Flapper girls

Flapper Girls; Iconic to the 1920s?

The 1920s is known for many cultural and social changes. Improvements in technology, a higher standard of living, and a change in ideals. One major ideal change was the perception of women due to the Flapper girls of the 1920s. Flapper girls were the first remembered for smoking and drinking in public. They also were the first to wear short dresses, have short hair, and dark make-up. They truly did not care what people thought of them. The emergence of the flapper in the 1920s was iconic because it reinvented the perception of a modern woman. 

One of the main reasons they were so heavily remembered was the way they changed the game in style and clothing. Before Flappers, it was considered scandalous to have any clothing at or above the knee. They were also the first to wear clothing that made movement easier. They were the first to introduce skirts to the game and make bottoms popular for many women. Flappers are a big part of what woman wear today. They also wore tight strips of clothing around their chest to look like boys. The second aspect of the Flapper that is iconic is their change in hair and make-up. Before, the typical perception of a girl was long, beautiful hair. The Flappers created their own look by cutting all of their hair off. Flapper girls also wore a shingle cut that they wore. Flapper girls had their own fashion and iconic look which is one of their reasons why they're still remembered today. 

The term Flapper was first seen in Great Britain after World War 1 to describe young girls who had not entered womanhood. Many famous authors had used the term as well. Famous author F Scott Fitzgerald described his ideal version of a Flapper as expensive, lovely, and about 19.  At first, the term Flapper had many interpretations but became an iconic term to describe the new, modern woman of America. 

Some may make the argument that Flapper girls were not important nor iconic to the era of the 1920s. That Flapper girls steered woman in the wrong direction. Now drinking and smoking is never a strong argument for why Flappers were important. Flappers attitude created a new sense of confidence for women. Flappers took a risk and were reckless and their attitude was characterized by truthfulness, fast living, and sexual behavior. After Flappers, a woman was not controlled by everybody's perception of them.

Like it or not, Flapper girls will always be iconic and remembered for their changing roles of woman. After Flapper girls, Woman felt like they had the freedom to be whatever they want to be. Even though Flappers might not have been the best role models, they created a platform moving in the right direction gaining independence for woman everywhere.


Citations

Rosenberg, Jennifer. “Flappers in the Roaring Twenties.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/flappers-in-the-roaring-twenties-1779240.