The Changing role of women

• What were girls expected to wear before the First World War?

  Long dresses
• Why were girls required to be accompanied by an older or married woman before the war?

  To ensure modesty and propriety in public
• What was considered unacceptable for women in public before the war?

  Smoking
• In what types of jobs were women employed before the war?

  Jobs traditionally associated with women, such as servants, seamstresses, secretaries, and nursing
• What new types of jobs did women take on during the First World War?


  Factory work, replacing men who went to fight in the war
• What was the role of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) before the war?

  To fight for women's right to vote
• How did women's contributions to the war effort affect their demands for political equality?

  It made it difficult to refuse their demands for the right to vote
• What significant amendment was passed in 1920 regarding women's rights?

  The Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote
• By what percentage did the number of women working increase during the 1920s?

  25 percent
• How many women were working by 1929?

  10.6 million
• Why did advertising companies start targeting women in their campaigns during the 1920s?

  Because independent women had more money to spend
• What were the societal expectations for women before the First World War?

  • Modest behavior
  • Wearing long dresses
  • Accompanied by older or married women in public
  • Smoking in public was unacceptable
• What changes occurred in women's employment during and after the First World War?

  • Shift to factory work during the war
  • Increase of 25% in women's employment during the 1920s
  • By 1929, 10.6 million women were working
• What was the significance of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920?

  • Granted women the right to vote
  • Result of women's contributions to the war effort
  • Outcome of decades of activism by organizations like NAWSA
• What was expected of girls before the First World War in terms of behavior and attire?

  Girls were expected to behave modestly and wear long dresses.
• Why were women required to be accompanied by an older or married woman when going out before the war?

  It was a societal expectation for modesty and propriety.
• What was considered unacceptable for women in public before the war?

  It was totally unacceptable for a woman to smoke in public.
• In which types of jobs were women employed before the war?


  Women were employed in jobs such as servants, seamstresses, secretaries, and nursing.
• What change occurred in women's employment during the war?

  Women started to be employed in different types of jobs, such as factory work, replacing men who went to fight in the war.
• How did the contributions of women during the war affect their political rights?

  Women’s contributions made it difficult to refuse their demands for political equality, leading to the Nineteenth Amendment.
• What did the Nineteenth Amendment to the constitution accomplish?

  It gave women the right to vote.
• By what percentage did the number of women working increase during the 1920s?

  There was an increase of 25 percent in the number of women working during the 1920s.
• How many women were working by 1929?

  By 1929, 10.6 million women were working.
• What economic change occurred for independent women of the middle classes and above during the 1920s?

  They had more money to spend, leading to targeted advertising campaigns for women.
• What were the key societal changes for women during and after the First World War?

  • Shift in employment: Women took on factory jobs.
  • Political change: Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920.
  • Economic change: Increase in women working by 25% during the 1920s.
  • Advertising targeted women due to their increased spending power.
• What significant change occurred regarding women's public behavior in the 1920s?


  Women started to smoke in public, drive cars, and participate in energetic sports.
• What term was used to refer to young women in the 1920s who embraced new social norms?

  Flappers
• How did Hollywood films influence the behavior and fashion of young women in the 1920s?

  Hollywood films characterized flappers, leading to their behavior and dress sense being imitated by millions worldwide.
• How much did women's skirts rise from 1919 to 1927?

  Skirts rose from about six inches above ground level to knee-level.
• What fashion trend emerged among young women in the 1920s as a rebellion against their mothers' era?

  The corset went out of fashion, and women began to cut their hair in a bob and wear more makeup and jewelry.
• Who was a famous flapper and what was her initial career before moving to Hollywood?

  Joan Crawford, who started her career as a dancer on Broadway.
• In which films did Joan Crawford become famous for her flapper style?

  She starred in "Paris" (1926) and "The Unknown" (1927).
• What significant event in Joan Crawford's life in 1929 highlighted her status in society?

  She married Douglas Fairbanks Jr., son of Douglas Fairbanks.
• What role did Jazz Clubs play for flappers in the 1920s?

  Jazz Clubs allowed flappers to express themselves by smoking, dancing, and drinking illegal alcohol.
• What were some of the daring dances that became popular after the war?

  The Shimmy and the Bunny Hug.
• What social event began where flappers would kiss men in public?

  Petting Parties
• What was one example of flapper slang and its meaning?

  "I have to go see a man about a dog" meant going to buy whisky.
• What are some flapper terms that are still used today?

  'Big cheese' for an important person, 'bump off' for killing someone, and 'hooch' for alcohol.
• Why did not every girl enjoy the flappers' way of life?

  Poor women could not afford the new fashions and lacked time for social events, while Black women could not benefit from the changing lifestyle.
• Which group of women did not adopt the new way of life in the 1920s?

  Women in the 'Bible Belt' (southern states) did not adopt the new way of life.