Historical ContextsHistorical Contexts

Women’s movements in the 1920sWomen’s movements in the 1920s

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

BackgroundBackgroundThroughout history women;Throughout history women;

were considered intellectually inferior to men.were considered intellectually inferior to men.

were seen as major sources of temptation and were seen as major sources of temptation and evil. evil.

were considered naturally weaker than menwere considered naturally weaker than men

“Woman is the gate of the devil, the path of wickedness, the sting of the serpent, in a word a perilous object.”

St. Jerome, C4th

1919thth Amendment Amendment

““The right of citizens of the United States to vote The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United shall not be denied or abridged by the United

States or by any State on account of sex. Congress States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by shall have power to enforce this article by

appropriate legislation.appropriate legislation.””

August 18August 18thth, 1920., 1920.

In 1920 after years of political agitation for women’s suffrage women in the USA were given the vote through the 19th Amendment to the constitution .

A cartoon showing a woman between the two political parties

FlappersFlappersFollowing the First World War, in a more liberal society,Following the First World War, in a more liberal society,

some women challenged traditional American values. Theysome women challenged traditional American values. They

became known as Flappersbecame known as Flappers..

They typically had:They typically had:

Short, bobbed hairShort, bobbed hair Short hems on their skirts Short hems on their skirts Listened to Jazz musicListened to Jazz music Wore makeupWore makeup Drank hard liquorDrank hard liquor Smoked cigarettesSmoked cigarettes Treated sex in a more casual mannerTreated sex in a more casual manner Were opposed to the conventional social and sexual normsWere opposed to the conventional social and sexual norms

FlappersFlappers

Alice PaulAlice Paul Alice Paul was the head of Alice Paul was the head of

the National Women’s the National Women’s Party.Party.

She felt that the 19She felt that the 19thth Amendment wasn’t Amendment wasn’t sufficient and so she sufficient and so she pushed for an Equal Rights pushed for an Equal Rights Amendment to be added Amendment to be added to the constitution.to the constitution.

The Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)(ERA)

““Men and women shall have equal rights throughout Men and women shall have equal rights throughout thethe

United States and every place subject to its United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction.”jurisdiction.”

– the ERA was first introduced to Congress in the ERA was first introduced to Congress in 1923. 1923.

– It would have made all forms of discrimination It would have made all forms of discrimination based on sex illegal.based on sex illegal.

– It never passed in Congress.It never passed in Congress.

Margaret SangerMargaret Sanger

In 1921, Margaret Sanger founded the In 1921, Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League (ABCL)American Birth Control League (ABCL)– Today known as Planned Today known as Planned

ParenthoodParenthood

In 1923, she established the Clinical In 1923, she established the Clinical Research Bureau. Research Bureau. – The first legal birth control clinic in The first legal birth control clinic in

the U.S.the U.S.

Women were then able to control their Women were then able to control their own bodies.own bodies.

This movement educated women This movement educated women about existing birth control methods.about existing birth control methods.

A 1936, a Supreme Court decision A 1936, a Supreme Court decision declassified birth control information declassified birth control information as obscene.as obscene.

Adkins Adkins vv. Children’s Hospital. Children’s Hospital 19231923

The Supreme Court decided that a minimum wage for The Supreme Court decided that a minimum wage for women violated the right to freedom of contract. This women violated the right to freedom of contract. This meant that employers were free to pay women as meant that employers were free to pay women as little, or as much, as they wanted. This of course little, or as much, as they wanted. This of course meant that there was the possibility of great meant that there was the possibility of great

inequality in the workplace.inequality in the workplace.

William Howard Taft was the Chief

Justice

Women’s Bureau of the Department of Women’s Bureau of the Department of LaborLabor

In 1920, the Women's Bureau of the Department of In 1920, the Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor was established to gather information about the Labor was established to gather information about the situation of women at work, and to advocate for situation of women at work, and to advocate for changes it found were needed.changes it found were needed.

Many suffragists became actively involved with Many suffragists became actively involved with

lobbying for legislation to protect women workers from lobbying for legislation to protect women workers from abuse and unsafe conditions. abuse and unsafe conditions.

““Pink Collared” JobsPink Collared” Jobs

Pink collar jobs are jobs that arePink collar jobs are jobs that arespecifically aimed at women andspecifically aimed at women and

gave women a taste of the gave women a taste of the work world.work world.

Were low paying service Were low paying service occupations.occupations.

Were paid less money than Were paid less money than men who did doing the same men who did doing the same jobs.jobs.– Examples of jobs:Examples of jobs:

SecretariesSecretaries TeachersTeachers Telephone operatorsTelephone operators NursesNurses

““Pink Collared” Jobs Pink Collared” Jobs contcont..

Women were confined to Women were confined to traditional “feminine” fields in traditional “feminine” fields in the work force.the work force.

The “new professional The “new professional women” was the most vivid women” was the most vivid and widely publicized image and widely publicized image in the 1920s.in the 1920s.

But in reality, most middle-classBut in reality, most middle-classmarried women remained at married women remained at

home tohome tocare for their children.care for their children.

1928 Olympics1928 Olympics The 1928 Olympics in The 1928 Olympics in

Amsterdam was the first Amsterdam was the first Olympiad that women were Olympiad that women were allowed to compete in.allowed to compete in.

Many were opposed to the Many were opposed to the women’s participation arguing women’s participation arguing that;that;

– it was historically it was historically inappropriate since women inappropriate since women did not compete in ancient did not compete in ancient Greek Olympics.Greek Olympics.

– physical competition was physical competition was “injurious” to women.“injurious” to women.

Elizabeth Robinson won the 100 metres in 12.2 seconds

EducationEducationWomen had greater access to Women had greater access to

educationeducationas the C20th progressedas the C20th progressed

At the start of the C20th 19% of At the start of the C20th 19% of college degrees were earned by college degrees were earned by women.women.

By 1928, women were earning By 1928, women were earning 39% of the college degrees given 39% of the college degrees given in the United States.in the United States.