Essay On The Role Of Women In The 1920s

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Pages: 2

The progressive era of the twenties birthed many medical and technical advancements. It also brought along jazz music and iconic dances. The progressiveness of this era can best be depicted in the changing roles of women at the time. This image shows the shift into a new age for women. Before the roaring twenties woman in America were housewives who cooked, cleaned and took care of the children all day. Now they were liberated of the role they were forced to play. Woman were no longer considered property of their husbands or of their fathers. They became independent and their clothing showed it. Women began sporting shorter hair and shorter dresses that did not show their shape to create a more boyish look. These woman were …show more content…
More women across the nation began to seek a higher education. Before the 20’s only 19 percent of college degrees awarded belonged to women. By 1928 the percentage had rose to 39 percent. This was due to the all girl colleges established during the 1920’s. The higher education that women were receiving also gave rise to women having jobs as secretaries, teachers, nurses, and even more.

Now women were making their own money and living independent lives.Now that women were apart of the work force the needed someone to protect their rights as laborers. This is why The Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor was established. They fought for women who worked in unsafe conditions and those who were treated unfairly at work. Despite some women staying in their traditional role of being a housewife the number of working women increased by 25 percent.

To sum up this entire era, it was a time of social change for women. Their roles had changed. They held jobs, went to college an even took part in politics. The view of what a woman should be shifted from the long dresses and tight corsets of the victorian era to the free-spirited flapper style. They abandoned their traditional morals and values to let loose. They broke from the shackles of the victorian era and the devastation of WW1 to grow into the modern independent