs, and practiced sexual freedom that jolted the Victorian morality of their parents. The fashion industry changed drastically during this period. In place of the traditional clothes of the Victorian period, more comfortable costumes were introduced, swimming suits, sportswear for women also started coming in the market. The Advertising industry started using the get-up of  Falppeer's Women as a powerful tool.
Overall, Flappers presented a new form of women in the society that was also economically, socially strong, and unrestrained which shook the entire traditional society, contributing significantly to changing the definition of women of the Victorian period. At that time, the society strongly disliked them.