The Jazz Age Redefining the Nation (1919-1929) - The “New Woman”

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Jazz Age Redefining the Nation (1919-1929) The “New Woman” It is not sufficient to consider the Jazz Age and the spread of the flapper lifestyle of the 1920s as the result of wartime disillusionment and newly discovered wealth. Instead, the pursuit of innovative fashion and entertainment, such as jazz, was a component of a broader women's rights movement. Women's political influence increased throughout the early 1920s, particularly when the 19th Amendment was ratified and guaranteed full voting rights for women. The public display of sexual and social conventions by flappers was an attempt to equate social and political advancements. As women expanded the idea of women's emancipation to include new forms of social expression like dancing, fashion, women's clubs, and ventures into college and the workforce, they were gradually eroding the Victorian era conventions of the preceding generation. In addition, the 1920s saw no end to the fight for women's rights through legislation and advocacy. The Sheppard-Towner Act, also known as the Promotion of the Welfare and Hygiene of Maternity and Infancy Act, was approved by Congress in 1921 and set aside $1.25 million for nursing, well-baby clinics, and educational initiatives. Infant mortality was significantly decreased as a result of this financing. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which pledged to outlaw all forms of discrimination based on gender and to ensure that "Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction," was authored and championed by Alice Paul two years later, in 1923. Ironically, though, the Progressive Era was drawing to an end and the movement itself was losing momentum just as the movement was finally realizing its long-aspired objectives. Throughout the 1920s, voter turnout from both sexes decreased as the intensity of Progressive politics decreased. Many women left the campaign once the 19th Amendment was ratified, thinking they had achieved their objectives. Consequently, the planned Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) stagnated (it was finally approved by Congress in 1972, over fifty years later, but not enough states ratified it). By the end of the 1920s, Congress even let the Sheppard-Towner Act's funds expire. Women were earning income in a rising variety of sectors of the U.S. economy, including domestic service, retail, healthcare, education, offices, and manufacturing. This coincided with a growing apathy regarding women's rights. Women's participation in the work force grew gradually starting in the 1920s. On the other hand, because they were not required to provide for a family, the majority received lower pay than men for performing similar tasks. While single and unmarried women's employment had gained widespread social acceptance, married women were sometimes stigmatized as being employed for frivolous extra discretionary cash, or "pin money." The Jazz Age, which lasted from 1919 to 1929, was a pivotal time in American history, especially for women. Contrary to popular assumption, post-war disillusionment and newly acquired riches were not the only factors contributing to the 1920s cultural change and the rise of the flapper lifestyle. Instead, it was closely linked to the larger women's rights movement, which was gaining a lot of traction at this time. Women's political power skyrocketed when the 19th Amendment, which gave them full voting rights, was ratified in the early 1920s. The advent of the flapper, as a symbol of public disobedience against conventional sexual and social standards, was spurred by this newfound empowerment. Flappers stood for a fundamental reinterpretation of gender and societal roles rather than merely a fad or carefree way of life. Flappers aimed to subvert Victorian-era norms that had long limited women's autonomy and self-expression by adopting outlandish practices including dancing, fashion experimentation, and membership in women's groups. After years of societal suppression, their audacity in claiming their independence and seeking novel kinds of social and political activity was a direct response. Furthermore, via lobbying campaigns and legislative initiatives, women's rights made tremendous progress throughout the 1920s. A significant budget allocation for nursing, well-baby clinics, and educational efforts was made possible by the Sheppard-Towner Act, which was passed in 1921 and represented a turning point in the field of maternity and infant healthcare. The significant decrease in infant death rates that resulted from this law highlights the real influence that women's advocacy has had on public policy. Alice Paul led the effort to draft the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1923, which was another significant project of the time. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) sought to guarantee legal equality for men and women by eliminating discrimination based on gender. Notwithstanding resistance and obstacles, the ERA was a critical step toward attaining gender equality in the US. But by the 1920s, the Progressive Era—which had fostered women's activism— was coming to an end, which contributed to a drop in both sexes' political participation and voter turnout. After the 19th Amendment was ratified, many women thought their goals had been achieved and turned their attention away from lobbying work. This resulted in their being granted the ability to vote. Congress thus let the financing for the Sheppard-Towner Act to expire and the momentum behind programs such as the ERA to stall. In the meanwhile, more women entered the workforce in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, education, and domestic labor. Alongside this increasing economic independence came a change in the way society saw women working. While it was usually tolerated for single and unmarried women to enter the workforce, married women experienced prejudice and stigma since they were frequently perceived as working for pleasure rather than need. Even with the advancements of the Jazz Age, problems remained, especially with regard to the gender wage gap and deeply ingrained ideas in society regarding the roles that women should play. The period was marked by a complex interaction of political unrest, social change, and cultural development that resulted in both achievements and unresolved issues in the fight for female equality.