1920s-Pushing+the+Limits

Pushing the Limits in the 1920s 1.   Women in all classes began to challenge social norms a.  Louise Rosine, tourist in Chicago arrested for not wearing stocking at the beach, punched and bit officer who tried to arrest her, stayed naked in jail until she was released b.  Less clothing on women was seen as a sign of moral decay c.  City government passed laws regulating appropriate behavior at beaches, DC-swimsuits should not be less than 6 inches above the knee 2.   Life after suffrage a.  August 29, 1920-right to vote b.  Suffragists believed that women would now be able to bring positive change to society c.  Anti-suffrage supporters were ready for the collapse of society d.  1922-Sheppard Towner Maternity and Infancy Protection Act-federal money for healthcare i.  250,000 infants died each year and poor families lost one in 6 children in the first year of life ii. Improve this through maternity clinics e.  Women tended to vote like their husbands so little immediate change occurred f.  2 female governors were elected in 1924 but women were still largely outsiders g.  By 1929-Sheppard Towner had lost all funding h.  Women’s movement splintered as everyone had a different idea of what to do next 3.   ERA and protective legislation a.  Equal rights amendment introduced by Alice Paul in 1923 to end wage discrimination, loss of children in divorce, right to keep your earnings, no women on juries b.  Arguments against came down to the idea of protective legislation i.  Laws that gave women special protection as mothers and potential mothers ii. Regulating how many hours and what kind of work women could do, could not work at night iii. Working women were split in their views, needed some protection but made it hard to get certain kinds of work 4.   League of Women Voters-national organization to help educated women to vote and promoted laws to benefit women a.  Reported on number of women elected to vote and saw it declining in the 1920s 5.  Youth Culture a.  Cared little for reform or issues, wanted to have a good time 6.  Flappers-in 1920, 2/3rds of the population was younger than 35 and median age was 25. a.  First generation to access radio, movies, cars, phones, better educated b.  Young women defied traditional expectations: cut their hair, short skirts, lower necklines, tossed out corsets c.  Danced, smoke, drank, drove cars, went to movies and on dates, wore cosmetics d.  Not better than men, wanted to do the same bad things as men e.  Working class girls had already experienced these things f.  Jazz clubs with AA music became the place to be for flappers g.  Weight loss became a female occupation, smoking as an easy way to get there-Reach for a Lucky instead of a Sweet, symbol of equality 7.   Education-by 1920, 85% of kids aged 5-17 were enrolled in school a.  16% of kids went to college b.  Women went to meet men, lots of competition for resources 8.   Beauty-no more corsets, shorter skirts, etc.   a.   Bobbed hair-jaw length hairstyles, women fired for having short hair, rise in number of beauty parlors b.  Makeup-Egyptian eyes with smudged eyeliner, nail polish introduced c.  Knee length dresses-straight and low waisted, silk and sleeveless d.  Accessories-hats, dangling earrings, costume jewelry, head scarves, pearl necklaces e.  Stockings-increased 100% in sales in the decade, h ad a seam, attached with garters f.  Underwear-corset and cotton union suit, or new 2 piece underwear 9.   Amusements- a.  Sports- i.  Gertrude Ederle-swam the English channel, first woman ii. Helen Wills-tennis player never lost a singles set, earned 3x more money than Babe Ruth 10.   Dating a.  Cars changed revolutionized dating b.  Movies sent clear messages about what dating should be like c.  Rules of chaperoning changed d.  Rates of premarital sex rose 11.   At home a.  Women married in greater numbers and at earlier ages b.  Romantic love became the expectation c.  Husbands and wives should also be best friends d.  Marriage counseling came into existence e.  Women were custodians of romance f.  Advertising urged women to be the ones who made sure that their marriages were working g.  Personal hygiene became a big deal with toothpaste, soap, mouthwash, and shampoo 12.   Consumerism a.  Many stores offered credit b.  Supermarkets for food c.  Electric irons and vacuum cleaners, waffle irons, heating pads, toasters, mixers and grinders, coffee makers and curling irons, bathrooms, and refrigerators, washing machines d.  Bought bread, breakfast cereal, pasta and sauce, canned veggies, salad and casseroles Women still spent 48-61 hours a week on housework, same as th